[Seasonal Event] Foot fungus is no fun!

[Faith Augustin]

89th Ashan, 717

The animals of Scalvoris had been infected with a strange fungus infection in their paws. Farmers were confounded and academics left scratching their heads. Faith had heard about it, but she and Padraig had decided that now was the time to act on it and so, they had come to the Scholars' Nook. Over half of the animals on the island were infected and Cosmo was going just a little bit stir crazy as they had minimised the amount of time which they were taking him out for. "Thank all the Immortals for those lessons. He's growing like a weed, Padraig." Or more, she considered, like a furry brick. He was a big dog with big paws and whilst he was very much still a puppy, she didn't think that he was ever going to grow into a somber dog. "He's going to weigh more than me soon." He might already, in fairness.

Caz, the owner of the Scholars' Nook and someone who they both had inevitably gotten to know quite well, greeted them with a friendly smile. "Hello you two! Can I help?" They were both pretty regular here these trials and Caz waved them to go and sit, assuring them that she'd bring their usual drinks over. Faith smiled and leaned over to Padraig, whispering softly.
"You know that everyone knows about this wedding, right?" She smiled at him, the very picture of innocence as she said that. "I mean, I don't know how. It's like... I told them." Her grin was mostly apologetic, but she knew equally that he wouldn't mind.Truth be told, she was rather surprised at how much she was looking forward to this now that they'd agreed it.

Glancing around, Faith tried to divert his attention away from the fact that she may have told everyone who knew them about their engagement, instead moving over to where the zoologists had hung out on the night of the Intelligentsia meeting. There, she spotted a familiar figure who was difficult not to spot, given her height. "It's Amaris, look. We should join her." Faith smiled up at him and nodded. "I told her, too. I invited her and asked if she'd like to come to dinner one evening. She's a green cloak, now, at the order." Most seriously, Faith asked him, "and would you like me to stop telling people? There's still a few I haven't mentioned it to." She could not maintain the serious expression for long, though. Instead, she kept her hand in his as they made their way over, where she left Padraig to the greeting.

[Padraig]

The fungus was worrying. For all the animals padding around Scalvoris Town, and more personally, the threat it posed to Cosmo and Quattro. The cat was more than content to sun in her favorite windowsill throughout the trial, and watch the birds that fluttered around their garden. The more time indoors for Cosmo though, the more troublesome he tended to get. But the fungus seemed to be spreading, and Padraig had been taking the added precaution lately of making sure the soles of his boots were clean before coming in from outdoors. And then he left them there by the door.

They needed to look into it, and what the cause might be. Still he grinned when Faith mentioned the rate at which Cosmo was growing. He was trained, yes. But "He seems not to have completely embraced the concept of loose leash walking," Padraig teased. "Though now and then I look out the window, and witness how he seems to excel at taking his human for a walk." Her specifically, he meant.

"You don't say," he responded dryly, but with a grin after Caz greeted them and offered to bring them their tea. He wondered if there was anyone at all in Scalvoris Town who didn't know about their engagement, based on how many students and fellow professors had congratulated him on their way past in university hallways. "Does the local butcher know yet?"

But there was a familiar face, and Padraig smiled in Amaris' direction as Faith pointed her out. He wondered, was she there for the same reason as them or a similar one? Faith was right though, they should join her regardless and with his arm linked in Faith's he headed that way. Before they arrived, he smiled, shook his head and whispered. "I don't mind at all you telling them. If you didn't then I would."

If Amaris was in the middle of reading or study, he wouldn't want to interrupt, so simply cleared his throat to get her attention. "It's good to see you again Amaris. You here to study?" he asked. "Faith and I thought we might spend some time looking into the fungus that seems to be affecting the area's animals."

[Amaris]

Amaris had seen a good number of animals around Scalvoris with a perculiar fungus afflicting them. The mixed blood had been careful in keeping them away from their current charge, a crow that was by no means ready to be introduced to new ailments. Its wing had already been set and its restless fluttering tended to rustle papers in a manner much too distracting to have stayed at him. Which was why they had moved to the Scholar's Nook. Icarus, as they had named the avian, seemed to calm down in public spaces. So, they'd tethered the bird to their wrist and made sure it remained on their shoulder until they had entered the establishment.

That had been a full break ago, and Icarus seemed content with hopping about the table. It examined the pages of the book they were busy with, cawing once or twice to attempt to gain their attention. Amaris, however, was too far gone. Thus far, their search for the source of the mysterious fungus seemed to be in vain. No matter; there was plenty of other material they could scour through for answers.

Perhaps the combined efforts of Icarus and Padraig, along with the definitive lack of solutions within the current text they were reading had been enough to throw the mixed blood from their hunt momentarily. Surprise lighted their features before they smiled up at the couple.

"And you, as well," they returned, clearing some space on the table. "I'm actually here about the same thing. I've never seen anything like it." Once more, Icarus made its presence known, as if offended for not having been introduced. "Ah, and this is Icarus."

"Also, congratulations! I'm sure you two must be bursting with excitement." That was the right thing to say to a newly engaged couple, was it not?

[Faith Augustin]

The local butcher? Faith looked at Padraig with an entirely serious expression and responded dryly. "Of course he does. He was the first person I told." She could not contain the smile for long, but she held it at bay for the next bit. "Just before the baker and then the candlestick maker. Silly." Was it bad that the butcher did know, she wondered? She'd told him when she'd popped by there this morning.

If she did not tell people, though, then he would? Faith smiled up at him and said nothing, choosing to hug his arm instead. If she had words, she'd use them she thought. Then, of course, she realised that she probably did and therefore wouldn't, but that was just fine. "And Cosmo isn't that bad. He and I are coming to a mutual arrangement." Her elbow dug into his ribs, albeit gently, "I'm going to buy myself a saddle when he gets big enough. It will save us all sorts of bother."

Faith's pleasure, though, at seeing Amaris could not be denied and she smiled at the very tall individual who was becoming a friend. "It's good to see you. How are you?" Looking down at the crow, Faith smiled in pleasure. "Hello Icarus. You're beautiful, aren't you?" There was no doubting it that, were she left to her own devices, Faith would fill their home with animals, but when Amaris congratulated them, the delight on Faith's face was obvious. "Thank you. Yes, it's very exciting." There was no doubting the truth of that for her; Faith was not given to extreme displays of emotion, she was far too disciplined an individual yet her pleasure was more than evident.

"You are?" As Faith pulled up a chair, she looked at the books Amaris had there. "We have a dog and a cat, and we thought that we should help out. Would you be prepared to work together?" She had no wish to assume, after all, it would be impolite to do so. "I am afraid my understanding of animals and their physiology is very limited, but I was going to consider it from the point of view of regular medicine. What do we already know?" That was, after all, if it was an outbreak of something, where they would start. No detail too small, she explained to them both, it might be the key thing. So, on one of the always-available pieces of paper here, she wrote the words fungus, animal and foot. Then she looked up with a frown. "Is it all animals with feet or specific kinds of feet?" Faith wondered. She realised how strange that sounded and she smiled. "I mean horses, goats, insects. What are the parameters?"

[Padraig]

Was the butcher the first person Faith had told? Padraig wouldn't put it past her, had the man been the first she'd run into after they'd agreed that they'd marry. At any rate he didn't mind at all. He enjoyed seeing how she'd embraced it, and it was turning out to be contagious.

"Scalvoris Town has a candlestick maker?" he'd teased her. If it did, then certainly by now that individual would know as well. News traveled fast on the island. As for Cosmo, Padraig couldn't argue that the dog wouldn't be large enough to ride some trial in the future. He was growing larger, more sturdy with each passing trial. Not so large that an adult might climb aboard. But a young child, it wasn't impossible.

He smiled curiously when he spotted the crow that appeared to be Amaris' companion. From what he understood they were clever creatures. More clever than many other birds. Faith's enthusiasm didn't pass him by however. Left to her own devices she'd have their home overflowing with furry, feathered or even scaled housemates.

"Thank you," he said when Amaris congratulated them. "I am the luckiest of men." So, he thought as he and Faith joined her, they were all here for similar reasons. All the better to put their collective areas of expertise together. He was no medic or animal expert. But his knowledge of chemistry, alchemy and what little medical knowledge he had might do some good.

Faith brought up an interesting point and Padraig frowned thoughtfully. "So, as Faith says, animals with pads on the bottom of their feet, or also hoofed animals? In the case of pads, what about the claws? Do those seem to be affected as well?" Hooves, claws, they could be considered similar to skin, or perhaps they actually were skin. "Have there been any reported incidents among humans or others?" Faith might be one to answer that question, treating patients as she did.

So, he considered as he leafed through one of the books. What did they know? Was there a thickening of the affected area? Or instead, did the infection or fungus eat away at the flesh instead?

[Amaris]

Icarus seemed pleased by Faith’s assessment. Its wings fluttered and it hopped closer to its temporary caregiver, as if to say it would allow the couple’s intrusion into its space. Though, it did seem unhappy with Padraig’s lack of a comment. Amaris guided the crow closer towards them with the jingle of their tags, the clanking of metal calling Icarus’ attention and drawing it closer still.

Hearing that the couple had a dog and a cat between them was somehow not surprising. Or maybe it just seemed right to the hybrid. They, however, would not go so far as to speculate on the pair having pets as a practice run for children. Nor would they mention the fact that their apartment was still filled with a bevy of cats they’d rescued earlier in the season. It had nothing to do with not finding homes, so much as the creatures having become too attached or Amaris having become so. And the result was…well. "I would be delighted to work with you; grateful, really. Three heads are better than one." This was followed up with a smile before their expression became more serious.

Both Faith and Padraig were individuals that would most definitely be considered their senior. They had assumed the two would have a better grasp of how to tackle the situation, and Amaris was certainly right. "From what I’ve observed, the fungus is centralized in the paw pads and somehow enters the animal from there. It’s certainly topical, in that regard. " As they spoke, they shuffled through their notes. Most of it was a host of simple drawings of the fungus that they had seen on affected animals.

“It may be specific to mammals, as I have not seen any birds or insects with the fungus. The spread is also unknown, though what I have heard is that it is spreading quite rapidly.” Claws? None were apparent in their notes or could be recalled as infected. "Claws weren’t in what I recorded, but I don’t believe they’d be affected. Claws are similar to nails and the fungus is found on the paws, which is skin. Under that assumption, hooves would also be out of the question, as they are also like nails." Their brows furrowed as they spoke, mind working.

"It would seem that only quadrupeds are affected by the fungus. But, I’m not sure what makes them so susceptible."

[Faith Augustin]

When Padraig said that he was the luckiest of men, Faith didn't quite know where to look or how to respond. She settled for a delighted smile whilst simultaneously lowering her gaze to the ground. She didn't blush often, but those words prompted just that reaction from her.

Still, they had a job to do and so she listened to what they were saying. "If it's topical, it seems most likely to be being left on a surface and then walked over. You see, this is what I mean about the study of the demographic spread of disease." Faith glanced at Padraig and an increasingly evident expression of pure stubborn determination crossed her face. "If we had an idea of where the dog owners walked their dogs, for example, we could try and work out if there was an area or a pattern to the infections. Maybe a particular type of ground or geographical area." Faith exhaled in what could only be described as a rather huffy manner but was quick to point out. "My apologies. I am irritated at the lack of response from the Dean on a subject which I think is very important."

This particular subject was of great importance, though, and Faith considered what both Amaris and Padraig had said. "It is spreading quickly, yes, from what I understand too. We've had no concerns with any human or bipedal feet coming into the Order of the clinic." Amaris' question about why the disease seemed so specific was a good one and Faith nodded.

"I don't know enough about animals to know for sure, but if it is topical as we think it is, if it is passed on by contact, then that is awfully specific." Animals were much more up Amaris' street but she looked to them both and considered with a frown. "A fungus likes dark and warm, moist places to live. Maybe it's about the geography of dog and cat paws, or maybe it's a targeted thing?" A skin condition passed on in that way would not likely differentiate between human and sev’ryn and Faith really didn’t see why this one would be so specific. ”Could it be that it is not a natural thing but something created specifically to impact only certain animals?” That particular question was much more a Padraig question so she glanced at him and smiled.

[Padraig]

Having already taken a seat at the table, Padraig grinned a little as he watched the crow hop all the closer to his mistress. He was no stranger to the connection between pet and owner, master...or human minion as the four tailed cat Quattro seemed to consider their relationship. He and Faith had a houseful of pets already and if it was up to her, he suspected they'd have even more.

Nonetheless, what was going on with the four footed animals of Scalvoris was a problem and if not addressed somehow, promised to get worse. Three heads were indeed better than one. So, no claws, no pads, and apparently there'd been no known reports of the fungus among two footed folk. "Interesting," he said with a frown. "Could it be because most people wear shoes, so the skin on the feet would be protected? Or would it be the same if there was direct skin contact?"

Faith might be right though. The source might be widespread or it might be more isolated, such as in a park where people tended to take their dogs to walk or turn loose to run in the open. She also raised a curious question. Could it be something created by man to affect only animals? And then only a certain kind of animal? "I wonder if a sample could be obtained from one of the infected animals," Padraig said. "I've got the chemistry equipment at home. It might be possible to break it down and have a look."

[Amaris]

As complex as this whole ordeal was, it was beginning to get a bit more simple. There were only two classifications of animals affected: canines and felines. And while there could be a plausible, natural explanation for this, they were having a hard time seeing it. Amaris had, in the short course of their study and in their childhood, never seen anything so targeted. Diseases for specific species was not uncommon, but this was not restricted to just dogs or cats but both.

It would seem that they were not alone in their thinking. Faith brought forth the question of the fungus not being natural before they could, for which they were glad. The hybrid wasn’t sure how it would have come off if they had said it. But still...was there a reason for it being just dogs and cats? Was there something in the skin of their paws that was perfect for attracting and housing the fungus?

“Having a sample to examine would be highly beneficial. I think we should be able to see it on a few strays, perhaps take samples from both dogs and cats? Maybe there are some differences in the fungus chemically that could be why it’s targeting those animals specifically.”

[Faith Augustin]

So, they were agreed on what they wanted to do. Now it was just the how. Faith looked at the two of them and smiled, shrugging slightly. "I mean, do any of us know someone with an animal who has the fungus specifically? Or someone who knows someone? And so on." She wondered if perhaps there was a limit to how much that helped, so she stopped at someone who knew someone.

Thinking about it, further, just in case there wasn't anyone, Faith frowned in concentration. "Or then, we could try animal doctors. Or the lady who taught us how to train Cosmo, animal training classes that sort of thing?" Failing that, of course, she said, they could go out hunting (so to speak) wild dogs and cats in the hope of finding one with fungus. Or really, she was quick to add, in the hope of finding none because it had all just gone away, but in the absence of going away? "Perhaps we'll find a fungible fungus footed feline." She was a bit too pleased at herself for that but she hid it relatively well.

"The other option, of course, is to ask Caz. If anyone knows anything, someone in here will." Faith gestured around the Scholars' Nook and shrugged slightly. It was true; people in here knew all sorts of things but there was often a difference between knowing something and wishing, or being prepared, to act upon it. So, as she saw it those were their options. Which of those, if any, did the others want or did they have different ones all together?