HPU - Richardson Valley

[Hlaoroo]

Scruff practically jumped to his feet as Sam fell to the ground and struggled to remember if he was wearing pyjamas or not as he headed over to help Sam up. She beat him to it. "Shoulda figgured you didn't need help," he told his new 'sister' sheepishly.

"I appreciate de tought anyway." Sam smiles at the raccoon. "And I would have needed help if de bed hadn't been dere to pull myself up on."

Sam stretches and decides that she's too awake to go back to sleep. She grabs a brush and thoroughly brushes her stump, making sure there are no lumps, knots or mats in the fur that might cause pressure points. Next she carefully rolls on a fresh gel liner, making sure there are no wrinkles or air bubbles, and then slides into the socket of the prosthetic. After rolling up the sealing sleeve she thumbs the button on the vacuum pump to remove any remaining air between the stump and the socket. That done, she's ready to face the day.

"Right. Ready for breakfast, Scruff?" she asks, heading for the door.

~~~~~~~~
Finishing her song, Fletcher spots some clover growing amongst the dandelions and grabs a pawful to eat. Feeling contented, she beings to play another song.
"Oh, what a beautiful mornin'! Oh, what a beautiful day! I got a beautiful feelin' everythin's goin' my way!"

[Serence Frostbite]

"Well," David counselled, stroking her side, "I know we have things to do today but we have at least a half hour before our 'daughter' gets up and..." He heard a soft thump from the next room. "Or, maybe, half a minute?"

"if only huh" Selene chuckled, then gave David a kiss "We should probably get up though"

[Keeshah]

meanwhile Lucky has been moving through the flock of unprotected sheep dyeing their wool. Hot Pink, Neon green, Cool powder blue, an vibrant yellow.
There we go, Taste that rainbow!.
Moving off into the morning fog, to return home...

[Welsh Halfwit]

David sighed and got up, letting Selene enjoy the view until he got his pyjama bottoms on. "I suppose we better had," he said, before offering Selane a hand. "I have to make waffles for Jay. Honestly, the way she ate those yesterday..." He chuckled at the memory of the mess.
-------------------------------------------
Scruff did a little skip and probably called out too loud. "Yay, breakfast! My tummy and I like breakfast," He trotted to keep up with sis.

[Serence Frostbite]

David sighed and got up, letting Selene enjoy the view until he got his pyjama bottoms on. "I suppose we better had," he said, before offering Selane a hand. "I have to make waffles for Jay. Honestly, the way she ate those yesterday..." He chuckled at the memory of the mess.

"I'm just glad she enjoyed it. She needed simple joy like that I think" Selene smiled gently as she took David's hand
"Anyway, new day, new things to do!" the vixen said before giving David a kiss, then lead him out the bedroom door.

[Hlaoroo]

Scruff did a little skip and probably called out too loud. "Yay, breakfast! My tummy and I like breakfast," He trotted to keep up with sis.

"Aye, I can hear it askin' for it." Sam laughs. As she opens the bedroom door, the mouth-watering scents of toast and melted cheese float in, overlaid with the warm smell of wood smoke.
"Ooh. Smell dat? We're in for a treat!" she enthuses, leading the way down the hall and into the living room where Sean is removing a cast iron sandwich maker from the open fireplace and tipping the toasted sandwiches onto a plate as Morna pours boiling water over tea bags.

"Maidin mhaith, sibh beirt! Cúramach, tá an iarann ​​ceapaire te!" Sean greets the pair.

"Maidin mhaith, a Dhaid! Boladh sé iontach! An ndearna tú go leor dúinn?" Sam answers, not realising they've switched to Gaelic.

"Ar ndóigh! Cáis agus avocado le blastanas duit, agus le sicín breise don chuid eile againn! N'fheadar cé chomh fada a thógfadh sé an boladh chun tú a dhúiseacht."

"I tink youse two oughta be after speakin' in English before Poor Scruff's head explodes." Morna grins.
"Shall I be after makin' youse tea?"

"Oh! Right! Sorry, Scruff! I didn't even realise I'd changed language dere! You'll have to remind me to teach you Irish Gaelic some time." Sam apologises. "Er, let's see... Dad said good mornin' and warned us not to touch de sandwich iron because it's hot. I said it smells good and asked if he made us sandwiches, he said he did and he's surprised the smell didn't wake us. Cheese and seasoned avocado for me, and the same but wit'... Er... Er... Carp... What's de word in English? ... Nope, I forgot it. Sometimes bein' bilingual is hard!" Sam laughs.
"You know, meat from... Dat bird... Brawk brawk." she falters, flapping her arms like wings and clucking like a hen.

~~~~~~~~
In the park, Fletcher finishes her meal of wild greens and her song and contemplates her next move. David's house is closer, but on the other paw, she's quickly grown close to Sam over the past few days. The two does have discovered many similarities, from similar tastes in music and books, to the fact that they've both been sterilised, Fletcher as a result of her injuries and Sam due to her breeder not wanting to risk passing on her "defective genes".

In the end her mind is made up as she spies a fox in the fog.
"Well, well, well, Lucky. I've heard of a green thumb, but multicoloured paws is stretching the metaphor a bit far, don't you think? What mischief have you gotten into this morning?" she asks, getting to her feet and slinging the guitar over her back.

[Welsh Halfwit]

As Sam and Fam spoke to each other, Scruff looked on in confusion, his head tilting sideways as he tried to work out if his ears were fooling him. Still tilting... He smiled and straightened up quickly as Miss Morna spoke to him in English. He knew that one! "Um... It;s a Chikun," he told Sam. "Thought you were being aliens," he said happily. "Met one once, in a park at night... He looked human but said he was Prince Zargan from the Bryonic nebula..."
-------------------------------------
David stepped back as a Jackalope blurr vizzed into the bathroom and locked the door. "Morning, Jay," he called. "Breakfast in ten?"

[Keeshah]

In the park, Fletcher finishes her meal of wild greens and her song and contemplates her next move. David's house is closer, but on the other paw, she's quickly grown close to Sam over the past few days. The two does have discovered many similarities, from similar tastes in music and books, to the fact that they've both been sterilised, Fletcher as a result of her injuries and Sam due to her breeder not wanting to risk passing on her "defective genes".

In the end her mind is made up as she spies a fox in the fog.
"Well, well, well, Lucky. I've heard of a green thumb, but multicoloured paws is stretching the metaphor a bit far, don't you think? What mischief have you gotten into this morning?" she asks, getting to her feet and slinging the guitar over her back.

Oi you wee lass. just livening up the lives of a few in need of some color..
you in need of a making over yourself?

[Hlaoroo]

"Well, at least you had the decency to ask." Fletcher comments dryly.
"But no thanks. I like my fur how it is. The question is, are you going to dye your own fur now? Or do you want to be caught red-pawed? And blue pawed, and green pawed, and yellow pawed?"

~~~~~~~~
Sam laughs, accepting a mug of peppermint tea from Morna.
"Did he smell like a bar, by any chance, Scruff?" she asks as Sean passes out plates of sandwiches.

"Careful, dey're hot, especially de melted cheese. I always tink toasted sandwiches don't taste right wit'out de smokiness from de fire dough." he warns.

"Tanks, Dad. Oh, an' Scruff? Dis is sometin' you can eat wit yer paws." Sam winks at the raccoon.

"Will I be after makin' you a cuppa tea, Scruff?" Morna asks again.

[Welsh Halfwit]

"He was a bit smelly," Scruff said, scratching an itch at the base of his tail. "Um... yes, please... Missus Morna..." He grimaced a little. "Mom?" Obeying Sam's instructions, he waited until it cooled a moment before starting, picking it upand starting on it happily.

[Serence Frostbite]

David stepped back as a Jackalope blurr vizzed into the bathroom and locked the door. "Morning, Jay," he called. "Breakfast in ten?"

Selene chuckled as Jay ran passed, as she made her way to the kitchen and started setting the table

[Keeshah]

"Well, at least you had the decency to ask." Fletcher comments dryly.
"But no thanks. I like my fur how it is. The question is, are you going to dye your own fur now? Or do you want to be caught red-pawed? And blue pawed, and green pawed, and yellow pawed?"

Aaaa my great lass.. just a bit of Black dye, and i'll be all back to normal colourings..

[Hlaoroo]

"Heh. Good luck gettin' that done before your owners notice. Guess that'll teach you to wear gloves next time, huh?" Fletcher says.
"Or better still, just to say out of trouble."

~~~~~~~~
"Er, did you just scratch your butt?" Sam asks, pausing with her sandwich halfway to her mouth as she was on the wrong side of Scruff to see exactly where his paw went.
"If so, dat's a bit gross and you should probably wash your paws before eatin'."

"'S okay, Sam. I tink it was just his tail." Sean reassures the doe, having been on the other side of the raccoon.

"Oh, dat's okay den. So, how's yer breakfast, Scruff?"

"So, youse two have any plans for de day?" Morna asks, passing Sean his mug of tea, and settling down with her own tea and plate of toasted sandwiches.

[Keeshah]

"Heh. Good luck gettin' that done before your owners notice. Guess that'll teach you to wear gloves next time, huh?" Fletcher says.
"Or better still, just to say out of trouble."

By this time in my life, they will just shake their heads, and go on with what they are doing..

[Welsh Halfwit]

"Tea's good," Scruff admitted, judging by the smell alone as he'd not tried it yet. "Cheese is cheesy," he added, grinning at his own joke before taking another bite and waving a paw as it was a bit hotter than expected. He sipped the tea to cool it.. "Um..." he continued after swallowing. "Dunno. What Sam wants, I tink... think? Sorry."
---------------------------------------------
David made breakfast and doled it onto plates, 'accidentally' fingerstroking Selene's hand.

[Serence Frostbite]

David made breakfast and doled it onto plates, 'accidentally' fingerstroking Selene's hand.

The vixen chuckled, then flipped her palm to gently squeezed David's hand in turn
"Got you!" she whispered jokingly

[Hlaoroo]

"Heh. I'm... Not entirely sure if that's a good or a bad thing." Fletcher tells the fox before pulling her phone from her collar as it buzzes. Checking it, she sees a text from Sam.

"Any plans for today?"
"Nope. Was hoping u, S, or D & Co did. she texts back.
"Nope. Meet you @ their place after breakfast then?"
"Sure. See you there."

The big doe puts her phone away and looks back at the fox.

"Welp. Looks like I'm headed to David's place in a bit. Want to come, Lucky? Or will you dye your paws first?"

~~~~~~~~
Sam looks up from her phone as Scruff mentions her name.
"I've got nottin', nor does Fletcher. We're gonna meet at David's after breakfast and see if dey've got any ideas. Assumin' dat works for you, Scruff?"

[Keeshah]

"Heh. I'm... Not entirely sure if that's a good or a bad thing." Fletcher tells the fox before pulling her phone from her collar as it buzzes. Checking it, she sees a text from Sam.

"Welp. Looks like I'm headed to David's place in a bit. Want to come, Lucky? Or will you dye your paws first?"

Lucky jumps up to give the big doe a hug, in his fabulously coloured paws..
Why i'd love too. i thought you would never ask..

[Welsh Halfwit]

Scruff grinned. "Lived life on street," he said, "doin' nothing with friends sounds good... Sis." He hoped inner me wouldn't comment on that. He stayed quiet as Scruff took another drink from the tea.
-----------------------------------------
"We got each other last night," David said, gently kissing Selene as Jay mock-gagged. He thought over the events of the last few days and the deals done to end the fuss for the moment. "I could do with a day off," he mooted. "Shall we go out for the day? Picnic or something?"

[Hlaoroo]

"Woah, down boy!" Fletcher says, shoving the fox back.
"Don't make me get you fixed." she jokes, leading the way towards David and Selene's house.

On arriving, she raises her fist to knock, and then grins as a more fun idea occurs to her. Swinging her guitar back in front of her she starts to strum an upbeat tune.
"HERE I AM, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK, RAT TAT A-TAT TAT TAT! IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS UP THAT DOOR I WILL COME IN (I WILL COME IN!) AND EAT WITH HIM (AND EAT WITH HIM!) AND HE WITH ME! REVELATION THREE TWENTY! RAT TAT TAT! OPEN UP THE DOOR!" she belts out, punctuating each RAT TAT with a series of knocks matching the rhythm of the words.

~~~~~~~~
"Sounds like a plan den, bro." Sam answers.
"Except I never said we'd be doin' nottin'. Who knows? Dey could take us bungee jumpin' or sometin'! Ever wanted to try bungee jumpin', Scruff?"

[Serence Frostbite]

"We got each other last night," David said, gently kissing Selene as Jay mock-gagged. He thought over the events of the last few days and the deals done to end the fuss for the moment. "I could do with a day off," he mooted. "Shall we go out for the day? Picnic or something?"

"A break would be nice" Selene chuckled "Could check up on our friends as well. see how everyon-"

"Woah, down boy!" Fletcher says, shoving the fox back.
"Don't make me get you fixed." she jokes, leading the way towards David and Selene's house.

On arriving, she raises her fist to knock, and then grins as a more fun idea occurs to her. Swinging her guitar back in front of her she starts to strum an upbeat tune.
"HERE I AM, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK, RAT TAT A-TAT TAT TAT! IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS UP THAT DOOR I WILL COME IN (I WILL COME IN!) AND EAT WITH HIM (AND EAT WITH HIM!) AND HE WITH ME! REVELATION THREE TWENTY! RAT TAT TAT! OPEN UP THE DOOR!" she belts out, punctuating each RAT TAT with a series of knocks matching the rhythm of the words.

"Speaking of friends" the vixen let out a half laugh "Should have mentioned winning a lottery instead" she winked at David, then headed out to open the door
"Didn't expect a wake up bard today! Welcome!" she greeted

[Keeshah]

"Woah, down boy!" Fletcher says, shoving the fox back.
"Don't make me get you fixed." she jokes, leading the way towards David and Selene's house.

Lucky flats back his ears...
You sound scary close to what my owner is always saying..

On arriving, she raises her fist to knock, and then grins as a more fun idea occurs to her. Swinging her guitar back in front of her she starts to strum an upbeat tune.
"HERE I AM, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK, RAT TAT A-TAT TAT TAT! IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS UP THAT DOOR I WILL COME IN (I WILL COME IN!) AND EAT WITH HIM (AND EAT WITH HIM!) AND HE WITH ME! REVELATION THREE TWENTY! RAT TAT TAT! OPEN UP THE DOOR!" she belts out, punctuating each RAT TAT with a series of knocks matching the rhythm of the words.

Trying to wake the dead?

[Welsh Halfwit]

Scruff thought about it hard enough that he closed his eyes and put a clawtip to his teeth. "Um," he said eventually, "I don't even know what that is."
-----------------------------------------------
"Hmm," David mused, heading to the front door. "Bit early in the year for carol singers." He opened the door. "Ah, the first nightingale of the season," he said before giving the big Doe a hug. "And her craziest local fan," he added, offering Lucky a handshake. "Come in." He hoped he didn't smell completely of Selene...

[Hlaoroo]

Sam, having been putting her phone away, pulls it out again and brings up a video of bungee jumping which she shows the raccoon.
"Whatchoo tink?' she asks Scruff after a few moments.

~~~~~~~~
"Mornin', all!" Fletcher greets, awkwardly returning David's hug with one arm, the other holding the guitar out of the way.
"Oh! Sorry, Selene! Did we wake you? We can come back later if it ain't convenient right now." she offers, tactfully not mentioning the smell of fox in the dog's fur.

Trying to wake the dead?

"Just the livin', apparently." Fletcher tells the tod over her shoulder.

[Serence Frostbite]

"No worries about that" Selene chuckled, standing aside "We were up a little while back actually. Oh, you guys had breakfast yet?"

[Keeshah]

"Hmm," David mused, heading to the front door. "Bit early in the year for carol singers." He opened the door. "Ah, the first nightingale of the season," he said before giving the big Doe a hug. "And her craziest local fan," he added, offering Lucky a handshake. "Come in." He hoped he didn't smell completely of Selene...

Lucky shakes paws with his colourful paws. Giving David an quick sniffing over, almost like a dog greeting, but says nothing, besides,
I thought you have to sing for your supper! not breakfast..

[Welsh Halfwit]

David chuckled, knowing full well what Lucky had been doing. "Get in," he said, gently pushing the Fox with a hand to the back of his head. "So, as Selene asked, do you two want some breakfast?"
------------------------------------------
Scruff thought something internal was constricting as his face grimaced and his ears twisted back. "Do Humans want to die," he asked honestly.

[Hlaoroo]

"Thanks, but I already ate. There was a really nice patch of fresh clover and dandelions in the park." Fletcher answers, gesturing over her shoulder with a thumb in the direction she'd come from as she follows the dog and foxes into the house.

I thought you have to sing for your supper! not breakfast..

"Supper, breakfast, lunch, dinner, midnight, doesn't bother me when I sing!" Fletcher tells Lucky, strumming a chord on her guitar for effect.

~~~~~~~~
"No, dey just like feelin' like dey're goin' to." Sam assures Scruff.
"I guess dat means you don't want to try it. Maybe skydivin' is more your style." she grins, showing the raccoon a video of this too.

[Keeshah]

"Supper, breakfast, lunch, dinner, midnight, doesn't bother me when I sing!" Fletcher tells Lucky, strumming a chord on her guitar for effect.

well, if that is what's required...
Sweeping out in dance along with his singing..
No ones gonna break my stride, no ones going to slow me down, Oh no.. I gotta keep on moving..

[Serence Frostbite]

"Thanks, but I already ate. There was a really nice patch of fresh clover and dandelions in the park." Fletcher answers, gesturing over her shoulder with a thumb in the direction she'd come from as she follows the dog and foxes into the house.
"Hope no one at the park would mind that" Selene said, closing the door behind her when everyone got in.
"So, how did you train Lucky to sing?" she asked with a big grin.

[Welsh Halfwit]

"Well, we're just getting breakfast done. Fletch, make yourself at home. Lucky? Don't touch anything. In fact, if you can hover, do so?" David grinned so the Fox could see he wasn't being entirely serious...
----------------------------------
Scruff watched in astonishment as the Humans threw themselves out of a perfectly good Airy thingy. He watched the wind hit them and the sudden jolt as the Parachute thing opened. "Humans are really silly at times.... Uh, not you... Uncle and aunt?" He cringed as he said it... Just in case...

[Keeshah]

"Well, we're just getting breakfast done. Fletch, make yourself at home. Lucky? Don't touch anything. In fact, if you can hover, do so?" David grinned so the Fox could see he wasn't being entirely serious...
----------------------------------

Lucky rubs his chin...
Hmmm becoming a flying fox, oh the possibilities..
Touching several things around the room..
Thanks the the idea, i'll work on it...
Selene deer, you think you could teach me to fly magically?

[Hlaoroo]

"Well, we're just getting breakfast done. Fletch, make yourself at home. Lucky? Don't touch anything. In fact, if you can hover, do so?" David grinned so the Fox could see he wasn't being entirely serious...

"Thanks, David. Don't let me stop you eatin'." Fletcher tells the big dog before glancing at Selene.
"You call that singin', Selene?" she asks incredulously, lifting off her guitar and leaning it against the counter as she hops onto a stool.
"I've heard concrete saws makin' more pleasant sounds than that." she says, only half joking.

~~~~~~~~
Sean giggles and winks at Scruff.
"Hehe. He don't know me vewy well, do he?" he asks Morna in a passable imitation of Bugs Bunny, causing the lady to choke on her sandwich with laughter.
"Hehe. We're some o' de silliest humans out dere!" Morna agrees with her husband once she's recovered with the help of a few pats on the back from Sam.
"So, are raccoons more sensible den, Scruff?" Sean asks.

[Serence Frostbite]

Lucky rubs his chin...
Hmmm becoming a flying fox, oh the possibilities..
Touching several things around the room..
Thanks the the idea, i'll work on it...
Selene deer, you think you could teach me to fly magically?
[/quote]

"I told you, Lucky, my kind of magic doesn't work that way," Selene gave the other fox an amused eye-roll
"Please don't touch things randomly either, you might break something, or hurt yourself, and nooo , magic can't fix that either"

"Thanks, David. Don't let me stop you eatin'." Fletcher tells the big dog before glancing at Selene.
"You call that singin', Selene?" she asks incredulously, lifting off her guitar and leaning it against the counter as she hops onto a stool.
"I've heard concrete saws makin' more pleasant sounds than that." she says, only half joking.

"The way I see it, arts, singing included, isn't meant to be "good" , in a way. It's a thing you do, because you want to. Maybe becoming good will eventually come as a side effect, but good or not, if you sing, then it's singing." the vixen replied, while getting back to finishing reparation for breakfast "So, pancakes anyone?"

[Keeshah]

"I told you, Lucky, my kind of magic doesn't work that way," Selene gave the other fox an amused eye-roll
"Please don't touch things randomly either, you might break something, or hurt yourself, and nooo , magic can't fix that either"

Now it does too work that way. I've watched Bewitched on TV.. all you have to do is wiggle your nose!

[Welsh Halfwit]

"I can be silly," Scruff said carefully, before putting a clawtip to his teeth as he thought. "I think. I've never caught myself..?""
------------------
"That's simplified for TV," David explained, making it up as he went along. "They didn't have enough time for the interpretive dance and thirty word chants. It was cheaper to hire an off screen magician to do it and time it with the nose wiggles the actresses did."

[Hlaoroo]

"What about inner you, Scruff? Is he silly?" Sam asks playfully.

~~~~~~~~
"Yeah, that's fair, Selene. The Good Lord don't care who's praisin' him or how it sounds so long as it's heartfelt." Fletcher agrees. "Sorry, Lucky."

The doe glances around the kitchen, looking for another topic of conversation.
"Selene, I've been meanin' to ask. Where did you learn to play flute?"

[Welsh Halfwit]

Scruff looked a bit worried now. His ears twisted back. "You... you can hear that?" He sat down. "I just... I just... When I was just me I... needed to talk to someone so... um..?" He hoped he wasn't sounding a bit nuts. Inner Scruff was curiously silent.

[Keeshah]

"I can be silly," Scruff said carefully, before putting a clawtip to his teeth as he thought. "I think. I've never caught myself..?""
------------------
"That's simplified for TV," David explained, making it up as he went along. "They didn't have enough time for the interpretive dance and thirty word chants. It was cheaper to hire an off screen magician to do it and time it with the nose wiggles the actresses did."

Lucky glares at David.
lies.. everything shown on TV is real!

Scruff looked a bit worried now. His ears twisted back. "You... you can hear that?" He sat down. "I just... I just... When I was just me I... needed to talk to someone so... um..?" He hoped he wasn't sounding a bit nuts. Inner Scruff was curiously silent.

Lucky perks up his ears..and sashays over to the raccoon, wrapping his arm about his shoulders.
Whyyyyy, Of Course we can hear it. We all have.. can you not hear it??

[Serence Frostbite]

Now it does too work that way. I've watched Bewitched on TV.. all you have to do is wiggle your nose!

"That's simplified for TV," David explained, making it up as he went along. "They didn't have enough time for the interpretive dance and thirty word chants. It was cheaper to hire an off screen magician to do it and time it with the nose wiggles the actresses did."

Lucky glares at David.
lies.. everything shown on TV is real!

"David actually gives a surprisingly close explanation, actually" Selene laughed out loud "There are of course different types of magic. Perhaps there is one that works like in the shows you watch, mine doesn't though"

"What about inner you, Scruff? Is he silly?" Sam asks playfully.
The doe glances around the kitchen, looking for another topic of conversation.
"Selene, I've been meanin' to ask. Where did you learn to play flute?"

"Songs and music are important things to my people" The vixen explains with joy as she remembers some fond memories from her past "Through it, we communicate with the land, ask for its guidance and blessings, so most of us learn to use some sort of instruments since when we were little, including me"