To Bite or Bark {Pet Plot}

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

Ollie Brooke

Not even a whisper has escaped past her lips since the ultimate alteration had occurred. It has purely been mere days, though already it feels to be years. Out of a sense of obligation, her petite hand clings to the larger one of the Social Worker’s as they travel through the thick trees towards her new shelter. Fear has kept her legs rattling from the moment she comprehended her family had gone missing. The violent jitters scarcely able her to walk, though cautiously she does now as she must. What might be awaiting her ahead? A jumbled mess of silent thoughts prevent her from predicting such.

The barks of orphans’ sound from up ahead. Whether it’s them fighting or playing, inside the manor or amongst the outside yard, is uncertain. Though no matter the situation approaching, the chaotic noise has her ears perking with cowardly curiosity. Her tiny fingers tighten the squeeze around the Social Worker’s palm, leaving the older woman unsure if it’s a response of fright or excitement. There’s a temptation to ask, but it’s obvious an answer would not embark from her. A stare attempts to calculate her thoughts instead. Her lips remain in her permanent frown, while her eyes timidly wonder in observation of her new surroundings. The antique, rusted sign upon the gate welcomes them into the land.

Hesitation jolts her steps from going any further for a moment. The letters upon the wooden sign are read vividly, drawing her attention for one reason or another. Anything to delay the inevitable of what they’re approaching, to stall time from continuing even though it must. But a couple of tugs yank her along forcefully, like a pull upon a collar around her neck. There’s an instinct to curl up against the dirt path, to await here for her family to retrieve her and cradle her back home – even though the voice in the back of her head is growling that that won’t happen.

Both friendly and intimidating society’s strays greet them to the decaying house she now must reside within. Some are throwing balls back and forth, retrieving them when a catch is not successful. Others are chasing each other across the patches of dead and flourishing grass. A few are simply laying in relaxation, absorbing the sun or resting in the shade. Bickers and laughter flutters the aroma with noise. A warm, smiling face of another aging lady waves sweetly as they proceed up the steps to the front porch. An urge to dash far away urges the Youngster, though a sturdy grip of her hand keeps her remaining.

“Hello, sweetie. You must be Ollie.” Confusion pierces up at the Woman who speaks. Despite the pleading expression upon the youth, the foster Mom’s grin does not budge. “No need to be nervous, little one. It’s not that bad here.” Reassuring words attempt to sooth her, but she doesn’t accept them in the least. Water pools within her mouth due to her growing anxiety, causing a constant gulp to avoid an embarrassing drool.

“This one’s a bit on the timid side.” The Social Worker informs the foster Mom. “She loves other kids though, and will warm up to them rather quickly. Adults, however, will take her some time.” The woman speaks as though the small Blonde wasn’t even present. “If she just stays in her bed for a few days, or only plays with herself, don’t get worried. She’ll be just like every other little one after a while.” It’s evident that the time of being passed off to someone new again is arising, causing the rugrat to start harshly shaking once more.

With no desire to deal with the child any further, the Social Worker offers the tiny hand to the foster Mom. But as the new, foreign palm begins reaching for her grip, fear rattles her again brutally. Without even realizing her own actions – her sharp, tiny teeth bite into the foster Mom’s hand protectively. Instantly a yelp sounds from above, and the brutalized skin is snatched from her clench. Terrified eyes glaze with tears that do not collapse down her chubby cheeks, before she’s automatically dashing inside in search for a haven.

Numerous steps to the second floor tempt her with the guarantee of her goal. A bed has provided her with comfort and safeguarded her since earliest memories. Beneath a blanket she’s always defended from the cruelty of the outside Panem. On top of any form of a cushion, she’s nurtured with a sense of security that’s lacked elsewhere in the District. Surely her desires furnish the second floor, but stairs have always been another fear of hers. After a moment of hesitation, she’s sprinting up the steps clumsily – internally whimpering for security.

The first open door, that reveals an array of small beds, she scurries into. The closest sheeted mattress she cowers to, jumping beneath the cover as though it were armor. Solely her racing heart beats noise into her ears, as she breaths heavy in attempt to settle the rapid thumping. Still she rattles, like an intruding snake she’d growl at while hiking with her family. But without them, she doesn’t contain the strength to guard as she did back then. Without her pack she’s left helpless, with no certainty of what the nearby future may hold.

PaT Count: 890

[kap]

NORBERT SEISMO

.

When Norbert was quite young, he was taken into an orphanage known as “The Pound”. He’d been separated from his parents when he was only a year old, and therefore has been living in this particular orphanage for twelve of the thirteen years of his life. It was all the boy knew, but he still felt like an outcast there sometimes. When the new kids came along, he’d try to make friends with them, but he’d often be pushed away or rejected. It was getting to be quite difficult for the boy to make friends, and perhaps that was why he was okay with being alone most of the time.

Regardless of Norbert being okay with being alone, it wasn’t what he wanted. He still wanted companionship. He wanted a close friend that he could count on and that could count on him in return. If only he could find someone that would accept him for how strange he was… After all, the boy liked to trap and eat bugs. How normal could that possibly be seen as? Surely it was gathered to be quite peculiar. Even though Norbert knew it was strange, though, he continued to do it.

There was word that morning that a new orphan would be joining them all. Norbert was unsure as to whether or not he was going to try to make friends with them. Often, they were too young or too old, in comparison to his age, and that sometimes caused them to be deterred from Norbert almost immediately. Sure, he had a few friends at the Pound, but not a whole lot. He just wished he had the courage to try to make more. The boy had been turned down so many times that he wasn’t sure if he should even give it the slightest bit of an attempt.

That morning, before the other kid would be arriving, Norbert went outside to go hunt for bugs, as he often did. He had a paper cup to catch the critters in, and a small plastic container to keep them in until he decided what their fate should be. Some he merely kept for a short amount of time to observe them before releasing them into the wilderness once more, and others, he would eat, because for some reason, the young boy found them quite tasty. At that moment in time, he decided that that was all he should focus on. Until this new kid showed up, he’d just concentrate on what he knew he enjoyed.

Scouring for bugs was an enjoyable feat, in Norbert’s opinion. As he did this, he managed to only catch a few crickets that morning. Regardless, it was something. Besides, crickets were his favorites to nibble on. He found them to be a delicacy, in his eyes. Would anyone else he ever met think the same thing as he did when it came to insects and how well they tasted? He doubted that that could ever be the case.

Regardless, after he bit the head off of a cricket, he tossed it back into his little, plastic container, and headed into the building that had been his home for such a large portion of his life. Norbert went back up to the room that many of them shared, and sat down on one of the beds, looking at the dead cricket and still living ladybug that were in his plastic box of little creatures. When he heard someone coming in, however, he set down what he had been holding and observing.

It was a young girl, likely around his age. Norbert had never seen her before, so he supposed she was the new one to be joining them all at the Pound. Immediately, though, she had buried herself under the covers of a bed that was in the room. When she did this, Norbert rose to his feet in seconds, as he was concerned for her well-being. She had to have been scared like many children seemed to be when they first came to the Pound. Norbert hadn’t been, as he’d almost always lived there, but he’d witnessed the fear of others as they joined their little family.

Approaching where the girl was, he didn’t touch the lump that was her, underneath the blanket. Instead, he just spoke to her in a kind tone. He wanted to assure that she was alright, and not too terrified to be around anyone else. The boy hated to see others in an uncomfortable situation almost as much as he hated it himself.

”Excuse me, are you alright?” he asked this of her sweetly, hoping that she wouldn’t be too shaken to answer. ”Never fear, for Norbert is here.”

• • never fear, for Norbert is here • •

word count: 778 • tags: Pet Plot •

[pearl mcclain d4 [ryan]]

BELLA ROSE

and I hold on

This will be my third month living here with my sister after the fire that took my parents lives. It wasn’t much, and to be honest, I know I could have left and gotten my own place, but I didn’t want to have to make Marley struggle because of my bad choices. I loved her, and as much as she claimed to be independent from me, I knew that she loved me too. Sometimes it was hard to watch her the way I knew I needed too, but luckily, I had other kids to help me with that. I was the oldest of the bunch anyway, which meant that I had to help as much as I could when it came to raising the children that were here at the pound.

Of course, the pound was a fitting name for us, seeing as all of us were kids whose parents left us here out of some turn of events. Whether it had been because they didn’t want us anymore, or that they passed away, we all came from something. We were found this place by ourselves, or by fate. I don’t know how some of the kids got here though. While I was the more outgoing one of the group, we were always getting new kids. Foster mother told me that we might be getting a new one, and that excited me. Of course, they probably wouldn’t be keen on talking to anyone for the first couple of days, but that was normal. When I first got here, I was protective of my sister, and so I didn’t want to talk to anyone or even let Marley out of my sight. I didn’t want to lose her like I already lost most of my family. That would have been the hardest thing. Even harder than the games.

After a week of being here, I acclimated fast. However, I was told that they had no doubt that I would have. Being the oldest of the bunch, they were sure that leadership traits would take over and I would be one of the kids that would help the mother take care of them. I did. I cared for these children like they were my own. It was hard at first, but once Marley got used to the kids, I knew it would be easy for me to establish some sort of trust with them. I wasn’t afraid of being responsible, and I think that was why our foster mom trusted me so much. I knew how to do a lot, and while I did have to work, I also made sure that the kids were taken care of when our foster mom might have been too tired. My mother taught me how to cook before she passed away, and so I made sure to impart what knowledge I learned from her onto Marley so she could help out when she needed too.

When it came down to it though, Marley was the only one that I cared about. As much as these other children had made an impact on me, Marley would always be my number one when it came to being safe. I feared the day when she might get called for the reaping, and I knew that I would have to step in her place. She would probably scream and cry, but I would just tell her I loved her, and I would try to be safe. I knew I probably wouldn’t last in the games. While the idea made me sad, I knew that it was inevitable. The games were not designed to have winners from the lower districts. While there were some outliers, I could always remember one and two winning a lot of them. I hated thinking about it, so when I did, I would find a quiet place on the property and just sit and think about what I was going to do with my life. I was this close to being ineligible for the reaping, but seeing as it was still possible, that scared me even more. My name was in the bowl more times each year I wasn’t reaped, and the idea that I might be the next one to be picked, it would send me to a dark place.

I couldn’t be there though all the time. I needed to be strong for Marley. I needed to be strong for these kids. I cared for them more than they would know sometimes.

So when the new one came to us, I felt bad. She seemed like she was scared, and she seemed like she was lost. It was hard being abandoned at a young age. It was never easy to get acclimated to a new setting with new people that didn’t know your story, and while you were young, you couldn’t comprehend that. I knew that feeling all too well when I watched the house burn down around my parents. I wished that they woke up in enough time to get out, but once I noticed the smoke multiply and spread through the air, I knew that their lives were over, and that me and Marley had to fend for ourselves.

Sometimes when I opened my eyes, all I saw was the fire that engulfed the house that I grew up in. I screamed for them to come out, but nothing came out. I couldn’t fathom the loneliness that I felt in that moment and when Marley walked out of that house, I wanted to hold her, but I couldn’t move. I felt like Cement. I felt like I was paralyzed. I couldn’t move anymore. I didn’t want to. I cried. Tears didn’t fall though. Just my heart.

So I moved over to where the girl was and watched as Norbert joined as well. We all took care of each other here. I needed her to feel like she was at a place where she was welcomed. She needed to feel comfortable like the kids here made us feel comfortable. “Don’t worry hun. You can come out. We don’t bite at all.” I looked at the girl who was hiding under the blanket. “Norbert here is super friendly I promise!” I said, trying to ease her into the place where she was obviously going to be living for the rest of her life. I prayed for all of these children, I prayed for everyone in the district. I wanted everything to work out for everyone, and while I knew that things would never get better here in ten. I was happy to find people who I thought of as my new family.

to the things, I believe in

Made by ♛ scandal

PAT: 1109

[mat]

maggie mae.

Maggie Mae knew no other home than the one she resided in now, and even then, she was reluctant to consider it her home. It was the place she stayed; not because she wanted to, but because she had to. The circle of kids and caretakers were all she knew, there was no other place to turn to. She kept to herself in The Pound, usually not speaking to others unless spoken to, and when spoken to she would reply with snarky remarks for four out of five times. It was a habit of hers to be angry, especially when she felt trapped. Opportunities waited for her in District Ten, she knew that, yet she refused to explore beyond the barriers of her territory, her ‘home.’

Her bedroom was separated from the younger kids, like Norbert and Bella. She was growing older, resulting in her demanding for a bit of privacy if anything. She was growing too old to bear witness to their slightly awkward habits, like the eating of bugs and semi-catchy one liners. She laid in her bed, the springs squeaky every time she moved a muscle.

Was it wrong for her to feel unhappy and angry like this? Likely. At least she had a home, while tons of people prowl the streets of Ten like stray pets. At least she was not lost like some, yet Maggie remained ungrateful for the things she had and jealous for what she didn’t have but wanted.

From outside, she heard a pair of women talking. Probably a new kid, she thought, twirling the necklace she swiped a couple weeks ago. ”Welcome to hell,” surely the other kids might not have thought of this place like Maggie did, but she was adamant in proving her point: that this place was a poison, and they deserved to be free. This place is an orphanage, not a home, it’s a mess of a system… it’s not like the big, happy families she read about in books. It is a clump of children who are unsure where they belong, or in some cases, if they belong.

A yelp clashes through thin walls and Maggie can’t help but force out a bit of a laugh. ”Fiesty or scared like hell,” she said again to herself running her hand through her hair. She took a bet: female, young, and probably shy as fuck.

Quick feet rush up to the second story of The Pound, and doors open and close with speed. She doesn’t want to be here. ”Relatable.” Maggie was alone, but she intentionally spoke with diction and volume, hopefully so it would run through the walls of the home. She spoke her mind, as jokingly or serious or angry as her mind may be, she was not afraid to speak it.

The silly voice of the little bugger Norbert plays through the wall. ”Excuse me, are you alright? Never fear, Norbert is here.” It was an odd phrase, she laughed at the idea of Norbert ever becoming a superhero like the phrasing suggests.

”You can come out. We don’t bite at all,” at that point, she stood herself up from her screeching bed and walking to the other room where the three other voices resided. Bella and Norbert and another figure hiding beneath covers.

”He’s right, you know. We aren’t like snapping turtles or snakes. No biting,” it took her courage and determination to speak. Courage because it set her out of her comfort zone, and determination to conceal her sarcasm.

It was a true yet unfinished statement.

For Maggie Mae, there really was no bite. It was all bark.

pat WC: 595

[Tom]

Rogue

A groan of disappointment comes up from her throat at the words of a new kid. Wasn't she enough already? The others were rather obnoxious, especially Maggie who threatens her reign of queen among the pathetic children who lost their parents. Didn't change her mind when she knew that her parents never wanted her. None of the others had to live on the streets and compete for a chance to just eat something. None of them had to worry that one sickness will be their last. None of them knew that she had spent countless nights under a thin sheet, that some rich man left for the homeless, freezing to death. There's no one who deserves a second chance than her, but she hated it. The sign that hangs out front with the words of the pound written on it. The lack of beauty around the home, even though she's been working on a small garden for them.

Eyes roll as she continues to do her own thing from across the room. Cold eyes judging from across the room as she watches the other children that shared the same home. Obnoxious. Every single one of them. There was not one that rubbed her in the right way. They didn't know how cruel life was. They would never know how cruel life was. Instead, they chase balls and each other like animals that don't know what they are doing. Rogue moves in the corner as she sits watching with a relaxed form, but an annoyed glare as she waits for the commotion of the day to come. If it didn't come, then she would just have to cause some. A bite on the tip of her tongue, unlike the others that reside in the home.

Blonde hair comes into the room as foster parent meets new foster kid. The social worker doing their job as Rogue watches from across the room like a predator waiting to pounce onto her prey, but not yet. Things seemed to be turning into an interesting moment. Fear and nervousness coming off the small girl's body right away. The signs were there. Rogue enjoyed watching the little girl squirm under the social worker and foster parent's discussion. All she can do is gently run a hand through her hair to push it away from her eyes. words in the back of her mind coming forward.

Welcome to my domain.

A bite is all it takes for Rogue's interest to be lost as the girl runs away to her hideaway. All interest is lost, but instead of ignoring her, Rogue moves up the stairs to the sounds of a group of kids comforting the poor girl who bite their foster parent. Norbert is the first one she can hear. "Never fear, for Norbert is here." All she does is roll her eyes. Norbert was a weird one. A kid who hunted bugs because it was what Norbert did. An eye roll for him Annoyance in her veins as she listens in still from outside the door. Insects to nibble on were not her thing or should they ever be anyone's thing. All she does is roll her eyes as the next person comes to the new girl's aid.

“Don’t worry hun. You can come out. We don’t bite at all.”

A snicker is what she lets out, but it's quiet enough to not let her presence known. All she can think of is that some of them don't bite. The new girl had bitten their foster parents right away, but Rogue just silently waits to pounce. Bella was obnoxious. Acting like she was the mother and should take care of them. She was always good at making Rogue feel like puking from the kindness. Bella wouldn't last a minute out in the real world. They'd tear her apart with every trick that they could. Hidden from sight, she watches careful. Mother-like in essence, but Rogue ruled the roost. No one could stop her, not even someone like Bella.

The next voice was the one and only Maggie Mae. A nuisance in every way towards Rogue. A hot and fiery way of speaking and anger that seemed to snap at any moment. She always wanted to be on top, but no one could overcome Rogue. The queen reigned over them all, even if they didn't think so. Maggie's voice only causes a headache in Rogue's head as she rolls her eyes at the words.

"He’s right, you know. We aren’t like snapping turtles or snakes. No biting."

That's when she rolled away from outside and into the room finally. Making her presence known to the others as the smile that was fit for an ice cold queen comes forth. Words fall from her lips as she knows that she's a queen and none of them could even reach her height. They didn't know what the real world was like, but she'd give them a taste of it like she always did. Don't get in her way or you'll be crushed like the others.

"Speak for yourself, Maggie."

A hand brushes her hair to the side as she lets a hand sit on her hip and the evil smile rest. A glare comes forward as she looks to every single one of them. There's only so much a queen can do. They were all quite annoying and deserved it. A taste of what a true queen was like. A taste of what life was like. She was better than them and they all knew it

"I only bite, unlike you."

She turns on her heel with a smile as she glares at the three of them before tossing her last thoughts out into the air. No one would get in her way, not even a little blonde girl who bites their foster parent. A smirk as she comes in like a storm and will leave like one too.

"Lesson number one, new girl. Get in my way and you'll regret it."

She moves to leave the room as her mind turns back to the streets that she suffered on. The tricks that older men would tell her to give up her things. No one wanted her. No one would want her in the end. She was fine with this. No one needed to step in her way or she'll tear them down. Tear them down from their mountain, until they crash hard into the ground. She leaves the room with one last glare heading to the garden.

Don't get in my way.

You'll regret it.

[tick 12a / calla]

P I P E R

"Get outta town." I've been kicking up dirt in the backyard for the past hour, throwing a ball and catching a rumour. Whispers and stomping feet rush outside, interrupting our game because did you hear about the newbie? I saw her bolt upstairs right away, poor thing.

Whoever it is, I hope she can keep up with the rest of us. Maybe she's sporty because Team Piper's due for a win and I'm in need of another star player. Everyone sort of does their own thing around here but making friends has always been easy. Even if everyone's a little quirky, that just makes it all the more fun.

Anyways, back to the newbie.

Rushing through the back door, it's push not pull, I've only been here a few years you know. Living on the streets wasn't all that great, cardboard boxes and newspaper pages and sneaking into abandoned buildings. Left to fend for myself, I still don't really know what happened to my folks but who needs them now, eh?

I still remember my first day at the pound, standing on the porch and crying my eyes out, shaking in a coat that was at least three sizes too big. Everything was too big back then; the house, the beds, even the people. Some snot faced dweeb always made fun of me for being so tiny. He got adopted last month. Good riddance, I guess.

I crash my way up the stairs and run into something - someone? I look up and it's Rogue. Oh n o, but she probably won't kill me because even though she might be pretty scary, deep down everyone's a big softie. Besides, who can resist this face? I slink away with puppy dog eyes anyways, a squeaked out apology over my shoulder and I'm skidding around the corner to the bedrooms.

Norbert, Bella and Maggie are inside already, gathered around a lump on the bed.

We're all kind of a family here, a bunch of little misfits in a big house.

Norbert's interesting and teaches me all about the cool bugs he finds, even if it is a little icky when he eats them. Bella's like a mom to everyone, but like a really cool mom who lets you sneak extra dessert when no one's looking. Maggie reminds me of the big sister I've always wanted, she's all confident and tough and I always try to get her play ball on my team. It's like Ratmas whenever she says yes.

So I guess they're all pretty cool. Not as cool as me though so - h a.

"I heard there's a new kid." I'm just glad she's not under the covers of my bed, it's obviously the best one, especially when the sun hits it just at the right angle in the late afternoon. I wouldn't want to have to scare her away and ruin whatever kind of bonding circle's forming here.

I bound across the room to perch on the foot of the bed, all big smiles and wide eyes and I really hope she's not suffocating in there. "I'm Piper! Have you gotten the tour yet? Oh wait- probably not if you just ran up here, right? Hey, but you were pretty fast! Do you play ball?"

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

Ollie Brooke

The comfort of cover coverage subtly begins to ease her shaking demeanor. Warmth swaddles her in solitude like a Mother’s loving arms cradling an infant, though still her frightened thoughts do not match her calming exterior. How long might it be until chaos erupts, and consequences follows her actions as they often do? Perhaps a pass will be granted to her due to her label of being new here. But certainly, that doesn’t mean isolation will pursue within an orphanage containing countless of strays. And sure enough, within seconds after she scurried to safety – another Youngster’s voice informs her of the company that resides. Least it’s not the Foster Mom scolding her poor first impression…

An encouraging sooth frames the words that breach out to her, which only startles her for a moment from the unexpected encounter. There’s an urge to slip a quick glance from the blanket that’s protecting her, to place a face to this friendly voice, yet not a single muscle of hers dares to move. It’s a slim chance, but maybe he’s fooling her? Seeking her trust to draw her from the sheltering sheets, to attack her? Primary assumptions ensure her that’s not the case at all, while the voice in the back of her head is pressing that it must be.

A second set of steps softly patter into the room. Automatically the little Blonde is frozen in fear once more – that could very well be a pissed off adult joining the situation at hand. The voice breaks out, and though it’s not a high-pitched tone of pure innocence, it’s not the sound of an angered foster Mom either. The sweet noise that flutters from her throat is reassuring, quite similar to the youngest Guardian Ollie was graced with in the past… one of the Moms she no longer has. There’s a desperate urge to cling to this Stranger, while still the child doesn’t budge from her hideout.

The internal debate carries on, wondering when she’d force herself to crawl from her haven. But before she can even consider eventually doing such, another rhythm of footsteps rumbles into the room. A gentle pitch intertwines a strong voice whom speaks now. Again, the mention of biting is discussed, with a guarantee that none of them perform such an unspeakable action. Are they softly hinting the disapproval of biting? Referring to how what Ollie did is unacceptable? Least if they are, they’re doing it in an awfully kind way – until a fourth stray intrudes into the room, without that sympathetic tone.

From earliest memories, Ollie has been possessed with a terrible habit of befriending everyone possible – even the ones uninterested or bullies. Never has she been successful before, but despite she’d try to play with them and yank them from such a permanent unpleasant mood. Annoyance crumbles from the new company’s lips; which intimidates Ollie nonetheless, but has her striving to humor her grumpiness away. And she gladly admits to biting as well, they could be good friends. Though still, to no surprise, the little one doesn’t breach from her coverage.

The opposite of revealing herself occurs, as she cowers deeper into the blanket. Steps gaining distance away relieves her of at least one person exiting, but a mere moment after that noise ignited – a fifth set of patters travel into the room. How many people in this house could possibly be interested in the commotion occurring due to a timid girl’s actions? She shambles once more in fright that this time it most certainly will be the foster Mom, but again it’s not.

The bed jostles as this person intrudes upon it’s end, startling Ollie of course to recoil further. Least a hyper pitch, similar to Norbert’s comforting words, echo past the excited girl’s tongue. Despite the energetic words, it actually manages to calm the hiding child even if only slither. And the moment that she notes how fast the Blonde is, and questions if she plays ball, a smile surprisingly envelopes across the scared One’s cheeks.

Memories of playing ball with her Guardians remains as the best Ollie contains. She didn’t quite play as expected of Children, preferring to perform keep away rather than sharing the ball, but her Moms didn’t care in the least. It always had the four of them laughing unbearably, especially when she’d encircle the entire house with laps to show off her speed and ability to maintain capture of the ball. If she didn’t encircle their home with running numerous times, she’d never get to sleep. Far too much energy continues to rumble through her veins on a daily, even if she’s far from showing it at this moment. Cautiously she pierces from the security of the cover, a frightful stare glancing amongst the four that are still within the room. They all appear friendly at least…

Eyes stop at the one who introduced herself as Piper, and gently she nods her head in answer to the question of playing ball. She’d enjoy nothing more than to forget her current troubles, and distract herself with the entertainment of that now. But surely her legs wouldn’t dare to shift from the bed that’s still keeping her protected, even while her features are revealed from the sheltering sheets. Her lips don’t dare to part in attempt to speak, though she can now visually observe nonetheless.

The sole boy within this chamber appears to be around her own age, pure sweetness framing the likes of his face – surely, they’d play together soon. The rest seem a smidgen older, leaving Ollie wondering how long each of them have been residing within this pound. Kindness radiates from the features of the one, that Ollie assumes, was the second to join her within this room. The third, whom promised none of them are comparable to snapping turtles or snakes, is a bit more tough in her attributes – though certainly she’s not mean looking like the one who left after providing a warning probably does. And finally, there’s the one crouched upon the end of the bed, gleaming with desire to play. She’s as sugary as the rest, which returns a petite grin across Ollie’s lips. Not a single word breaks her silence, while she does at least give a quivering smile to them. It may be difficult adapting to this foreign environment, but fortunately it seems like she might have some friends to make it even a little easier.

PaT Count: 1081

[kap]

NORBERT SEISMO

.

The boy supposed that what he said sounded like a bit of something a superhero would say. Perhaps that was a good thing, though. Norbert liked to be helpful and liked where he could be, so maybe that would assist him in that endeavor. He wondered if this new girl would think he was weird, or would like him instead. Although, before he could get any sort of reaction from her, Bella, a girl who lived at the Pound as well, came over.

“Don’t worry hun. You can come out. We don’t bite at all.” Bella said this kindly. “Norbert here is super friendly I promise!” This definitely reassured Norbert that he did indeed have friends in this place. Bella had always been sweet towards him, and he appreciated that.

Maggie Mae was the next to approach the slowly growing group, and although she hadn’t always been the most appealing person in Norbert’s opinion, she spoke to the new kid, nonetheless.

”He’s right, you know. We aren’t like snapping turtles or snakes. No biting,” she told their new acquaintance. People were showing up seemingly left and right, whether it was to greet the new kid like the first few that approached her, or to seemingly torment her like Rogue. Rogue told Maggie to speak for herself, and insisted that she did bite. Norbert tried to ignore this, until her rude words reached the new girl.

"Lesson number one, new girl. Get in my way and you'll regret it." He didn’t know how to respond to this, though. He wanted to defend what could have been his next new friend, but he wasn’t sure how to react, and ended up staying silent.

No one really seemed to acknowledge was Rogue had said, though, as when Piper showed up, she was thoroughly excited. This was definitely a positive thing, Norbert thought. Hopefully this meant Rogue would back off and not be so rude to the new girl anymore.

"I'm Piper! Have you gotten the tour yet? Oh wait- probably not if you just ran up here, right? Hey, but you were pretty fast! Do you play ball?" Piper was clearly energetic at the time, as she often was. This made Norbert smile again. Piper was always there to lighten the mood. Although, he wondered if too many people being around was overwhelming their new friend.

Their new friend gives a nervous smile, and Norbert speaks to her again.

”Hey, I know this might be a little much for ya, but I swear, we’re-” He stopped for a moment. ”Most of us are trying to help you out,” he corrected himself, thinking about what Rogue had said. ”What’s your name?”

• • never fear, for Norbert is here • •

word count: 439 • tags: Pet Plot •