01 [ action/handwritten, notebook paper ]

[northless]

[action]

[Sometime during the night, if anyone is still up and walking about despite all the strange creatures lurking around, they might see a young man carrying a box. It's fairly typical, really--

--wait, is that a puppy poking its head up? Yes. Yes, it is.

Guess who just found a box of puppies in an alleyway and didn't have the heart to leave them there.]

[handwritten, next day in class]

So, just a question: does anyone around here have enough resources to, say, take care of a puppy? Or, you know, does anyone want one at all? I found six of them yesterday, and as much as I'd like to keep them, I don't have enough money or space to feed six dogs. Maybe one, but not six.

If there aren't any takers, I'll take them to the shelter. But I'd like to make sure at least some of them have a place to stay that isn't my apartment, cramped as it is.

Comments

WELP

[northless]

[He stops in his tracks, turns around. Oh, it's Elle.]

Elle. Hey. I would've called, but I haven't been able to reach you. [And anyway, he doesn't actually trust the network thing. Whatever.]

herp

[11ady]

Yeah, my cell died. You could just text. I'll probably get it when I have the time to charge. What have you got there though?

[The box in his arms looks kind of heavy.]

[northless]

[As if on cue, a rather adorable little puppy pokes its head up to peer at her.]

Puppies. [Obviously. He'd take them to the animal shelter, but he needs to get home. And at this time of night, in this neighborhood? Yeah, right.]

[11ady]

Strays? Where did you even find them?

[Curiosity draws her close as she pats the one who had chosen to poke its head out. It licks her hand in return. Upon closer inspection, they didn't appear to be mongrels.]

They look like purebreds...

[northless]

They were in an alleyway, and I couldn't really leave them there.

[Wait. Purebreds? Who'd leave purebreds starving in an alleyway?]

[11ady]

Of course not. We need to find them food and water for the night. Maybe they're from a puppy mill. Those places are illegal. It wouldn't be unlike a bad breeder to dump puppies so the law doesn't get to him.

[They were such nice puppies too. Siberian huskies? Definitely a wolfish breed.]

[northless]

I've got some food and water at home, but it's not going to last for long if I keep them all around.

[Puppy mills. God, the thought of it makes him feel a little sick.]

[11ady]

If you take them to a shelter, they might get put down. Your best bet is personally finding homes for them. I'll help you take care of the expenses.

[Sometimes she forgets she isn't rich anymore. It's no matter. She can always just take on more jobs.]

[northless]

No, it's fine. I'll go ask around on...whatever that was.

[Maybe someone's willing to take on a few puppies.]

[11ady]

Whatever that was?

[They haven't crossed paths on the network just yet. She's mostly avoiding it...]

[northless]

[And--oh, yeah, not everyone knows about the network. At least he thinks so.]

A...group. Of sorts. I know a few people who might want a few.

[11ady]

That's good to know.

[Might as well pull out the one licking her hand. It's awkward holding it. Please don't pee.]

Probably have to get them spayed and neutered though.

[northless]

Too bad my budget doesn't cover that much.

[The puppy just looks adoringly up at her. Thankfully enough, it hasn't decided if it would like to pee on her yet.]

Hey, I think it likes you already.

[11ady]

I'd rather not be marked as its territory though. Is this is a boy or a girl?

[sob she probably ended up with reincarnated!Lady 8| gonna make sure this one doesn't die.]

[northless]

I don't know, I only just picked them up.

[Shrugging slightly, and glancing down at the box. They're all so young and vulnerable, why would anyone want to throw them away?]

[11ady]

[Upon closer inspection, she's pretty sure this one is a girl.]

Well, limited light but I think this is a girl. I'll probably name it later. We should probably be on our way home now though. It's not safe to linger here.

[northless]

[He glances around. Even without all the rumors flying around, the city is already dangerous enough at night.]

Yeah. I think my place is nearer, though.

[11ady]

I'll walk with you then find my own way. It's not a problem.

[northless]

All right, then.

[Still, a part of him can't help but worry. The streets are dangerous for anyone, after dark, and he's taken many a risk just coming home this way alone.]

do you want vermin event shenanigans...

[11ady]

[The puppy fusses a bit in her arms but it keeps still for the most part. Right now, it's taken to gnawing on the collar of her blouse as they walk on.]

How's the paper coming along?

...YEP. SAVE THE PUPPIES.

[northless]

It's doing fine. [Sort of. Most of the time he's just a little uncomfortable writing about it in such a clinical manner.] How's yours?

we got this

[11ady]

Submitted early for bonus points. I can help if...

[A caw in the distance cuts her off as a couple of ravens descend to block their path. Where did those come from? They don't really look all that strange except...

Are those teeth?

Damn, these are the birds from the network, aren't they?]

[northless]

[Oh.

Oh, shit.]

You've got to be kidding me. [He's seen the bird from the network, but had figured it was probably Photoshopped or something. Some things he just couldn't believe, at least until now.]

[11ady]

[Tucking the puppy under one arm, she pulls the short umbrella out of her purse with the intent to whack at them. What do, Robb?

It doesn't help that they're getting closer and both our hands are full.]

[northless]

[Wait a sec.]

Elle, can you hold these for me? I'll hold them off.

[That umbrella should be enough to beat off these things. Whatever they are.]