7 Feb 2020, 15:04
A creature in need
It all began when Jake had been walking around the outskirts of the forest (not IN it of course, as the forbidden forest was forbidden and he had no desire to see the types of monsters that might be waiting inside). No, he had just been walking on the outside of it, where the larger trees cast a nice shade upon the grass. He had been looking down at the ground for no real reason, just watching the way the grass folded beneath his feet, keeping an eye out for interesting insects or other such creatures and enjoying a quiet afternoon.
It was in the shadow of one of those trees that Jake had seen the bunny.
It had got his attention at once, as bunnies often did, but even as he turned his head to look at it Jake could sense that something was wrong. An ominous feeling settled in - it was just a sense...that something about this bunny was different, and Jake took a step closer to see. The creature wasn't moving from his spot, but as Jake got closer it tried to. It didn't make it very far...taking a few labored limping hops before lying back down. Jake stopped instantly.
"It's okay...." Jake said softly, not wanting to scare the rabbit and make it try to move. He lowered himself down and approached as slowly as he could...no sudden movements.
He bent down now, crouched over. It was the rabbit's leg - he realized. Something had hurt it. He didn't want to move it in case he managed to hurt it worse. He had to be sure it was safe from anything else that would touch it. He looked around but there were no other kids nearby...and no sign of predators. He opened his backpack and took out his books and supplies and lay them in the grass around the rabbit in a futile attempt at a shield.
A few minutes later Jake was arriving back on the scene with a bundle of tall grass in his hands and some berries which he lay by the bunny - he knew that rabbits liked to eat grass...though there was more than enough grass under it. What if it was too hurt to realize though? "It's your leg, isn't it?" Jake asked the bunny softly. "You hurt yourself."
Jake couldn't see any blood or signs of trauma, but the signs of pain were unmistakable. He needed to protect the poor helpless creature and to take care of it as much as he could. The sounds that it made misted Jake's eyes and made his lip quiver. He couldn't bear to see the bunny in pain. If Jake knew healing magic then perhaps he would've been able to fix the rabbit's leg right here and now but he didn't. If he could take the rabbit to the hospital wing then surely they could help him and he almost wanted to try to bundle the bunny in his cloak but that would mean carrying him and that might mean hurting him worse, or scaring him terribly.
Jake had always fancied himself good with animals. He thought he was, kind of. But this was a big situation. A situation where he desperately needed a grown-up or a bigger kid...somebody who knew just what to do about it. He really wished that George was there...Or Alan or Lamik...Or Saskia or Ruthie. But without anybody in sight there was just Jake.
"Shh..." he shushed the rabbit gently, trying to find it in himself to calm the thing down. "Don't be scared. I'm going to help you. It'll be okay...." But Jake wasn't so sure that it was and his heart began to beat quicker. What was he going to do? He knew how to take care of rabbits, but he didn't know how to take care of injured rabbits and this rabbit needed help bigger than he knew how to give. Tears dripped down into the grass.
It was in the shadow of one of those trees that Jake had seen the bunny.
It had got his attention at once, as bunnies often did, but even as he turned his head to look at it Jake could sense that something was wrong. An ominous feeling settled in - it was just a sense...that something about this bunny was different, and Jake took a step closer to see. The creature wasn't moving from his spot, but as Jake got closer it tried to. It didn't make it very far...taking a few labored limping hops before lying back down. Jake stopped instantly.
"It's okay...." Jake said softly, not wanting to scare the rabbit and make it try to move. He lowered himself down and approached as slowly as he could...no sudden movements.
He bent down now, crouched over. It was the rabbit's leg - he realized. Something had hurt it. He didn't want to move it in case he managed to hurt it worse. He had to be sure it was safe from anything else that would touch it. He looked around but there were no other kids nearby...and no sign of predators. He opened his backpack and took out his books and supplies and lay them in the grass around the rabbit in a futile attempt at a shield.
A few minutes later Jake was arriving back on the scene with a bundle of tall grass in his hands and some berries which he lay by the bunny - he knew that rabbits liked to eat grass...though there was more than enough grass under it. What if it was too hurt to realize though? "It's your leg, isn't it?" Jake asked the bunny softly. "You hurt yourself."
Jake couldn't see any blood or signs of trauma, but the signs of pain were unmistakable. He needed to protect the poor helpless creature and to take care of it as much as he could. The sounds that it made misted Jake's eyes and made his lip quiver. He couldn't bear to see the bunny in pain. If Jake knew healing magic then perhaps he would've been able to fix the rabbit's leg right here and now but he didn't. If he could take the rabbit to the hospital wing then surely they could help him and he almost wanted to try to bundle the bunny in his cloak but that would mean carrying him and that might mean hurting him worse, or scaring him terribly.
Jake had always fancied himself good with animals. He thought he was, kind of. But this was a big situation. A situation where he desperately needed a grown-up or a bigger kid...somebody who knew just what to do about it. He really wished that George was there...Or Alan or Lamik...Or Saskia or Ruthie. But without anybody in sight there was just Jake.
"Shh..." he shushed the rabbit gently, trying to find it in himself to calm the thing down. "Don't be scared. I'm going to help you. It'll be okay...." But Jake wasn't so sure that it was and his heart began to beat quicker. What was he going to do? He knew how to take care of rabbits, but he didn't know how to take care of injured rabbits and this rabbit needed help bigger than he knew how to give. Tears dripped down into the grass.
Last edited by Jake Morris on 30 May 2020, 02:25, edited 1 time in total.
9 Feb 2020, 10:10
A creature in need
@Jake Morris
After the debacle that was the Valentine’s Tea Party, Ruka had needed especially much time outside in the fresh air, mostly spending his time with the Giant Squid to feed him the breakfast Ruka had returned to not eating again.
Inside the castle walls, Ruka had felt trapped and lonely as of late, like he wasn’t able to breathe anymore, but out here... out in the fresh air he felt reminded of what it was like back in Ireland, when things had been simpler.
He wished he still had his dad’s picture - This would be the perfect time and place to sit under a tree and obsessively stare at it for hours.
Instead, Ruka found himself wandering the outskirts of the forbidden forest, hand touching the fair scar on his forehead - a little souvenir for the Tea Party - every now and again as if to check it was still there.
His thoughts were drifting as he put one bare foot in front of the other, faded black trousers dragging the ground.
It wasn’t too cold that day, the first signs of spring already showing across the grounds, so Ruka had opted to wear just an oversized grey T Shirt, his Gryffindor cloak and Jack’s Fedora.
Which, that probably wasn’t healthy either; he’d been wearing the fedora almost every day since the Valentine’s Tea Party, almost like it had replaced his dad’s picture.
His mind was very clearly trying to find something to obsess over, and this was apparently the next best thing.
Stepping on a small branch and wincing a little bit in pain, Ruka turned around to change directions, trying to find a different route to aimlessly wander down, but before he could move very far, his eyes fell on a boy not far away, seemingly... building a book fort?
A part of Ruka wanted to just shake his head and move on - He had enough of people and their drama for a life time, ao whatever this boy was doing, he could do it by himself. He’d probably get hurt less that way too.
Ruka shook his head at his own bitterness, taking a deep breath as he let his feet take him over to the boy, clearing his throat lightly when he saw what was going on.
There was a bunny, shielded by the boy’s books, catered to with bundles of grass and berries, it’s hind leg limp and bent at an awkward angle.
Ruka slowly got closer, careful not to frighten the bunny or the other boy, and knelt next to both of them on the ground. “Its leg is broken,” he said, eyes wide as he gently reached to touch the bunny’s leg. The small creature twitched feebly under his touch, but didn’t seem to have the strength to actually do much else. “What happened?” He worriedly turned back to the other boy, hoping for some sort of explanation.
There wasn’t much that immediately warmed Ruka’s heart like animals, and a hurt animal made him forget at least most of his problems in an instant.
It wasn’t like he had any expertise in treating wounded bunnies, but he had encountered enough injured birds and sick rodents to at least have a bit of an idea of what to do.
“We need to steady the leg, maybe with a straight stick,” he said thoughtfully while rummaging in the pockets of his cloak. Fortunately he almost had a roll of fabric with him for when he was practicing his routines, and today was no different. “We can make it some kind of bandage.”
After the debacle that was the Valentine’s Tea Party, Ruka had needed especially much time outside in the fresh air, mostly spending his time with the Giant Squid to feed him the breakfast Ruka had returned to not eating again.
Inside the castle walls, Ruka had felt trapped and lonely as of late, like he wasn’t able to breathe anymore, but out here... out in the fresh air he felt reminded of what it was like back in Ireland, when things had been simpler.
He wished he still had his dad’s picture - This would be the perfect time and place to sit under a tree and obsessively stare at it for hours.
Instead, Ruka found himself wandering the outskirts of the forbidden forest, hand touching the fair scar on his forehead - a little souvenir for the Tea Party - every now and again as if to check it was still there.
His thoughts were drifting as he put one bare foot in front of the other, faded black trousers dragging the ground.
It wasn’t too cold that day, the first signs of spring already showing across the grounds, so Ruka had opted to wear just an oversized grey T Shirt, his Gryffindor cloak and Jack’s Fedora.
Which, that probably wasn’t healthy either; he’d been wearing the fedora almost every day since the Valentine’s Tea Party, almost like it had replaced his dad’s picture.
His mind was very clearly trying to find something to obsess over, and this was apparently the next best thing.
Stepping on a small branch and wincing a little bit in pain, Ruka turned around to change directions, trying to find a different route to aimlessly wander down, but before he could move very far, his eyes fell on a boy not far away, seemingly... building a book fort?
A part of Ruka wanted to just shake his head and move on - He had enough of people and their drama for a life time, ao whatever this boy was doing, he could do it by himself. He’d probably get hurt less that way too.
Ruka shook his head at his own bitterness, taking a deep breath as he let his feet take him over to the boy, clearing his throat lightly when he saw what was going on.
There was a bunny, shielded by the boy’s books, catered to with bundles of grass and berries, it’s hind leg limp and bent at an awkward angle.
Ruka slowly got closer, careful not to frighten the bunny or the other boy, and knelt next to both of them on the ground. “Its leg is broken,” he said, eyes wide as he gently reached to touch the bunny’s leg. The small creature twitched feebly under his touch, but didn’t seem to have the strength to actually do much else. “What happened?” He worriedly turned back to the other boy, hoping for some sort of explanation.
There wasn’t much that immediately warmed Ruka’s heart like animals, and a hurt animal made him forget at least most of his problems in an instant.
It wasn’t like he had any expertise in treating wounded bunnies, but he had encountered enough injured birds and sick rodents to at least have a bit of an idea of what to do.
“We need to steady the leg, maybe with a straight stick,” he said thoughtfully while rummaging in the pockets of his cloak. Fortunately he almost had a roll of fabric with him for when he was practicing his routines, and today was no different. “We can make it some kind of bandage.”
~Hell is other people~ - Jean Paul Sartre
Stamina: 7 ~ Evasion: 10 ~ Strength: 4 ~ Wisdom: 14 ~ Arcane Power: 6 ~ Accuracy: 9
9 Feb 2020, 16:05
A creature in need
Jake was so focused on the hurt creature in the grass that he barely noticed the other kid that was approaching them. But the boy approached slowly and knelt down before he spoke, so he didn't startle. Jake turned his head. There was a moment of surprise - it was hard to tell with neither standing but the boy who had knelt down to help looked scarcely bigger than Jake was and he had never seen another student that came so close to his level. It was an inherent jarring sight to see this boy after being surrounded by giants. There wasn't any time to dwell on this though because there was a hurt animal in need.
The other small boy reached out and touched the bunny. Jake flinched, and almost threw up a warning hand, but the bunny didn't move or complain. It only moved feebly on the ground. Perhaps it wasn't able to do anything else, but Jake could see the boy's touch was gentle. Not everybody was gentle around animals, especially other kids, but Jake knew quickly he had nothing to fear from this one. The boy in the Gryffindor cloak observed the leg, declaring it broken, and then turned back to Jake to ask what happened. The shyness that usually paralyzed Jake when meeting somebody new was nonexistent now.
"I don't know," Jake choked out, struggling to speak through the tears which had come in earnest as soon as he'd opened his mouth to speak. "I just f-found him that way. I was walking and...I saw him in the grass. I knew he was hurt but...I don't know what happened..." He had to stop speaking then, lowering his head as he cried, in empathy, in fear, and in relief that somebody else had arrived to help shoulder the massive burden that he had stumbled upon - something which gave him the moment's pause that let the emotion in.
As the other boy began to speak Jake looked up, his eyes big and glistening and lost, nodding along with what the other boy was saying. The other boy may have looked little but he spoke with the assurance of somebody much bigger - somebody who knew. Jake could sense that confidence - and he trusted it. Jake nodded his head taking in each word. The bunny had broken its leg - Jake was right about that. He hadn't had the courage to touch him in case he had hurt him worse but this boy had...with a touch so gentle the bunny hadn't even flinched. He knew what the bunny needed too. A stick to steady his leg...Jake had never even thought of that - but now that it was said he understood why.
"I can get it," he said quickly. "Like a splint." Jake had had one once, when he had hurt his finger. "This big?" he asked, holding his fingers together about the size of the bunny's leg. Then he was off, running towards the outskirts of the forest to try to pick a stick up in the shadow of the trees. It didn't take him long to find some on the ground. He picked up the first one he saw. Was it too big? Or just right? Maybe too long...The idea that the stick could be broken to the right length didn't occur to Jake in his panic. He picked up the next one which was smaller. Was it too small? There was no time to waste and so Jake bundled that stick up along with the first and two or three others around it just in case the length was wrong and hurried back to the boy.
"Here," Jake said, holding out the sticks. "I...I got a couple in case it's the wrong size." Then he looked down at the bunny again to inspect whether its condition had changed at all in his absence. Jake crouched, waiting to be given another task - ready to help however he could.
The other small boy reached out and touched the bunny. Jake flinched, and almost threw up a warning hand, but the bunny didn't move or complain. It only moved feebly on the ground. Perhaps it wasn't able to do anything else, but Jake could see the boy's touch was gentle. Not everybody was gentle around animals, especially other kids, but Jake knew quickly he had nothing to fear from this one. The boy in the Gryffindor cloak observed the leg, declaring it broken, and then turned back to Jake to ask what happened. The shyness that usually paralyzed Jake when meeting somebody new was nonexistent now.
"I don't know," Jake choked out, struggling to speak through the tears which had come in earnest as soon as he'd opened his mouth to speak. "I just f-found him that way. I was walking and...I saw him in the grass. I knew he was hurt but...I don't know what happened..." He had to stop speaking then, lowering his head as he cried, in empathy, in fear, and in relief that somebody else had arrived to help shoulder the massive burden that he had stumbled upon - something which gave him the moment's pause that let the emotion in.
As the other boy began to speak Jake looked up, his eyes big and glistening and lost, nodding along with what the other boy was saying. The other boy may have looked little but he spoke with the assurance of somebody much bigger - somebody who knew. Jake could sense that confidence - and he trusted it. Jake nodded his head taking in each word. The bunny had broken its leg - Jake was right about that. He hadn't had the courage to touch him in case he had hurt him worse but this boy had...with a touch so gentle the bunny hadn't even flinched. He knew what the bunny needed too. A stick to steady his leg...Jake had never even thought of that - but now that it was said he understood why.
"I can get it," he said quickly. "Like a splint." Jake had had one once, when he had hurt his finger. "This big?" he asked, holding his fingers together about the size of the bunny's leg. Then he was off, running towards the outskirts of the forest to try to pick a stick up in the shadow of the trees. It didn't take him long to find some on the ground. He picked up the first one he saw. Was it too big? Or just right? Maybe too long...The idea that the stick could be broken to the right length didn't occur to Jake in his panic. He picked up the next one which was smaller. Was it too small? There was no time to waste and so Jake bundled that stick up along with the first and two or three others around it just in case the length was wrong and hurried back to the boy.
"Here," Jake said, holding out the sticks. "I...I got a couple in case it's the wrong size." Then he looked down at the bunny again to inspect whether its condition had changed at all in his absence. Jake crouched, waiting to be given another task - ready to help however he could.
9 Feb 2020, 18:46
A creature in need
@Jake Morris
Ruka was glad to see the other boy didn’t startle at his approach; any tension and unease could have potentially also startled the bunny, which would not have been a good thing in the animal’s current condition.
Listening to the other boy’s words carefully, Ruka looked over to see him choking on tears over the situation.
Now, Ruka wasn’t the best at handling tears on his best days, but having gone through the emotional rollercoaster he had been over the last few days, the boy’s tears caught him more off guard than he had expected. “Hey, hey, no, it’s fine,” he said quickly, awkwardly reaching out to pat the boy’s shoulder. It was a clumsy attempt at making the other boy calm down a bit, but currently he knew better how to treat this animal than how to treat someone else’s tears.
“It’s alright, the bunny’s gonna be fine, we just need to make sure he can’t encounter any predators while he can’t run and hide,” Ruka told the boy comfortingly before concentrating again on the matter at hand.
The rabbit was clearly in some pain, its chest heaving quickly, its front paws moving in a twitchy motion as if it was hoping to be able to escape without the use of its hind legs. Ruka could sense the flight instinct in the wounded animal, eyes moving rapidly from side to side, but for now it at least wasn’t panicking, and that was about as much as he could ask for for now.
Nodding at the other boy when he asked about the length of the needed stick and claiming that he would go and get one, Ruka decided to make the little book fort around the bunny slightly bigger as to not make the little animal feel too caged.
He made a few soothing sounds at the bunny, keeping his distance to show he wasn’t a thread, and patiently waited for the other kid to come back.
Once he did, Ruka inspected the different sized sticks curiously, tossing the ones that were too small or not quite the right size to the side, ending up with one that looked perfect for what they needed it for.
“Okay,” he said nervously, taking out the roll of fabric and spreading out an adequate length of it before ripping it into strips with his teeth. “We need to steady the leg, but doing that we’ll probably scare it a bit.” He bit his lip as he carefully reached his hand out to stroke a fingertip gently along the bunny’s back.
It twitched feebly but remained in place.
“Can you get on the other side? Hold the stick against its leg so I can fasten it with the fabric.” From what Ruka could see, the break in the bunny’s bone was most likely quite clean - the angle wasn’t very worrying, and when he last touched the little animal, he didn’t feel any protruding bones either, so surely it had to be enough to just make a little make-shift cast for the bunny, right?
At least, it would be better than doing nothing at all.
Ruka was glad to see the other boy didn’t startle at his approach; any tension and unease could have potentially also startled the bunny, which would not have been a good thing in the animal’s current condition.
Listening to the other boy’s words carefully, Ruka looked over to see him choking on tears over the situation.
Now, Ruka wasn’t the best at handling tears on his best days, but having gone through the emotional rollercoaster he had been over the last few days, the boy’s tears caught him more off guard than he had expected. “Hey, hey, no, it’s fine,” he said quickly, awkwardly reaching out to pat the boy’s shoulder. It was a clumsy attempt at making the other boy calm down a bit, but currently he knew better how to treat this animal than how to treat someone else’s tears.
“It’s alright, the bunny’s gonna be fine, we just need to make sure he can’t encounter any predators while he can’t run and hide,” Ruka told the boy comfortingly before concentrating again on the matter at hand.
The rabbit was clearly in some pain, its chest heaving quickly, its front paws moving in a twitchy motion as if it was hoping to be able to escape without the use of its hind legs. Ruka could sense the flight instinct in the wounded animal, eyes moving rapidly from side to side, but for now it at least wasn’t panicking, and that was about as much as he could ask for for now.
Nodding at the other boy when he asked about the length of the needed stick and claiming that he would go and get one, Ruka decided to make the little book fort around the bunny slightly bigger as to not make the little animal feel too caged.
He made a few soothing sounds at the bunny, keeping his distance to show he wasn’t a thread, and patiently waited for the other kid to come back.
Once he did, Ruka inspected the different sized sticks curiously, tossing the ones that were too small or not quite the right size to the side, ending up with one that looked perfect for what they needed it for.
“Okay,” he said nervously, taking out the roll of fabric and spreading out an adequate length of it before ripping it into strips with his teeth. “We need to steady the leg, but doing that we’ll probably scare it a bit.” He bit his lip as he carefully reached his hand out to stroke a fingertip gently along the bunny’s back.
It twitched feebly but remained in place.
“Can you get on the other side? Hold the stick against its leg so I can fasten it with the fabric.” From what Ruka could see, the break in the bunny’s bone was most likely quite clean - the angle wasn’t very worrying, and when he last touched the little animal, he didn’t feel any protruding bones either, so surely it had to be enough to just make a little make-shift cast for the bunny, right?
At least, it would be better than doing nothing at all.
~Hell is other people~ - Jean Paul Sartre
Stamina: 7 ~ Evasion: 10 ~ Strength: 4 ~ Wisdom: 14 ~ Arcane Power: 6 ~ Accuracy: 9
9 Feb 2020, 19:48
A creature in need
Jake watched anxiously as the Gryffindor examined the sticks closely, discarding them one by one. For a moment he thought that maybe none of them were the right size after all and he'd have to go back towards the forest, leaving the creature suffering for that much longer, but to his relief there was one that was just perfect. He looked down again at the makeshift fort that the bunny rested in the middle of. Before he'd gone to the sticks, the Gryffindor boy had told him that they just had to make sure he couldn't encounter any predators. It was what Jake had hoped to accomplish with his books, so that meant he had been thinking in the right way. The Gryffindor had made it larger now, probably to give the bunny some more room. It would come doubly in handy now, as it became clear they were going to need to get close.
The boy said that they had to steady the leg, but scaring the bunny was the last thing Jake wanted to do. The poor thing had been through enough. Jake always felt so tiny next to all of the other kids, but to this bunny HE was the giant, a towering figure far bigger than even Quinn. He wished they could get through this without scaring him but what could they do? He needed their help. "I'm sorry..." Jake said softly to the rabbit. "But we have to do this. Just stay calm, okay...? We're your friends. It'll be alright."
"It will be, right...?" Jake asked, raising his head again towards Ruka. His eyes were the hopeful eyes of an anxious child...one that wanted nothing more than assurance that everything was going to be ok. That wanted to believe away his fears. "I mean...um....do ya really think...um...do ya really think he's gonna be ok...?" Jake asked, remembering the words from before.
He really hoped he would. But he wouldn't be if they didn't get into action. When asked if he could help, Jake nodded his head nervously, even though he wasn't sure. Jake took deep breaths. The bunny needed him and he couldn't mess this up. It didn't matter if he was scared. He wished still that a grown-up would arrive on the scene and take over, but the bunny didn't have a grown-up. It had this Gryffindor boy and it had Jake, and that was going to have to do.
The bunny's front-paw twitching had ceased for the moment, as if resigning in awareness of its helpless fate. It seemed tired and hurt, but its momentary pause provided the best opportunity they would get. When the Gryffindor seemed ready for him, Jake made his move. Slowly, ever so slowly, Jake brought the stick closer to the bunny's injured leg. Jake had careful hands - practiced from thousands of hours of drawing - and they could move slowly and patiently when he needed them to. He did so now, the movement of the stick almost imperceptible when it got close, not letting himself rush. As careful as he was, he still saw the wounded creature wince when the stick made contact and he winced as well, muttering quiet apologies to the rabbit. Slowly, Jake reached out his free hand. Then, looking to the other boy in case of signs that he should stop, he ever-so-slightly ran a gentle fingertip down the rabbit's back, a mimic of how he had seen the Gryffindor touching it moments before. The motion seemed to calm Jake as much as the bunny.
"Okay. I've got it," he said, his hands steady and delicate, his face drawn tight with determination, the stick in place.
The boy said that they had to steady the leg, but scaring the bunny was the last thing Jake wanted to do. The poor thing had been through enough. Jake always felt so tiny next to all of the other kids, but to this bunny HE was the giant, a towering figure far bigger than even Quinn. He wished they could get through this without scaring him but what could they do? He needed their help. "I'm sorry..." Jake said softly to the rabbit. "But we have to do this. Just stay calm, okay...? We're your friends. It'll be alright."
"It will be, right...?" Jake asked, raising his head again towards Ruka. His eyes were the hopeful eyes of an anxious child...one that wanted nothing more than assurance that everything was going to be ok. That wanted to believe away his fears. "I mean...um....do ya really think...um...do ya really think he's gonna be ok...?" Jake asked, remembering the words from before.
He really hoped he would. But he wouldn't be if they didn't get into action. When asked if he could help, Jake nodded his head nervously, even though he wasn't sure. Jake took deep breaths. The bunny needed him and he couldn't mess this up. It didn't matter if he was scared. He wished still that a grown-up would arrive on the scene and take over, but the bunny didn't have a grown-up. It had this Gryffindor boy and it had Jake, and that was going to have to do.
The bunny's front-paw twitching had ceased for the moment, as if resigning in awareness of its helpless fate. It seemed tired and hurt, but its momentary pause provided the best opportunity they would get. When the Gryffindor seemed ready for him, Jake made his move. Slowly, ever so slowly, Jake brought the stick closer to the bunny's injured leg. Jake had careful hands - practiced from thousands of hours of drawing - and they could move slowly and patiently when he needed them to. He did so now, the movement of the stick almost imperceptible when it got close, not letting himself rush. As careful as he was, he still saw the wounded creature wince when the stick made contact and he winced as well, muttering quiet apologies to the rabbit. Slowly, Jake reached out his free hand. Then, looking to the other boy in case of signs that he should stop, he ever-so-slightly ran a gentle fingertip down the rabbit's back, a mimic of how he had seen the Gryffindor touching it moments before. The motion seemed to calm Jake as much as the bunny.
"Okay. I've got it," he said, his hands steady and delicate, his face drawn tight with determination, the stick in place.
10 Feb 2020, 00:26
A creature in need
@Jake Morris
Ruka kept glancing at the other boy every once in a while, noticing how nervous and scared he seemed to be at the prospect of potentially hurting the bunny. He kept whispering words of reassurance to the small animal, and Ruka couldn’t help but smile a bit.
He understood not wanting those gentle creatures to hurt, and if he could avoid it then he was definitely not going to hurt the injured bunny.
“I promise it will be fine,” he told the other boy with a nod. Of course there wasn’t anything he could truly promise but he needed the kid to stay focused and stable, and he wasn’t going to be either of those things while thinking that the bunny might get hurt. “It’ll be just fine, as soon as he steady his leg it’ll be much better already.” He shot the slightly smaller boy a reassuring smile and watched as he moved around the little book fortress to gently align the stick with the rabbit’s hurt leg while gently brushing a fingertip across its back.
The boy was clearly good with animals, and his heart seemed to be in the right place, so Ruka trusted him to do this without causing any more damage to the small animal.
Ruka took a strips of fabric and efficiently tied them around the bunny and the stick, creating a perfectly stable cast for its injured leg. “There we go,” he said brightly once he’d made sure that the strips of fabric were tied neither too tight nor too loose.
He let go of the bunny and crawled back a little bit to give the hurt creature some space. “Good job,” he praised the other boy, shuffling around a bit to get closer to the kid he’d just helped treat this bunny. “I’m Ruka, by the way.” He chuckled lightly at the realisation that they didn’t even know each others’ names yet.
Eyes drifting back to the bunny, he could see the small creature moving a little bit, clearly curious about the contraption around its leg. It didn’t try to hop around yet, but Ruka figured it would take a little time for it to adjust to the new feeling.
Until the bunny was ready to explore the world by itself again, maybe the two boys could just stay and keep an eye on it.
After all, at least Ruka didn’t have anywhere else to be at anyway.
Ruka kept glancing at the other boy every once in a while, noticing how nervous and scared he seemed to be at the prospect of potentially hurting the bunny. He kept whispering words of reassurance to the small animal, and Ruka couldn’t help but smile a bit.
He understood not wanting those gentle creatures to hurt, and if he could avoid it then he was definitely not going to hurt the injured bunny.
“I promise it will be fine,” he told the other boy with a nod. Of course there wasn’t anything he could truly promise but he needed the kid to stay focused and stable, and he wasn’t going to be either of those things while thinking that the bunny might get hurt. “It’ll be just fine, as soon as he steady his leg it’ll be much better already.” He shot the slightly smaller boy a reassuring smile and watched as he moved around the little book fortress to gently align the stick with the rabbit’s hurt leg while gently brushing a fingertip across its back.
The boy was clearly good with animals, and his heart seemed to be in the right place, so Ruka trusted him to do this without causing any more damage to the small animal.
Ruka took a strips of fabric and efficiently tied them around the bunny and the stick, creating a perfectly stable cast for its injured leg. “There we go,” he said brightly once he’d made sure that the strips of fabric were tied neither too tight nor too loose.
He let go of the bunny and crawled back a little bit to give the hurt creature some space. “Good job,” he praised the other boy, shuffling around a bit to get closer to the kid he’d just helped treat this bunny. “I’m Ruka, by the way.” He chuckled lightly at the realisation that they didn’t even know each others’ names yet.
Eyes drifting back to the bunny, he could see the small creature moving a little bit, clearly curious about the contraption around its leg. It didn’t try to hop around yet, but Ruka figured it would take a little time for it to adjust to the new feeling.
Until the bunny was ready to explore the world by itself again, maybe the two boys could just stay and keep an eye on it.
After all, at least Ruka didn’t have anywhere else to be at anyway.
~Hell is other people~ - Jean Paul Sartre
Stamina: 7 ~ Evasion: 10 ~ Strength: 4 ~ Wisdom: 14 ~ Arcane Power: 6 ~ Accuracy: 9
10 Feb 2020, 01:02
A creature in need
Jake held the stick in place, playing the other boy's words over in his head. 'I promise it will be fine' the Gryffindor had said. It gave Jake the confidence he needed to perform his part admirably, and soon the true animal doctor stepped in. Jake watched the boy's steady hands with awe as they deftly tied the makeshift bandage around the rabbit's hind leg, attaching to the stick to form a very respectable cast. Jake waited until he was given the signal to let go, and then backed up watching the bunny closely.
The cast looked right...Jake didn't know much what bunny casts looked like but it just looked...right. The small Hufflepuff let out a sigh of relief and finally took the time to wipe at his eyes. His crying had stopped for a while now - being given an important task to focus on had distracted him enough that all that remained was remnants of watery eyes. As he did, he heard some shuffling beside him as the other boy turned to face him and introduced himself.
"Im Jake, you're so good with animals," he replied with clear admiration. It was one of the biggest compliments that Jake could give. His face grew pensive as he looked down at the bunny. If it hadn't been for Ruka what would Jake have done? "I wanted to be a magi-zoologist when I grow up but I don't think I ever can..." Jake said sadly, looking down in shame. "I'm happy you were here." He didn't have to say what was on his mind...it showed clearly enough on his face. If it had just been Jake, what would have come of the poor little creature? Jake had managed to shield him, but he never could have made a cast like that in a million years. He hadn't known WHAT to do. In Jake's mind he imagined that he was going to be a great animal rescuer - saving creatures in need. But now he had come across a creature in need and what had happened? If nobody had come along, Jake was pretty sure he would just have cried. And that wouldn't have been any help to anybody.
But it was over now. They HAD helped the bunny...Jake wouldn't leave its side for anything now. Not until it was moving on its own again. Between the two of them, he thought they could make sure it was protected and taken care of. They wouldn't even have to get close. They would watch over it from a distance, like guardian angels. Jake scooched a little closer to Ruka. "Think he'll be ok now...?" he asked. He stayed sitting on the grass and pulled his legs in, propping his elbows on his legs, and his face on his palms.
The small creature did seem confused, but was it Jake's imagination or had they lessened the pain? He thought maybe, looking at its face, that they had.
The cast looked right...Jake didn't know much what bunny casts looked like but it just looked...right. The small Hufflepuff let out a sigh of relief and finally took the time to wipe at his eyes. His crying had stopped for a while now - being given an important task to focus on had distracted him enough that all that remained was remnants of watery eyes. As he did, he heard some shuffling beside him as the other boy turned to face him and introduced himself.
"Im Jake, you're so good with animals," he replied with clear admiration. It was one of the biggest compliments that Jake could give. His face grew pensive as he looked down at the bunny. If it hadn't been for Ruka what would Jake have done? "I wanted to be a magi-zoologist when I grow up but I don't think I ever can..." Jake said sadly, looking down in shame. "I'm happy you were here." He didn't have to say what was on his mind...it showed clearly enough on his face. If it had just been Jake, what would have come of the poor little creature? Jake had managed to shield him, but he never could have made a cast like that in a million years. He hadn't known WHAT to do. In Jake's mind he imagined that he was going to be a great animal rescuer - saving creatures in need. But now he had come across a creature in need and what had happened? If nobody had come along, Jake was pretty sure he would just have cried. And that wouldn't have been any help to anybody.
But it was over now. They HAD helped the bunny...Jake wouldn't leave its side for anything now. Not until it was moving on its own again. Between the two of them, he thought they could make sure it was protected and taken care of. They wouldn't even have to get close. They would watch over it from a distance, like guardian angels. Jake scooched a little closer to Ruka. "Think he'll be ok now...?" he asked. He stayed sitting on the grass and pulled his legs in, propping his elbows on his legs, and his face on his palms.
The small creature did seem confused, but was it Jake's imagination or had they lessened the pain? He thought maybe, looking at its face, that they had.
10 Feb 2020, 07:47
A creature in need
@Jake Morris
Ruka kept his eyes on the bunny for a long while, making sure it didn’t show any signs of discomfort, but as far as he could tell, it just seemed slightly confused and a bit nervous about all this commotion around it.
For now, he figured, it was best to just give the bunny some distance and let it figure out how to best move around with its new cast on by itself.
With a little sigh Ruka turned back to the boy next to him and smiled lightly when he introduced himself as Jake. “Good to meet you, Jake,” he said, eyes widening a little as the boy beside him turned into a small blob of self-loathing over not having known exactly how to help the bunny.
Quickly, Ruka shook his head at Jake, reaching out a hand to squeeze the boy’s shoulders. From what he was able to tell, Jake was even shorter than he was, even if only by an inch or so, and that was something that rarely ever happened at this school where people seemed to eat fertiliser for breakfast.
The other boy’s short stature just made the sight even more heartbreaking, like Jake himself was just a wounded animal in need.
“I think you’d be a great magi-zoologist,” he told Jake sincerely, looking over at the bunny one more time before focusing all his attention on the boy next to him again. “You have all the right instincts! Look, you sheltered the bunny from danger before I even got here.” He smiled, gesturing towards the little book fortress Jake had built up around the small creature.
Studying Jake for a second, Ruka wondered what he would have done hadn’t he shown up. Would he have gotten a teacher? A prefect? Sat down and cried out of empathy for the hurt animal?
It didn’t matter, because the bunny was fine now and Jake had done a great job helping out with it.
“You still have a lot of time to learn how to take care of animals properly. We don’t start Care of Magical Creatures until Year Three, right?” He didn’t know which year this boy was in but judging by how short and child-like he was, Ruka assumed he couldn’t be any older than he himself was. “I’m sure, by the time you get out of school you’ll be amazing at taking care of any and all animals and creatures out there!”
Ruka kept his eyes on the bunny for a long while, making sure it didn’t show any signs of discomfort, but as far as he could tell, it just seemed slightly confused and a bit nervous about all this commotion around it.
For now, he figured, it was best to just give the bunny some distance and let it figure out how to best move around with its new cast on by itself.
With a little sigh Ruka turned back to the boy next to him and smiled lightly when he introduced himself as Jake. “Good to meet you, Jake,” he said, eyes widening a little as the boy beside him turned into a small blob of self-loathing over not having known exactly how to help the bunny.
Quickly, Ruka shook his head at Jake, reaching out a hand to squeeze the boy’s shoulders. From what he was able to tell, Jake was even shorter than he was, even if only by an inch or so, and that was something that rarely ever happened at this school where people seemed to eat fertiliser for breakfast.
The other boy’s short stature just made the sight even more heartbreaking, like Jake himself was just a wounded animal in need.
“I think you’d be a great magi-zoologist,” he told Jake sincerely, looking over at the bunny one more time before focusing all his attention on the boy next to him again. “You have all the right instincts! Look, you sheltered the bunny from danger before I even got here.” He smiled, gesturing towards the little book fortress Jake had built up around the small creature.
Studying Jake for a second, Ruka wondered what he would have done hadn’t he shown up. Would he have gotten a teacher? A prefect? Sat down and cried out of empathy for the hurt animal?
It didn’t matter, because the bunny was fine now and Jake had done a great job helping out with it.
“You still have a lot of time to learn how to take care of animals properly. We don’t start Care of Magical Creatures until Year Three, right?” He didn’t know which year this boy was in but judging by how short and child-like he was, Ruka assumed he couldn’t be any older than he himself was. “I’m sure, by the time you get out of school you’ll be amazing at taking care of any and all animals and creatures out there!”
~Hell is other people~ - Jean Paul Sartre
Stamina: 7 ~ Evasion: 10 ~ Strength: 4 ~ Wisdom: 14 ~ Arcane Power: 6 ~ Accuracy: 9
11 Feb 2020, 06:34
A creature in need
@Ruka Tân
Jake had been staring down at the grass, but he looked up in surprise when Ruka's hand squeezed his shoulder. It was a familiar gesture of reassurance, though a smaller hand than had ever given it before. Ruka's touch was light, but it exuded comfort all the same, soothing some part of Jake that was sinking into bad feelings.
He told Jake that he'd be a great magi-zoologist one day, Jake didn't know if that was true. There were so many others better suited for it - most everybody who had ever told Jake that they wanted to become one for a start. But those words of encouragement were what Jake needed to hear, and his body language loosened up when he heard them. He nodded his head twice in acknowledgement. He HAD sheltered the bunny it was true. It wasn't much, but it had been a start. Maybe he had 'instincts' like the other boy had said...and he had helped Ruka when it had come time.
Ruka brought up Care of Magical Creatures class, one that Jake had been very interested in from the moment he heard of its existence. The Gryffindor was right that they wouldn't be starting until Year Three. "Mhm. That's what the other Hufflepuffs said. I hope I will...I don't ever wanna see an animal get hurt. I thought I would know how...because I read a lot. I never had a pet or anything...my mum was allergic. But I watched a bunch of animal shows and documentaries and stuff. But I just got scared I guess...there were no grown-ups around or anything and I didn't want him to get hurt. Newt Scamander didn't get scared...if I wanna be like him I can't be scared. I don't think I can do that yet though..." he admitted. I'm always scared, he thought.
Jake felt strange. He didn't usually talk this much, especially to somebody that he didn't know. The realization that he had spoken for so long unopposed caused a sudden hesitation of awkward discomfort on his face but it didn't last for long. Ruka had an easy face to talk to, and perhaps it was their shared experience with the hurt creature, or perhaps the strangeness of talking to somebody close to his size for once, but Jake found his words coming more easily...much more easily than they would have when he had first arrived at school, that was for sure.
Even if Jake did have the 'right instincts', and he really hoped he did, he knew there was no way that he could do what Ruka had done. "How'd you learn to tie a bunny bandage? You were just like a veterinarian," Jake asked, impressed once more by how well the other boy - Ruka - had handled the situation. Jake was only eleven, but he had never even put on his own Band-Aid...and the other boy couldn't have been much older.
As he waited for an answer he regarded the bunny again and saw with delight that it was beginning to stir.
Jake had been staring down at the grass, but he looked up in surprise when Ruka's hand squeezed his shoulder. It was a familiar gesture of reassurance, though a smaller hand than had ever given it before. Ruka's touch was light, but it exuded comfort all the same, soothing some part of Jake that was sinking into bad feelings.
He told Jake that he'd be a great magi-zoologist one day, Jake didn't know if that was true. There were so many others better suited for it - most everybody who had ever told Jake that they wanted to become one for a start. But those words of encouragement were what Jake needed to hear, and his body language loosened up when he heard them. He nodded his head twice in acknowledgement. He HAD sheltered the bunny it was true. It wasn't much, but it had been a start. Maybe he had 'instincts' like the other boy had said...and he had helped Ruka when it had come time.
Ruka brought up Care of Magical Creatures class, one that Jake had been very interested in from the moment he heard of its existence. The Gryffindor was right that they wouldn't be starting until Year Three. "Mhm. That's what the other Hufflepuffs said. I hope I will...I don't ever wanna see an animal get hurt. I thought I would know how...because I read a lot. I never had a pet or anything...my mum was allergic. But I watched a bunch of animal shows and documentaries and stuff. But I just got scared I guess...there were no grown-ups around or anything and I didn't want him to get hurt. Newt Scamander didn't get scared...if I wanna be like him I can't be scared. I don't think I can do that yet though..." he admitted. I'm always scared, he thought.
Jake felt strange. He didn't usually talk this much, especially to somebody that he didn't know. The realization that he had spoken for so long unopposed caused a sudden hesitation of awkward discomfort on his face but it didn't last for long. Ruka had an easy face to talk to, and perhaps it was their shared experience with the hurt creature, or perhaps the strangeness of talking to somebody close to his size for once, but Jake found his words coming more easily...much more easily than they would have when he had first arrived at school, that was for sure.
Even if Jake did have the 'right instincts', and he really hoped he did, he knew there was no way that he could do what Ruka had done. "How'd you learn to tie a bunny bandage? You were just like a veterinarian," Jake asked, impressed once more by how well the other boy - Ruka - had handled the situation. Jake was only eleven, but he had never even put on his own Band-Aid...and the other boy couldn't have been much older.
As he waited for an answer he regarded the bunny again and saw with delight that it was beginning to stir.
18 Feb 2020, 13:33
A creature in need
@Jake Morris
Ruka could see the surprise on Jake‘s face at having his shoulder squeezed, and for a second he thought that he might have overstepped some boundaries he hadn‘t realised were there.
Considering how emotional Jake seemed to be, maybe he needed a more careful handling?
However, soon after, Jake seemed to loosen up a little and Ruka smiled a little as the other boy seemed to just be pouring put words like he had been keeping them bottled up for the past few days.
It was endearing - Ruka would have even called it sweet had he been in a healthier state of mind himself - and the Gryffindor couldn’t help but chuckle fondly as the other boy talked.
„Newt Scarmander,“ he repeated, a hint of recognition in his voice. „He wrote Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, right?“ Last year that had been one of his favourite books; he had taken it almost everywhere just to flick through the pages whenever he got bored or sad or just wanted to read something for fun. „I‘m sure not even Newt Scarmander was an expert at our age.“ He winked reassuringly and shuffled around a bit to be shoulder to shoulder with the Hufflepuff.
His eyes wandered back to the bunny for a moment, smiling as it slowly tried to figure out how to best move around with its cast on.
„Huh?“ he asked when Jake‘s voice chimed up again, momentarily caught up in observing the bunny so it took a moment for his brain to catch up with the other boy‘s question. „Oh, I... I grew up around animals,“ he answered vaguely, not really wanting to go into too much detail about his upbringing. There were too many other troubling things on his mind already without his compromised living circumstances. „So this isn‘t the first wounded bunny I‘ve tried to help out.“
~Hell is other people~ - Jean Paul Sartre
Stamina: 7 ~ Evasion: 10 ~ Strength: 4 ~ Wisdom: 14 ~ Arcane Power: 6 ~ Accuracy: 9