Elite Comic Universe PBP

Bea had researched online and found an animal shelter not terribly far from Elite Chai in the sprawl.

Ethiopian Animal Rescue & Sanctuary (EARS). They helped abandoned dogs, cats, donkeys, and horses, which sadly were all too easy to find. Injured animals needing healing. Most needed adoption or temporary fostering along the path to adoption.

And she could talk to them. Capture their stories. Help maybe attract folks looking to adopt with that greater detail? Or, at the very least, confirm their needs and provide soothing companionship.

The shelter did not mind cameras. Any publicity could help an animal find its forever home!

This was better than University for her. A chance to develop practical experience in a field that didn't need a lot of learning. But it did need empathy and experience with animals. Her experiencing tending stable was particularly useful, given that they rescued donkeys and horses, as well as cats and dogs.

On the side of the building facing the parking lot there was a local artist working on a mural for the place. It looked like it depicted stylized cats and dogs and other pets in vibrant colors mixing native imagery with urban structures.

It is coming along well.

Bea found time to talk the artist while on break.

Amharic: "Oh! This is beautiful. I love the colors! I've just started volunteering at the shelter. I'm Bea. Bea Hawkins."

"Did you base some of the animals pictured on sketches of shelter animals?" She looked to see if she recognized any of the animals depicted fro her short time volunteering so far.

The artist had in fact based some of the animals on ones at the shelter, or at least that was what she could see in the mural. She turned to Bea and said in Amharic, “Hello, name’s hahn, I am just about finished. I wanted to get out here early and finish before my classes.”

"Nice to meet you, Hahn."

"Oh! I recognize this dog. That's Pepper. You really captured him! Are you an art student at the university?"

"Good eye," she said warmly. "part time student, I am studying art but it's mostly just a personal passion."

"Ah, is part-time studying art, part-time doing art?"

"It would be great to get good coverage and social media on the mural when it's done! That would help people to come meet the animals and adopt them."

"Hey if you want to give me and the shelter some free advertising, go for it," she joked.

"Can I get your contact information?" She pulled out her phone.

"I can give you mine. Text me when it's done!"

“Oh sure,” she said giving her contact info. “Did you just start here, I feel like I would have noticed you before now.”

"Yes! This is my first day volunteering at the shelter."

"It took me a couple of days to confirm my schedule, and what would be possible, and apply to volunteer. I'm so glad they welcomed me! I have a background working with animals, particularly horses. And I am very fortunate to be able to communicate with them, so I'm hoping that will help in the caretaking, soothing, and helping attract adopters."

She took a deep breath. "Some of the stories I've heard so far are very sad. But there's hope for sanctuary and rest and recovery now. And a home to come."

“It can be real sad, but I try to focus on all the good the shelter does for the animals and the community,” she admitted.

“What brought you to Ethiopia?”

"I'm a contestant in a contest for emerged young adults, to potentially earn a place on a UNJE heroic team. It's going to air this summer." She was allowed to say that, right?

"This is my first time outside the United States. I'm very excited to be here. I have a host family who live not far from here, though I am staying at Academy House during the competition."

"Do you know an Elite named Arturo?" she asked.

"Arturo?"

Hmm...

"I don't think we've had a chance to speak yet, but I think I heard that name at the orientation when we were all introducing ourselves. A bit of a sea of people. Do you know him?"