Petunia was a lonely fish. She had spent her whole life searching for friendships, but they never lasted...

Many moons ago, Petunia had been accepted as part of a school. She became hopeful, but...

One by one... Her companions always abandoned her...

Petunia had even tried befriending a local fisherman after she had the misfortune of being caught by one of his hooks.

She lay in the wooden boat for some time, parched and scared. She looked at the fisherman with hopeful eyes...

The fisherman placed Petunia into a small bucket where she rested for several hours. Petunia was full of joy and whimsy, for perhaps all this time her one true friendship was hiding above the water's surface...

The fisherman didn't speak, so Petunia concluded he must be shy just like her.

Before she knew it, the sky was dark.

Petunia closed her eyes and dreamt of all the fun she would have with her new friend...

Petunia woke up in a shallow bath and scanned the room for the fisherman. 

Instead, her gaze met two glowing eyes staring down at her. It was a black cat!

Petunia panicked and began swimming in circles wondering what was going to happen to her. Even the friendliest fish in the sea knew to be weary of a cat...

"Please leave me be, my friend will be here soon!"

"I promise I am not 

here to hurt you..."

"I'm sorry, but the fisherman 

is not your friend," The Cat explained.

The cat gently scooped up Petunia and placed her into a small jar.

"Thank you." Petunia was flustered by the cat's kindness. 

"I'm sorry you had to go through this..." The cat sympathized, "My name is Dusty, what's yours?"

Petunia felt a rush of warmth in her tiny fish heart. She had never been asked her name before, it was always her who proposed the question to others. 

"I'm Petunia!" She proclaimed. 

Dusty slipped out the window with Petunia in his arms...

As they traversed a misty forest, Petunia and Dusty talked and talked.

Their bond grew close as they journeyed together. Petunia wondered where they were headed, but she feared voicing that question would cause Dusty to believe she didn't trust him.

Petunia was mesmerized by the beauty of the forest around her. Was she finally making a true friend? She could barely contain her euphoria. 

"We are close now," said Dusty, "Just a little while longer."

Petunia worked up her courage and popped the question, "Um D-Dusty, where are you taking me?"

"My friends and I live just a dozen trees from here, they will be so excited to meet you!"

Petunia felt the warmth in her heart swell once more. She swam a figure eight in her jar, unable to contain her joy.

A satisfied Dusty and an ecstatic Petunia arrived at a warmly lit corner of the forest. 

"Hey Dusty, did you find anything on your journey?" The Violinist asked as the other critters looked up in curiosity.

"I met Petunia the goldfish, I think you guys will love her just as much as I do!" But the critters looked unimpressed, returning their attention to one another. 

Petunia swam around her jar, waving her fins at the forest creatures.