"I could spend all day here."

The Detective ignored Kiyoshi's comment, moving from one of the Fox's shoulder to the other as he looked around. They were simply following the main path through the sanctuary. It seemed like it would take them into most areas and had already brought them through one of the underground tunnels. The Detective was much happier above ground and very interested in something above them.

Ahead of the Fox was a very obvious Crane, by the blue beret and top, white shorts and blue and white striped socks up to their knees. They were on the very edge of the path bouncing around and straining to see whatever animal was inside the enclosure.

"Where is it? Has to be in here somewhere!"

Kiyoshi approached, looking around as well.

"What's in this enclosure?" he asked.

"Sign said a Lesser Crested Spine Monitor."

He strained to see around one of the larger trees.

"But I can't see it."

Very slowly organic cogs turned and the Crane began to realise he wasn't alone, after all even he rarely answered when talking to himself.

"Oh, very interesting!" His voice gained an excited tone as he looked around more.

Kiyoshi still hadn't really looked at the Crane, but the Detective was curious. The monkey dropped off of the Fox's shoulder and made his way over to Hinata.

Hinata blinked as he finally made connection between voice that was not his own and reality.

"Oh hi, I'm . . . " And then he saw the monkey, eyes widened and he pointed at the Detective.

"Oh my kami, a monkey escaped!!!!! We have to find a park ranger!!!!!"

The shouting drew Kiyoshi's attention.

"Detective! Stay close." The monkey reluctantly withdrew as the Fox approached and bowed. "Apologies Asahina-sama, he likes to investigate new people."

Hinata was still pointing.

"You know him? Did you break him out of a cage here????"

Even when hysterically questioning a possible eco-terrorist monkey pilferer, Crane manners kicked in and he bowed briefly.

"Hi, I'm Asahina Hinata."

Then the finger pointing at the escaped and/or stolen animal recommenced.

The monkey hid behind one of the Fox's legs, who was holding up his hands to plead innocence.

"No, no. He came here with me. This is the Detective and I am Kitsune Kiyoshi and..." He paused as something occurred to him. "There's an Asahina Hinata in Usagi Drop. Did you know that?"

The finger stayed pointing but what little venom had been in the action had already drained away.

"Oh that's such a cool name for a monkey! Oh in Usagi Drop!? Well duh, that's because I am!"

Belatedly a small voice in the back of his head said 'You're supposed to stay anonymous' but was drowned out by another one humming the Inu-Tai opening theme.

"Oh!" He bowed again, more deeply. "I really enjoy your work, Asahina-sama. It's an honor to meet you."

The monkey bowed too, but said nothing.

"We always visit sanctuaries like this when we travel." he explained, gesturing around them. "To see new animals and how they are treated."

A quick bit of Hinata cranial computation followed.

Fox = MCA
Hare = MCA
. . .

Fox = Hare (Monkey = bonus)

"Oh thanks. Naz-kun and Tomo-kun do most of the hard work, but I love being in Drop! I don't get much time to myself though, so being here for this Court thing is great! I got to see a cafe full of cats earlier and now this."

There was a rustle in the enclosure next to them and his eyes darted to the movement but saw nothing.

"Ah I missed it. Something moved there!"

Something did indeed move. At first it seemed to be just a shadow, or an illusion moving between the variously coloured rocks that made up the enclosure.

But soon it crept out from under a rock, first slowly, then rushing up to a rock where a pair of judgmental eyes on its spiny head seemed to look intently at Hinata.

Hinata bounced on his heels staring intently at the beastie. Eyes met and a long moment passed while Crane and lizard made their first assessments. Eventually Hinata spoke.


"It's brown."

Brown it was. Had spines. But where was the crest?

The answer soon became evident as the monitor hissed and one rose up at the centre of its head, first slightly, then higher, finally opening up to become something almost fan-like. Or... Tessen-like?

It had an odd metallic sheen to it, that's for sure.

The eyes didn't leave Hinata's.

"I wonder if they feed them at specific times." He turned his attention to the creature. "I winder if they'd let us feed them."

He studied the creature quietly for a moment.

(Edited because I completely missed the above posts.)

"Oh shiny . . . head . . . hat-thingy . . . scarf? . . . no dummy . . . . . CREST! Shiny crest!"

Hinata grinned at the monitor.

"Not all brown then."

"It's very impressive." Kiyoshi agreed.

The Detective was not as impressed, retreating behind the Kitsune's leg again.

"I wonder where it's from?????"

He wasn't one for reading the exhibit information, more looking at the fluffy animals. Well animals, as this one was spiny and not at all fluffy.

"Well... here, right?"

Kiyoshi had a natural aptitude for handling and even training animals, but he'd never really studied them.

"Maybe a desert? That would explain the color..
Do they have a desert on this planet?