"That is not funny, Miss O'Brien."
Mattie would beg to differ as she stifled a giggle behind her hand and watched as Charlie attempted to clean the mud off his finely pressed shirt. Charlie was the newest addition to the team. Deciding Lucien needed protection from the poacher that was still loose and hostile as well as from himself, Superintendent Lawson had assigned Charlie as both a guard and a helping hand in the Center. Being eighteen years of age and freshly out of the academy, Lawson believed him to be the best and most open minded for the job.
Mattie found him to be very straight-laced and no-nonsense, all of which she didn't enjoy. He didn't seem to enjoy anything she did in the Center, her prank being the most recent. Why should she warn him that the "ugly mud sprites" actually threw mud when they were offended, which was almost all the time?
As time had passed, they had both softened to each other and laughed over that memory. Even Jean finally welcomed his help around the house once he moved into the Blake residence. Spending a few weeks in the Blake residence as well while her parents were out on business, Mattie started to think of Charlie as a brother in her strange makeshift family. She liked that he could reach the stuff on the top shelf, he listened and commented on her theories, and he even began to laugh at her jokes.
She more specifically noticed a change in him when Saphira was put under his care. She was the camouflage being that was being hunted by the poacher that night. It was revealed, with Frank's interpretation that leopard-esque creature had actually escaped from the poacher's cage rather than being hunted from the wild. Starting as a defensive creature, it was amazing to see the transformation and progress they had made. Saphira had a wheezy laugh most commonly delivered in the form of a snicker. If her tail, which was damaged in her escape and would no longer blend with her surroundings, didn't give her away during hide and seek that snicker of hers most definitely would. Once she had settled into the Center they had learned that she has a very loving nature and is also behind a great number of pranks. The crew agreed it was good that she maintained a sense of humor because, with her injury, she would not be allowed out in the wild for some time. Mattie worried about Charlie's reaction to Saphira's nature, fearing his upset would cause the creature to lose progress but he had quite the opposite reaction to her. He instead opted to laugh and run his hand over her back. Mattie thought they were good for each other, companions to help with the transition to Ballarat.
They began to take daily walks about town, testing out Doctor Harvey's invention to help Saphira's tail transition as well. While simultaneously ensuring Saphira menovered safely, Charlie watched over Mattie protectively when they went into town, giving a smirk when she began to rant about her day and the injustice of being forced to listen to her droll teacher. They discussed cases with Superintendent Lawson who looked weary every time Saphira would lovingly brush along is leg like a housecat.
Their daily routine had created a mutual understanding between Mattie and Charlie. She imagined him to be the big brother she didn't have and he watched over her protectively as a brother would. All of which she would be very grateful for in the days to come.
(Note: Sorry this is rough and took so long to come out. I was feeling super down. The next chapter will be better and up soon.)