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

[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.]

[11ady]

[Nodding, she trades her umbrella for the box. If he's so confident, he likely knows how to handle it better than she does.]

Be careful, ok?

[northless]

I will.

[He doesn't, but it's better than flat-out running. He swings wildly, trying to beat them off.]

[11ady]

[Standing behind him, she keeps an eye out for a change in maneuvers. He could very well get hit in a blind spot.]

Jab left!

[northless]

[He ducks as one of the ravens tries to claw at him, then jabs left, knocking the other off-balance for a moment.]

Run!

[11ady]

[The police station is about a block away. She can drop the box there for a sec then come back to him with help.]

I'll be back!

[And despite her heels, she breaks into a run. Each stride feels like a knife's slicing through her feet but adrenaline's helping her ignore it.]

[northless]

[He doesn't reply, trying to fend off the ravens by himself. Right, left, right, left--hey, they're backing off. He immediately breaks into a run to catch up with her.]

Elle! Wait up!

[11ady]

[oh fuck her life. well, he'll be safer running from the threat then facing it. slowing down, she keeps pace with him.]

Guess we're going together then.

[seems the ravens aren't following. they appear to have lost their way though. the police station is nowhere in sight.]

[northless]

[Not exactly. He knows this place, has stumbled down it more than once.]

My place is nearby. [Fifteen minutes if they run.]

[11ady]

Lead the way. My arms could use a break.

[northless]

[And so he does--for twenty minutes. Okay, so maybe he miscalculated, but soon enough he spots his building's door and comes to a stop in front of it.]

Right here.

[11ady]

Definitely not how I saw the night ending.

[Setting the box down on his stoop, she keeps her one puppy in her arms.]

Though it's better than what might have been. Keep the umbrella. You might need it.

[northless]

Neither did I.

[He glances down at the umbrella, then up at her.] You're sure about that?