\ Haven:Mist and Shadow Encounterlogs/Noahs Odd Encounter Sr Alexander 240306
Encounterlogs

Noahs Odd Encounter Sr Alexander 240306

On a serene, snowy day near the institute, Noah, lightly dressed and seemingly in his own peaceful bubble, encounters a squirrel during his contemplative state. This simple meeting quickly spirals into an enchanting interaction as the squirrel, followed by others, approaches Noah with a kind of urgency and curiosity, leading him to believe he has made his first set of friends in the new town. Motivated by a mix of goodwill and an inherent connection with these creatures, Noah decides to fetch them some food from the pet shop, unaware of the chaos that's about to ensue. The journey to the pet shop turns Noah into a pied piper of Hamelin figure, gathering a growing number of squirrels along the way, each of them following him with an eerie sense of purpose.

Upon reaching the pet shop and attempting to procure bird feed for his newfound companions, the scene descends into pandemonium as the squirrels attack, transforming from serene followers to chaotic assailants. The critters not only turn on Noah but also launch an assault on the pet shop, causing mayhem, attacking animals, and even drawing blood. In a desperate attempt to manage the situation, Noah tries to call animal control, leading to a response that is much more militaristic than one might expect for a squirrel infestation. Locked in a back room with the pet shop clerk, Noah contemplates the bizarre turn of events that led to the squirrels' aggressive behavior. Eventually, the situation is subdued by the heavily armed animal control team, leaving Noah to ponder the peculiarities of his new town and the unpredictable nature of its fauna, from squirrels to potentially stray dogs.
(Noah's odd encounter(SRAlexander):SRAlexander)

[Tue Mar 5 2024]

On Warden's Way
Smooth asphalt roads continue through this part of town, bordered on either side by well maintained concrete sidewalks. Where the street is widest small median islands appear with old twisted trees planted in them. The buildings that line the street seem quaint, but well maintained.
It is morning, about 30F(-1C) degrees, and the sky is covered by dark grey stormclouds. Waist high mist flows through the area.

(Your target is attacked by an animal or small group of animals driven mad with magic, it is up to them to escape or fight them off for long enough for their allies to arrive and help deal with the threat.
)
There is a snowy day here in front of the institute, a slow and lazy day. The snow drifts in front of him. There's a serenity to this moment, perhaps. But where is Noah at? What runs through his mind on a day like this?

Noah sits on a branch, leaned against the base of the tree, peacefully watching the recently-refreshed snow. His clothes are rather thin for the time of year, a fact he seems to not be aware o- 'Achoo!', ...but does seem to be suffering under. He sniffs, then continues his gaze with the sort of look one would grant an old lover - a deep, profound appreciation for the serene whiteness before him.

A quiet moment disrupted by a little scurrying noise nearby.

Noah looks up curiously, trying to find the source of the noise with a kind, calm expression. He seems unbothered by surprise - untainted by the dangers of Haven.

It's something mild, natural, perhaps even charming? A little squirrel with a bushy tail, or is that a chipmunk? It's hunting in the snow, foraging perhaps? As winter draws to an end, perhaps it was light on its foraging.

Noah smiles with a soft expression, a gentle warmth in his heart radiating as he slightly lowers his face, "...Well hello there, little one," He greets the squirrel like a beloved grandchild, "Isn't it a tad early for you? Do you need a bite?" He wonders of the squirrel with furrowed brow, "...I am afraid I don't have any nuts on me right now. But ah- I can perhaps get some birdfeed from the pet store, if you'll be around in an hour..."

The squirrel pokes its head up and stares at Noah. Then it bounds over, springing movements over to his feet. It stares up at him, expectantly? There's a curious look in its eyes, perhaps it is a social one, so close to the school it probably knows people well.

Noah looks taken aback for a moment, head opening slightly, surprise plain in his eyes before giving a small, dopey, giggle. "Oh my! A friendly one aren't we..." He tries to remain still, hesitant to spook the critter, "It seems I've made my first friend in this new town..."

It stares further into Noah's eyes, as if waiting for something. It shifts, a bit, perhaps impatient? Its head turns to look at something behind Noah.

Noah cocks his head at the squirrel, looking into its little eyes before turning his own head, taking his attention of the fur-wearing rat to look at what the squirrel might be interested in.

Much to Noah's delight, certainly, there is yet another chestnut furred, furry friend scavenging behind him in the snow. When he turns to look at it, it stares at Noah and begins to approach.

A Disney princess. Noah is a Disney princess. He smiles broadly, barely able to suppress his glee. Not one, but two bushy-tailed friends! He makes to get up from the branch, slowly, careful not to spook the two small animals. "...Would that be your mate, or your friend?" He wonders in a soft tone, then looking apologetic, "...I will go get you two some birdfeed, mm?"

The two critters stare at him intently. Perhaps they want that bird feed? The stop moving once they reach within a foot of Noah. Leering curiously?

Noah nods to the two, "...So intelligent. Gods creatures truly are most marvelous in their presence upon this earth..." A sight escapes him and he holds his rosary between two fingers before smiling once more, "Very well, be patient with me!" He tells the two before making his first step back towards the street.

As Noah begins to make his way back to the street, the furry little god created rodents follow at an even pace. They move foot by foot, not quite in unison, but clearly following him.

Noah smiles the entire time, not seeming to suspect this in any negative way, instead giving a friendly greeting to anyone he should pass. He doesn't make his way to a car - no - does he even have one? Instead, he makes to walk to the pet shop. By foot. In winter.

Hey, the good news is, he has some company. Three squirrels. Wait? Three? Another dark furred one has joined the two, and he brought a friend, a white one, which follows Noah dutifully as he begins to make his way. Hey, is that another one down the road? That's so wonderful. More friends!

Noah seems downright giddy as he slowly turns into the Disney Princess Squirrel Catcher of Hamel or whatever it is this may classify him as. He makes his way towards the pet shop with a skip in his step and a dumb smile on his face, yet is quick to slow his pace slightly, to calm himself.

Wouldn't want to spook his new friends.

Noah makes his way across town with a spring in his step and a song in his heart. How lovely, how perfect. Ah, another. Perhaps he has named them? All his little friends. Though if he had it would grow to be quite a challenge. As he arrives at the pet store he has a bacons dozen or more.

He has attracted dozens, or more, that is

Noah hasn't quite named them - yet - but it's a matter of time at this rate. Where most would, perhaps, feel alarmed about being hounded by a saruman's army of squirrels, for the christian goofball, it is naught but a welcome gift from God. He opens the door to the pet store, were he would enter and promptly purchase several of those small bird feeders for the appetite of his newfound clique.

Now, unfortunately for all, particular Noah but definitely that pet shop it appears the Noah's usefulness to this particular...gang has runs its course. He is set upon immediately. The squirrels surge into the shop, some of them begin to hop and climb up his body, others leap towards feed, cages, it's chaos.

Noah is just about to approach the shopkeeper with a friendly smile and a hand in his pocket as the 'gang' starts chaos, he blinks, his eyes widening, "Uhm?! Uhm, friends! Please- calm down now. There's no need for any of this, you're about to get food!" He tries to calm then, while his hands reach for squirrels climbing him. Not to attack them or slap them off, but to try and gently lift them from his body, to put them back down.

The second his digits enter range, they snap at him, biting, viciously. Have you ever heard a Squirrel growl? Well, Noah has, and it's an awful strange little sound from something so cute. They seem to have no interest in peace. This might be funny, from a certain perspective, but the store clerk shrieks, shrill terror and pain, as rodents begin to bite at her. She panics, flailing wildly as she protects hself.

"O-oh- Oh dea-OW!" Noah struggles and enters a state of panic as the creatures start biting, then giving the clerk a worried look as well, because of course. He reaches into his pocket, where he would try to call animal control on his phone.

Because of course he would.

Noah manages to get them off of him, they land and hiss violent, possible swearing some kind of revenge. There's a glint of his blood on their teeth as they race into the store. Attacking cages, birds squaking, dogs barking, cats hissing. The store descends into pandemonium.

"Hello? Haven Animal Control, how can I help you?"

"U-uhm! Yes. This is N-Noah," Noah wildly flails a leg around, trying to get a squirrel to let go of it, "U-uhm, it's the pet shop, you s-see... Squirrels!!!" He looks at the critters, away from the phone, "Please! Leave the nice clerk alone!" He requests of them before returning to his phone, "There's squirrels attacking the pet shop! It's c-chaos!"

"Some squirrels in the petshop huhn...?" There's a dry sigh on the other end of the line, but the screaming and chaos seems to catch their attention. "Right. Uh. Maybe call 911 man?" Someone yells at the person on the phone in the background and snatches the phone. "Petshop? We're on it, you need to call 911, with crazy shit like this," a gruff feminine voice is heard. Still, how fast can the response time of the local animal control be? "Just get somewhere safe," they note, rushing for a door.

"R-right" Noah agrees with the voice on the phone, then staring at it, followed by the squirrels. He looks around the door, trying to find some sort of storage room or staff room. Should he find it, he would shout a quick apology before trying to drag the downed clerk along with him, inside.

The clerk is easy to find, she isn't so much downed as panicked and she clutches to Noah like a life raft as they scurry towards a back room. The door is locked but she works the keys as a trio of squirrels begins to scurry towards them. They look...hungry? Ah, that's not a look he has recognized in the beady eyes of a rodent before, hopefully?

Noah grips his rosary in his fist, then tries a blessing. Yes, a blessing. Surely these squirrels, sent by God to accompany him, will leave him alone through a show of faith.

He believes it at least, holding his other hand in-front of him as if to ward off the squirrels.

Noah's faith is a potent bulwark, guided by true belief. Surely these animals, which are servants of the adversary, will be stayed by his raw conviction. Well, they...do seem to be approaching still. And, oh no, is that one about to lunge? The clerk gets the door open and tries to pull Noah in. Thank goodness he went to get her.

God helps those who help themselves. An old adage that Noah lives by, letting himself be pulled into the room, gently swiping at the squirrel should it lunge. Not trying to harm it in any way, just redirect it. A disney princess doesn't harm, after all.

He is able to with help stop the attack warily. Those poor helpless Squirrels. They don't know what they do? Probably? The door slams shut behind them. And they are left for a moment, in peace. With a more ludicrus reality, perhaps one might expect them to turn on the light and see an army inside with them?

Well, there isn't anything else but them, a water cooler, a crowded desk and some clutter. Do they wait out the storm inside?

Noah inspects himself - and his own outfit - as he murmurs, half to himself, half to the poor clerk who really had no fault in any of this. "So strange, they were so well behaved before now, too. Did something in the store set them off...?"

Because of course he doesn't question the part where dozens of squirrels follow him.

The clerk stares at Noah nervously. "You...they followed you in?" she asks.

Noah looks at his own hands, then smiles at the clerk, nodding. "Very much so! They - they were following me you see? I thought it was a gift from God..." He sighs, "...I was going to buy them some food, but then they, well. They became like this..."

"..." She doesn't seem to know what to say to that, she paces nervously.

Noah glances at the clerk, "...Do you know something about what got these squirrels so upset?"

"No! I just know I'm stuck in a room with the dang, pied piper!" She insists to Noah. "What the hell is going on!?"

Noah nods slowly, rubbing at his cheek as he considers it. "Perhaps it is the weather? Animals can be very affected by the weather sometimes. Or- I know! Perhaps there's squirrel in some of the feed...?" He shakes his head, "...I suppose there wouldn't be..."

"...Squirrel in the-" She goes quiet appraising Noah for a moment. Then there's a bang outside the room, elsewhere. It sounds like something is happening?

Noah blinks at the clerk, visibly wondering about that bang, then turns around, intending to peek through the door, "...Let's see what's going on there. I hope nothing fell onto the critters, they're just animals, in the end."

The clerk blanches. "Uh! Maybe we can just, wait in here!" she says, stepping away from the door. Noah is able to open the door. Pandemonium seems like it's gotten worse. Figures have entered, animal control? The response is...beefier than one might expect.

Noah closes the door, trying his very best not to be noticed as he looks rather spooked. "...Uhm, what does Animal Control usually look like in Haven?" He asks of the clerk, furrowing his brow. "...I was one person with a bag and a grabber, or such..."

"What, you called animal control? I mean..." she hesitates. She guesses it makes sense, she might have wanted to call the army? The sounds of chaos continue outside but in a more controlled bit of chaos. Maybe they're...winning? Whomever they are.

Noah nods to the clerk, "But of course? Who else would I call?" 911 would be a start, but he seems to have already forgotten that. "It sure sounds rowdy outside... I hope everyone is okay..." He hesitates, "...But those figures didn't look much like they'd appreciate... help..."

The clerk nods to Noah. It makes sense. I mean. Animal control. Sure? Who else would you call?

There's a knock on the door as things begin to calm.

Noah smiles faintly to clerk, "Seems they finished their job." Noah decides as he opens the door with a somewhat worried expression. Worried for animal control, himself, the clerk, or the squirrels?

Well, she at least is on the opposite end of the wall from Noah. The door opens and he sees a gruff looking woman. Hard as nails type, ballistic vest, assortment of tools. She has blood on her, hers, someone's...squirrels? In the room the store is in shambles. A few somewhat equally armed people mill about, bags full of writhing...well, probably squirrels. "Everyone alright in here?"

Noah nods hesitantly, looking at the blood with a concerned expression, seeming somewhat mortified. "...Everything alright with the squirrels?" Noah wonders as he rubs his arm, "...They were really quite nice at first, I am not entirely sure what caused them to act out the way they did..."

"It's not atypical," she explains with a shrug. "For this town anyway. Just, if you see animals acting unusual, let us know." She lets out a hum and shrugs. "Alright, that's it for us," she whistles and moves to grab an angry bag, heading back to an armored van outside.

Noah furrows his brow, then gives the bag a small wave as they leave. Bye, friends. He gives a nervous smile to the clerk, "...I never thought in my life I'd be attacked by squirrels of all things. I adore squirrels..." He shakes his head, then he would leave, turning towards the door before apologizing for the mess, then heading out with a strange look given to the trees. "...If the squirrels do things like this in this town, I am getting somewhat fearful of stray dogs..."

Well, that's something good at least. Noah knows to keep his eyes out for the stray dogs. Hopefully he won't have to worry about the birds too...