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

[sharpcompassion]

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.

Comments

[tr1ckortreat]

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.

[chiaro_oscuro]

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."

[silverseamariner]

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."

[hellomajortom]

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.

[ginger_firebird]

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."

[the_rebel_son]

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.