Don't pet them, grab them! [Mingle]

[ourearth]

Date: 25th of July
Characters: Open!

---

I.

In the afternoon on the 25th, a network message alerts the Numbered to the fact that the petting zoo in Moss Manor's Menagerie is facing a major break-out: Someone has torn down the fences, and all the bunnies, sheep, and all the other animals typically found in petting zoos have decided to book it. They are now swarming the manor's grounds.

Due to the staff being nowhere near enough to catch them all, and due to the generally low threat level of the animals that escaped, visitors are asked to help catch them instead of being sent away.

And anyone who just happens to show up and help will be happily welcomed and included in the fort, without any question of who told them that help is needed.


II.

Afterwards, Lady Margaret Camilla Brassant invites everyone onto her patio and offers refreshments - tea, water, little sandwiches, cake and scones with clotted cream and jam. She retires quickly herself, but not before giving a brief speech thanking everyone who helped save the gardens from hungry mouths.

Comments

[iamnotgod]

The staffperson rushes forward, presumably to take over and help calm the donkey down - and the donkey keeps on in her mad rush.

"Now, Russell!" Walter shouts.

[spaghettimonster]

He leads donkey into the enclosure, and skids to an about-face as quickly as he can to get back to that gate and close it. Thankfully, the staffperson's caught on to their plan and ready outside, and Russell just has to get through before the gate closes the donkey inside.

"Oh my god," he pants, leaning against the gate on the outside, then grins at Walter. "We did it!"

[iamnotgod]

Walter walks on up, sheepish grin on his face.

Once he's close enough, he offers a hand for a high-five.

"Sorry for the almost heart-attack, there. At least you didn't have to jump?"

[spaghettimonster]

"It could have been so much worse," Russell agrees, reaching up to match the high-five, then pulling his hand back long enough to add a fistbump.

Just looking around them, he can see other people scurrying around chasing or carrying the smaller animals back to their homes.

"There's a lot of open enclosures... What happened?"

[iamnotgod]

That fistbump follow-up is returned with gusto.

"Three people snuck in, from what I heard."

From the Network, naturally.

"Short of playing sleuth ourselves, I expect we'll find out more later. Within the week, if there's any security footage to back it up."

[spaghettimonster]

"Teenage pranksters, or something...?"

He'll have to take Walter's word on that for now, as Russell only listened to bits and pieces of the Network's message - partly because the frantic yelling was a bit much, and partly because otherwise he might have recognized voices.

"Well, I'm not volunteering for that detective work. Getting the animals home is tricky enough!"

[iamnotgod]

"Or a little older than that."

But that's outright guesswork.

"No arguments here!"

At least partly because that staffperson, having calmed the donkey (Walter can swear he heard the man call her 'Betsy'...!), is now coming back over to them, presumably with another assignment.

[spaghettimonster]

Sure enough, the staffperson's got more requests for help if they're willing. Whoever came through breaking fences and opening gates did a lot of damage in this area, but they know what's supposed to live where, and they're trying to direct everything back to their homes.

"They're not all as... as willful as her, are they?"

Russell figures, he's here now, might as well help with the rest. If most are more chill and complacent, they could split up and get things settled even faster. But teamwork's best with the rest.

[iamnotgod]

Russell's lucky it was just the petting zoo effected; if the bears or wolves had gotten loose, there'd have been a lot more panic.

"No, no. Some of the guinea pigs can get about as fast, though! Or so I hear," the staffperson amends.

The tiny fluffy creatures are not his domain; Walter merely raises an eyebrow.

"Most of the animals we had a priority on are... settled."

Aka most likely to hurt others or themselves.

[spaghettimonster]

A lot more panic, true, but mostly for people in this area. If the mysterious microwave voice had mentioned bears or wolves loose, he wouldn't be near this place.

He might've called people in the area to confirm it, and help call animal rescue groups, though.

"So it's just gathering stragglers now... I'm already here, and happy to help. Keep helping," he correctly with a glance at Walter. "Might as well, right?"

[iamnotgod]

Walter nods, and the staffperson looks relieved.

"This whole thing might get us a few new hires... assuming it isn't one of our own that gets fired for causing it."