Zvers: Moved to a new thread, please lock

[Metallic Dragon]

Well, I think I'll set the deadline for the first one on the 2nd of september. The others will be the 3rd and 4th. So, you'll all have one week from today at least to finish your forms.

[Cion Keiasta]

Thanks Metta

[Nimaine]

Username:

Nimaine

Zver you want:



CC8985

Name:

Vindico- latin for to claim, to liberate, to protect, to avenge, etc. Exact meaning depends on context. Normally called Vindi, as it sounds more feminine.

Reason you want it:

Vindi and her owner will be the connection between my two "alternate universes that are almost like the real world" character groups. One group contains Silence (Ginger) and Justin, along with Gene, Brutus, and Maltha,all of my zvers, the other contains Katherine and Simon, my first Tracker. I have a general plot in mind, and I would like to try roleplaying it first, though if that pans out I still intend to write a novella- longer than a short story but shorter than a full-length novel.

What will you do with it if you win?:

See above ^^. When I get my drawing bug back again, I'll probably do some pictures, too.

Personality:

Vindi is still very childlike, something she'll probably retain into her adult years. That means she's easily duped, easily scared, easily impressed, very trusting, and very friendly. When not laboring under a strong emotion, she tends to be very calm, and very quiet. She prefers non-verbal communication, and sometimes gives the impression that she is a mute. More often, though, she gives the more anthromorphically-minded humans around her the impression of a shy little girl.

She likes to have fun, but she's certainly not above pouting or sulking. She does what she's told to and is happy to do it. She likes to chase butterflies and eat caterpillars and grubs- the latter two being what her koi friends also eat. Vindi has also grown quite fond of yogurt, sweetened or plain and tart, goat yogurt, sheep yogurt, cow yogurt. She likes sticking her nose into things, feeling as well as smelling and seeing. Vindi's ability to focus for long periods isn't great, nor is her endurance of the highest. But she does learn things eventually, and then she doesn't forget them. It simply requires patience.

If given permission, she'll enjoy romping about like the best of them for a while, but soon tires of mere physical exercise. Especially if she's alone. Vindi really likes being with other people, other living things, otherwise she gets lonely quickly. Even at her cage in the lab, she could always hear and smell other zvers. She's most comfortable around the things and people she knows best, the unknown can be a fearful object for her. Of course, this doesn't apply to food, she believes you should try everything once, and most things deserve a second chance. Vindi hates violence. She prefers to hide or run rather than fight. So she would much rather make friends then enemies.

Introduction/Story:

With his slight accent and naturally dark tan, Dr. Salim Kauser was often asked at parties or by nosy co-workers or even busybodies on the street: "You're not from around here, are you?"

"No," Salim would agree with them, watching the self-satisfied smile of a correct assumption spread across their faces. "I'm from New Zealand." Then their faces would go blank, and he would be the one left in possession of the smug smile.

Salim had been an American citizen since he was a child, and the culture of his birthland wasn't that far from the culture of his adopted country. He was quite comfortable with his position, as one of the few government researchers with the highest security clearance. He enjoyed his work with the microorganisms, creating vaccines and testing their viability and flexibility through experiments, genetic or otherwise. So he was delighted to recieve an invitation to study with the scientists at the secret zver laboratory, to see how his favorite old pathogens and probiotics were doing in the alien environment provided by the zver's body.

This joyous emotion faded when he first encountered the pens where the zvers were held. Growls and barks and whines grated on his ears, but far, far worse was the sheer size of the creatures. In Salim's opinion, the only animal people should keep for a pet was a fish. Especially koi, domesticated hundreds of years, they could become quite friendly. His own koi, raised from two inches to a foot and a half, knew his face, his stride, his hands. They would come to the surface of the water to greet him and be stroked, even the shyest, who would not leave the lilies when a stranger approached, and not just when he had food in his hands either. Large animals, especially large carnivores, frightened him. He wouldn't admit that, though, he would just say, "I don't like dogs."

"I'm sorry," the head scientist, who had asked him to call her Dr. Metta, said with a glance of annoyance, "But you'll have to handle the specimen yourself if you want your samples. It's flu season, and some of our assistants didn't bother with flu shots. Besides, they aren't dogs."

"And I hate cats," Salim continued clearly, eyeing the creatures in the pens with misgiving. They were all clamoring to be released so they could tear him to pieces, from his point of view. "Cats eat fish, and fish are the only proper pets." Salim loved his pet fish, teaching them little tricks, breeding and showing them.

"They're zvers." She gave him another look. Salim appeared to be the skinny, academic type. "Hmmm," he was probably incapable of wrangling the more aggresive zvers, she thought. Finally, taking pity on him, Dr. Metta said with some regret, for she didn't like the thought of leaving such a sweet zver in a stranger's hands, "I'll give you CC8985. She's very gentle and easy to handle. You won't be taking any biopsies or blood samples, is that right?" A biopsy, even internal, meant a flesh sample.

"No, just saliva, urine, and feces samples," Salim agreed. "I'm looking at the density of internal earth bacteria populations. It's mostly likely to have entered the mouth and gone through the gut." Well, if he must take the samples himself, he must. Dr. Kauser gritted his teeth. "Which one is mine?"

Since the pens had been cleaned that morning, Dr. Kauser decided to start with a saliva sample. The zver was asleep in the back of the pen, away from the noise the others of its kind were making. This was sign in its favor. But when Salim opened the door and approached cautiously, his little q-tip cotton swab held high like a defensive weapon, she woke up. She saw him right away, and trotted over with a happy, bouncing gait like a child skipping.

Salim didn't see it this way. "Get back!" he said, fear making his voice angry. The zver stopped, it's head drooped. "Go on!" he continued harshly, gratified by the results of his first command. The zver ran to the back of the cage, and tried to hide in a corner. Saleem, still a little cautious but now mostly ego, advanced with a heavy, confident step. As he came closer the zver settled for simply cowering and whining softly, and was trembling like an earthquake when Saleem finally reached her.

Very carefully, very slowly, he inserted the cotton covered tip of his q-tip into the zver's mouth, under her lips. Then he pulled it out, saw the moisture on it, and smiled. He put it away in a plastic case, saying "Good!" clearly, as much to himself as to the zver.

CC8985 stopped shaking so violently as soon as she heard the familar word. As Salim left, she continued to relax, finally releasing her pent-up breath so her nostrils briefly expanded to look more like holes than slits. Scary voice, she thought, but delicate touch. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all.

Later that day, Salim discovered part of his duties included exercising his subject zver, and since CC8985 was so easily ordered around, she could go around the inside of the lab on a leash and collar. Salim would have vastly preferred simply to release her into the larger exercise pen the other, less tractable zvers used, but since Dr. Metta had pointedly given him CC8985's leash and collar when she said this, he felt it would be rude not to use them.

She was awake this time, looking calmly out at what was going on outside her cage. But when she saw Salim, she sort of froze. Was he going to say something in that scary voice again? But there was the leash! That meant a walk, and she wanted to get out. Salim opened the door, a little fearfully still, and she ducked her head in a submissive gesture. Then she walked forward like the pup she almost was: in wiggles and wags and squirming like a captured snake.

This was clearly non-threatening, but Salim was a little confused about what he should do next. What had that assistant of his always done with her dog? "Good... zver," he said cautiously, taking a step back and holding out the head collar like a shield.

CC8985, who had been walked before and knew the routine, carefully inserted her head into the head-collar. Salim smiled, pleased. He may not like dogs as pets, but he respected dogs as workers. He buckled it around the back of her head, saying, "Well done. You might be more trainable than the rest of your species." CC8985's tail waved in happy curliques and circles as she indicated by pointing her head that she would like a walk.

"Maybe you can be trained to do something useful," Salim said under his breath. "But first, some tests. My own, and my research."

As the days went by, Salim started to think of CC8985 as if she were one of his giant carps. You can't be abrupt or autocratic to a fish, it'll just swim away from you. No, if you want something done, you must do it kindly and gently with plenty of bribes, like food. He taught her to come to the front of the pen and open her mouth for the saliva samples when he tapped on the door, just as he had taught his fish to come to the surface for their food when he tapped on the glass. She became more accostumed to his voice and his moods, though she was still very flightly and easily frightened.

With some gentle soothing, he found she would eat his probiotic cultures politely, and the resulting changes to her intestinal flora populations kept him busy collecting data and writing mathematical models for weeks. So much for his research experiments. Now for a personality test, he thought. The next day, he brought his most pugnacious betta to work in a wide-mouthed water bottle. When he gave CC8985, or Vindi, short for Vindico, as he started to call her, her water, he put the fish in too. Then he stepped back, but not too far. He didn't want his fish to get hurt.

Vindico approached as usual, but stopped and stared at the thing in her water. The betta immediately flared his gills at her. She leaned forward, her muzzle approaching the water, the betta flaring his fins. She actually dipped her nose in and blew bubbles before the fish attacked her. Her first reaction was shock, she pulled her snout out abruptly and stared at the still-threatening fish. Then she tried again, only to again meet the fierce onslaught of angry fish lips. Confused, emotionally wounded, and a little afraid, she gave Salim a sorrowful look, her ears flat against her neck, and retreated further into her pen. This was not fear, it was sulking. She was like a child who just learned that their father had played a practical joke on them.

Salim was satisfied. He picked up the water bowl and carefully poured the fish back into the bottle. Then he rinsed out her bowl and gave her nice, fresh water, calling her gently to come back and try again. Zvers, at least this one, were not fish-killers. She would come home with him and meet his koi, who were almost two feet long and much friendlier, and continue her training. His visiting time here was at an end, but if he stayed late as usual, finishing up his work, he did not think it would be hard to sneak out Vindi on her leash and head collar. Somehow she reminded him of a giant koi, with purple markings instead of black and red. She would look good by the water lilies and reeds of his swimming-pool-turned-koi-pond. Like a fish, he thought, that lives on land. He didn't feel the least bit guilty about stealing her, either. Salim had heard about escaped zvers blending in with the rest of the pet population. If the lab really didn't want to lose them, they should up the security, or something, he rationalized.

[.Arrow.]

Username:

.Arrow.

Zver you want:

CC2312

Name:

WIP

Reason you want it:

WIP

What will you do with it if you win?:

WIP

Personality:

WIP

Introduction/Story:

WIP

I don't believe I'll have time to finish this, with school and sports and everything else having just started. I really hope this wonderful fellow finds a good home :\

Major WIP

[Firefly_Dreamer]

Username: 16cayemberga

Zver you want:

Escaped Zver #CC7534
Available until September 4| Male
Highly energetic, this male loves to play. However, take away his toys and he becomes a sullen and almost depressive zver. He can become violent at times if people do things that are contrary to his wishes.

Name:Vex

Reason you want it: I love his colors and attitude, and i love the linearts.

What will you do with it if you win?: put it in my siggy, and maybe write about him

Personality:

Playful

This Zver Loves to play with toys of all sorts; they don't have to be fancy, but he doesn't expect to be chewing on a tree, or playing with cardboard, either. He loves to play with other Zvers and people, as long as they obey him and never take his toys away.

Sullen, Upset, Depressed

This Zver also gets lonely withought his toys so he can become depressed if they are broken, stolen, taken away, or used too much by other Zvers

Tempermental

What ever you do, do not go against what this Zver wishes for, or else your ground beef... literally. This Zver gets Violent and Angry if you do something he doesn't want.

Introduction/Story:

The Traviling Cat Circus, Featuring the captured Zvers read a poster, i caught at a glance. I looked at it and Noticed it was covered with lions, tigers, ligers, cheetahs, jaguars, panthers, and leopards. Then something different caught my eye. The three large cats in the front. The one she really noticed was maroon and dark green.

~Time Skip~

Later that evening, I payed to get into the circus. I saw all the animals on the posters. Then, they brought out the Zvers. The purple and white one was so angelic, going through each hoop, gracefully. The brownish one kept getting yelled at eventually balancing balls on his nose, despite being whipped a couple times. Then the last one came out. it looked mad, completely mad. it was dressed in a silly outfit, and they set the hoops on fire now. The Zver went through them sadly, then retreated out back.

After the show, i went out and bought myself a hotdog, when i overheard yelling.

"Bad Zver! No food for you, no toys either!!!!" yelled the animal assistant kicking the poor marron and green Zver's cage. I came in after the man had left and looked at the upset Zver. I put my hotdog through the cage bars, and set it down. then i grabbed a tire from across the room and pulled it over to the cage. I thought as the Zver ate. I then let him out to chew the tire. I let out the other zvers to be free.

"Would you like to come to live with me? I'll give you plenty of toys, and you wouldn't have to be worried about being captured. i'd let you run around alot,too. What do you think? I promise i wont dress you up" she replied taking the silly clothes off the zver carefully.

[Jinx.]

Escaped Zver #CC2312
Available until September 3 | Male
Highly intelligent, this male will not be easy to find. He is a master in stealth and does not take kindly to those who try to track him.

Username: shadow fox5
Zver you want: #CC2312
Name: Sutnja (Means 'silence' in Croatian)
Reason you want it: Well, this is the first time I've ever applied for a Zver and I fell in love with this guy at first sight. I love his gorgeous colours and interesting personality and I believe that he would make a great character for a story.
What will you do with it if you win?: I would definitely write a story about him. And I would display him in my signature.
Personality: Sutnja is, as mentioned, excellent when it comes to stealth. Deadly silent in all that he does. He is also very obedient and loyal, and maybe a little over-protective. He is very willing to track down or follow someone for you.
Introduction/Story:You want to hear my story? The story of my escape and how I met my friend? Well then, I shall tell you...
I remember the lab. The smells of...cleanliness. And the other Zvers. I hated it in there. Maybe some of the others liked it in there, but I know that I didn't. I remember laying there, thinking about my escape. Daydreaming. It was driving me crazy. But I sat, and watched the scientists. I waited, learning their routines, learning their timetables. Just waiting for the day I could escape. One night, when everyone had gone and the lab was locked up, I decided to make my way out. I had slowly been scraping the edges of a panel of wall away and slowly loosening it. It was finally loose enough to push away. So that's what I did. I pushed the small panel down and stepped out. Other Zvers watched me silently as I crept swiftly down the hallways and through the maze of walls. Eventually, I came to a glass door. I didn't hesitate. I took a run-up and ran through the door. I remember it so well. The fear, the loud CRASH, little diamonds of glass falling to the ground beside me and the pain in my shoulder where I smashed through the glass. I don't know what I was thinking. I just ran through the rain in the dark. I don't know if anyone saw me. I don't know how far I ran. I just remember falling asleep under a beautiful, old tree. I awoke to the sound of crackling leaves. I opened my eyes and saw a human girl freeze. She was looking at me curiously. "Hello..." she said quietly, stretching out her hand. I stood up and walked towards her cautiously. She crouched down with her hand still outstretched. I placed my paw on it. She smiled and I decided right then that I would trust her. She was looking at me with an amazed expression. "What are you?" she asked. I followed her home that night. The girl, Zephyr is her name, called me Sutnja. She helped me improve my skills, and in return I am her loyal companion. It is an arrangement that fits us both.

[Lyncher]

Escaped Zver #CC8985
Available until September 2 | Female
Young and meek, this gentle female could not possibly have escaped without the help of someone within the lab. She was loved by all of the scientists that studied her because she was affectionate and easy to examine.

~~~~~~~~~
Username:
Sipiyu
~~~~~~~~~
Zver you want:
#CC8985
~~~~~~~~~
Name:
Lavender
~~~~~~~~~
Reason you want it:
She is gorgeous and I do love her coloring. I just stumbled to this thread and actually fell in love with the species. I have always loved odd and different species and creatures. This particular girl just popped out at me more then the other two. I have been looking for a creature with a simple design and she has fit that for me. I'm not an artist, but I would love to try and learn by drawing this beautiful girl. She would be great practice for me.
~~~~~~~~~
What will you do with it if you win?:
I will try and practice drawing her, whenever I have the free time. She will most likely end up in some of my writings and short stories. I also role play. She would be perfect to use in any role plays I do.
~~~~~~~~~
Personality:
Lavender had been depicted as affectionate, meek, gentle and love-able, but what the scientists didn't know is that she could be aggressive. Though that was rather rare. She had figured out, that if she acted nice and all that, then they wouldn't hurt her. She can be quiet and secretive, as well as sad at time.
~~~~~~~~~
Introduction/Story:
Confinement. It was a horrible word. The female looked around, just waiting. Biding her time. Always waiting. Though she always appeared happy and affectionate to the white coats. They loved her , treated her nicely. Since she suckered up to them. That was perfectly fine for her. She slowly paced the area that they kept her in, long ears folded back against her head. This particular day happened to be cold. How did she know this? She over heard the white coats complaining of course. Or at least she figured that is what they were going on about.

Escape. A little later on this cold day, there was a huge ruckus. It seemed that some of her kind got out of their cages. She jumped to her paws, watching as some ran by. Oh how she wanted to join them! She was about to turn around, when she heard the door to her cage swing open. Those sky blue eyes widened and she turned to look. It is open. A fellow Zver had just set her free! Ecstatic and over joyed, she ran out of the cage and joined the others in their escape. She couldn't believe her luck! With a huge smile plastered to her maw, she bolted for the opened door.

Freedom. Out the door and into the cold wilderness. Paws pounced against the ground. Crushing freezing grass and flowers as they called her along. It felt so good. So good to be running outside. To be free. With cat like grace, she bounded away from the confining building. Paws taking her further and further away. Soon she slowed to a walk, then stopped completely near a small stream. Panting softly, she sat down to relax. It felt so nice. So very nice. Closed her eyes, just inhaling the fresh and crisp air. Once she felt that her legs were rested enough, she padded to the stream and took a drink.
---------
Search. He gave a small sigh, having just accepted his mission to find number CC8985. She looked gorgeous to him when he went in to see if he could help. He really loved her coloring and markings. She would be a cool companion for him. Tugged his coat around him more, blocking out more of the cold. "So cold. Well.. I better get going if I wanna find her." Mumbled to himself, watching as the air turned to mist as he spoke. Stuffed his hands into his coat's pocket and made his way into the woods. How hard could this be right? How little did he know.

Freezing. Teeth chattered lightly. Was it getting colder? Probably was. Trudged along once again, keeping his eyes out for the white and lavender female. Came into a clearing, deciding that he should just stop for the night. Glanced up at the sky for a moment. "Should make camp.. Definitely need a fire." Spoke to himself, dropping his bag of food and important things to the ground. Then started to gather up sticks, leaves and bark for his fire. Once he got enough things, he made a fire pit and worked to get it lit. After several long and agonizing minutes, he got the fire to lit. "Finally! Stupid thing.."

Warmth. Finished up with his makeshift tent, glad that he has the fire to help keep him warm. Gave a satisfied snort, sitting down and dug through the bag. Pulled out some camp friendly food and started to cook. Hot dogs and beans! Sounds really good right?Right. Pulled out some bamboo sticks, spearing a hot dog with it. Then held it over the fire, letting it cook. Even stuck the just opened can of beans near the fire. "just like a cowboy." Laughed softly to himself. He really did feel like a cowboy. Lightly managed to stick the clear bamboo end into the ground. Then stood up and entered his tent.
---------
Food. She lifted up her nose, smelling something delicious. Her stomach gave a loud growl, just at the smell. Food. It must be food. Slowly picked her way toward the smell. Small shivers rippled through her, showing just how cold she felt. She would need to find a warm place to sleep. Made it the source of the smell, looking upon a small camp. The fire and roasting food were just too tempting. Looked around before making her way towards the fire. Ahhhhh.. Warmth! Watched the odd set up, eyeing the strange food. How would she get to it? Maybe if she just reached her paw toward it.
---------
Shock. He backed out the tent, not aware of his furry visitor. Or food poacher. Though once he turned around, spotting the white and lavender Zver. Who was trying rather hard to get at the hot dog. Blinked several times, tightening his hold on the cup that he held. "Hey! What are you doing?" He watched the poor thing jump back and turn to face him. She looked so hungry. Well he found the Zver! Offered a small smile, moving over to the fire slowly. "It's alright. I wont hurt you." Sat down, setting his cup down next to him. Then checked the hot dog. "Hungry?"
---------
Nervous. She had been about to get her prize, when she heard a shout. "Hey! What are you doing?" Swiftly she jumped back and whirled around to look at the male. Oh no.. Was she doomed? In-trouble? Would she be taken back to that place?Nervously she watched the other move to the fire and sit down. "It's alright. I wont hurt you." Hurt her? Well that was good. What was that thing that he held? Eyes traveled toward the strange food that she had been trying t snatch. Took a few hesitant steps toward the other, looking between him and the food. "Hungry?" She nodded.
---------
Friends. He smiled to the female, gently blowing on the cooked hot dog. Once he figured that it is cool enough for her, he handed it to her. "Here. You can have this one. I have more that we can eat. As well as some beans." Grinned when she took it and inhaled the hot dog. Even laughed lightly at her expression. "Good, huh?" Set up a few more hot dogs, leaving them to cook. "You really are gorgeous, you know?" Watched her as he got her a bowl of beans. Let them cool down, scooting the bowl toward her. "My name is Sipiyu. Maybe we can be friends? I would love that."
---------
Happy. Stared at the stick and strange food that had been handed to her. "Here. You can have this one. I have more that we can eat. As well as some beans." Took the stick into her mouth and found a way to eat the hot dog. Licked her chops after she inhaled and scarfed it. Had a surprised look on her face. It. Was. Good! "Good, huh?" She watched him get more of the hot dogs set up, scooting closer to the male now. He didn't seem bad and definitely better then the white coats. "You really are gorgeous, you know?" Tilted her head to the side and actually blushed. She was starting to like this guy. Looked at the bowl, sniffing at it lightly and tried some. These were good to! "My name is Sipiyu. Maybe we can be friends? I would love that." Lifted up her head after finishing the beans. Moved closer and licked at the male's hand. She would love to be friends to.
~~~~~~~~

[As a side note.. This took me a couple of days to complete fully. I hope that it's okay.]

[Metallic Dragon]

Username:

Nimaine

Zver you want:



CC8985

Name:

Vindico- latin for to claim, to liberate, to protect, to avenge, etc. Exact meaning depends on context. Normally called Vindi, as it sounds more feminine.

Reason you want it:

Vindi and her owner will be the connection between my two "alternate universes that are almost like the real world" character groups. One group contains Silence (Ginger) and Justin, along with Gene, Brutus, and Maltha,all of my zvers, the other contains Katherine and Simon, my first Tracker. I have a general plot in mind, and I would like to try roleplaying it first, though if that pans out I still intend to write a novella- longer than a short story but shorter than a full-length novel.

What will you do with it if you win?:

See above ^^. When I get my drawing bug back again, I'll probably do some pictures, too.

Personality:

Vindi is still very childlike, something she'll probably retain into her adult years. That means she's easily duped, easily scared, easily impressed, very trusting, and very friendly. When not laboring under a strong emotion, she tends to be very calm, and very quiet. She prefers non-verbal communication, and sometimes gives the impression that she is a mute. More often, though, she gives the more anthromorphically-minded humans around her the impression of a shy little girl.

She likes to have fun, but she's certainly not above pouting or sulking. She does what she's told to and is happy to do it. She likes to chase butterflies and eat caterpillars and grubs- the latter two being what her koi friends also eat. Vindi has also grown quite fond of yogurt, sweetened or plain and tart, goat yogurt, sheep yogurt, cow yogurt. She likes sticking her nose into things, feeling as well as smelling and seeing. Vindi's ability to focus for long periods isn't great, nor is her endurance of the highest. But she does learn things eventually, and then she doesn't forget them. It simply requires patience.

If given permission, she'll enjoy romping about like the best of them for a while, but soon tires of mere physical exercise. Especially if she's alone. Vindi really likes being with other people, other living things, otherwise she gets lonely quickly. Even at her cage in the lab, she could always hear and smell other zvers. She's most comfortable around the things and people she knows best, the unknown can be a fearful object for her. Of course, this doesn't apply to food, she believes you should try everything once, and most things deserve a second chance. Vindi hates violence. She prefers to hide or run rather than fight. So she would much rather make friends then enemies.

Introduction/Story:

With his slight accent and naturally dark tan, Dr. Salim Kauser was often asked at parties or by nosy co-workers or even busybodies on the street: "You're not from around here, are you?"

"No," Salim would agree with them, watching the self-satisfied smile of a correct assumption spread across their faces. "I'm from New Zealand." Then their faces would go blank, and he would be the one left in possession of the smug smile.

Salim had been an American citizen since he was a child, and the culture of his birthland wasn't that far from the culture of his adopted country. He was quite comfortable with his position, as one of the few government researchers with the highest security clearance. He enjoyed his work with the microorganisms, creating vaccines and testing their viability and flexibility through experiments, genetic or otherwise. So he was delighted to recieve an invitation to study with the scientists at the secret zver laboratory, to see how his favorite old pathogens and probiotics were doing in the alien environment provided by the zver's body.

This joyous emotion faded when he first encountered the pens where the zvers were held. Growls and barks and whines grated on his ears, but far, far worse was the sheer size of the creatures. In Salim's opinion, the only animal people should keep for a pet was a fish. Especially koi, domesticated hundreds of years, they could become quite friendly. His own koi, raised from two inches to a foot and a half, knew his face, his stride, his hands. They would come to the surface of the water to greet him and be stroked, even the shyest, who would not leave the lilies when a stranger approached, and not just when he had food in his hands either. Large animals, especially large carnivores, frightened him. He wouldn't admit that, though, he would just say, "I don't like dogs."

"I'm sorry," the head scientist, who had asked him to call her Dr. Metta, said with a glance of annoyance, "But you'll have to handle the specimen yourself if you want your samples. It's flu season, and some of our assistants didn't bother with flu shots. Besides, they aren't dogs."

"And I hate cats," Salim continued clearly, eyeing the creatures in the pens with misgiving. They were all clamoring to be released so they could tear him to pieces, from his point of view. "Cats eat fish, and fish are the only proper pets." Salim loved his pet fish, teaching them little tricks, breeding and showing them.

"They're zvers." She gave him another look. Salim appeared to be the skinny, academic type. "Hmmm," he was probably incapable of wrangling the more aggresive zvers, she thought. Finally, taking pity on him, Dr. Metta said with some regret, for she didn't like the thought of leaving such a sweet zver in a stranger's hands, "I'll give you CC8985. She's very gentle and easy to handle. You won't be taking any biopsies or blood samples, is that right?" A biopsy, even internal, meant a flesh sample.

"No, just saliva, urine, and feces samples," Salim agreed. "I'm looking at the density of internal earth bacteria populations. It's mostly likely to have entered the mouth and gone through the gut." Well, if he must take the samples himself, he must. Dr. Kauser gritted his teeth. "Which one is mine?"

Since the pens had been cleaned that morning, Dr. Kauser decided to start with a saliva sample. The zver was asleep in the back of the pen, away from the noise the others of its kind were making. This was sign in its favor. But when Salim opened the door and approached cautiously, his little q-tip cotton swab held high like a defensive weapon, she woke up. She saw him right away, and trotted over with a happy, bouncing gait like a child skipping.

Salim didn't see it this way. "Get back!" he said, fear making his voice angry. The zver stopped, it's head drooped. "Go on!" he continued harshly, gratified by the results of his first command. The zver ran to the back of the cage, and tried to hide in a corner. Saleem, still a little cautious but now mostly ego, advanced with a heavy, confident step. As he came closer the zver settled for simply cowering and whining softly, and was trembling like an earthquake when Saleem finally reached her.

Very carefully, very slowly, he inserted the cotton covered tip of his q-tip into the zver's mouth, under her lips. Then he pulled it out, saw the moisture on it, and smiled. He put it away in a plastic case, saying "Good!" clearly, as much to himself as to the zver.

CC8985 stopped shaking so violently as soon as she heard the familar word. As Salim left, she continued to relax, finally releasing her pent-up breath so her nostrils briefly expanded to look more like holes than slits. Scary voice, she thought, but delicate touch. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all.

Later that day, Salim discovered part of his duties included exercising his subject zver, and since CC8985 was so easily ordered around, she could go around the inside of the lab on a leash and collar. Salim would have vastly preferred simply to release her into the larger exercise pen the other, less tractable zvers used, but since Dr. Metta had pointedly given him CC8985's leash and collar when she said this, he felt it would be rude not to use them.

She was awake this time, looking calmly out at what was going on outside her cage. But when she saw Salim, she sort of froze. Was he going to say something in that scary voice again? But there was the leash! That meant a walk, and she wanted to get out. Salim opened the door, a little fearfully still, and she ducked her head in a submissive gesture. Then she walked forward like the pup she almost was: in wiggles and wags and squirming like a captured snake.

This was clearly non-threatening, but Salim was a little confused about what he should do next. What had that assistant of his always done with her dog? "Good... zver," he said cautiously, taking a step back and holding out the head collar like a shield.

CC8985, who had been walked before and knew the routine, carefully inserted her head into the head-collar. Salim smiled, pleased. He may not like dogs as pets, but he respected dogs as workers. He buckled it around the back of her head, saying, "Well done. You might be more trainable than the rest of your species." CC8985's tail waved in happy curliques and circles as she indicated by pointing her head that she would like a walk.

"Maybe you can be trained to do something useful," Salim said under his breath. "But first, some tests. My own, and my research."

As the days went by, Salim started to think of CC8985 as if she were one of his giant carps. You can't be abrupt or autocratic to a fish, it'll just swim away from you. No, if you want something done, you must do it kindly and gently with plenty of bribes, like food. He taught her to come to the front of the pen and open her mouth for the saliva samples when he tapped on the door, just as he had taught his fish to come to the surface for their food when he tapped on the glass. She became more accostumed to his voice and his moods, though she was still very flightly and easily frightened.

With some gentle soothing, he found she would eat his probiotic cultures politely, and the resulting changes to her intestinal flora populations kept him busy collecting data and writing mathematical models for weeks. So much for his research experiments. Now for a personality test, he thought. The next day, he brought his most pugnacious betta to work in a wide-mouthed water bottle. When he gave CC8985, or Vindi, short for Vindico, as he started to call her, her water, he put the fish in too. Then he stepped back, but not too far. He didn't want his fish to get hurt.

Vindico approached as usual, but stopped and stared at the thing in her water. The betta immediately flared his gills at her. She leaned forward, her muzzle approaching the water, the betta flaring his fins. She actually dipped her nose in and blew bubbles before the fish attacked her. Her first reaction was shock, she pulled her snout out abruptly and stared at the still-threatening fish. Then she tried again, only to again meet the fierce onslaught of angry fish lips. Confused, emotionally wounded, and a little afraid, she gave Salim a sorrowful look, her ears flat against her neck, and retreated further into her pen. This was not fear, it was sulking. She was like a child who just learned that their father had played a practical joke on them.

Salim was satisfied. He picked up the water bowl and carefully poured the fish back into the bottle. Then he rinsed out her bowl and gave her nice, fresh water, calling her gently to come back and try again. Zvers, at least this one, were not fish-killers. She would come home with him and meet his koi, who were almost two feet long and much friendlier, and continue her training. His visiting time here was at an end, but if he stayed late as usual, finishing up his work, he did not think it would be hard to sneak out Vindi on her leash and head collar. Somehow she reminded him of a giant koi, with purple markings instead of black and red. She would look good by the water lilies and reeds of his swimming-pool-turned-koi-pond. Like a fish, he thought, that lives on land. He didn't feel the least bit guilty about stealing her, either. Salim had heard about escaped zvers blending in with the rest of the pet population. If the lab really didn't want to lose them, they should up the security, or something, he rationalized.

Sorry it took so long. I had forgotten when I set the deadline and then I spent forever trying to decide which of the forms for her won. It was very close.

I'll be judging the other two later in the evening(so in about 18 hours) so make sure to get your forms done if you haven't already.

[Nimaine]

Oh wow, thank you! Vindi shall be much loved ^^

And no worries about it taking a while- classes started again for me too, and a surprising amount of me free time is gone.

But I do have an idea for the rp I mentioned: I'll try to type it up as soon as I can.

[Metallic Dragon]

Ok, I've got an idea for one as well that I've been working on. It should be up at some point in the future...