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

[aeskhyne]

"I can't do that," says Trouble.

[morphbox]

<Why not?>

[aeskhyne]

"I just don't have it in me. I'd quit first. I'll do some stuff she wants me to, if she asks. I'll help. But I can't be under orders like that."

[morphbox]

<She seems very intelligent and committed,> volunteers Ax.

[aeskhyne]

"Sure she is. It's not her that's the problem."

[morphbox]

<I don't think I understand the problem.>

[aeskhyne]

"Yeah, I know. Do you want to?"

[morphbox]

<Ideally.>

[aeskhyne]

"If I try to put myself in a position where somebody can just tell me to do something and expect I'm gonna do it 'cause they said so, I'll end up running away instead. And not coming back this time. It's just not something I can do. Because of... personal stuff."

[morphbox]

<Is this a common human affliction?>

[aeskhyne]

"Nope. Well - having stuff you can't do or have a hard time with because somebody hurt you, that happens plenty. The exact nature of the stuff varies more."

[morphbox]

<You have this problem because you were previously under incompetent command...? I thought you were all considered too young to fight by the standards of your culture.>

[aeskhyne]

"Yeah, well, it wasn't a military commander. It was my stepfather."

[morphbox]

<...Oh,> says Ax, in tones of someone who doesn't really understand but doesn't know if they want to continue the conversation either.

[aeskhyne]

"There's details, but they aren't very nice, and they don't really explain why I came out of it exactly how I did. That part's just me, I guess."

[morphbox]

<Princess Bella did say you are an unusual human.>

[aeskhyne]

"She got that right."

[pandion]

There are footsteps, down the stairs and past the garage door into the kitchen.

[aeskhyne]

"Huh, I wonder who's up," says Trouble.

[morphbox]

<I don't know. Does it matter?>

[aeskhyne]

He shrugs. "I guess not."

[morphbox]

<Are any of the others likely to be alarmed by your absence from the couch?>

[aeskhyne]

"I don't think so."

But, contemplating this possibility, he gets to his feet and opens the door and peeks out.

[pandion]

Andi is dimly visible in the moonlight filtered through the curtains; she hasn't bothered to turn on a light. She is standing by the sink with a glass of water. "Making friends with Ax?" she asks Trouble.

[aeskhyne]

"Trying to."