Alys: Tyra, you’ve been rather quiet lately.
Tyra: I haven’t had much to say.
A: This is not like you.
T: I haven’t been feeling well.
A: Yes, I know this. And I have been worried about you.
T: Yes, I know this.
A: But now things are on the upswing, right?
T: Yes.
A: Indeed, your poop is now semi-solid, and not splatty.
T: Correct.
A: I think we did right by you.
T: Yes, you put a blanket on me, and you cleaned my tail. And you put me in Tinni’s enclosure, by myself.

Alys and Tyra head out for a ride

A: Did all these things help?
T: Yes, particularly the blanketing and the tail cleaning.
A: The tail cleaning was hard. It was dark and cold out, and the warm water that I attempted to wash your tail in, froze up. However, I got all the big and some of the small ice chunks out of it.
T: Yes you did.
A: Now I’m keeping a close eye on your poop. So far today, no splats. And you are consuming more water than previously.
T: Correct.
A: Do you have any ideas as to what caused or is causing this problem?
T: No. All I can say is, when you got to go, you got to go.
A: So your sense of humor is back.
T: Yes.
A: So we don’t have any clue as to what caused the problem.
T: Would you do me a big favor?
A: What do you want from me?
T: I would like for you to resume giving me hay pellets.
A: You are going to have to wait another week.
T: Why is this?
A: Because I am going away in a few days, and I want to resume giving you your supplements one at a time. If I give you your supplements and you again get sick, I won’t know what exactly caused the problem.
T: Packer pellets are not supplements.
A: You think not?
T: All the other things you give us are supplements.
A: Why don’t you think that they are supplements?
T: Because you carry the hay pellets in your pockets and give them to us when we do good things. You don’t do this with supplements. You pour the supplements on our food.
A: True, true.
T: You see, there is a difference.
A: But the hay pellets may be making you sick.
T: Let’s find out. Gimme what you have in your pocket.
A: I have nothing in my pocket.
T: You are lying.
A: Spoken like a true addict.
T: I am not addicted to anything. Now give me some hay pellets.
A: We are starting to go around in circles. You are going to have to wait a week.
T: Where are you going?
A: I’m going to Old Harbor.
T: Where is this place?
A: Kodiak Island. So I won’t be able to monitor your hay or water consumption.
T: Is that nice guy going to do this?
A: Yep.
T: Just until you get back.
A: Yep.

Next: 312. 11/16/24: Winter