Otherwise Like A Possum

The forest grows darker.

Gaius looks for his notes.

A torch would be handy, says Gaius. 

Don't you have a smart phone. asks Pierre-Louis. They all have torches

Of course! says Gaius. 

He takes his phone out and turns on the torch.

Now, says Gaius, in order to help us identify a Leadbeater's possum, I'll read from my notes. Terence, are you listening?

Bang! (far away)

Yes, says Terence. Are you listening Squatty?

Yes, says Squattu.

Gaius reads. The Leadbeater's possum, or fairy possum....

What? says Terence.

Fairy possum, says Gaius. So called because it's elusive and small.

Fairy! says Terence. I thought we were a science team!

We won't be calling it a fairy possum, says Gaius. It's proper name is Gymnobelideus leadbeater.

Okay, says Terence.

Bang! (a tad closer)

Gaius continues: By day they sleep huddled together in family groups, inside tree hollows.

Terence is not far from a tree. He goes across to look for a hollow.

But no. 

There is no hollow, and anyway, it's not even day.

Where do they go in the night time? asks Terence.

They go out looking for food, says Squattu.

Sap, gum, honeydew and invertebrates, says Gaius.

What do they look like? asks Pierre-Louis.

Sticky and viscous, I imagine. As for the invertebrates, it depends...

I meant the Leadbeater's possum, says Pierre-Louis.

My error, says Gaius. Possum-like, with a clubshaped tail and spatulate toes, somewhat like a gecko.

Like on my gecko shorts, says Terence.

Only the toes, says Gaius. Otherwise like a possum.

Should we send the drone up? asks Pierre-Louis.

Perhaps we should walk about a bit with our torches, says Gaius. This spot may not be sufficiently swampy.

No, it's relatively dry, says Pierre-Louis.

I'll fly about, says Squattu. And look for tree hollows.

You're a good parrot, says Terence. Don't get shot by the hunters.

As if, scoffs Squattu.

She flits off to looks for tree hollows.

Gaius and Pierre-Louis start walking  in different directions with their smart torches, testing the ground for swampy features (such as mud).

What about me? asks Terence.

Luckily Gaius hears him.

Follow me, says Gaius. 

Terence follows a flickering light, in the direction he thinks he heard Gaius's voice from.

Squish. Squosh. Wark! 

Bang! 

Woo! The night is full of treacherous noises