the bait

[instar]

Now that Trouble is back, the limiting factor on bear and elephant acquisition is just the availability of those of the Animorphs who experience nonzero parental supervision. There is a coincidence of Renée being out well past zoo closing time and Robin's mother being occupied the day after Trouble's return.

Everybody morphs pigeons and they fly to the zoo. The three of them that are going to get bears head for the bear enclosure, and Trouble, of course, is the bait.

Comments

[aeskhyne]

Trouble finishes demorphing. "Yeah, got it. I'll go first."

[instar]

Into the house with everyone else.

[aeskhyne]

Trouble morphs the bear.

<Bears are pretty chill, actually,> he reports. <My eyesight's not spectacular, but I can move around without breaking anything if I'm careful. Mostly I just want to eat something and then maybe take a nap. I'm not worried about much and I don't think I'm gonna get mad easily.>

[instar]

Bella opens the door to inspect Trouble-the-bear.

[aeskhyne]

Trouble-the-bear waves a paw.

<I'm furry!>

[instar]

"You're very furry. Okay. Who's going next?"

[hold_infinity]

"I'll do it," says Robin.

She steps into the garage and hugs furry Trouble.

[aeskhyne]

Awwwww.

Furry Trouble nuzzles the top of her head and then starts to demorph.

[instar]

Bella lets unfurried Trouble back into the house, then closes the door again.

[aeskhyne]

Unfurry Trouble says, "Hug?"

[instar]

Hug.

[aeskhyne]

Hug. He has missed hug.

[hold_infinity]

<Oh, wow, bears are awesome,> says Robin. <I feel like I could win a fight with a brick wall.>

[instar]

Bella laughs. "I don't anticipate needing to fight brick walls, but if we ever do, noted."

[hold_infinity]

<All right, demorphing now.>

[palmofyourhand]

Ethan waits by the door.

[hold_infinity]

Out comes Robin. She gives Ethan a hug.

[palmofyourhand]

Ethan's turn!

<Oooh, very nice.>

[instar]

"Good choice of morph, huh? I wish we had space to try the elephants. With luck we won't need them any time soon."

[palmofyourhand]

<Hey, Trouble, c'mere.>

[aeskhyne]

Trouble laughs. "Not in Bella's garage, man!"

[instar]

"Yeah, that sounds messy. Thank you for your restraint. I'm sure you'll have the chance when we're up rescuing Charlie. Speaking of which, Ethan, Trouble, do you have carry-on bug morphs yet?"

[aeskhyne]

"Yeah, I'm good to go."

[palmofyourhand]

<Likewise. And now, much to my regret, I suppose I'll demorph.>

[instar]

"What are we going to be smuggling onto the plane, pray tell?"