ψ they got the cages they got the boxes | OTA

[fishermansweater]

WHO: Finnick Odair
WHERE: House 57
WHEN: June 30 and following days
OPEN TO: OTA (with closed section)
WARNINGS: Nothing so far

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JUNE 30

LOCKED TO ANNIE

The small, hairless mutt has been following Finnick and Annie ever since they found the thing. They'd thought that getting back in the boat might shake it off, but it had just followed them back along the river, trotting through the reeds and rushes on the bank as it went, and they hadn't been able to move quickly enough to shake it off. It hasn't actually done much to them, and it's shown no aggression, but Finnick's uneasy about it continuing to follow them all the way back to the village.

It's still trailing them as Finnick and Annie cut through the trees on the edge of the village, making their way back towards their house. They're not far away, and they can hear the distant murmur of the geese in their yard, when the creature starts to bark. That sets off the geese, whose voices take on a fussy, cranky tone. It makes Finnick and Annie hurry their steps back towards their house.

They break out into the open not far from their home, and immediately it's clear that something strange has happened. They'd been gone for less than two weeks, and yet there are vines climbing up the front porch, bushes larger and more numerous than they had been, and their carefully constructed bird pen is completely overgrown with weeds and scrub. Most of the birds are huddled on the porch, and when they see their owners, they let out a loud chorus of honking complaint. There are two peahens and Star perched on the roof, and Aloft runs out onto the porch steps, hissing at a small group of the big, dark-coloured geese that Finnick and Annie had seen on the riverbanks.

"What?" Finnick finds himself asking, staring at the unexpected tableau.

FOLLOWING DAYS

OTA

There is a lot of work to do to clear the goose pen and path up to Finnick and Annie's house from the plants that had overtaken the area during their absence. Finnick had noticed that there were a lot of plants growing around the village that he hadn't seen before, but nobody had seemed certain whether this was normal for this place or not.

Normal or not, it's not like anything Finnick's ever seen, not that he pretends to be any sort of plant expert. Johanna might have some suggestions, but she's been gone for weeks now, and he's slowly getting used to the idea that she's probably not coming back. So that leaves Finnick and Annie to try to work out what's happened, and if there's any way to get the plants out and keep them out.

The days after their return see Finnick in the yard more often than usual, often watched by a wary flock of birds and unwillingly attended by the hairless fishing dog, which seems to enjoy running around in circles around Finnick and Annie's house. The geese clearly don't trust it, and Finnick's not sure whether to or not. While the dog does whatever it is it's doing, Finnick is taking a machete to the scrubby overgrowth in the bird pen, or a hatchet to the overhanging branches on the trees.

"These things better not grow back that fast."

Comments

[tosavecocoon]

Their hairless fishing dog and Vanille's hairless fishing dog are both friendly. Almost too friendly sometimes. Vanille wonders if there's ever been anyone Bhakti doesn't like and immediately doubts the idea. So it's really no surprise that on one of her wanderings with him and some of her purple woolly friends, he finds someone new to walk right up to.

"Bhakti!" she calls firmly. "Don't disturb him. He's busy!"

Bhakti doesn't seem to care one way or another and simply grins up at Finnick from a safe distance. Vanille huffs.

"Sorry about him," she apologizes. "I don't know about the growth rate, but I could see if my animals will eat it for you."

Hopefully, none of it will make them sick...

[fishermansweater]

Finnick is at least now used enough to the little mutt-dogs that he doesn't startle when he sees another one approach him. The one that had followed him and Annie up the river appears from the woods and runs over to the newcomer -- Bhakti, apparently -- and starts sniffing at him. Finnick wants to tell the little dog to get away, but after so long of it just continuing to hang around his and Annie's house, he doubts it would actually achieve anything.

He doesn't know the girl, and Finnick's eyes scan her in his usual quick assessment: slender, pretty, either the age of the oldest tributes or a little older, hair a pinkish shade of red. Her accent isn't one he knows, like so many of the others here, though it's a little like Kate Kelly's if he had to pick.

"Come here," he calls to the dog, not sure if it will answer or if it's the best idea. He's just not sure whether it's a good idea for it to be that close to Bhakti.

The dog ignores him.

"Could be worth a try," he admits. "That pen's supposed to be full of birds, but there's not enough room there for them, this stuff grew so fast."

[tosavecocoon]

Both dogs seem less than keen on listening to their humans. It's the first time this has happened for Vanille, but then again this is the first time Bhakti has met another of his species since he started following Vanille around.

"I wonder why," Vanille muses. "Well, I guess I can try if your birds don't mind."

On the plus side, she doesn't have all four purple zalpacas today. Just two. Holding out one of the leads to the man, she silently offers him the chance to walk one of her animals around the area he wants to clear. It can't hurt to try. Hopefully.

"I promise I'm not here to hurt anyone," she announces, aiming her statement at any of the birds that might be nearby. She knows better than to upset animals, especially unfamiliar ones.