[PRP] Black-Lunged, Other + Hardly Golden

[Owlsomniac]

Flint lay upon the flat stone, her favorite spot, and looked down at her brother. At this time of day,
the sun warmed the spot perfectly - and also had the effect of glinting off her eyes in such a way as
to make them glow. The effect was often beautiful -- though, from her brother's perspective below
her, only seemed menacing.

As she contemplated her brother's most recent act of rebellion, her tail gave one small flick - the
only true sign of her displeasure, aside from the cool, silky steel, of her tone that sent a shiver of ice
down Soot's back.

"No? Please, do explain yourself, brother."



Soot grimaced a little, shrinking back slightly from his sister's displeased stare but, of course, her
gaze only followed him. He couldn't actually escape.

It was just... she knew how much he disliked testing out their Aunt Poppy's potions (without
said Aun't knowledge, no less, but Flint said it was better that way and he'd learned not to question
her on some points). Still, he didn't see why someone else couldn't do it, instead or why she -- but
no. She'd explained before. It wasn't like he knew how to monitor such things, after all. Still. He
really didn't want to. Sometimes the potions had ill-favored effects.

Still.... Flint was unhappy with him, and that was never good. He didn't like to displease her. She was
the only one who looked after him, after all.

"...I'm sorry. I was being selfish again, wasn't I? I... I'll take the potion."



Pleased with that response, Flint's entire demeanor shifted as she stood and stretched, before
hopping off her rock to come toward her brother, nuzzling his cheek gently.

"I always knew I could count on you, sweetheart."

Just like that, the promise was made. Soot sighed softly, and nodded, though the endearment did
warm him a little. His sister could be so kind, sometimes.

With a small smile, he walked over to the potion -- a sticky mass of goo that smelled rather strange,
though not exactly unpleasant, and, with a bit of trepidation, he closed his eyes and swallowed it.

His sister watched his every move, a small smile on her features, tail swaying with anticipation. It
was the last thing he clearly remembered before waking up in a clearing somewhere that definitely
wasn't home.

Ryuukishin

 

[Ryuukishin]

There was an air of unease in the swamp, a feeling not at all deterred by the snapped reeds and gouged mud, as if something had been walking heavily, or dragged.

'Doesn't smell like food,' Other thought, audibly slurping away her drool. It had been some time since a meaty snack had passed her way, and, knowing the trend was still to continue, she trailed the signs of destruction with far less vitality than before.

"A kidnapper, then?" She was speaking aloud now. "A thief? A scoundrel?" She grasped one of her pointed twigs and jabbed the air with it, her wide eyes growing wider as she sought the imagined villain. The twig hadn't been tipped in poison, but that wouldn't stop her from claiming otherwise if she had to use it.

"The Swamp provides," she continued (except it came out more like "da swah pwophah"), "and—"

Her foot caught on a lump—something warm, alive—and she joined the stranger in the mud with a loud squelch.

Owlsomniac xx

 

[Owlsomniac]

A soft groan sounded as a hoof kicked Soot right in the ribs, and he rolled over, and then
caught his breath.

A caiman!

He flailed, mud flying everywhere.

"No -- get off me you giant lizard!"

Of course, there was no caiman, but his mystery-potion soaked mind didn't seem to realize that --
and his coordination was failing rather spectacularly to boot.

The more he squirmed and rolled around -- apparently in an attempt to fight off the "caiman", the
muddier he became, until he was hardly recognizable from the ground itself.  

[Ryuukishin]

A lizard! Other didn't know which one the buck was referring to, but a beast that inspired such a spectacular reaction wouldn't wait for her to ask questions first. She had lost her twig in the fall, but she jabbed enthusiastically at what could have been squirming lizards beneath the mud, thinking perhaps there might be a meal in this after all.

In his earnest haste however, it appeared the buck's blows came nearer to her than not, and she dodged breathless and amused, the whites of her eyes showing as she suppressed a laugh.

"Have you found it?" she asked, circling the hole he seemed quite intent on burying himself in.  

[Owlsomniac]

Soot wasn't about to go down without a fight! The caiman was wily, growling and hissing at him as it thrashed about in the mud as well, but Soot thought he was likely stronger.

Just then, though, it jumped out of reach, and he blinked, surprised, before forcing himself up on wobbly knees.

"Come back here you--- you scaly beast!" It was the best his addled mind could come up with at the time, and sounded perfectly challenging to his own ears.

It was at the moment, however, when his knees decided to give out on him and he flopped forward, narrowly missing the doe (Caimain) in front of him. "Ahhh!"

His fall was met with a loud plop -- and then silence.

Ryuukishin

 

[Ryuukishin]

Other whirled to face the direction the buck was so intent on, but there was nothing behind her. She hunched against the invisible danger, and turned back, only to meet his eyes with her own. He was looking directly at her.

"Motherfather," she swore. "Is it inside m—ah!" She hopped away when he pitched forward—and caught the whiff of something pungent as he descended.

It soon grew clear he would not protest to any ministrations, and she poked and snuffled about his face quite shamelessly, her scowl deepening when she realized the scent grew stronger at his lips. So he had eaten it, without sharing, too! The glutton; no wonder he had thrashed so in the mud! It must have been pretty large, to hear him speak of it; surely there would have been enough to... to...

She inhaled more deeply, grasped the tuft of his beard to open his mouth further. It had begun to smell less of enchanted lizard, and more of a curious concoction. Her eyes lit up, and grabbed his hair and pulled. Strands tore loose, and his laurel finally came undone from the day's efforts and caught at her horns, but otherwise there was no give; it appeared she wouldn't be able to take him with her.

Nosing the mud back over him for camouflage, with just a single hole for his muzzle, she sprinted for home and returned with her materials. She worked the ingredients close to where he lay, finding the slip of muzzle and little nose scales quite companionable. When she was done, she brushed the powder on his nose, and waited for it to take effect.

She stood stock still, watching him with unblinking eyes. Then, she grew bored. She would return in the morning.