The foxcrow had been with them for some time and although Su was used to it wandering around the city by itself, it perturbed her when it came to the evening and no foxcrow flew in her study window. She kept it open until the domes closed, peering out of it every so often, the platter already on the low coffee table. She waited until Baatar came to find her, wondering why she wasn't coming to bed.
He too was concerned when she told him, not only because she was so distressed but because the foxcrow had visited him at the site of the fourth dome and, after he'd dissuaded it from stealing his t-square, had become a welcome sight and popular among the workers for its inquisitiveness and cheekiness. But the only suggestion he had was to keep the window open for it and sleep, in preparation for a search the next day.
Morning came and the platter was still untouched on the table when Su rushed into her study. Her heart sank in her chest but still she checked the basket by her desk, delving her hand bravely into the crumpled paper but no sharp teeth closed around her fingers in protest at being disturbed. Baatar had already promised to rustle up some volunteers to help search the rest of the dome and it left Su at a loose end, drifting through the city, straining her eyes to search the skies, although she knew her foxcrow could not sustain flight for long.
Baatar came to find her, to assure that there were quite a few volunteers from the dome work crew now scouring the city.
"Even the Captain decided to join." He smiled, having heard of the first volatile meeting between the two.
"I just don't understand why it would leave." Su sighed, staring out across the fields.
Baatar kept his thoughts that perhaps it had sensed death nearing it and had left to curl up somewhere to himself. "Perhaps it got adventurous and went out to the farms and couldn't get back inside the domes in time for the night. You could ask the farmers if they've seen anything. I know they keep an eye out for such animals. Or you could seismic sense."
"Come with me?" Su asked him, eager to try his suggestions right away.
"Of course!" he nodded, and they set off down from the dome and into the valley.
None of the farmers around Zaofu had seen a foxcrow recently and they reported no thefts of food or invaders in their coops and barns. Su stared down towards the neck of the valley.
"Surely it couldn't have gone so far. And without food. It'll be hungry."
"It's a wild animal." Baatar pointed out. "It would surely be capable of finding something."
"Not necessarily. The animal healer said it was nearing the end of its life, and that this might be why it had taken to stealing, if it could no longer hunt." There was a tone of panic in Su's voice.
"Well then." Baatar took Su's hand. "Let's continue on."
At the edge of Zaofu, the very end of the valley, they came across two farmers having an argument. One was furiously berating the other for leaving large gin traps around the farms and woods. She turned to Su as they approached and upon recognising her, instantly begged for her help. "I can't get rid of them myself! I'm a waterbender. I can't metalbend!"
Su shivered with dread at the sight of one and demanded an explanation for the farmer using them on her land.
"Well, how else am I meant to keep wild animals away from my crops and herds?" He asked, gesticulating angrily. "We're far from the metal domes here, closer to the wild. We get all sorts. Boarcupines! Mooselions! Not to mention the smaller pests. Fireferrets. Foxcrows. I had one trying to get into my chicken pens just the other day! Luckily, I managed to kill it before it got anything. See?"
Su's face drained as the farmer showed her the body hung up on the fence as a warning.