the zoo

[instar]

There is one visit during the day from a lady down the street who has made the girls a casserole, on the grounds that it can be hard to remember to eat when bereaved. Bella thanks her sincerely, sniffles a little, and sends her on her way. The casserole is shared around for lunch. Bella asks Ax what Andalites eat, and when she finds out, she locates a bag of grass clippings in the backyard that he pronounces acceptable. She also asks him how he eats them. By way of illustration, he steps both forehooves into the bag of clippings.

Night falls.

They can all go to the Seattle zoo and acquire everything they can get their hands on.

Comments

[palmofyourhand]

Getting into the goat enclosure proves to be quite simple.

[hold_infinity]

Getting to - that is, up to - the goats is a separate matter entirely.

Robin is willing to pigeon her way up a fake cliff that her human self is in no way capable of climbing; Ethan and Trouble are willing to join her.

[instar]

The others pass.

[aeskhyne]

"Birds!" says Trouble.

The barn owls prove to be convenient; their neighbours the great horned owls are not. Even after getting into the enclosure, it takes Trouble several minutes to find the bird, and she bites him before he acquires her. But he perseveres.

[sundayfish]

Charlie, having beetled his way into the great horned's cage, also acquires her.

[palmofyourhand]

So do Ethan and Robin.

Ethan is unable to get them in to see the peregrine falcon, but her neighbour the American kestrel is easily visited.

[aeskhyne]

And of course, just because Ethan can't open the door doesn't mean all hope is lost. Anyone who wants a peregrine falcon just has to morph a bug to get in. Trouble and Ethan both do.

[hold_infinity]

Robin, lacking any bug morphs, perforce does not acquire the peregrine.

[instar]

The twins collect the peregrine.

[sundayfish]

Charlie settles for the kestrel, and Ax doesn't have a bug morph either.

[aeskhyne]

"Okay," says Trouble. "Everybody's got everything that was on their specific lists, right? Except the unspecified venomous snake?"

[instar]

Bella checks her list. "Yes."

[hold_infinity]

"Yeah," says Robin. "Snake time?"

[aeskhyne]

"Snake time. Rattlesnakes are the only venomous species I recognize here," he says, checking the map again.

[hold_infinity]

Robin double-checks for him. "Yeah, looks like."

Off they go to the rattlesnake!

[instar]

"Try not to let it bite you. Time for that during downtime after Ethan has it," Bella mutters.

[aeskhyne]

"I'll be careful, promise."

He is careful. The rattlesnake does not bite him. In fact, it does not even wake up.

[instar]

And then everyone has the snake.

[aeskhyne]

And as they are leaving the snake, Trouble happens to catch sight of the reticulated python in the next enclosure over.

"...Fuck, I think I'm in love," he murmurs. "Ethan?"

[palmofyourhand]

"Of course, darling," he says, and kisses Trouble on the cheek, and picks the lock for him.

[pandion]

"It's a pretty snake," agrees Andi. She squints in the dark to read the placard on its tank. "I can't tell if, like, two-thirds of the animals we're getting are boys or girls."

[aeskhyne]

"Does it matter?" wonders Trouble.

[pandion]

"A little. I guess not that much."

[aeskhyne]

He shrugs. "Doesn't matter at all to me."

[palmofyourhand]

"Yes," says Ethan, "I wonder why that is? Can't imagine. Go and get your pretty snake now."