Mary gazed at the forest outside the large window in her living room, deep in thought. Outside her apartment was a large nature preserve. She frequently found inspiration in the park, and enjoyed exploring the winding trails that snaked through the dark woods. Being close to the park was part of the reason she chose to live so far from the city. The trails were long, but if you had enough patience and dedication, you were rewarded with a nice hilltop view of the pasture and small horse farm that was adjacent to the park.
A horse, she thought. That might be interesting, but it would require a lot of planning and risk. And a horse is so big. Maybe it would be better to start with something smaller ........like a pet.
Mary had never owned a pet; it wasn't that she didn't like animals, but she just didn't want the responsibility.
Maybe a bird of some kind? Flying would be fun, but it might be a little scary to be so small and helpless. A cat perhaps? Cats were a good possibility; they were larger, and a lot more self-reliant.
Mary's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a large bark in the hallway. One of my neighbors must be taking their dog to the dog park, she thought. A small dog park was also adjacent to the park, close to the apartment complex. It was a nice enclosure where the dogs could roam freely without leashes, with several trees to provide shade. She had frequently passed it on her way to the woods for her walks.
Of course, she thought, a dog! Not big enough to be a burden, but not small enough to be vulnerable. It was something different, but not too exotic. It seemed like the perfect choice! She made her decision. She walked back to the box on the counter, and began to look for the right vial.