Petting Zoo
Family of Kneazles: Near the center of the pitch stands a patchwork tent. Its entrance is crowned by a banner reading "Cat Cafe", and upon passing through the beaded doorway, visitors are treated to a cozy pop-up tea bar. Plush seating arrangements encircle low tables. Sweet, floral, and herbal aromas drift from the kettles arranged around the room. The lighting is warm, with suncatchers sending fractals of light dancing across the carpeted floor. Kneazle kittens chase after them and weave through the legs of passerby. The felines come in a variety of age and coloration, from noble tuxedos to charming calicos. Handlers collect and clean cups, dispense drinks, and clear cat hair from the tables intermittently. Guests are welcome to cuddle kneazles, play with the variety of cat toys scattered through the cafe, or enjoy a complimentary cup of their favorite leafy beverage.
Relaxing Runespoor: This enclosure resembles the runespoor's natural habitat: the semi-arid wooded savannah and shrublands of Burkina Faso's forests. Its walls are designed of reinforced glass, disillusioned from the interior to hide viewers from the occupant's view. Inside is a large square of coarse red earth, tall dry grass, crumbling boulders, and a juvenile boabob tree at its heart. Often roaming through the grass, basking on rocks or dozing in its tree, the seven-foot-long adult runespoor inside seems almost docile. Its handler, nonetheless, warns those around the exterior against rapping on the glass or putting one's fingers too close to the cage airholes. (Parselmouths, DM for interaction opportunities)
The Jarvey Twins: Passerby might find themselves scaled by what looked like a duo of oversized ferrets. The jarvey siblings had a habit of sprinting away from their handler to enlist playmates, capable of scaling a pantleg in 1.8 seconds flat and eager to yap gibberish into their ears. Their keeper, a jarvey breeder excited to share the benefits of owning these mischief-makers as pets, introduced them as brothers named Worm and Flobber. The breeder did their best to drown out the (often rude) word salad that they parroted, from crude insults to brainrot phrases strung together at random.
A Guardian Griffin: Displayed on a raised platform was a massive nest formed by thick branches, straw, and scraps of fabric woven into a sturdy structure. The griffin lounging in its basin was a magnificent specimen: its glossy coat and plumage indicated good health, while a mellow temperament attested to skilled handling. It didn't seem to mind the harness binding it to its bed. The Magizoologist standing by would explain how she had been rescued from a smuggling ring. Raised in a cage for the claws she naturally shed, which were sold as potion components, she was deemed unfit for rehabilitation into the wild. She now peacefully lived out her days in a creature conservation. The object she'd chosen to guard was a garden gnome, a perfectly mundane figure which the griffin cradled in her front talons. Visitors were welcome to stroke her wings or neck from the sidelines, but cautioned strongly against interacting with the gnome.
Retired Abraxans: Students of Beauxbatons might recognize familiar faces in the abraxan enclosure, an enormous log pen with an adjacent wooden platform. Within, the elephant-sized winged steeds slurped from troughs of single-malt whiskey, lounged under the shade of a tall awning, or raised their heads to those on the platforms for pets and treats. Handlers on the platform passed out melons, heads of lettuce, and englarged apples for students to hand-feed abraxans in one bite.
The Derby Granians, housed in their stables, were on display for fans to view and interact with. The friendlier among them stuck their heads out from their stalls to accept attention. Stablehands oversaw interactions, available at any time to answer questions (and keep students from entering the stalls). They were exceptional racers, with the "degree and prestigious training to be as swift as they come":
Reducio(Descriptions by Evelynn Decipio)
Snorting Hat - Mistral & Mirror Racing - "a handsome grullo gelding with a twitchy snort that’s already turning heads. Wearing ivory white tack with gold trim, he’s bold and unpredictable, with a crooked blaze and a lot to prove out of the gate."
Bluebottle Betsy - Silver Strider Sanctuary - "a graceful dapple grey mare debuting today in royal blue tack with silver accents. Calm at the start but built for speed, she carries herself with elegance and steady reliability."
Avada Run Fasta - Runestone Riding Academy - "this cream champagne stallion arrives cloaked in an understated and elegant mahogany brown tack, complete with a lightning bolt saddle cloth. With sharp eyes and a powerful build, he looks ready to make magic on his first trip down the stretch."
Phoenix Flare - Excalibur Equestrian Centre - "a glowing bright rose bay mare with flame-red and gold tack and a signature blaze. She’s known for her late bursts in training—watch for a hot finish in her first official run."
Loki's Legacy - Skadi’s Skye Ranch - "a cunning blue roan gelding with hunter green tack etched with runes. A crescent mark over his eye gives him a trickster’s look—expect surprises from this one."
Firebolt Fury - Stonehedge Stables - "a powerful dark dapple gray stallion in gallant gold tack. A live wire at the gate, he’s set to test his spark in this first race."
Nimble Nimbus - Pegasus Pines - "a light-stepping white-gray mare in sky blue tack with pearl trim. Her dreamy gait and quiet confidence have impressed in workouts—now she takes her first leap into competition."
Vitamixin' It Up - Arion Academy - "a bold gray mare sporting slate gray and black tack. With a star on her brow and spring in her step, she brings speed, style, and a dose of chaos to the field."
OOC Information
- this is expected to be a peaceful thread with no plans for moderation
- The thread will get an additional post in 2-3 weeks describing the nocturnal rotation
- If you have any questions about this event, please contact Pericles (me!) or any planner
How to Participate
- DO: animals approaching, playing, interacting. handlers accurately answering questions
- use this thread to interact with partners, or create your own private thread so long as it follows the same guidelines and descriptions.
- DON'T: animals being hostile, harmed, or trying to escape
Last edited by Pericles Dralt on 15 Aug 2025, 16:03, edited 1 time in total.
{ 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔟𝔬𝔶: 𝔞 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢, 𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔬𝔶. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔰𝔞𝔶 𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔣𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔞. }
(iNPC: Madhup Hexum)
Petting Zoo
Pocket Wiki
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{ 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔟𝔬𝔶: 𝔞 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢, 𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔬𝔶. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔰𝔞𝔶 𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔣𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔞. }
(iNPC: Madhup Hexum)
Petting Zoo
date
14/08/25word count
432speech
#8C2626soon to interact with
@Rosaline Everhart
@Nicholas Lazarus
@Aislin Darraghnotes
closed to interactionsThe petting zoo was an activity Lucille had been most excited for. If the petting zoo was the only activity in summer camp, the girl would've been more than happy to attend for a month, getting to meet the animals every single day. Unfortunately for her, the zoo was only open for one day, and so Lucille was up bright and early, unwilling to miss anything.
She arrived at the zoo quite early on in the day, not wanting to arrive to a crowded pitch and, of course, to spend as much time as she could with the animals.
Lucille's first stop was, of course, the Granian horses. She desperately wanted to meet the amazing animals that would be competing and, maybe, pick her favorite for the upcoming Derby.
It didn't take long for Lucille to reach the stables. A few students were already there, but, despite the crowd, she knew it was no match for the rush of students that would inevitably arrive in the afternoon, hurrying to make up for lost time after sleeping in.
She walked through the stable, her eyes landing on a flashy bay mare. She reminded Lucille of her horse back home, and she was intrigued. As she approached, she saw the mare's name was Phoenix Flare. Apparently, she was known for her hot finishes, speeding down the track at the last minute. An exciting mare, for sure, and Lucille wondered if the horse would apply the same energy into greetings.
Phoenix Flare's handler was quite relaxed at people approaching the horse. It seemed the mare was only unpredictable on the track, and Lucille smiled. What a personality on this horse. She peeked over the stall door, and, for a second, Phoenix Flare pinned her ears, startled at the sudden movement. But, seeing that it was only a person, her ears quickly pricked forward and she approached eagerly, peeking her head over the stall door and sniffing Lucille's outstretched hand. The horse lipped it, as if hoping a treat would somehow manifest in Lucille's hand.
Lucille giggled, stroking Phoenix Flare's muzzle. It seemed winged horses didn't behave quite so different to regular horses, after all. She knew she had made the right decision going to the Granian horses first; Lucille's confidence soared. Magical creatures didn't seem quite so different to the animals she was used to; at least, the horses didn't. The griffin, surely, would be a different experience.
As Lucille stroked the mare, who now dropped her head lower, enjoying the affection, she began to look around at the other students, and the other horses.
| sta 7 eva 7 str 6 wis 5 arc 6 acc 4 calming presence |
Petting Zoo
.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.*+:｡.｡｡.｡:+*
date✧.* 14.08.25
tag/s✧.* @Lucille Rosenhart wc✧.* 453/200 ooc note✧. outfit✧.* speech✧.*HEX: #36563C
code by ara villa
After the little accident, Rosaline finished her conversation with a newly met boy and went to the Petting Zoo. She was excited, almost skipping. It wasn’t far from the campgrounds. She arrived there quickly. Looking around, she saw that some students had already gathered here. Her eyes widened at the sight of so many magical creatures all in one area.
A Griffin! Her eyes swiftly fixed on the Griffin that she wanted to interact with. Striding forward, she approached the platform. The Griffin seemed calm and relaxed in its own bed. The Griffin held a garden gnome under its talons, watching over it. That must be the thing she guards. She had read some books about the Griffin, so she had some basic knowledge about it. But this was the first time she could actually touch a real Griffin. Besides the Griffin, the Magizoologist kindly waved to Rosaline and signaled that she could move closer. She was a bit nervous, quietly observing the giant magical creature. The Griffin was so beautiful and powerful that she couldn’t take her eyes off it.
The Magizoologist told her about what had happened to the Griffin, how the Griffin had been smuggled and then rescued, and this almost broke her heart. “It must be tough for her to have been through all that…” she sighed deeply. “I really hope this kind of thing won’t happen to any other animals.” She thought that in the Muggle world, animal smuggling was also rampant. Upset by the fact, yet she perked up; at least the Griffin in front of her was fine.
Rosaline gently touched the Griffin’s wing. It felt a bit like feathers, but also like a lion’s mane. It wasn’t very soft, but it had a certain resilience to it. The Griffin didn’t seem to be disturbed at all. The Griffin raised her head, glanced at Rosaline briefly, then turned her head back in the previous direction. She let out a little gasp. Being so close to the Griffin wasn’t something she could have imagined before. She was very satisfied, feeling as if she were about to float away. She composed herself, realizing that there were still people waiting in line behind her, and stepped down from the platform, ready to explore other areas.
She looked around to see other areas in the Petting Zoo. The crowd was bustling, and she tried to push through the crowd to see the Derby Granians. At that moment, she saw a familiar face and exclaimed joyfully, “Lucille!” It was the girl she first met at Diagon Alley, with whom she had hit it off immediately. “How have you been? I mean the Summer Camp and all sorts of activities,” she beamed.
Petting Zoo
Green was not Aly's colour, and yet here she was wearing it anyway on the third full day of summer camp. Was a ruffled white blouse and a short emerald tweed dress, complete with matching strappy heels, the correct choice of outfit for a petting zoo of all things? Probably not, but Aly was a sheltered pureblood who had never been to nor even so much as heard of one of these things before. Zoos = a place where you could go look at animals. Maybe the "petting" in the word meant that you got to watch them be pet, which sounded quite sweet, even though Aly herself was not much of a lover of animals. Just because she was about to try to learn how to turn into one didn't mean that she got along with them very well, hence why she'd only ever once stepped foot down in the Care of Magical Creatures area at Hogwarts.
Still, this was the summer of trying new things, no? And so in one of the new outfits her new family had sent her, the newly minted seventh-year picked her way down to a new experience: a petting zoo, or any zoo at all really, for the very first time.
Imagine this lass's surprise when she arrived to see animals, not being handled by experienced trainers but rather being touched willy-nilly by, like, bloody children. The Ravenclaw's emerald eyes scanned over the scene in horror: they were stroking the wings of griffins, petting the snouts of granians, and even spitting rude phrases back and forth at a jabbering jarvey. Who was running this bedamned thing? Why were the younger years being allowed to just run around and do whatsoever they pleased to these poor creatures?
At this moment a small fuzzy thing brushed against her ankle, and Aly yelped in horror, recoiling instinctively; if the children and the animals alike weren't being controlled, who was to say that it wasn't something venomous or dangerous? But no, it was just a tiny orange Kneazle kitten; the girl's gaze softened as it bristled up at her and meowed defensively, no doubt startled by her unexpected and over-the-top reaction. Aly crouched to pick up the tiny thing, only now noticing the cat cafe; now, if they were supposed to be touching animals, this was something she could get behind. (Her own cat, Dauncey, was safely back in their tent at the moment, and she could deal with getting other cats' hair off of her later before he found out that she had been cheating on him with other kneazles.) "I'm sorry, little one," she cooed at it, scooping up the baby in her arms and beginning to take him back to the cat tent. It still bristled somewhat aggressively, but eventually relaxed in her arms as she stroked its tiny head with all the care and love of an obvious cat mom. "I didn't mean to startle you. You shouldn't walk out here - you're bound to get squished. Let's take you back to your family, shall we?"
| Aly Salinger's ency |
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STA 10 | EVA 14 | STR 5 | WIS 19 | ARC 7 | ACC 18 Charmer • Keeper’s Catch • Paragon of Health • Lovely Creature • Foulplay • Keen Eye who's afraid of little old me? |
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Petting Zoo
August 14th | @Aly Salinger
There was a petting zoo. This was not a drill, this summer camp had a petting zoo. Theo loved the fair theme. He was struck by excitement at the thought of his final Quidditch Game. But nothing managed to evoke quite the same enthusiasm as the announcement that there would be animals the students could interact with.
Animals were a part of his childhood in Alaska. There were pens with sheep and cows a few minutes away from his parents' house, where he used to go with his siblings to see if they could lure the animals to the fence. Sometimes they'd get a short cuddle out of it. Sometimes the animals would just blink and decide that their foor was more interesting than the children. Once again Theo wished his siblings could be here too, he was sure that Ana would spend all day with the animals. Though she had been quiet, he could tell she had loved the time at the pet shop where he had bought his new owl as well.
Theo had decided to explore the rest of the camp first, but on the third day he couldn't resist the temptation anymore and approached the enclosure the animals were kept in. As the owner of an owl, he didn't have any treats to offer the animals, so he was quite grateful for the cup he was handed upon entering the gates. Now where to go first? He was still trying to make up his mind, when he saw a tiny ball of orange fur crawl out of the patchwork tent in the middle.
And... no one coming after it. Seemed like the little one had managed to escape the tent unnoticed. Carefully, he approached the kitten- it was best if he brought it back inside before it was missed- but it seemed like the little guy had different plans. He was only a few feet away, when it suddenly jumped away and against a girl's leg, who made a startled noise, then picked the little creature up. When she turned around, Theo was very much too close to just walk away unnoticed. Smiling a little awkwardly he cleared his throat, switched the hand that held the cup with the treats and ran his free hand through his hair. "...Hi! Um... yeah, I think the little guy escaped from the tent. You were faster than me."
Noticing the girl's empty hands, Theo held out the cup in her direction. "Take some, if you want. Um, I am Theo.", he added, a little late.
Petting Zoo
Guardian Porlocks: When the last winged horse tucked its head beneath its wing for the night, small creatures crawled out from under the whiskey trough and straw bedding: porlocks! They cautiously move about the enclosure, nibbling on bits of grass or vegetable scraps left behind by the slumbering Abraxans. A sign by the feeding platform describes them as the herd's "self-appointed protectors". Visitors are welcome to toss snacks down to the porlocks, and if one is brave enough to reach through the fence, they may discover the beasts have a fondness for scratches behind their ears. Many in this gaggle appear acclimated to humans, but will only approach the edge if bribed.
Mellow Mooncalves: A tree glistening with fairy lights has replaced the Kneazle Cafe. On closer inspection, campers will find two tunnels leading beneath it: one with a staircase and one with a slide, both ending a short ways down in a makeshift Mooncalf nest. The emulated burrow is furnished with beanbags, bioluminescent flora, and a self-playing violin to add ambiance. A dozen blue mooncalves reside within, bright-eyed and highly food-motivated. Guests are invited to feed, cuddle, and dance with beasts as they practice their spins for the next full moon.
Naughty Nifflers: A disheveled handler is struggling to keep a pack of nifflers wrangled. While a mated pair scampers around on the end of two leashes, their litter of six scurries underfoot, climbing the pantlegs of passerby who come too close. Those interested in holding the beasts are encouraged to pool their valuables on a table nearby, and to take a cup of leprechaun gold to tempt them with instead. Some perform simple tricks in exchange for trikets. While re-checking and readjusting the harnesses of both parents, the handler warns that their babies are especially skilled at nibbling off earrings.
Wallowing Toads: With the aid of a Portable Swamp and the bridge-conjuring spell, a collector of Giant Purple Toads has arranged an enclosure for oversized amphibians. Amidst the pond scum and lily pads, the eyes of these slimy beasts wink up at onlookers. Their handler roams the area turning away anyone with small pets. Those looking to interact with them are offered oversized cups of dried bugs, which can be tossed over the side to be caught by sticky tongues. If one is lucky enough to catch them on the shoreline, or bold enough to wade up close, they're encouraged to wear gloves unless they want hands covered in warts. Bassy croaks carry across the grounds, broken by melodic trills as some sing for their dinner.
Trained Thestrals: Those without an intimate understanding of death would see a strange sight: a witch dressed in equestrian attire appeared to unload an empty trailer. She swung the door ajar, emitted a sharp whistle, and made directional gestures with a riding crop. Those capable of seeing the truth witnessed a trio of thestrals obediently trotting into a round pen. This mated pair kept their filly between them while they took in their surroundings, moving with a grace that was less equestrian than it was draconic, snorting and stretching their wings. The male was fit with a saddle. Guests entering the gate were given gloves and jars of offal, and the especially brave were invited to strap themselves in for a ride around the pitch on an "extremely capable fast flier".
Opaleye Hatchling: News of a dragon at the petting zoo rippled throughout camp, and while some students were disappointed to see one the size of a housecat, others delighted in the innocence of an Antipodean Opaleye hatchling. Her handler had sequestered her away until the end of day, when the grounds were quiet and her energy low. The tiny beast dozed in a cat bed atop a pedestal, occasionally rousing to belch red sparks in exchange for scraps of mutton.
OOC Information
- You can continue interacting with the day rotation
- There will be no additional rotations
- If you have any questions about this event, please contact Pericles (me!) or any planner
Since this thread is unmoderated, it's treated as a prompt. Players have a unique opportunity to write and interact with magical creatures.How to Participate
- DO: animals approaching, playing, interacting. handlers being helpful
- DON'T: animals being hostile, harmed, or trying to escape
{ 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔟𝔬𝔶: 𝔞 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢, 𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔬𝔶. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔰𝔞𝔶 𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔣𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔞. }
(iNPC: Madhup Hexum)
Petting Zoo
Pocket Wiki
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{ 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔟𝔬𝔶: 𝔞 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢, 𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔬𝔶. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔰𝔞𝔶 𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔣𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔞. }
(iNPC: Madhup Hexum)
Petting Zoo
With the kneazle kitten finally relaxed and purring in her arms, Aly turned to head back in the direction of the cat cafe, only to skid to a stop about 0.2 seconds later before she smacked head-on into a boy who had appeared behind her. Well - not a boy. More like a wall. She craned her head upwards at the tall creature, who had a shock of longish, messy brown hair and dark brown eyes; he was also extending a cup of cat treats towards her, and for a moment, Aly thought she was being offered a cat treat and wondered if he might be some strange creature who ate cat treats, or perhaps a prankster trying to get a good laugh. Then she remembered the cat in her arms. Oh. Duh.
The boy explained, in his very American accent with their flattened vowels and guttural rs, that the little bloke had escaped from the cat cafe. Relief washed over her that she had assumed correctly and that she hadn't been the only one paying attention; based on his height and the deepness of his voice alone, this fellow was likely an older year like herself, so the audience at this zoo wasn't made purely out of young children. That made her feel better about the animals' safety, such was for sure. "I dunno about being faster. I think he smelt my cat on me and knew I was going to be safe," she joked, tilting her head to the side and offering a grin to the kneazle-chasing stranger. "He's the fast one. Surprisingly so for having such little legs."
She shook her head at the treats, holding up the kitten in her arms as an excuse. "Thanks, but I don't want to drop him. If you come back to the tent with us, you can give him some then, yeah? Plus, two of us escorting him back might be better anyway in case he decides to make anothe break for it." Aly continued to scritch lightly at the top of the baby's head, right between his fuzzy little ears, and he just melted into her arms. She cooed, almost forgetting that she had company; a whisper escaped her lips for the kitten before she could so much as think twice about it. "I wonder what your name is, little love."
At about the same time, the boy offered up his name - Theo. Aly flushed with embarrassment, glancing up at him again even as she started to walk back towards the cat cafe, assuming he would follow. "Oh! Sorry, I didn't mean you. Er, but yes, nice to meet you, I suppose. I'm Aly," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "From Hogwarts - I'm a Ravenclaw. Judging by the accent, I assume you must be from Ilvermorny?"
| Aly Salinger's ency |
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STA 10 | EVA 14 | STR 5 | WIS 19 | ARC 7 | ACC 18 Charmer • Keeper’s Catch • Paragon of Health • Lovely Creature • Foulplay • Keen Eye who's afraid of little old me? |
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