HPU - Richmond Acres

[Keeshah]

"We should be fine here Sir, you are free to go about your... duties." Riley paused as she pulled on the reins again, trying to make Rocky go in a straight line this time. "In the meantime we'll be taking some laps around the lot. I'll teach you the basic signals I'll need you to know, ideally we'd reach a point where I'd no longer need to verbally communicate with you when it comes to these basic commands..."

Rocky trots off in the requested straight line..
Shouldn't i be the one who is deciding where to go, since i'm the one doing all the walking around here?
-------------------------------------------------

Why would you be worried about her making a pen to keep chickens in?
HuH?

Anthony looks both confused and rattled. "Is that what she's doing right now?"

All of your chickens are now belonging to us!!!
Oreo chrips as he is trotted away

[WeirdGamer]

"ah yeah" Nadia chuckled awkwardly "I guess.......though his entire thing is....not normal, to be honest"

"I mean, if it happens all the time to him, isn't it kinda normal for him, then?" asks Ryyn.
---------------

"Hee. I'll be careful, don't worry." Piper promises, putting an arm around Lucky's waist.
"You be careful too. Can't have both of us injured or Chip would have to carry us both! Heehee!"

"I'm many things," Chip agreed, "but I'm not Mighty Mouse."

"You never know until you try," replies Lucky. And Don't worry about me. I'll be okay!" At that moment he walkes past a wet floor sign. "WOWWOWHAHAHHA!" he cries a she slips on the water.

[Hlaoroo]

The vixen pulled it just barely out of Flynn's reach, circled the veggie then booped his nose with it
"You literally are still having breakfast"

"Well, it's gonna be dinner if you don't hurry up and let me eat!" Flynn mock-glares at Nadia, pretending to be angry, an effect hampered somewhat by licking the sauce off his nose without breaking eye contact with her.
"Kiiiilooooo! Nadia's being meeaaan to meeee!" he whines, drawing out his accent as he suddenly changing tack.

~~~~
Simon sips his lemonade and then looks at the glass confused.
"Huh. So THAT'S lemonade. Sweeter than I expected..." he mumbles to himself before realising the human had spoken.
"Uh, yeah, sure, human." he answers, glancing at Thomas briefly.

~~~~
"You... know, the ECP sets you up with a bank account, right?" the clerk asks, sliding the paperwork towards himself and looking it over.
"But if you wanna be a pet that's cool too. Looks like your human has signed everything for you. Do you have the registration fee?"

~~~~
Joan takes the hat off the kitten and puts it back on its shelf.
"That's right, I should give you the grand tour, shouldn't I? Unless Leslie wants to lead the way? He knows the house pretty well by now. I bet he'd make a good tour guide!" she suggests, hoping having a task will cheer the kitten up.

~~~~
"Yeah, there'll be plenty of time later on." Ed agrees, wincing slightly as Olivia lets out another loud squeal which soon devolves into raucous laughter as the playful mouse mercilessly punishes his prey.
"Is there anyone you're, you know, interested in?"

~~~~
Her reflexes dulled by the effects of the gas, Piper doesn't realise what's happening until it's too late and she's dragged down with Lucky. Fortunately the cleaner is still working and he drops his mop and grabs the two bunnies, one in each arm. Unfortunately he doesn't have an arm free for the mouse. Will she manage to retain her grip on Lucky? Or will she wind up in the mop bucket? In the potted plant? On the mop itself? Or will she land against the cleaner? Hopefully she can yell loudly enough for someone to hear and rescue her.

~~~~
The bar owner, whose name is Adam, is shocked at the size of the bear and his eyes go wide. After a moment's hesitation he waves back and unlocks one half of the double doors, keeping the other half bolted to the floor and doorframe, just in case.
"Deus?" he asks, just to make sure.
"My brother Kyle, the policeman, said you were coming. I admit I expected a little black bear rather than a grizzly though..."

[DdeeStar]

All of your chickens are now belonging to us!!!
Oreo chrips as he is trotted away

Anthony glances back, almost expecting the skunk to have gotten into the car somehow, but thankfully that hasn't happened.

"You... know, the ECP sets you up with a bank account, right?" the clerk asks, sliding the paperwork towards himself and looking it over.
"But if you wanna be a pet that's cool too. Looks like your human has signed everything for you. Do you have the registration fee?"

Cala looks surprised. "Okay, time out. What's ECP short for? I was making a joke interpreting it as Electronic Checking Program, but I would love a bank account." The shark smile returns, the wolf waving at her guardian as he enters. "Anthony! You gotta pay for Tiramisu and I to get registered!"

"I'm not getting tricked into giving you money again." He rolls his eyes humorously as he approaches the desk. "What's the status? Everything okay there?" Anthony gives a loose gesture towards the paperwork.

[Welsh Halfwit]

"Kan do, Antie Joan," Leslie announced, brightening up as he zipped from the room, somehow pulling Nadir with him as he moved from room to room. He sniffed each of the bedrooms as he went. "There's a Dog in this wun," he announced in the first room. "Baffroom," he pointlessly said in the second room which was, quite obviously, a bathroom. The bath gave that away. He sniffed again in a quiet room with a computer and boxes and shelves. "Yore wurk room," he asked Joan, stopping for a moment in his whirlwind tour. "Wanna see the tunells," he asked.
---------------
"You can call me Thomas, you know," Thomas said, taking a seat, "it will help differentiate me from Sally, yeah?"
--------------
Eventually Watt relented and breathed heavily as he stopped the tickle assault. "I think you are going to be one of the best and brightest, hmm, what what," he told Olivia. "Adored by the colony almost as much as your daddy, what what?"
Tracks mused. "Well there was... is a House mouse living near the old silo but I wasn't going to ask her to live with Scratch..."
-------------
"Children," Kilo chided gently, "you know the rules about playing at the table." He winked to Nadia.
------------
Nola wondered if Silver or 'the rodent' would catch her up as she headed back to the hole.
-----------
Splot, said Chip, landing in the bucket. She pulled herself back up through the soapy water for what she hoped was the surface and settled for a place that felt less wet against her fur to open her mouth, keeping the eyes she'd shut when she'd worked out where she was going tightly shut. "Pleh," she said, spitting out the taste of soapy water as she trod water. "Someone get me out of this bucket!"

[CyberDragon]

"Well that's good to hear at least... things seem to be calming down outside too." With a long sigh, Senka herself down. "Now all I wanna do is take a long nap... so much for camping in the woods."

"Honestly, I wouldn't mind sleeping either..." Chris sighed. "I feel like I haven't slept in days... and getting knocked out by a bear and then by drugs isn't very restful."

-----------------------------

"Yeah I guess you could call it progress." Sliver replied as he took the drink from Nola. He took a sip from the drink. "Mmm.. Thanks for the drink." He added, sincerely. The drink was one of his favorite kinds. "I guess I could come back tomorrow." He told Nola, "I do have to return this cup." He joked.

"I am definitely meeting a lot of people today," Nola commented drily, "Foxes, a certain rodent and his Bear... Anyhow, you may need to knock on a gate tomorrow." She turned to head off. "Oh, Squeaks? I'm sure she'll be waiting for you when you're free. And I'll explain that tomorrow," she added, for Silver's benefit, before puffing back down the path.

"I was on my way there. If you see her, think you could tell her I'll be there soon?" Flash asked Nola. "I'll just finish up with this guy." Flash gave a nod towards Silver.

"So, what are you planing on doing now?" Flash asked Silver.

-----------------------------

The bar owner, whose name is Adam, is shocked at the size of the bear and his eyes go wide. After a moment's hesitation he waves back and unlocks one half of the double doors, keeping the other half bolted to the floor and doorframe, just in case.
"Deus?" he asks, just to make sure.
"My brother Kyle, the policeman, said you were coming. I admit I expected a little black bear rather than a grizzly though..."

Deus smirked, careful not to show too many teeth. "Bigger body. More protection." The grizzly bear crouched down, then sat down on the sidewalk to be closer to the bar owner's eye level. "Excuse speech." He grunted, pointing to a round scar on his forehead. All things considered, it wasn't a particularly noticable one when compared to the gashes and bite-marks covering the grizzly's body. "Took bullet to head. Bullet bounce off, but caused neural injury. Speaking not good, but mind work fine."

[Serence Frostbite]

"ah yeah" Nadia chuckled awkwardly "I guess.......though his entire thing is....not normal, to be honest"

"I mean, if it happens all the time to him, isn't it kinda normal for him, then?" asks Ryyn.

"Yeeeeeaaaah, but it's not normal compare to average people, howl I have bad luck and even I am not that unlucky"

"Well, it's gonna be dinner if you don't hurry up and let me eat!" Flynn mock-glares at Nadia, pretending to be angry, an effect hampered somewhat by licking the sauce off his nose without breaking eye contact with her.
"Kiiiilooooo! Nadia's being meeaaan to meeee!" he whines, drawing out his accent as he suddenly changing tack.

"Children," Kilo chided gently, "you know the rules about playing at the table." He winked to Nadia.
"

"awww" Nadia giggled, feeding Flynn gently "Fine fine, just because you're so cute"
"pst" Josh whispered right next to Flynn's ears in an eerie tone "You know foxes like to play with their food right?"
"Ey!"

[Hlaoroo]

Flynn's ears and eyebrows go up and he glances at Nadia with mock suspicion.
"Are you saying she's going to eat my salad herself?" he asks innocently.
"Kiiiiiloooooo, Josh says Nadia's gonna eat all my fooooooood!" he whines at the mouse, once again drawing out his accent so it sounds almost nasally.

~~~~
"ECP is the Equal Chance Program. Its mission is to integrate animals into human society and thus hopefully win them more rights. It gives them a house, a bank account, a job, stuff like that." the clerk explains.
"Oh, hi, sir, you must be Miss Wilson's owner, uh... Anthony?" he asks, checking the paperwork.
"Everything's fine, sir, and the paperwork's all in order. I was just telling Miss Wilson about the Equal Chance Program, that's all. So, the registration fee is thirty five dollars for a one year licence, or a hundred dollars even for a three year licence. That's for each pet, by the way. So seventy dollars, or two hundred dollars all up."
The clerk wisely decides not to mention that the fees would be considerably less if the pets were fixed.

~~~~
"Maaaaybe not the tunnels, Leslie. They're not safe, remember?" Joan reminds the kitten.
"You could show her the cool car in the garage though."

~~~~
Simon shrugs.
"I guess. But don't think we're gonna get chummy. I'm a wild animal, after all."

~~~~
"Hee. Thanks!" the pup giggles, sitting up again. Suddenly she looks embarrassed, and glances around to make sure no one is close enough to hear before motioning to Watt to lean in close.
"Um... Mr. Watt? ... I needa go potty..." she whispers as loudly as only children can.

"Who's Scratch?" Ed asks, giving Harry another grain to chew on.

~~~~
The cleaner stands the rabbits back on their paws on a dry section of floor and then scoops the mouse out of the bucket with a gloved hand.
"Oh, dear. We'd better get you cleaned up, missy. That water's pretty skanky and it's got some awful powerful cleaner in it. Did you swallow any?" he asks, using a rubber-coated finger to flick bubbles from her head back into the bucket.


~~~~
"Ah. It's fine. You're perfectly understandable. Come on in." Adam invites, offering the bear a hand to shake and then unlatching the other door so the giant creature can fit inside the bar.
"Do you want a drink of anything while we talk? I probably can't give you any alcohol but I've got a couple of sodas, lemonade, water..."

[Welsh Halfwit]

Kilo overdid a sigh. "And you thought you were done with children, Josh," he asked, "No nibbling the Rabbit... food, Nadia(!)" The old Mouse waddled over with his piece of Sushi. "You'll need room for dessert, after all."
------------
"Uck, no," Chip said, knocking the side of her head to dislodge slop water from her ear. "Noted where I was going. She was keeping her eyes closed just in case.
------------
"I get that," Thomas told Simon, "but, even if not friends we can still be friendly, yeah? I'll make sure you get the gate code anyhow. Oh," he added, writing on a piece of paper, "here's the code for the front gate as well." he pushed it across to Simon.
-----------
"Ooh, right, what what," Watt replied, in the same 'low' tone. "Best lead the way, what what?" He offered a handpaw to escort Olivia over to a small 'section' of the neighbouring hole that had been set aside as a familiar convenience.
----------
Tracks waited until Olivia was out of earshot before he replied. "Scratch was one of the colony leaders at the silo," he explained. "The 'military' half of the leadership, if you know what I mean? Forever had his nose pointing towards offensive action and proving we were a match for the Ferals. It worked. Until it didn't, yeah?"
-----------
Leslie grinned brightly. "Wanna see it, Nadir?"

[Foxfan2164]

"Yeah I guess you could call it progress." Sliver replied as he took the drink from Nola. He took a sip from the drink. "Mmm.. Thanks for the drink." He added, sincerely. The drink was one of his favorite kinds. "I guess I could come back tomorrow." He told Nola, "I do have to return this cup." He joked.

"I am definitely meeting a lot of people today," Nola commented drily, "Foxes, a certain rodent and his Bear... Anyhow, you may need to knock on a gate tomorrow." She turned to head off. "Oh, Squeaks? I'm sure she'll be waiting for you when you're free. And I'll explain that tomorrow," she added, for Silver's benefit, before puffing back down the path.

"I was on my way there. If you see her, think you could tell her I'll be there soon?" Flash asked Nola. "I'll just finish up with this guy." Flash gave a nod towards Silver.

"So, what are you planing on doing now?" Flash asked Silver.

"I might... I'm not sure." Sliver replied, "I think I should probably bring the cup back." He adds, looking down at the cup in his paws. "Wanna come?" He asks as he turns toward Nola and Simon's place.

[CyberDragon]

"Ah. It's fine. You're perfectly understandable. Come on in." Adam invites, offering the bear a hand to shake and then unlatching the other door so the giant creature can fit inside the bar.
"Do you want a drink of anything while we talk? I probably can't give you any alcohol but I've got a couple of sodas, lemonade, water..."

"Water fine." The bear ducked his head down and climbed through the door. Even with both doors open, it was a tight fit. "So... I not do interview before. How it go?"

------------------------------

"I might... I'm not sure." Sliver replied, "I think I should probably bring the cup back." He adds, looking down at the cup in his paws. "Wanna come?" He asks as he turns toward Nola and Simon's place.

Flash nodded. "I was actually on my way there myself. You go ahead, I'll catch up."

[WeirdGamer]

"Yeeeeeaaaah, but it's not normal compare to average people, howl I have bad luck and even I am not that unlucky"

"I guess so. But, I mean, like right now he's probably fine."
------------
At that moment, Lucky was spinning out of control towards the door of the vet's office and free from the cleaner's grip. He does maintain enough control to make sure Chip lands in the bucket for safety and Piper lands in the potted plant. Meanwhile though, he tumbles outside and down the stairs. "Ouch, omph aiiiie!" After going down the stairs he skids across the parking lot...and then down the hill at the end. "Oh come on!" There is a loud crash, then silence. And then..."Oh hey...these roses smell nice."

[Keeshah]

At that moment, Lucky was spinning out of control towards the door of the vet's office. He does maintain enough control to make sure Chip lands in the bucket for safety and Piper lands in the potted plant. Meanwhile though, he tumbles outside and down the stairs. "Ouch, omph aiiiie!" After going down the stairs he skids across the parking lot...and then down the hill at the end. "Oh come on!" There is a loud crash, then silence. And then..."Oh hey...these roses smell nice."

Moonbeam flicks up his ears..
Haa Haa Haa, is that how you roll?
He taunts from the corral fence.
Didga have a nice trip? Seeya made it to the fall!
But there gonna skin yaa if your eating those prized flowers!!

Kandi comes back down from the barn loft..
Just what are you going on about now?

There is a rabbit trying to escape from the clinic!.. it's hiding in the rose bushes
Kandi goes over to look..
Trying to run out on your bill? or just time for your shots??

[DdeeStar]

"ECP is the Equal Chance Program. Its mission is to integrate animals into human society and thus hopefully win them more rights. It gives them a house, a bank account, a job, stuff like that." the clerk explains.
"Oh, hi, sir, you must be Miss Wilson's owner, uh... Anthony?" he asks, checking the paperwork.
"Everything's fine, sir, and the paperwork's all in order. I was just telling Miss Wilson about the Equal Chance Program, that's all. So, the registration fee is thirty five dollars for a one year licence, or a hundred dollars even for a three year licence. That's for each pet, by the way. So seventy dollars, or two hundred dollars all up."
The clerk wisely decides not to mention that the fees would be considerably less if the pets were fixed.

Cala's eyes shine as she looks at the clerk in amazement. "I want ALL of that. That's the whole human experience!" She claps her hands together and smiles eagerly at the clerk, tail wagging happily.

Anthony massages at the back of her neck with one hand, glad to hear everything was going well so far. "Well, Cala, it's going to be a lot more responsibility. I guess this is probably why Brian wanted you to come with, so you could make this choice, but you can't just sit at home all day any more if you pick this." He gently explains.

She gives him a mixed look of confusion. "Anthony, I hate being stuck home all day. You should know that." Her face betrays a moment of disappointment, her tail pausing, but both the smile and joyful stance return as she addresses the clerk again. "Anything I should know beforehand? More about the jobs maybe? What would I do? I'm a good tracker, is that a thing?"

[Roarin]

Rocky trots off in the requested straight line..
Shouldn't i be the one who is deciding where to go, since i'm the one doing all the walking around here?

"Well in fact that is precisely what this training is for! Down the line when your rider is concentrated elsewhere, and potential bullets are flying through the air, or there are some other hazards around, it'll be up to you to ensure the job gets done, as well as keep you and your rider safe. You could be a venerated hero, and potentially save the day! Though until that time there are some basic maneuvers you should be familiar with, and orders you should be able to follow in the cases where you are being given direction."

As they began to reach one end of the parking lot Riley began to guide Rocky into a gentle trot around the perimeter.

---------------------

"Honestly, I wouldn't mind sleeping either..." Chris sighed. "I feel like I haven't slept in days... and getting knocked out by a bear and then by drugs isn't very restful."

"Well then you should. And you can if you want to, you've been through a lot today. Don't worry, I can keep watch." Senka gave Chris a warm smile and nodded in reassurance.

[Foxfan2164]

"I might... I'm not sure." Sliver replied, "I think I should probably bring the cup back." He adds, looking down at the cup in his paws. "Wanna come?" He asks as he turns toward Nola and Simon's place.

Flash nodded. "I was actually on my way there myself. You go ahead, I'll catch up."

"Alright. See you there." Sliver said as he walked up the path towards the house he visited. He juggled the cup in his hand and almost dropped it a couple of times. After clumsily playing around with the cup, he reached the bush with the hole. He peeked through the hole. "Hello? Any one there?" He called.

[Keeshah]

"Well in fact that is precisely what this training is for! Down the line when your rider is concentrated elsewhere, and potential bullets are flying through the air, or there are some other hazards around, it'll be up to you to ensure the job gets done, as well as keep you and your rider safe. You could be a venerated hero, and potentially save the day! Though until that time there are some basic maneuvers you should be familiar with, and orders you should be able to follow in the cases where you are being given direction."

Wait what!?? where did bullets come from? Keep the rider safe? who is keeping ME safe!!!
Spaying his longears out widely.
I am to be an expendable hooman shield? Who comes up with these rules?? Do i get full body flak armor?

As they began to reach one end of the parking lot Riley began to guide Rocky into a gentle trot around the perimeter.

Rocky trots along as directed, while going over every worse case scenario in his mind.. As he clips clops along..

[Welsh Halfwit]

Nola took a second to catch her breath and look normal as she stepped through the hole in the hedge to see Thomas and Simon talking. "Well," she said, stepping towards them, "at least you're..."

"Hello? Any one there?"

Silver's 'Halloo' made her jump about five feet. Thomas had to suppress a chuckle.
"Yes, Nola said, dusting herself off and trying to look like she'd not just had a panic attack, "We're here, Silver. Wanna meet the Human?"

[Serence Frostbite]

Flynn's ears and eyebrows go up and he glances at Nadia with mock suspicion.
"Are you saying she's going to eat my salad herself?" he asks innocently.
"Kiiiiiloooooo, Josh says Nadia's gonna eat all my fooooooood!" he whines at the mouse, once again drawing out his accent so it sounds almost nasally.

"awww, I'm not though, I'm not" Nadia laughed, giving Flynn a hug and a gentle nuzzle "you're so adorable"

Kilo overdid a sigh. "And you thought you were done with children, Josh," he asked, "No nibbling the Rabbit... food, Nadia(!)" The old Mouse waddled over with his piece of Sushi. "You'll need room for dessert, after all."

Josh snickered a little as he left to get another drink for himself
"It's ok Kilo, I got my dessert right her" the vixen said, giving Flynn a lick on his ear

"I guess so. But, I mean, like right now he's probably fine."

"Probably......I should visit him one of these days, maybe.."

[Hlaoroo]

Flynn returns the nuzzle but wags a stern finger at the vixen as she mentions dessert.
"Lagomorphs are for loving, not for lunch." he reminds her playfully.

~~~~
"I suppose." Simon shrugs. "Don't bite the hand that feeds you and all that."

The fox snickers as the cat jumps, forgetting in his amusement to take the gate code.

~~~~
"Good, good. Did it get in your eyes? I notice you haven't opened- Oh dear!" The cleaner, whose name is Charlie, runs after the flailing rabbit but is too slow to catch him.
"No, ma'am. Mister Rabbit here slipped in my water and then tripped on my mop. I was too slow to catch him. Reckon you can fix him up? I gotta give Miss Mousey here a bath. In a proper bath this time." he asks in his Southern twang, indicating the rodent in his rubber-wrapped hand.

Meanwhile, Piper is left standing confused in the lobby.

~~~~
Joan smiles to herself, seeing the kitten perk up, beginning to think that he'll be al right after all.

~~~~
"I see...I think... I'm sorry for your loss. I take it Flash and his friend saved you too?" Ed asks, nervously waiting for his daughter to reappear.

~~~~
"The ECP usually helps animals get more... Human jobs." the clerk says carefully.
"How about this? We'll get you registered as a pet today, and I can send you home with a brochure and paperwork to look over, and you can take the week to think about it and discuss it, and if you decide after that you want to join the ECP then I'll refund your pet registration fee and I'll process the ECP application instead." he suggests.

~~~~
Adam picks up a glass, realises how ridiculously small it is for the bear, puts it back, and fills a four pint jug instead.
"Well, it's nothing scary." Adam informs Deus, offering him the water.
"We just have a friendly chat, I ask you some questions, and we see if we're a good fit for each other. Hmm..." he pauses and looks around, and then leads the bear to the low stage in one corner of the bar.
"I'd offer you a chair but I don't really have any that'll fit. You're welcome to sit on the edge of the stage if you want, though." he invites. Once both human and bear are comfortable, the interview begins in earnest.
"So, what interested you in the job? Have you done anything like this before?"

[Welsh Halfwit]

"Saw where I was go... whoa!" Chip started to repeat, before gripping on as the cleaner moved She waited until he stopped before speaking again. "What happened? Was it Lucky? I bet it was Lucky. Is he OK? Is Piper OK?
-----------
Thomas moved to Nola. "You alright, Nola," he asked.
The Feline made a show of dusting herself off, despite the fact she didn't have any dust on her. "Of course," she said in the blazé manner of nonchalent Cats. "This is Silver, by the way."
----------
"Thanks for that," Tracks commented, "and it's more the case he provides a safe place to live than he rescued us. But he's a good guy. Wouldn't be the same without him."
----------
"You'll find these little rooms all around, what what," Watt told Olivia as he kept his back to her. "But best only use the ones you know of, yes, what what?"
---------
Kilo returned to his little lunch as he wondered if Nadia and Flynn were going to get a room after(!)

[SeanWolf]

Standing outside the Elementary school, a jaguar, dressed in a red and black plaid button shirt and dark blue pants, stood there, taking in his surroundings as he prepped himself a bit and made sure he had everything he needed before entering the building. He took a few deep breaths before opening the door and headed to the office. Walking up to one of the office aids, he cleared his throat and said, his silky deep voice flowing out of his mouth like a gentle breeze, "Uh, excuse me? Forgive me for interrupting your work, but my name is Eldrick Nightshade. I was told to report here after I settled in? I'm the new teacher here from Red Haven."

[CyberDragon]

"Well then you should. And you can if you want to, you've been through a lot today. Don't worry, I can keep watch." Senka gave Chris a warm smile and nodded in reassurance.

Chris simply nodded and leaned his head back on his pillow, closing his eyes.

-------------------------------

"Alright. See you there." Sliver said as he walked up the path towards the house he visited. He juggled the cup in his hand and almost dropped it a couple of times. After clumsily playing around with the cup, he reached the bush with the hole. He peeked through the hole. "Hello? Any one there?" He called.

Meanwhile, Flash jumped down from his branch. He was a little surprised the wild fox didn't even comment about the mouse being food, but he wasn't complaining. Flash bolted through the grass, sending bits of dust and dirt into the air and breaking through the lawn on his way to the house. It was like a jungle to him, with the grass reaching above his head, but it barely slowed him.

Soon, Flash bolted clear past Silver, Nola, and Simon on his way to the house. He skidded to a stop next to the door and tapped the glass to try to see if anyone would let him in.

-------------------------------

Adam picks up a glass, realises how ridiculously small it is for the bear, puts it back, and fills a four pint jug instead.
"Well, it's nothing scary." Adam informs Deus, offering him the water.
"We just have a friendly chat, I ask you some questions, and we see if we're a good fit for each other. Hmm..." he pauses and looks around, and then leads the bear to the low stage in one corner of the bar.
"I'd offer you a chair but I don't really have any that'll fit. You're welcome to sit on the edge of the stage if you want, though." he invites. Once both human and bear are comfortable, the interview begins in earnest.
"So, what interested you in the job? Have you done anything like this before?"

"Thanks." Deus nodded and accepted the jug. He carefully stepped over, turned, and sat down on the stage. The wood in the stage creaked in protest under the bear's weight. "I look for job for number reasons." He began. "Winter coming, and I not have stores for sleep. Since I not able sleep, must have reliable food source. Humans have lots food. Job help me pay for some. Bouncer job interesting. I protect prey species around home every day. I experience in fighting, scaring off predators. Keep home safe. Save human from cougars once." He brought the jug up to his mouth and took a drink, draining nearly half of it in one gulp. "I deter other easily. I visible, trouble stop. No one want start trouble with bear around." Deus smirked.

[DdeeStar]

"The ECP usually helps animals get more... Human jobs." the clerk says carefully.
"How about this? We'll get you registered as a pet today, and I can send you home with a brochure and paperwork to look over, and you can take the week to think about it and discuss it, and if you decide after that you want to join the ECP then I'll refund your pet registration fee and I'll process the ECP application instead." he suggests.

Cala looks behind the clerk, crossing her arms as she considers it. Anthony takes initiative with a thankful smile. "That sounds like a better plan. We should discuss this and your deal with Brian. If I mess with his schedule thing right after you came back, he's probably gonna murder me." Anthony pulls out a checkbook, setting it on the table and patting at his pockets for a pen. "You guys take these? Who do I make them out to?" Cala continues staring at the wall, opening her mouth as if to speak, but it simply drifts shut after a moment.

[Foxfan2164]

Nola took a second to catch her breath and look normal as she stepped through the hole in the hedge to see Thomas and Simon talking. "Well," she said, stepping towards them, "at least you're..."

"Hello? Any one there?"

Silver's 'Halloo' made her jump about five feet. Thomas had to suppress a chuckle.
"Yes, Nola said, dusting herself off and trying to look like she'd not just had a panic attack, "We're here, Silver. Wanna meet the Human?"

Sliver took a step inside, passing his head through the bush. "Sure." he replied simply, walking towards Nola.

[WeirdGamer]

Moonbeam flicks up his ears..
Haa Haa Haa, is that how you roll?
He taunts from the corral fence.
Didga have a nice trip? Seeya made it to the fall!
But there gonna skin yaa if your eating those prized flowers!!

Kandi comes back down from the barn loft..
Just what are you going on about now?

There is a rabbit trying to escape from the clinic!.. it's hiding in the rose bushes
Kandi goes over to look..
Trying to run out on your bill? or just time for your shots??

Lucky squirms in the bush. "I wasn't-ow, thorns! I wasn't trying to outrun anything but my own luck. I don't suppose you could help me out of here?"

He manages to move on hand to his collar and pulls out his phone. He texts Piper, "Am in rose bush. U and Chip OK?"
-----------------

"Probably......I should visit him one of these days, maybe.."

"We could do it after we eat," suggests Ryyn.

[Keeshah]

Lucky squirms in the bush. "I wasn't-ow, thorns! I wasn't trying to outrun anything but my own luck. I don't suppose you could help me out of here?"

He manages to move on hand to his collar and pulls out his phone. He texts Piper, "Am in rose bush. U and Chip OK?"

Kandi reaches down and picks the bunny up out of the rose bushes..
ofcourse, there you go. nothing broken? scraped? punctured?

Did he survive? or are we having rabbit for dinner??

Since when did you become carnivorous Moonbeam?

[Roarin]

"Of course not! If anything you're quite an important asset to the department if you choose to continue working with us." Riley quipped, giving the donkey an encouraging pat on the neck.

"And I apologize for making you fret. I was merely speaking in hypotheticals, though regardless of the situation I do hope to eventually earn your trust. In the past I would've reassured you that there isn't much in terms of a ruckus around this particular town, though it appears since my departure, and in recent history that a string of rousing events have been occurring. You two wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?

[Keeshah]

"And I apologize for making you fret. I was merely speaking in hypotheticals, though regardless of the situation I do hope to eventually earn your trust. In the past I would've reassured you that there isn't much in terms of a ruckus around this particular town, though it appears since my departure, and in recent history that a string of rousing events have been occurring. You two wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?

Nope i wouldn't.. We never get out of the fields, So when we do, we have to hurry up and run amuck..
Yeah!.. you like running through mud like i do too!!

[Serence Frostbite]

Flynn returns the nuzzle but wags a stern finger at the vixen as she mentions dessert.
"Lagomorphs are for loving, not for lunch." he reminds her playfully.

"Lagmo-what?"
"Rabbit"
"Oh!" Nadia laughed it off
"But bunny is sweet though" she said, feeding Flynn the last of his meal.

"We could do it after we eat," suggests Ryyn.

"Hmm.....I mean. Flynn's arm still hurt, I don't know if it's a good idea right now, to be honest."

[Keeshah]

"Good, good. Did it get in your eyes? I notice you haven't opened- Oh dear!" The cleaner, whose name is Charlie, runs after the flailing rabbit but is too slow to catch him.
"No, ma'am. Mister Rabbit here slipped in my water and then tripped on my mop. I was too slow to catch him. Reckon you can fix him up? I gotta give Miss Mousey here a bath. In a proper bath this time." he asks in his Southern twang, indicating the rodent in his rubber-wrapped hand.

I don't think he need any fixing up.. Sniffing at the bunny..
But maybe you could give him a bath as well.
Handing the bunny over to the cleaner.

[Welsh Halfwit]

"Oh heya, Miss Kandi," the soggy Chip said, hearing the youngster's voice, "You're not here for anything serious, I hope? Nothing wrong with the mighty Moggy?"
-----------------
"Hey, Flash," Sally said, opening the door so Flash could hear the sounds of conversation from the table. "Juniper's listening to stories on the radio if you want to join her? Need a hand?" She knelt to offer assistance. "Heya, Flash" Juniper called over something that sounded like a spy thriller.
----------------
"So," Thomas said, offering a hand to Silver as Nola made for the chairs to sit down, "you're another street Fox, Silver?"
"We're not <hff> adopting him," Nola said over her shoulder as she sat down.

[Keeshah]

"Oh heya, Miss Kandi," the soggy Chip said, hearing the youngster's voice, "You're not here for anything serious, I hope? Nothing wrong with the mighty Moggy?"

Nothing that a good scrub down bath won't cure..

Moving on after having handed the bunny off to the cleaner to clean..
to look in on the cougars.
Senka, you going to sleep here. or you coming home to get cleaned up and bed down in your own den.?

[Foxfan2164]

"So," Thomas said, offering a hand to Silver as Nola made for the chairs to sit down, "you're another street Fox, Silver?"
"We're not <hff> adopting him," Nola said over her shoulder as she sat down.

"Uh... yeah I guess you could call me that." Sliver replied with a shrug, "I live in the woods but I'm not sure If that'd change anything."

[Hlaoroo]

"Eh, Lucky's fine. He won't hurt me. We can see if Piper is free too." Flynn suggests after swallowing his last morsel.
"Can you refill my glass please, Nadia? Don't think I can lift the jug one-pawed."

~~~~
Simon stays quietly on his chair, not taking his eyes off the new fox.

~~~~
"Ooh, yeah. I did put manure in that garden yesterday mornin'. Roses just love manure and your horses sure do produce a lot of it, ma'am. Come on, Mister Rabbit. Let's getcha to the showers so ya smell nice for your lady friend." Charlie suggests, putting a gloved hand on Lucky's shoulders and leading him back up the steps.
"They'll be fine. Are you okay, Miss Mouse?" he answers the rodent.

~~~~
I'm fime. In the lobby. Lost Chip though. U seen her? Piper texts back.

~~~~
"Yeah, he's a good guy." Ed agrees.

~~~~
"Yes, Mr. Watt. I don't wanna get lost. It's a big place! Much bigger than our nest! I'll be sad to go home again." Olivia answers, once she's relieved herself.

~~~~
"Don't worry, Miss Wolf." the clerk smiles, passing Anthony a laminated card with the necessary details for the check and guessing the reason for Cala's irritation.
"The decision to join the ECP is yours alone. Legally your 'owners' can't stop you. I'm just saying you should make sure you understand what you're getting yourself into before you make the decision, that's all. Once you're in it's not easy to get out again."

~~~~
"True! I definitely wouldn't want to fight you! And those sound like pretty good reasons. I've definitely heard worse... How are you at telling humans apart? I know some animals find it a bit tricky - heck, even some humans do."

~~~~
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately for Eldrick, the "office aide" he picks happens to be the principal.
"Ah, welcome, Eldrick. Right on time too! I'm Julie Thornton, the principal." the principal greets, offering the big cat a friendly hand.
"These are Grant and Jill, two of our lovely office "ladies". Do feel free to ask them if you need anything." the lady invites, getting a long-suffering eyeroll from Grant.
"Don't worry, it's just a joke between me and Grant. We've known each other for years. He's not really offended." she assures the jaguar.
"So, how have you found our little town so far?"

[DdeeStar]

"Don't worry, Miss Wolf." the clerk smiles, passing Anthony a laminated card with the necessary details for the check and guessing the reason for Cala's irritation.

"Thaaaank you." Anthony replies as he leans onto the desk to write up the details.

"The decision to join the ECP is yours alone. Legally your 'owners' can't stop you. I'm just saying you should make sure you understand what you're getting yourself into before you make the decision, that's all. Once you're in it's not easy to get out again."

A flash of the devil smile gleams in Cala's fangs for but a moment, the canine nodding her agreement with an imitated sagely countenance. "Of course. That's a big leap to take without being properly informed. Rarely are things as rosy as they seem." She steps over to the rack to grab all the brochures with the ECP acronym anywhere on it or related to pet opportunities in the community, fanning them out in her hands. "Nice. Though the way you phrase that makes it sound really ominous."

Anthony answers with a quick "Either way, knowledge is power.", standing up to hand both the filled-out check and the card back. Cala steps towards the door, continuing to face the clerk for Anthony's next question. "Anything else I'm forgetting?" He asks with a bit of embarrassment, the wolf spinning to watch the horses outside through the doors as her tail swishes eagerly.

[Welsh Halfwit]

Leslie led the way down to the garage, only going wrong once on his way down. "Um, yew betur tell us abowt the car, Anty Joan,"
-------------
Watt looked over towards Ed and Tracks before looking back at Olivia. "Oh dear," the inventor said quietly, crouching by the child. He put his hands on her shoulders. "I rather think you're moving in with us, Olivia," he said gently. "We'll have to introduce you to the other children, hmm? Uh, what what."
-------------
"I seem to be smelling of dust and soap," Chip complained, "And I'm pretty sure I'm looking rather grey." She opened an eye and glanced down. "Not my natural shade," she chuckled.
-------------
Kilo kept an eye on the love-Kits, just making sure Flynn wasn't taking advantage somehow.
------------
"Just means your <hff> street's got trees is all, pal." Nola pushed Sliver's chair out for him, deliberately putting Thomas between the newcomer and Simon if Thomas got the hint. "You can say something," she remarked, tapping Simon on the handpaw.

[CyberDragon]

"Hey, Flash," Sally said, opening the door so Flash could hear the sounds of conversation from the table. "Juniper's listening to stories on the radio if you want to join her? Need a hand?" She knelt to offer assistance. "Heya, Flash" Juniper called over something that sounded like a spy thriller.

"Sure! Sounds interesting!" Flash said, hopping on to Sally's hand. "Hi Juniper! I'm back! Deus had to get to a job interview."

----------------------------

"True! I definitely wouldn't want to fight you! And those sound like pretty good reasons. I've definitely heard worse... How are you at telling humans apart? I know some animals find it a bit tricky - heck, even some humans do."

"Good. Have good nose." Deus commented with a tap to his muzzle. "Each human has unique smell. It replace... change depending on... where go. What do. Hunter smell like mud and blood. Police brother smell metal and paper, small bit sulfur. You smell like..." The bear's nose twitched, then he rubbed his muzzle and tried to hold back a sneeze. "Whiskey, Bourbon, Ale, Beer, overripe fruit... You get idea. Environment smells mix with personal smells." Deus explained. "Eyes not bad either. Humans look different."

[Welsh Halfwit]

"He'll be fine, Flash. Oh, it's something called 'The Lives of Harry Lime'," Juniper explained as Sally carried her new cargo over to the table and lifted him up. The blind Mouse moved across to a small radio on the table. "It's some classic stories station. Like TV for the blind, eh?"
"It's a soft touch one," Sally explained, "so even a Mouse can turn it on and off."

[SeanWolf]

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately for Eldrick, the "office aide" he picks happens to be the principal.
"Ah, welcome, Eldrick. Right on time too! I'm Julie Thornton, the principal." the principal greets, offering the big cat a friendly hand.
"These are Grant and Jill, two of our lovely office "ladies". Do feel free to ask them if you need anything." the lady invites, getting a long-suffering eyeroll from Grant.
"Don't worry, it's just a joke between me and Grant. We've known each other for years. He's not really offended." she assures the jaguar.
"So, how have you found our little town so far?"

"Pleasure to meet you, Julie," Eldrick replied as he accepted the hand shake, chuckling a little at the joke, "This is a nice town you have. Very peaceful and serene. May I also add that the superintendent of my old job spoke very highly of both the town and this school to me and, judging by our first interaction, I must say she was right in saying this is a very friendly school."