Starting here because this is technically at the Evelon zoo, and there's no forum there!
It was hard work at the zoo, alright, but Anthony was gradually getting used to it. More than that, he was getting to like it. He had not had a lot of experience with animals before; he had worked a little with the experiment animals back at the lab, of course, but he hadn't spent a lot of time caring for many different animals like he found himself doing now. He did mostly basic maintenance jobs at first - sweeping the paths and buildings, emptying trash cans, washing windows, the like. Lately, though, his work was bringing him closer to the animals; cleaning the dishes from which they ate, helping other zookeepers prepare the food, sweeping enclosures that were unoccupied at the moment. He was learning a lot about different animals having different needs, and even individuals of the same species having different preferences. The canines of the zoo were some of the first animals with which he actually had contact. He was fascinated by the Sahounds' ability to mimic others' voices perfectly, by the strange ribbons floating around the Shielupes, and by the Yonyuus' wings. His favorite creatures, though, were the dinosaurs. He had gone through the dinosaur-crazy phase like every other child, and thought he had outgrown it. However, seeing the very much alive and active creatures of Evelon, the likes of which were reduced to nothing but old, crumbled bones in his world, made him start to think differently. He loved the quick, agile Serraptors, was awed by the huge but flighty Terratops, and even more impressed by the fierce Staigovald. If Anthony was delighted with the dinosaurs, though, he was even more excited by the dragons.
When he got the chance, he often would try talking with the Hollowhearts. They tolerated his attempts at friendship with condescending patience, and sometimes even real friendliness. Anthony tended to stay away from the Battlehearts, though. He found them creepy, arrogant, and unfriendly. He also found their habit of turning into humans quite disconcerting, and the zookeepers' warnings about them eating humans made him feel even more uncomfortable around them. But one day...