sharpcompassion | Fur and Feathers ((open post, slow tagging))

Fur and Feathers ((open post, slow tagging))

Fǫnn has been checking up on Loki's cottage while he is away periodically, tidying up here and there, making sure the weeds and vines aren't overtaking it too much. There is no need or desire for a mowed lawn or a manicured flower bed; berry brambles are allowed to climb the wooden fences beside the meadow and mice and snakes are welcome in the woodpile, but the children's play equipment is kept cobweb-free, and anything living in the chimney gets promptly, if gently, evicted.

So it's a surprise to her when she enters one afternoon to check that the electricity and water are running properly, and finds the sofa a mess, cushions askew, stuffing on the floor, with tiny sounds coming from within the framework. An investigation turns up a little of kittens, eyes-open but not quite weaned, in an array of colors, each with a pair of bitty feathered wings.

She's seen the winged cats around this place before, but they seem to keep to themselves. She never imagined they'd sneak inside for any purpose. Unwilling to just snatch the babies away, she sets out a little food and water and waits. No sign of a mother appears before she leaves for the evening, and the next day when she returns to check, the food and drink are untouched.

A lot of things can happen to a small animal in the Nexus, this close to the Wilds. Maybe the mother's uncharacteristic behavior in hiding the babies indoors is a sign she was in danger? Or maybe winged cats lay eggs and they just never realized? She doubts that, but stranger things have happened.

She carefully removes the outer layer from the sofa and extracts all the kittens, checking them for injuries or illness. The rest of the day, and the next, are taken up with treating eye infections and fleas, feeding them with eyedroppers and preening their wings. Not until they're reasonably healthy does she wander to the edge of the plaza with a box of mewing and purring and flapping wings. On the edge of the box, she puts a sign that reads: CATWINGS: UNFLEDGED, NEED RESPONSIBLE HOMES.

She has no intention of charging anyoneto adopt, of course, but she's not eager to give them away to someone untrustworthy, either.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So far the day had gone well with a few popsicle sales within his palace building. It was a rough Nordic design and more akin to a shack but Loki was happy enough to call it a palace. Many people were starting to warm to his popsicle business and especially now it was the summer months, he was making a good profit.

Walking another way back to his apartment he had veered off the usual route along the Plaza and had spotted a nearby box full of strange creatures. A young woman had put the box out and was obviously the owners of said creatures, since she was currently next to the box. What the Norns were they? Loki felt his curiosity piqued and had to walk towards the commotion coming from within said box. It looked like she was wanting them up for adoption.

"What the Norns are those creatures you have there?"

He leaned forwards slightly, peeking into the box further, noticing they had wings. They looked like cats but they had wings. Not the usual mortal pet, surely. Most people had opted for canines when Loki was back in New York, noticing the residents walking with them attached to leads. But here in the Nexus? There were cats with wings. They did look rather cute though.

Fonn is crocheting quietly while she waits for interest in her fuzzy little charges, making what seems to be a blanket or bunting in variegated shades of blue and pale grey. If she wasn't so absorbed in her work, she might have reacted sooner to Loki's arrival. She is well aware that the version she knows best is away on a mission, though she wouldn't put it past him to return abruptly and surprise everyone like this. When she hears his voice, she starts, back straightening, and nearly drops her work, eyes widening.

"Prince Loki?? I...oh..." A glance tells her this isn't the Loki she knows best. Not unless he's trying to trick people, which is plausible, but in that case altering just his hair and outfit would be underwhelming--or maybe he'd think the subtlety was funny?

She's overthinking.

"Um." She sets the crochet aside and rises, giving him a shallow curtsey--because a prince is still a prince, regardless of what version he is of himself, and Loki's title never was stripped from him. "They're a Nexus species, as far as we know. Normally they're sort of feral. Sociable with people, but not particularly cuddly, that is. But I think these are orphans."

Prince Loki? Well, that felt rather refreshing to have his title placed in front of his name. She spoke his name as it should be and it offered him a good stroke to his ego. Yet, of course, she seemed to be mistaking him for someone else, judging by her body language. The other version of himself perhaps? So many Lokis.

"Just Loki will do but thank you for using my proper title."

He offered the girl a charming smile and nodded in greeting. She had good manners and this pleased him, knowing that decorum still existed within this Nexus. Back to the strange winged cats and he gently picked one up, studying it carefully. The fur was soft against his hands and he realised they were quite feisty but this didn't bother him.

"Can they fly? I see they have wings."

Oh. Well! She can feel herself blushing and hates herself for it, but it's hard not to with that charming smile directed her way. The Loki she knows better has given her permission not to use his title, as well, but it still feels weird, with both him and King Thor, to use their first names. She'll just have to adapt.

"I'm from Asvera," she explains. "Where the last Asgardians have settled, on Midgard. I know another version of you, but it's an honor to meet you. My name is Fǫnn Hauksdóttir."

The kitten he's picked up is immediately intrigued by the smell of his sleeve. If he doesn't watch out, it will probably start chewing in a moment. "The adults can fly. Most of these don't have any flight feathers at all yet."

So, she knew of Asgardians and the other version of himself. It was all beginning to make a little more sense to Loki, who was currently still holding the catwing. Was it nibbling on the sleeve of his green linen shirt? It seemed to be.

"Then, it is nice to meet you, Fonn. I do know it must be strange having another like me wandering around within the Nexus. The many Loki problem must cause some confusion-"

Loki jumped a little when he felt tiny sharp claws at his wrist; the catwing playing with the fabric on his sleeve. A little persuasion and he managed to prize the needle-like claws away from the fabric. Feisty indeed. The god could no nothing but chuckle at the animal's sheer determination.

"This one seems to like my sleeve. I like animals with spirit and this one seems to have a strong one. May I adopt him?"

Ben already has a Higgeldy and a porg accompanying him in the Nexus, so he has a few companions already. But he feels a pang of sympathy for the kittens he sees in the box, so his attention is drawn. On a closer look, the creatures have wings. He kneels to examine them more closely.

After looking over the kittens, there's a black and white one he takes a shine to, kneeling to rub him behind the ears. Earth cats are an alien species to Ben's home galaxy, cats with wings even more so. He wonders which universe these strange, marvelous creatures found their way from.

"Can I adopt this one?" Ben carefully lifts it out of the box."It's hard to choose, but I have a soft spot for him."

The kitten he's picked out makes funny little noises halfway between a mew and a purr, which makes it sound a bit like a cricket or cicada chirping. Fonn's lips quirk in a faint smile as Ben pets him, and she reaches in and fishes out what appears to be a malformed mitten. "If you take him, you have to take his favorite toy, too. He's been dragging it around in his mouth all morning."

"Will you give him a good home? I want to make sure they're going to people that will be good to them."

Ben looks over the roughed-up toy and nods. He has to admit, it is cute that the kitten's already selected a favorite toy in its short time alive so far. He thinks about what he'll name it. Perhaps he'll consult Rey on what to call it. Ben named the porg, it's only fair that she get to name the new catwing. He's already thinking about how he'll give the news to his dyad partner.

"You have a promise. I'll take good care of him. Is there anything I need to know about these catwings in particular? Care tips?"

Fonn gives a faint chuckle and nudges the mitten into the kitten's paws, where it clings obligingly. "It's a mitten I made. Or tried to make. I got the pattern all wrong so the thumb is crooked. I just sewed it shut and let them play with it."

"I'm going to have to study them to be sure," she says. "From what I've seen, the adults eat more or less what normal cats would, and I've never seen the young nurse from a mother, but they took formula from a bottle for me...um, once. Then one got angry and chewed the rubber nipple off, so I had to switch to wet food."

"I'll let you know what I learn as I learn from them," she offers. "I think I'm going to keep the white one, myself."

"I know what to do, I think, but I'll borrow a book from the Grand Library on the care and keeping of cats." There have to be books about pet care in the Library. Ben's going to do some research as soon as he takes the catwing home and introduces it to Phantasmogoria and Kana, so everyone's on the same page.

He's probably going to go through a lot of fish between himself, the porg, and the catwing.

"That's a pretty one." Ben smiles, looking at the white catwing. He scratches under the chin of the one he picked, and it purrs. "She suits you. I don't believe we've met before. My name is Ben. I live in a downtown apartment, near the industrial area. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I do think they might need extra calcium," she tells him. "I thought about getting cuttlebones for them in the pet shop, but they're barely old enough for solid food yet anyway. Here, I've got a couple extra cans of the food I got for them."

She reaches into her bag and pulls out a small can of veterinary-formulated kitten food. "Take this, for now. It's not hard to find in the Plaza."

"Hello, Ben. I'm Fonn. I actually don't live in the Nexus; I'm from Asvera." She offers a handshake, and her expression is solemn, but not unfriendly.

"Thank you. I'm glad you were able to give these kittens a chance to find homes." Ben accepts the food and puts it away. "Kitten food in the Plaza. I'll go shopping for supplies for him once I make it back to my apartment and get us both settled."

He'll make a list of the supplies he needs for the catwing. Food and water are on the top of that list, and he'll make a note of what Fonn gave him.

"Good to meet you, Fonn." Ben accepts the hand offered and shakes it warmly. "What is Asvera like, if I may ask?"

skekSa is so huge that she's easily able to scoop up one of the kittens in a clawed hand, a gray one with black stripes. She pats her on the head. While she isn't especially knowledgeable about Earth animals - and she's sure Earth cats usually don't have wings - she has a soft spot for them. And a mouser in the tavern and even on board a ship wouldn't hurt.

Even Vassa can have unsavory Thra creatures deep in its bowels, and the last thing she wants is vermin getting into her supplies.

"I'll have two, if that's all right," the Mariner says as she points to a winged tabby cat. "Attractive creatures. From the Wilds, I can guess? I also assume Catwings are their name." She bows slightly. "You may call me Captain skekSa. Where I am taking these Catwings, they will have shelter and all the fish they can eat. I need to hire a mouser or two."

They haven't spoken before, but Fonn knows who skekSa is. She's heard enough about Eindrid's fondness for the tavern to recognize its proprietor. The kitten she's picked up seems uncertain about the big claws around it for a moment, but something about the scent of the skeksis must be familiar, because it only takes a few seconds of defensive posturing before the kitten opts to roll over and bat at one of the talons with her back feet.

"I think adopting two would be a good idea, so they have each other as company," she says seriously. "Although I don't know how they'll react to water, if you plan to put them on a ship."

"I'm also not sure how to teach them to fly. But maybe you can figure something out?"

"I'll take them to the tavern. We could use mousers, and at the very least I imagine visitors would be fond of them. The fish tanks will have to be secured, though, to be on the safe side. My fish are for display, not eating, and as cute as they are cats are strict carnivores as I understand." skekSa speaks as a fellow obligate carnivore. Those teeth in her beak certainly aren't for show.

skekSa's met her share of Asgardians - Thor, Loki, and Eindrid. This Asgardian, though, is unfamiliar. The Mariner offers the clawed hand that isn't filled with a kitten for a greeting handshake.

"You're right. I'll have a second one." She points to a black cat near the back of the box. "I like her. That one looks like she'll go well with the other. I imagine learning to fly may come naturally to them as they grow up, as it does to birds where I come from."

That's a relief. Adult cats will probably adapt to a ship, Fonn imagines, but these little ones aren't very coordinated yet. Best if they stay landbound for a while. "Honestly, they're so little they might be at risk from a fish at this point," she says wryly. "But they'll learn."

She clasps hands firmly and without fear. "You'll probably want some soft food for them for a few weeks. They're not quite ready for an all seafood diet yet, but I think they'll enjoy it when they're bigger."

She scoops up the second catwing gently, and it mews at her and nibbles on her fingers. "This one wants to play all the time. You're going to have fun with her, she's trouble."

"I think I'll name the gray one Silver, and the black one Flint. It's from an Earth novel about pirates. I would recommend it, though there's a delightful musical version with puppets." skekSa hasn't read much Earth fiction - her tastes are more along the lines of charts and oceanography books - but she made an exception this once.

She listens to instructions on the care and feeding of catwings. A trip to the Plaza to collect what she needs, then. That shouldn't be too much trouble.

"Trouble, eh?" skekSa opens her free hand for Flint as Silver scurries onto her shoulder. "I think the two of us will get along fine, then, lass."

That actually gets a soft chuckle out of Fonn. "I've seen that movie! Prince Loki's children enjoy it. You've met them, haven't you? Eindrid, at least. I know he comes to your tavern sometimes."

She gives Flint a little kiss on the top of the head, then places her in skekSa's hand. "You won't mind if I visit them? I'm just realizing I'm going to miss them."

"Yes, I've met Eindrid. He's a charming boy and has the soul of a mariner. And as one myself, lass, I know these things. I hope the prince returns from his travels soon - it's hard, waiting on shore for loved ones to come home."

skekSa holds on to both kittens, careful given how much stronger she is. "But of course! You know where I live and work. You can visit any time you like."

Tom had made a point of wandering the plaza and shops when he had a free moment or just daily to get out. Unlike his own home in Florida where roads and driving were mainstays, the Nexus encouraged walks. He was out with a scruffy looking, long-haired, ginger tabby tomcat trotting after him. He's never lived with his wife on Earth, so he was still adjusting to the way cats flocked to their house. There were five or six now, at least, and she adored them. then the birds and raccoons started, though those she left outside.

His wife was one of the reasons he was out shopping. It was near their anniversary, or rather his flight date for the Stardust and meeting her. It was a reasonable substitute. The red hair of the young woman is what catches his attention. He smiles at her before his brows furrow up at the sign. "catwings"?

Approaching with the tabby mewling at him he peers into the box, and just stares for a moment. All he can think about is what the high pitched voice of a Anthean might sound like squealing with happiness. He should probably consider earplugs if he takes one of these home.

There are well over half a dozen of the little furry-feathery bodies in the box, and the array of color is beyond what a normal litter of kitten would have. There are brown and buff tabbies, a couple tuxedo kittens, and one solid white one, but there's also a reddish one with blue-green markings on its fur, a yellow-and-black one that's quite like a goldfinch, and a pile of blue and dark violet and glossy black that's probably more than one cat sleeping in a heap.

To Fonn's eyes, there is something very familiar about the man's face. She returns his smile shyly, but looks a bit puzzled after the fact, as if she's trying to place him.

"I'm not sure where their mother went," she tells him. "Or if they're even all from the same litter. Though I think they're the same age. They're quite tame, you can pet them."

Tom is used to being looked at as if he's vaguely recognized. It is part of his career and that of his son. He gets closer and looks over the colors in the box. The tabby hops up and looks in the box too. It doesn't behave quite like a regular cat any longer. That's part of the binding with an Anthean mind that leaves traces of human-like behaviors and characteristics behind. The tabby pats at the fluffy kittens with it's foot.

"I think I have just the mother for at least one of them." He reaches in to stroke all the fluffy bodies but his attention turns to the tabby giving him an expectant look. He knew that look and ignored it. Tom though is looking for a shyer kitten and pulls out a beige one with some random reddish markings. "It's a good think my wife isn't here. She'd try to take them all home."

Fonn is watchful, unwilling to let either man or cat risk harming the kittens, but since both seem curious and peaceful, she doesn't interrupt the exploration. "I suppose they're a Nexus species. I know I've never seen them before I came here."

"It sounds like your wife is a real animal lover," she says. "What's the name of your friend there?"

Tom nods in agreement. Then again, most of what he's seen in the Nexus is new. Fonn does get a quiet chuckle. "Just cats, birds, and raccoons so far."

Truth was there were only two or three species of animals left on Anthea and those few had been taken aboard a different ship. They also made poor pets. Tom wondered how many she would end up connecting with and what was in their history that allowed for it. This was going to be a trip to the Anthean archives for sure. "Radley. He showed up at the house the day we moved in looking like he'd been through hell."

The cat had some of its fur back but there were still some thinner patches of hair,a weird kink in its tail and a bit of missing ear. "I think my wife told him to keep me company."

He knew, or suspected anyway, that his wife had told this cat to keep any eye on him. Though, he wasn't going to complain. He was growing to like the scrappy old tomcat.

"Seals," she says, blushing subtly. "Seals are my favorite Midgardian animals. Especially the grey seals. Their patterns are so pretty, like a cloudy sky at dawn."

Seals aren't really pets, either, but they're similarly sweet and furry.

"Hello, Radley," Fonn greets the cat mildly, not really expecting an answer, but the animal's body language suggests intellect, and it's better to be overly polite than find out you've insulted someone later. In the Nexus, even animals that seem ordinary might harbor secrets.

"The kittens don't seem afraid of him. That's a good sign."

"Give her time." Tom smiled affectionately at the description because it reminded him of his wife talking about birds. "She's only been on Earth a few weeks."

Radley comes over to bump his head into Fonn for petting. Tom still has the desert colored kitten cradled in his arms. He's stroking it and is back to imagining his wife's infectious excitement. "Do they need to be kept in a group? I know cats do better that way."

But these were winged cats so who knew? The question was hanging but he was already looking over the kittens for a potential second, and maybe one for his son.

"Oh, I'm not sure you could keep a seal in a person's home. They definitely need access to water." She may be seriously considering this now, herself. "Maybe if you had a pool of some sort, with salinated water."

Cats are probably a better choice, and when Radley comes over, she doesn't hesitate to pet him, with a soft, friendly cooing noise. "Thank you, Radley, I'm happy to meet you, too."

"From what I've seen, this species does live in groups. I'm not sure if they operate like a pride of lions or if they have a looser structure. I know I've seen a group of three toms and several queens around Prince Loki's cottage."

"They keep them in zoos." Tom had seen some beautiful seal exhibits while traveling around after returning to Earth.

He looks in the box and picks up both the blue mass from the pile and the red one with blue-green markings. The blue one for thier house and the red one for his son. The colors were what he had always been attracted to since he was a boy. Now that his son had a stable place to stay, a cat might help him.

"Two should be more than we probably need. My wife has 6 cats already." It's said with love. His wife and the cats adored each other's company and his. That was all that mattered.

"I haven't been to a Midgardian zoo yet," she muses softly. "We've all been so busy."

The mass of blue and violet turns out to be two kittens, so closely entangled they were indistinguishable. One has more black on its face than the other, but otherwise they're almost twins.

"That might be good, though, to have other cats around to show them how to...be cats." She gives a helpless little shrug. "I've been trying to read up, but animal medicine isn't the same as what I've been taught, so I'm not completely sure about the developmental stages."

"I've heard there's a zoo here, but I haven't been there yet."

He can't do it, he can't bear to separate the twins cuddling with each other. And he takes both. Four kittens, three for his wife and one for his son. Radley gives Tom a side eye about all the kittens.

"My wife's a biomedical specialist and she's been devouring medical texts. I've noticed more and more cat books recently." Sure his wife was obsessive but it was harmless. He pauses to looks over the kittens in his arms, noting the pin flight feathers. "If these were birds they'd be leaving the nest soon to fledge but kittens take longer to mature." He shrugs helplessly. Despite his own lack of confidence, he's sure his wife will quickly figure it out.

What in the goddamn...? He's seen kittens. He's seen baby birds. He's never seen what looks like a box of sphinxes straight out of myth. Mantis kneels down before the box and sets himself in a proper cross legged position.

"How did you find these things?" He holds out one hand, just experimentally, to see what would happen. Surely it's more of a cat than a bird, but he can't be sure of their behavior just from sight. "They're all very young."

He's odd-looking, to Fonn's eyes, and something about his body language makes her feel just a bit uncertain, but the way he reacts to the kittens is nothing short of charming. She gives him a tentative nod of greeting and sets her crocheting aside, settling on the ground beside him and peering into the box with a nod.

"If they were normal kittens, I'd guess they were maybe six weeks old," she says. "With this kind, it's hard to say for sure, but they're definitely not fledged yet."

"I'm house-sitting for a...a friend." She's not sure whether she can call Prince Loki a friend, per se, but he's not a formal teacher or master, either, so that will have to do. "And somehow the mother got in and made of nest of his sofa. I waited a while in case she came back, but I think something must have happened to her."

Meanwhile, many of the kittens are dozing, and he may note that there are a couple toys in the box for them, as well as blankets and a shallow water dish. A couple of the more brightly-colored ones--one looks a bit like a goldfinch, and the other is a calico with a short tail--blink at him and watch the motion of his hand.

He's an odd looking man in general, but even the most stone hearted bastard can save a soft spot for a baby animal. Mantis is one such person, and he's thoroughly charmed by what he sees. His hand wanders over to the attentive calico and he strokes the kitten creature gently with the back of his fingers. Soft. So soft.

The rock that is his heart crumbles a bit just thinking of what these little babies could grow into. He nods quietly and turns his gaze briefly to the young woman. "I'm sure he'll forgive you if you explain that the sofa was used as a nest. No one worth calling a friend can get upset over a mother needing a safe place for her brood."

He tries, ever so slowly, to pick up the calico and hold it in his hands. "They'll still need to be fed the right kind of milk until they're old enough to handle meat." He might not put down this calico if it's good about being held.

"Oh, he won't have any trouble getting a new sofa. The only thing is having to explain to his children that they missed seeing the kittens. That won't go over well." In fact, she'd bet money that Loki ends up getting them a pet after all this. "But I'm not worried he'll be angry with me or the cats."

She watches how he reaches for the kitten, not sure if he's ever handled an animal before. He seems to be gentle, though, and she sees no reason to stop him.

"I tried bottle-feeding them, but one of the tabbies bit through the rubber nipple," she says with a little smirk. "I think it was frustrated the milk wasn't coming fast enough."

The calico's wings flutter slightly as it's scooped up, and it stretches and gives a long yawn, curling a tiny pink tongue.

"His children are here?" He can't imagine seeing someone he actually knows here, let alone kin. "They sound young to possibly get upset over missing the kittens."

He's very rarely had to handle an animal, yes, but those wings give him even more pause. He's much more confident with the kitten in his hand and he holds the little thing against his chest with both hands. One thumb starts rubbing behind the ears.

"Something sturdier, maybe even a kind of syringe if their teeth are already that sharp." He's made up his mind to take home the kitten, but now that begs the notion of supplies. "Litter box, food and water dishes, toys and a bed, something to climb on..." He mutters the words half to himself. "Given they're half bird, trying out cat and bird toys would be a good idea."

"It's a long story," she explains. "They're children he adopted. Their uncle is looking after them right now, in the world I come from."

The kitten seems pretty sanguine about being handled. These may not be precisely domesticated animals, but they're not truly feral either. After a moment, there's another yawn and the start of a purr.

"I think that one likes you," Fonn observes. "I have extra canned food and toys I can give you to take with you. There are pet shops around the plaza. You know, I hadn't tried it yet, but I wonder if that big supply store for Pokemon might have a suitable perch or climbing tree. Some of them have both wings and paws...I think."

She is not a Pokemon expert.

"Adoption sometimes works for people. Parents can be a disappointment instead of trustworthy."

He huffs with laughter as the purring starts up. What a good cat. Bird. Catbird. He continues petting the small creature, admiring the softness of his fur. Even his limited experience taught him that baby animals of any species tend to be rather soft.

"I think he does." He looks up at Fonn and nods. "Whatever you can spare, I will take." And that word. Pokemon. It rings with familiarity, but he can't really remember why it would be something he'd know. "There's got to be a cat tower fit for someone like this. If he's more cat than bird, then he'll like having a way to look down on everyone."

The mewing of kittens drew her from across the plaza. It was instinct more than thought pulling the huge winged lioness into the plaza. She left scorched footprints and a spark of fire danced on the end of her tail. Lucifer was a bit feral at the moment after running in the wilds and there was a distinct nesting instinct brought on by the sounds coming from the box. She didn't ask but snatched the whole box of kittens.

Carrying it gentle, she plods over to the shade, flopping down on the ground but the box she sets down gently. With a big paw she tips it to spill out the kittens. Immediately, she starts grooming them and, if necessary, allowing them to nurse. This wasn't the angel's usual behavior but things were not usual in her life at the moment either.

Fonn has been absorbed in her work, but it's impossible to miss a fiery, winged lioness approaching. She's not sure what to do! She should protect the kittens, but she shouldn't just assume a strange creature means them ill, and anyway the anti-violence field ought to protect them, right? Maybe if she talks to the lion, it--

"Hey!" She squawks, startled by the unexpected snatch-and-grab move. "Wait, no! Stop, you can't just..."

Her outrage stutters and dies when she realizes this is a mothering instinct in action, rather than a theft or a hunt. Well, this can't be their actual biological mother. Fonn has seen the adult winged cats and they're...not burning lions. Still, the similarity, on a much smaller scale, is undeniable.

Leaving her bag and her crochet where she was sitting, she walks toward the makeshift nest, hands out so the lion can see she's not threatening any of them. "I mean...they do need some mothering, but I actually wanted to keep the little white one," she protests quietly. "She keeps falling asleep in my apron pocket."

She really hopes the lioness can carry on a conversation, because negotiating is going to be tricky here. Meanwhile, it's clear that she's done as much as she could for them. They're all flea-free, hydrated and clean. One of the blue ones has a mild respiratory infection that's been treated but hasn't cleared up yet, and while they may smell of dish-soap rather than the nesting-babies smell they ought to have to an animal's nose, they seem content enough.

Lucifer instinctively covers the kittens with her wings, ears dropping back at the approaching woman. It's not particularly aggressive but more of a stubborn child that is unwilling to share.

There's a bit of a staredown while Fonn speaks. The angel can't help it with her instincts burning so hotly. Slowly she retracts her wings to tuck them against her body comfortably.

"Sit with us." the words are clear in the rumbling purr from the lioness. It's not quite speech or telepathy, more an ability to allow others to understand the language of animals. Lucifer then returns to systematically checking the kittens, grooming and encouraging them, gently, to nestle with her.

A lioness is a dangerous animal, even to an Asgardian, and Fonn is aware she's being incautious, but she took responsibility for the kittens in the first place, and she can't just abandon them now. She rests her hands on her hips, straightening her spine and puffing out her chest a little, facing the staredown without a flinching, but it's possible her pounding heartbeat is audible to the lion. She can certainly hear it in her own ears.

It's a huge relief when the lion speaks. They can at least talk about this, then! Lucifer may find it's easier to allow Fonn this ability to speak with animals than it would be with most people. Asgardians have the benefit of the Allspeak, which sometimes encompasses at least the auditory parts of animal languages, if not the body-language and scents they rely on.

"...all right," she says, and relaxes, walking a few steps closer and sitting on the ground cross-legged near the sheltering wings. "I don't know what happened to their mother. I looked."

She shifts her wings to give the young woman space. Lucifer realizes that there was an instinct, something in their sound that told her they were without a mother. She couldn't place what but looking back could recognize she felt it.

"I know." She purrs, watching the kittens carefully as they do what kittens do. The longer she sits the more the animal side subsides a little and the more human intellect reasserts itself. "I could hear that they had lost their mother."

They're a bit confused, the kittens. They've been through a lot of changes in the past few days, and being tipped into the warm arms of a Giant Mom is one of the nicer ones, but it's still perplexing. None have settled in to nurse, but many are snuggling up against the furry flanks, and a couple of the more adventurous ones are batting at feathers.

"They were in Prince Loki's sofa," she explains, tilting her head to watch little paws and tails. "I'm not sure why their mother put them there. There were so many, it may even have been more than one mother, though I think they're all the same age."

She flicks her wing feathers, using the control she has over each individual feather, to tease the adventurous kittens. Lucifer nuzzles the ones against her flanks with her own muzzle.

"Loki?" The name gives her pause, a flick of ears and her eyes come up from the kittens for a second. "There are many trees being felled in the wilds for various purposes. If they nest in trees, the nesting sites may not be safe."

It was only one possibility. Either way, she's happy to care for them.

Fonn nods. "Yes, do you know him?" She thinks Loki would have mentioned a fiery winged lion, but then again maybe not. Maybe there are a lot of them in the Nexus, too, the way there are cats and angels...and Lokis.

"I was wondering if perhaps they were drawn to magic. I know he wards his place heavily, for the sake of the children. Maybe their mother thought they'd be safest there."

She reaches out a hand toward the nearest kitten, which is in more of a mood to play than be petted, so it rolls over and bats at her fingers. She bites her lip to keep from laughing. "A few people adopted some of them already. I was going to try to manage the rest as best I could. Do you really want to raise them?"

"Yes, I would call him a friend." Lucifer tells her though the lioness is paying attention to the kittens more than the woman.

"...and someone to care for them if the mothers were unable to return." She adds with a smile in the sound of her purr.

She nuzzles them and briefly wonders what Balthazar will think of her carrying a bunch of kittens home to mother. "I have raised my own children."

Beneath it all was her biological clock, which an angel shouldn't have, but maybe this would dampen that drive a little.

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Fur and Feathers ((open post, slow tagging))

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