The Campgrounds, Just Outside 'Can't Sleep Clowns Will Eat Me' | Sunday Morning

[not_trivial]

Given recent circumstances, Alec found that it took him a little bit of time to get to the campgrounds. Not only did he have a heavy backpack to lug along with him that was stuffed almost exclusively with black clothes and arrows, but he also had a dog and a cat in tow, both of whom were a little rowdy today. Corgi Sparkle kept running ahead,

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[whenshewasnice]

This whole camping thing was annoying. So Natalie shouldn't really have been surprised that one of the very first things that happened after she'd made it to the campgrounds was losing sight of Mr. Moxy.

Peter, of course, has noticed the cat taking off. He'd just failed to care.

And Mox was not sorry, either. He sniffed around this bouncy castle with what seemed to be great curiosity. Because for some reason this one was much more interesting than Natalie's one.

[not_trivial]

Well, now Velcro had to investigate this new cat. Potential new friend! He had to be approached!

In an annoying way, granted. Sorry, Mox.

[whenshewasnice]

And poor Moxy had already had to deal with Peter the fox for a couple of days. So he was already seeming wary and suspicious of this newcomer.

Backing away a bit, too.

Maybe Natalie was a terrible influence when it came to socializing.

[not_trivial]

Oh! That meant Moxy was trying to play, right?

Velcro tried batting his face. Nicely! Like friends did!

[whenshewasnice]

... Moxy did not want to be friends with cats who tried batting his face. No.

He hissed a warning.

[not_trivial]

That hiss had Alec actually looking up from his phone, to find a cat that was a member of his menagerie about to fight with a cat that definitely wasn't.

Well. Best not to let Sparkle's cat get squished.

"Velcro?" he called. "Maybe don't?"

Velcro decided that now was the time to initiate snuggle time with his new friend. Because.

[whenshewasnice]

Well, if nothing else, Velcro was making Peter seem a little less annoying by comparison? Moxy hissed again, and this time also took a swipe at Velcro. Because that would teach him.

He was not interested in snuggling.

[not_trivial]

Oh dear.

Alec was a Shadowhunter, and had fought many a demon without wimping out. However, these disagreeing cats seemed to be a little bit out of his league.

Corgi-Sparkle seemed to find this objectionable, but also very funny.

After a moment or two of considering what to do, Alec went with glancing around the camping area before loudly inquiring, "Has someone lost a cat?"

Meanwhile, Velcro was giving Moxy sad eyes. Why had his new friend betrayed him like that?

[whenshewasnice]

... That was Alec's voice, wasn't it? Of course it was. Natalie hadn't been far away, and she turned up soon enough from behind one of the other castles, a fox trailing some feet behind her.

Moxy hissed one last time, just in case. "Oh come on, Mox."

[not_trivial]

Behold the look of total irritation and unmerited non-shock on Alec's face when it became apparent whose cat this was.

"You might want to keep a closer eye on your cat," he said irritably. "If he's going to go around starting fights."

Meanwhile, Sparkle the corgi headed over to investigate the fox that was with Nat. He wasn't looking for friends, but, well, how often did you see someone with a fox?

[whenshewasnice]

Peter the fox looked uninterested. Figured.

Natalie just looked mild. Neutral. All that stuff. Moxy flitted over to her and rubbed his side against her leg. "He doesn't go around starting fights, Alec."

[not_trivial]

"Seems like he does," Alec pointed out. Snottily and all that. "I'm watching this cat for a friend and I'd rather not have to explain why some other cat came and attacked him."

Yeah, no, Alec. That was not what had happened.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie didn't even say anything to that. Just gave him a silent look with a raised eyebrow.

Really? That was what he was going with? She knew her pet a little better than that.

[not_trivial]

"What?"

Alec didn't know what to make of that look. Maybe if her expressions weren't all so similar...

[whenshewasnice]

Maybe if he wasn't so judgment-blind...

Had Peter the fox just snorted?

"My cat didn't start a fight."

[not_trivial]

Alec just gestured to Velcro, who was now calmly napping near some dandelions.

"It looks like he did."