#earthrunes

"Yes, good place to hide from the kids" A nod "yo uknow how I hate the young ones.. get off my lawn and have a cookie" She mimes shaking a fist as she moves with her

"Do you remember the trick?"

"Yes... yes, I close my eyes and don't look at anyone"

Emma covers her eyes with her hands. "One potato, two potato..."

And there is something furry brushing past her

"Etouffee..."

And the gray patched Catahoula Cur that's seen more spry days moves on.

Stopping to sniff the air.

Emma drops behind, out of line-of-sight...

and soon, a gray-furred possum bumbles up to the old dog's side.

And the old dog wags, and then shuffles forward, her old joints aching a bit, but she is happy

Emma prances at her side, tail held up as a happy flag.. and she leads the dog to the obstacle course, where kittens and pups (and skunks) may be at play...

Oh, it becomes a bit of a chase, the old hound following with a bit of a romp, then circling the possum, and the taking a breath to recover. They get to the course, and yes, there's a poodle puppy getting chased by a kitten through the tunnel. No one is messing with the skunk.

The possum gape-grins, in a sort of "See?" expression.

And the old cur wags harder, and then uses her muzzle to roll the possum over.

~ * Ded * ~

Gack. Her tongue lolls.

A long mournful howl...

Enri joins in... it's respectful

She rolls back over and licks Poppy's paw. She's okay!

POppy puts that paw over Emma, 'pinning her' and begins to groom the girl

lick lick lick

Quiet resignation. This is her life now.

Sigh, shortly, August won't be the only one with a spit curl

Enri seems to be watching intently.

Emma is a patient soul.

And she is released with one last lick and a proud look.

Emma's fur is..shall we say, somewhat altered by the encounter

A marsupial sigh, and she bumbles off to claim a tube.

Aunt Poppy sniffs into the tube and wags, and while she could squeeze thrrough with effort, her old bones aren't sure enough, and besides, her little beloved possum deserves a 'safe space'

In fact, when Enri looks tempted to go on in, Poppy takes him by the scruff gently, and sets him down a bit further back. Every critter needs a place they can social distance from. They knew that long afore humans thought of it

Emma, meanwhile, fastidiously smoothes her coat back into proper fluffiness.

Ah yes. Soon, she is styling.

Enri wags and bows at the tunnel, this time keeping a distance.

Aunt Poppy agrees

A good shake, and she prowls out like a model on a catwalk.

On the catwalk, on the catwalk, her little feet go prance on the catwalk.

Oswald waves from further out when he sees her come into view by getting above them all

Poppy sniffes happily, tuned into her senses for the first time in awhile.

She sits up on her haunches to wave back!

He smiles ,alas, on duty he cannot go join them.

And .. Isis bedevils Aunt Poppy! The kitten goes and counts couop on the old dog..

Adorable princess ninja death strike!

Enri barcks at his sister, then licks where the old dog was clawed

But the old hound seems more amused by this fuss

And Emma, ever attuned to those hurting or in need, realizes that that little kitten might be striking to strike with a claw now and then, but she's also fed some glamour into the grump! And ENri, when he 'licks the wound' adds a bit more! Those two rascals have made the attack and defense of the Cur a cover for powering her fae soul

She clasps her tail to her heart in a gesture of happiness and appreciation!

However, the old hound will only take SO much charity, and when they try yet agian, the old dog feigns tired ness, then brings her paws down on the siblings, and it's their turn for a grooming.

Enri is..resigned

The look on Isis' furry face is adorable in its ire at this indignity