Life is a mystery (Open)

[Rei]

Darmori was kind of bored. Not much was going on lately. Or so it seemed. The antics of his bronze could only amuse him for so long. In fact Darmosk was currently playing hide and seek with Harmony who barely even tried at the best of times and still the wher found this game the best ever. The chubby gold was beginning however to grow bored with her playmate and she quickly waddled across the ground to where her bonded was sitting. Climbing up onto his lap she wiggled her way under his hand and nipped him softly in a silent demand for attention. Giving a small smile the boy complied with the gold’s wishes. A few minutes later he heard a wuff and looked over his shoulder to see Darmosk chasing his tail. Guy never did tire out did he? Seemed the answer was a no. Stretching idly the bronze handler looked up at the moon. At least it was a nice night?

A few more moments of peaceful sitting had Darmosk so riled up that he couldn’t stand it. Giving a howl the bronze leapt away from his crazy tail chase game and barreled through the undergrowth. Not even a few moments later the howl turned pained and a flash of hot pain flared up Darmori’s leg. Harmony shrieked in response to the mental backlash before the wherling could successfully lock it out. Moving Harmony swiftly to his shoulder Darmori slowly opened the bond enough to guide and took off in the direction his hyperactive bronze had went in. It wasn’t hard to follow the path of destruction the male had created and at its end was none other than his bronze looked wildly confused and entangled in a bunch of vines his leg twisted in an awkward manner.

Approaching his wher Darmori tsked and reached into his boot for his knife. Instructing the wher to stay still he cut the vines entangling the bronze and got ecstatic licking to his face as a thank you. As Harmony started thoroughly scolding Darmosk the handler turned around and froze. The clearing they where facing was covered in white flowers. It carpeted the ground and the trialing vines and was just as lovely as anything he had ever seen. Breathing in the sweet scent he laughed and motioned to his mindmates and only friends. “Hey guys! Take a look at this.” Darmosk raised his head from it’s hung position and wuffed softly allowing Harmony to clamber onto his head before limping to the side of his bonded. “How did they all get here. I’ve never seen anything like it. Wow.”

Harmony leaned over to sniff one of the hanging blossoms as the bronze wher raised his head to sniff at a vine as well. “This is awesome.” Pretty. Harmony sang before leaping off her perched to glide to the flower carpet. Successfully burrowed into the blossoms and hidden she purred. Find me now Mosk. Where Mony be~ Giving a happy bark the bronze started rooting in the flowers as Darmori flopped down into them to look up at the night sky. For all it’s troubles life was still worth it for nights like this.

[Avu]

“You have to be…”

The butterfly net hovered, the slender wooden handle manipulated carefully. It was specialized – not just one net, but two rigged together, like scissors, intending to capture the butterfly between the two small toys. Hardly necessary, but certainly unique.

“…patient.”

He murmured the word on an exhale, fingers squeezing, and the trap snapped shut around a gold and black butterfly, the click of the wooden rims audible. Vix drew the net with the captured butterfly towards him. It was rare to find a butterfly at all during the night, but not impossible. The handler was sprawled flat on his stomach; he turned his head, resting his cheek along one forearm, and offered the butterfly and net out for Tekivisk’s inspection, eyes hooded lazily. “See,” he said, and as the green wher crooned in delight, she wiggled against his side, writhing like an overly affectionate puppy at the attention. Her tongue lapped warm and wet across the back of his hand.

It still felt strange, accepting her blatant displays of adoration, even stranger to think that he might actually be used to them, miss them if Tekivisk ceased them. Any other day, he might’ve stiffened or pulled away out of instinct, but that night…he didn’t. Instead, he pressed his thumb flat against the wooden handle, releasing the butterfly again, followed its path half-heartedly with his eyes as it fluttered away.

Beautiful, Tekivisk crooned. It was beautiful…could she try? She could be patient, she could.

“You also,” Vix informed her, closing his eyes as her tongue washed across his face, and he crinkled his nose automatically, “have to have…you know, opposable thumbs.” He wiggled one hand in demonstration. Then, because Tekivisk was getting altogether too comfortable cuddled up to him and it made Vix’s skin prickle with nervousness, he sat upright, pushing the green off of him, a little abruptly. Fortunately, the hurt look on the green’s face couldn’t linger long, for it was at that moment that Darmosk’s howl rang out, so very familiar by now, and Tekivisk’s head shot upwards so fast her muzzle nearly clipped Vix’s chin.

“Ow! You didn’t – ”

But her brother was hurt! Didn’t he hear that?

Yes, Rook supplied, from where the Salamandyr was contentedly gnawing on an empty candy wrapper. Same taste, less chance the blue would start bouncing off of the sky. Vix thought it was win-win – or at least, it would be right up until Rook thought the taste was gone from the wrapper, which would probably be about the same time his tongue turned bright red because of the sheer amount of coloring they’d put into the candy. He clasped the candy wrapper in his paws, crawling into Vix’s collar. Go see?

“Could we not?” Vix muttered, not because he had anything against Darmori, but because that would require moving and moving just took far too much energy at the moment. His brain did not compute. But he got up with a pointed sigh as Tekivisk bounced to her feet, and followed the green as she took off through the positive wake of destruction that was Darmosk. And seriously, Vix grumbled to himself – or rather, to Rook, since he really didn’t want to think he was talking to himself, what was the bronze, a tornado? Or was he just designing a new path for the safety of jungle travelers or something?

Tekivisk, for her part, skidded round a corner and into the clearing at such speeds that she collided instantly headlong with Darmosk, wings flaring out instinctively before she recognized her brother and her anxious, apologetic whines turned into excited, concerned barks. The green flailed, attempting to pin the bronze so she could nose over him for injuries.

He’d howled and she’d come, see, see, and was he hurt because they could go to the Infirmary, they could, she could probably carry like half of his weight or something or was it His, because they could take him to the Infirmary too, or the little goldling because –

“’ki, stop, you’re giving me a headache, I’m practically seeing white spo – ohhhkay then…” Vix stuttered to a halt at the edge of the path of destruction, staring at the veritable field of flowers before them. Huh. So the white spots weren’t hallucinations, then. Interesting. His gaze didn’t linger long, though, cutting immediately from Darmosk and Tekivisk to Darmori. Kid didn’t seem to be in pain, so…“Don’t tell me Darmosk just felt like waking up half the Weyr howling for nothing.”

Of course, all things considered, Vix’s irritation would’ve been considerably more impressive had he not accompanied the words with a gesture of the butterfly net at the wher in question, but…well, he’d forgotten he was holding it. So sue him.

[Rei]

Darmosk was still routing through the flowers for Harmony. His large muzzle barely disrupting the fragile blossoms as he inhaled their sweet scent while searching for the little queen. One limping step forward another sniff. Oh where was she? Tikivisk’s arrival couldn’t be missed. Solely because she collided with him and his injured leg gave out sending them into the flowers as a sprawled mass of bronze and green. Wuffing excitedly and tail smacking against the ground in a frantic wag Darmosk lapped affectionately at his smaller sister’s face. Her pinning and flailing where taken in good cheer and excitement. With one soft whine he licked her muzzle and turned his head to nudge at his left hind leg. He had hurt it earlier but his had saved him. It would be okay in time. It was only a little swollen.

Large paws came up to surround his sister then and the pulled her into a brief embrace. Infirmary? He could walk okay. It was only mildly painful. They could go later? After they played. Did she see the lovely flowers? His tail whipped around a clump of flowers and he pulled them from the ground to extend them towards his ‘lady’. See? Pretty like her. He was fine. Did she want to play with him now? He was playing find the gold but with his sister here his mind when from find the Mony directly to monopolize the Tikivisk. Better than Harmony his green sister was in his not so humble opinion. She at least didn’t scold him.

That thought caused Harmony to hiss from her position in the flowers and she mantled her wings before waddling over to Darmori. Clambering up on hers just as he sat up she settled in his lap. Vix comes. “I see that.” The short haired blonde said softly to the gold as he stroked down her back. As his roommate made an appearance Darmori got to his feet and transferred his mandyr to a shoulder. As her long tail curled about his neck he grimaced. The entire weyr? Hopefully his fellow classmate was only joking although his bronze was rather loud. “Nah he went off in a wild spurt of energy and ended up tangled in some vines. Twisted his leg. Sprained it maybe. Know it isn’t broken cause he is putting weight on it.” Eyes going to the entangled bronze and green he gave a small smile. Darmosk at least had an easy time making friends. Nervously the boy turned eyes back to his roommate. “I turned around after untangling him and saw this. They are amazing. I don’t think I have ever seen so many flowers.”

Gaze going to the flowers briefly Darmori’s attention returned to whatever it was Vix had in his hand. For a span of one second he debated before striding towards the other boy. “If you don’t mind me asking what the heck is that thing?” The bronze wherling was honestly curious. It looked like a net of some type but what in Faranth’s name was his fellow wherling catching at night? Firebugs maybe?

[Avu]

Licking, licking…Tekivisk gave a low chirping reply, her own tongue swiping across Darmosk’s face cheerfully, the small green wiggling against her bronze brother’s side affectionately. She did stop to let him point out his injury, though, Tekivisk giving a low upset whine before she leaned over to nuzzle it carefully, the wher equivalent of kissing it to make it better. That made it aaaall better, didn’t it? No more hurts. (Of course, Tekivisk didn’t exactly understand how a kiss could fix things, but it did, so that was that.) She lapped at his muzzle again in response to the touch of his mind. Playing was good. She loved playing, as long as he was suuure he was okay…

Flowers!

Distracted (only momentarily, of course), Tekivisk crooned, bowing her head shyly as she accepted the flowers, blinking in a mimicry of a human batting their eyelashes – entirely playful. This was what the humans did when they were doing their obnoxious flirting thing, after all, so it was only right that Tekivisk make fun of them, yes? The green untangled herself from Darmosk in order to set the flowers nicely off to one side, away from their playing, and then turned to spring back onto the bronze. Got him~

His roommate’s explanation earned a faint frown from Vix. Accustomed as he was to Darmosk’s energy – he did get frequent updates from Tekivisk, after all, even if he opted to ignore most of them as generally unimportant to his life – this was a new one. Crash straight into a tangle of vines…that took a very, very special wher. Ahem. A shrug at the comment on the flowers, Vix’s gaze lifting from Darmori and his gold Salamandyr to scan the clearing briefly. “It’s…pretty,” he acknowledged, a little grudgingly, though he’d become a lot more perceptive when it came to things of beauty after Impressing Tekivisk.

And no, it wasn’t really as cheesy as it sounded in his head – just, the green tended to notice pretty things much more than he did. See: butterflies. Vix blinked at the dual-net in his hand, confused for a moment as he pressed his thumb against the handles, clicking the nets together for a minute. “Ah,” he muttered, as recognition dawned and an actual blush flashed across his face. Vix ducked his head slightly to hide it, holding it out absently for Darmori’s inspection.

“Butterfly net. Customized, kind of. Or moth, more like, I guess.” He crinkled up his nose, the blush still firmly in place and refusing to be moved – apparently his body took a great amount of glee in betraying him at moments like this – “’ki wanted to know the mechanisms of butterfly catching and…” Vix cleared his throat awkwardly, shrugged one shoulder. “…figured it couldn’t hurt to try.” Although nighttime was really not optimal when it came to finding butterflies to catch.

Hi mothermine, Rook commented, agreeably gnawing on his candy wrapper again. The blue Salamandyr crawled out of Vix’s shirt onto his shoulder, the wrapper clasped tightly between his paws, crinkling under his enthusiastic application of tongue and teeth.

[Rei]

Darmosk wuffed softly in reply t his sister’s affections his own tongue seeking to lap her face amidst her breaks in licking. Her nuzzle to his leg caused a draconic grin to spit his face tongue lolling out the side of his mouth as he rumbled. Yes he was sure it was okay. He could walk on it certainly. Only mildly uncomfortable. Tekivisk need not worry. Her acceptance of the flowers caused a deep rumble in the bronze’s chest and he eyed her with interest as she played shy with him.

Oh! She was copying the humans! With a wuff Darmosk gave a small playful bow and extended one taloned forepaw out to her as if asking for her hand. Eyes whirling a cheerful blue the larger male allowed his sister to pounce him rolling with her weight so she ended up on top of him. Humoring his smaller sister in a way. Oh she had got him. Clever sister and so fierce! Exerting a bit of strength he pushed back on her lightly. His turn~ She had better run if she wanted to remain free. Or he would capture her and nuzzle her to death.

Darmori ran a hand through his light blonde hair and chuckled. Vix looked a bit uncomfortable and who could blame him? Was kind of weird for the bronze handler to admit his bronze was a bumbling mess after all. Shrugging the matter off he half turned to look at the clearing again. Pretty was an apt description but Darmori would have used gorgeous. It was perfect really and out of the way. Plus it looked like it was hardly ever touched. With a smile he turned back to his roommate. “Well if Darmosk has to be clumsy at least this time it paid off. Hell of a view.”

When the greenhandler clicked the net together a wide smile came across the bronzehandler’s face. That was really cool! Stepping forward the teen leaned in for a closer look totally, ignoring the blush out of a desire to possibly comfort Vix a little. Darmori was a pro at interacting with people. He had had to be to survive as a younger child and avoid beatings because he was so ‘different’. “Oh wow! That’s really neat. Bet it works like a charm to.” Looking back out over the flower speckled clearing he grinned.

“Well this place should be perfect for your net. Bet there is all sorts of winged stuff to be caught here. We should go try and flush some out for the whers. I don’t think Darmosk has ever seen a butterfly before.” Slowly he trailed off and palmed his forehead. “Wow that’s rude of me. I didn’t even ask if you wanted to hang around. I just assumed. Guess you might have plans or something. I’d like to see how it works in action though. Do you mind?” He tilted his head and offered the other handler a grin even as Harmony crooned softly.

Hello Rookmine. Tilting her head at the sight of her baby nibbling on some wrapper she snorted. Did his not feed him properly? Well. That would have to fixed. Clinging to Darmori’s shirt she fished around in a front pocket until she found what she wanted. Hmm there. Putting the sweet mint in her mouth she scampered back up to his shoulder and clasping it between to forepaws crooned sweetly over to her baby. Yums want? She asked keeping the mint clasped and waiting patiently for him to accept. Harmony had taken to stealing sweets to give her baby when his decided he didn’t need them. Call it enabling the habit but what kind of mother would she be if she didn’t take care of hers?

[Avu]

Some part of Tekivisk knew that if Darmosk hadn’t wanted her to, there was absolutely no way she could’ve bowled him over as easily as she had – but it wouldn’t be in the game if she acknowledged that. Eyes bright, the green gave a low fake growl, pawing at Darmosk’s chest playfully. Ferocious wher was ferocious, hear her roaaaar. Growl, snarl. She wiggled, snapping her teeth together. Grrr. The light push signaled the beginning of a new game, though, and Tekivisk untangled herself from Darmosk as quickly as she could before the green bounded away, turning her head back to look at Darmosk.

Catch her, catch her~ The green paused to paint mischief and excitement across the bronze’s mind, daringly doubling back. She hopped up to him, reaching out her neck until she could lick his nose, and then spun and fled from Darmosk. She darted so close behind Vix that she earned a hiss, pausing only to chirp a brief apology before she looped around one of the trees just outside of the clearing and then dove straight into the thickest mound of flowers, flat on her belly and wiggling forward. Couldn’t seeeee her!

Her camouflage tactics would’ve worked considerably better if every movement didn’t make the flowers rustle and shiver, not to mention that her heat signature would show up regardless of flowers, but…it was the thought that counted, right?

“Uh, guess so.” The evasive agreement made it clear that the topic of pretty flowers was not one Vix preferred to linger on. The butterfly net was even less a topic he wanted to talk about, because he knew that generally men did not go around trying to capture butterflies in order to indulge a passing fancy of their whers. Most men also did not Impress green whers, but that was beside the point. The compliments earned a slightly uncomfortable shrug, but butterfly net or not, it was much easier to loosen up when the attention turned to the things he invented, even things as small as this.

“It could use some adjustments, and I haven’t really gotten a chance to test it…” he hedged. Darmori going on quieted any further arguments, though. Vix blinked at his younger roommate, and then shrugged one shoulder. “Ah, no plans. I mean, other than butterfly catching, but I had nowhere to be. And ‘ki seems to like it enough…” A small voice in the back of his mind suggested that he would put up with even the most unfriendly of people for Tekivisk, but he squashed it quickly, uncomfortable with the thought.

“Here.” He twitched the hand holding the butterfly net slightly, indicating that Darmori should take it. “It’s not hard to use and…yeah.” Vix shrugged again, still avoiding his roommate’s gaze. Had never, ever wanted to be caught wielding a butterfly net, a particularly complex one or not. “You just push here, this lever, to close ‘em, flick it up with your thumb to open. It’s your meadow, have at it.”

Want! Rook agreed enthusiastically, the Salamandyr leaping off of Vix’s shoulder to Darmori. He landed clinging to the waistband of the bronzewherling’s pants, and, ignoring any potential discomfort – candy trumped all else, thanks so very much – clambered as quickly as his round little frame would allow up to his mother and the waiting candy. Upon reaching her, the blue took pause in order to nuzzle his mother’s shoulder before he took the mint and licked it, wrapper forgotten and dropped, littering be damned.

Thank mothermine much, do love~

Vix’s gaze snapped up to the blue, one hand coming to lightly touch the spot on his shoulder that Rook was not, and his eyes narrowed. “You have got to be kidding me,” he sighed, as Rook caught his gaze and promptly stuffed the entire mint into his mouth, “I really hope you’re happy,” Vix informed Harmony, glaring just a little. “You’re spoiling him and you’re going to give him a sugar high. And you’re going to have to help me not step on him when he falls asleep in the middle of all of these – these flowers. Evil overindulgent mother.”

And he absolutely did not follow that up with a pout.

[Rei]

His sister’s false fierceness only served to excite Darmosk further and he feinted a tremble before his sister. Ferocious Tikivisk was ferocious. Oh someone help him! The bronze probably looked quite silly cowering before his green sister but pride and ego where something Darmosk simply did not possess and so the wher was quite happy to humor her in any way he could. Adored his sibling she did and it showed in the bright blue whirling of his eyes the way his tail thumped merrily at the ground. As Tikivisk untangled herself Darmosk began to get his feet under him watching his lithe sister bound away. Oh ho! A game of catch eh? One of his favorite games.

His front end dipping in a play bow Darmosk thrust his rump in the air and wiggled it like and overeager puppy. The emotions his sister allowed to brush against him where returned in kind along with an overwhelming sense of affection and happiness. When she hopped up to him he almost fell back on his haunches so surprised was he at her swiftness, the lick to his muzzle only further spurring him on as he attempted to lick her back. Unfortunately she was too quick and had already bounded away and so his tongue swiped at the air ineffectually instead. When Tikivisk began her escape Darmosk barked happily and scrambled to his feet to bound after. Well as well as he could bound with a limp anyway. As the green wound around the handlers barking and apology so to did he although he caused his to stumble forward and no apology was given.

Winding about the tree after his sister he came up to the thickest mound of flowers just as his sister disappeared into them. Wuffing in excitement he stretched his nose forward to sniff at the white blossoms. Where was she? Oh he would find her he would. The bronze was intelligent enough to know he had ways to find her. In fact he knew just where she was but what fun would the game be if it ended that easily? Well no fun at all! So Darmosk pranced around the flowers stuffing his nose here and there in the quest to touch a part of his sisters hide. Where was his clever sister? So hidden was she. Dipping his head he wiggled his rump and sprang into the flowers near Tikivisk. There she was. Hurry, hurry or she would be caught! The mental brush was followed up by a quick grab with a two taloned forepaw. He was going to get her!

Darmori just smiled at Vix as he continued to speak about the net. The playfulness Darmosk was exuding was starting to bleed over a bit and the blonde smiled wider. “Well like I said here would be a perfect place to test it I think.” Gesturing to the wide field of flowers he then quickly pounced upon what he took to be an offer before his roommate could withdraw. “Awesome! If you have no plans you can hang out with us. Darmosk seems rather involved anyway he really likes Ki.” Running a hand through his short hair he laughed. “She’s an easy wher to like…” The wherling would have gone on to had not the net been offered to him.

Blinking in surprise the boy gingerly took it and examined it up close his brow furrowed in what looked like concentration as his companion continued to speak. Taking his eyes off the net Darmori gave a sheepish grin a small blush coloring his cheeks as well. “Uh…sounds a bit complicated and I wouldn’t want to break it.” Rubbing the back of his neck in an expression of awkwardness he held the net back out to Vix. “It’s not my meadow anyway it belongs to all of us. Why don’t you show me the proper way to use it? I don’t mind the company like I said before and you did make it. You’d know how to use it better than me.” tilting his head he gave a warm smile to his roommate. “Besides you said you had nothing else to do and uh I don’t either so…what’s the harm in hanging out a little?”

Vix’s answer if he had one was seemingly put on hold at an exclamation from Rook the blue leaping over to attach himself to Darmori. Grinning the handler watched the chubby blue clamber up to his equally chubby mother, the gold crooning in obvious affection as her son took the mint from her. His lick caused her eyes to change to a very pleased shade and even as the blue clasped the mint between forepaws to give it a lick Harmony returned the favor to the top of her blue son’s head. Welcome muchly Rook is. So polite her Rook. The gold was very pleased and her good humor did not dampen a bit at Vix’s glare in fact she crooned warmly at him. Is happy yes. Deserve Rook does. Not spoil, love. She explained further her tongue again licking the top of the chubby blue’s head. The rest of the words where ignored. Well of course she would help find him.

As far as the evil mother part went that title was reserved for Dementia not Harmony and the gold diplomatically ignored it to croon again sweetly to Vix.

[Avu]

((ki’s name is spelled ‘tekivisk’, just so you know, lovely.))

Wiggle, wiggle.

Tekivisk was positively trembling with anticipation, crouched low in the grass and flowers, watching Darmosk’s heat signature intently. It was half-blocked by the countless small ones, insects and just the warmth left over from the day, not to mention the abundance of greenery, but she could stick pick him out easily enough. And she knew he’d be able to pick her out, too, but it didn’t matter. The pounce earned a yelp from the green, Tekivisk springing backwards to avoid Darmosk before she crouched, a mock-growl bubbling out of her throat again, and prepared to pounce on him but

but –

butterfly!

The green froze, positively quivering in delight as the delicate creature fluttered around her head, obviously disturbed from whatever it had been doing previously by the two whers playing. Look, she murmured, enraptured, to Darmosk, wide-eyed. Tekivisk turned her head, nearly in an entire circle, before she flopped back against the bronze to continue her butterfly-watching. So pretty~ And it actually was a butterfly, not just a moth, see, see, so bright, moths were never that bright!

Wasn’t it gooorgeous, Tekivisk commented delightedly, blinking out of her enchantment a second later as the butterfly fluttered back down among the flowers somewhere, the minute heat signature joining that of other bugs and insects. That was why they’d come, see? she confided to Darmosk, the game mostly forgotten as she flopped against her bronze brother, flashing him the image of the butterfly again; butterfly-hunting! Because they were so pretty, so much better than moths and the other night-bugs. Although firebugs were pretty too, but butterflies were even better.

Easy to like, didn’t he know. Vix’s automatic smile at the compliment, more a reflex than actual gratitude at the words spoken, was a little tight around the edges, because wouldn’t it just make things easier if he could hate her or even just love her a little less. His gaze flicked past Darmori to the green, brief and meditative, before returning to his roommate; he rolled one shoulder in a shrug as the net was handed back to him, Vix’s fingers settling into the proper positioning with the ease of hours of practice and careful examination, opening and closing the double nets absently.

The words ‘you wouldn’t break it’ were on the tip of his tongue (just because it looked fragile didn’t mean it’d just fall into two pieces or something), but they were temporarily put on hold. Sugar-ingesting Salamandyr trumped all else.

“There’s harm in that,” he commented, crinkling his nose in disapproval. “He’s already practically like spherical” – Vix circled his first finger and thumb together on his free hand, holding it up thoughtlessly at Harmony – “and that’s only gonna make him a perfect sphere, never mind that you aren’t bonded to him and therefore your attention span doesn’t suffer when his does.” Another not-pout, because Harmony simply did not seem to be upset enough at his name-calling, mature as it was. A sigh, and then Vix rolled his eyes, turning back to Darmori.

“Help me find a butterfly. Does she spoil all of her babies like this, or is Rook just the lucky favorite or something?” Vix gestured absently at the meadow – he didn’t even really know any Salamandyrs other than Harmony and Rook – and Mirage and, to an extent, more of her reputation than actually her, Dementia. And that was about it, really, excluding the occasional nuisance he ran into going from Point A to Point B or whatever.

Rook, meanwhile, victorious over His and the notorious and terrible attempts at relieving him of candy fairly received, positively cooed, leaning into his mother’s touch. Yum much, the blue informed her, rubbing his head against her shoulder, the spines that circled his head in place of a frill flicking outwards slightly for emphasis. Mothermine do love much.

[Rei]

Darmosk made sure his pounce landed next to the green instead of right on her. Tekivisk’s mock growl caused one to bubble from his throat as well and he lowered himself rump wiggling. He was going to get her he was. Here he….what? The bronze gave confused woof as his sister froze her attention going to something else. Tilting his head the wher’s tongue lolled out and he panted happily even as his lovely sister explained. Oh! Butterfly. Darmosk to watched the delicate insect flutter about his sisters head with interest. Perhaps it wanted to play with them to? Wuffing softly the bronze stretched his muzzle out towards the fluttering insect with the intention of sniffing it but it was already going away. Instead he leaned gently against his sister as she flopped next to him. Oh yes the butterfly was very lovely and bright.

Whirling blue eyes went to Tekivisk as she began to explain the reason for her appearance. Oh butterfly catching? That sounded like a fun game. Could he play to? The bronze decided he would like to catch the pretty butterflies. They looked very small though he did not want to break one. That would be sad. Stretching out his muzzle Darmosk touched the green’s back lightly and affectionately. She would teach him the right way to play catch the butterfly wouldn’t she?

Darmori watched Vix as he took back the net and the his eyes went to the playing wher pair as well. A small smile came across the teen’s face. Darmosk sure didn’t let anything get him down if only it was that easy for him to make friends. The green handler’s voice brought Darmori’s head back around and he gave his roommate an awkward smile. “Yeah… well sorry about that. She’s affectionate and friendly with all the mandyrs really but her babies seem to get treated a bit better than most. Rook is a favorite to.” The words on Rook’s shape had the bronze handler tensing a bit, expecting a vicious reaction from Harmony. However none came surprisingly. Probably because currently the gold was quite happy to hover over her blue son and ignore everything else. Lucky thing to. The gold mandyr did not ever respond well to talk of weight or, Faranth forbid, flitters.

Taking his eyes off the gold and blue on his shoulder the teen broke out in a wide grin. “Ahoy captain!” with a sudden burst of energy Darmori whilred around and made for the flowers slowing down only when he had waded suitable into them. “Hey! Ki! Mosk! Help me find some butterflies. Last one to find one is a rotten egg! With determination the bronze handler started examining the biggest flowers and clusters of blossoms. Those had to be attractive to butterflies right?

When hers had suddenly started to move Harmony had anchored claws into his shirt her forepaws surrounding Rook to hold her baby steady. A sense of disproval was sent to hers before he stopped and she released the smaller mandyr. Crooning softly she flicked her own frill spines outwards. Love Rookbaby more. So smart is. With another lick to his head she turned whirling eyes to Darmori. Discontent with the movement of her bonded the gold reached out for a nearby vine and grasping it in her claws scampered her way up the foliage until she reached a mossy branch. Once there she settled herself comfortably and crooned down at the little meadow before her. Much better now she could see all. Queen of the flower meadow as she should rightfully be.

[Avu]

She’d known that her brother would appreciate the butterflies. She’d absolutely known it. Tekivisk rasped a delighted agreement, pressing herself against Darmosk’s side lightly before she clambered to her feet. Not that the green was entirely sure as to how butterflies were supposed to be caught – after all, her paws were so very large in comparison to the butterfly net, and her hide was soft but not as soft as the net was. But they could compromise, right? Maybe if she could catch them in her mouth…

Tekivisk’s head snapped around as Darmori called her, the green wher responding with a happy sound in the back of her throat and bounding after the bronzerhandler, a flick of her tail indicating Darmosk should follow. Hers could catch a butterfly for them, yes, see how that would work? Ignoring the mild disapproval emanating from Vix, Tekivisk dove headfirst into a particularly bountiful mess of flowers, the breath huffing out of the little wher when she sprawled onto her stomach into the mass of petals and grass, swishing her wings to and fro to drive the insect life out of that particular clump.

A moth burst up; Tekivisk startled back, snapping at it hurriedly before she caught herself. Not a butterfly, hmm. Oops? The green’s head popped back up out of the grass stalks and flowers again, tail swishing from one side to the other as she nuzzled up to Darmosk. Seen any butterflies yet, brother?

Oh, lucky Rook.

Vix frowned, a little put out at Harmony liking Rook so much. In fact, he was a little put out at anybody liking Rook – the blue was abusive. He was just…good at hiding it. And the evidence, for that matter. That didn’t mean those little demanding nips didn’t hurt, though. Still, no complaining about mindmates to Darmori, since the kid so obviously adored his. Vix was not about to start forcing his…dysfunctional…relationships onto Darmori any more than his general complaining already had. He kind of figured that general complaining was okay when it was Rook.

Aaaand…there went the overabundance of enthusiasm, leaving Vix blinking perplexedly after him, holding a butterfly net in his hand. Recruiting Tekivisk and Darmosk, too, imagine that. Vix sighed after a moment, and drifted after Darmori, leaning cautiously over a clump of flowers and using the butterfly net to poke curiously into the depths. Certainly looked like butterfly-ridden flowers, right?

“You do know,” he commented, because someone had to be pessimistic around here (and what with the generally obnoxiously optimistic company at present, Vix was feeling very much the odd one out, which only made him want to be more pessimistic), “That we probably won’t find many butterflies? It is night and they’re not nocturnal, so…moths, maybe?” There were some pretty moths, after all – that big green one, even though, embarrassingly, moths ranked as high as spiders when it came to creepiness, as far as Vix was concerned, while butterflies didn’t even make the ‘creepy’ list.

Rook eeped. The blue saved himself from tumbling ungracefully off of Darmori’s shoulder by pressing back against Harmony, tail coiling around his mother’s. He nuzzled against her, crooning gratefully. But but waaait where was she goooing. Rook shifted the mint around in his mouth, tongue licking sloppily at the candy, which was fairly large to fit with any kind of ease in his mouth, and scrambled after Harmony instinctively, latching onto the vine and climbed after her until he was clinging to the branch just beneath her, licking her foreleg (the highest part of her he could reach).

Stay mothermine, can I?

[Rei]

Darmosk watched Tekivisk as she clambered to her feet. The bronze lolled his tongue out and watched her for a moment his tail thumping against the ground softly. He would let her have the first try at catching. His bonded’s call had his head swiveling that way and as his sister bounded over towards Darmori he lurched to his feet. With a quick full body shake to dislodge any petals the male to sprung forward. Less graceful and fast than the green due to his limp but he was coming! Drawing up to his handler Darmosk gave a soft bark and began to root around in the flowers with purpose. Yes good idea! Find and lets hers catch. He could do that he could. With enthusiasm he rammed his head into a clump of the flowers his tail working in a side to side motion to dislodge anything as well.

Suddenly sitting back on his haunches the bronze tilted his head upwards to watch as the insects he had dislodged fluttered into the air. Rearing up at a particularly large one he gave a sudden bark. Oh! Oh! Was that one? No just a big brown moth. Whining softly in disappointment he began to search again checking in with Tekivisk every so often to check. Just in case she found one. Dipping his nose he nudged his sister gently to the left. Maybe if they worked in a circle they would do better? She start that way and he would start this way and they could meet in the middle?

Darmori shuffled through the flowers pushing them lightly aside to convince any hidden insects to emerge. The bonze handler was just praying that they didn’t find any spiders. Shuddering that that thought he blew at a glow bug watching as it fluttered upwards blinking in bright yellow. Eww. Yellow was so not an attractive color. He did well to hide that thought from Harmony. The teen had gotten much better about the color. It no longer inspired fear in him but he still was careful to avoid it whenever he could. Harmony was the only yellow he would allow in his life. Brushing the flowers aside again he smiled at the whers, encouraging them with soft pats when one came close. “That’s the way guys! We’ll find one yet.”

When his roommate finally approached and started poking the net around Darmori grinned and resisted the urge to clap the other lad on the shoulder in camaraderie. He rather thought Vix wouldn’t react terribly well to that. When the other lad began to speak the wherling straightened up and half frowned before nodding. “Yeah you’re right but butterflies have to sleep somewhere. Maybe we still have a chance to flush one out. Would be cool at any rate. Or many one of those big greenish moths. Those are kind of like a butterfly in a way. Prettier looking than normal moths at any rate.” As he spoke the lad bent over and brushed a hand over the tops of a particularly dense clump of flowers.

Harmony examined the scene before her with a slightly interested gaze her attention falling from the hunters as she felt a lick to her foreleg. Looking down she crooned sweetly to Rook and backed up to allow him access to the very same branch she was perched on. It was plenty big enough after all. Course can stay. Come Rookmine. Higher can go. Looking back out over the meadow as she waited for her blue baby to make it up to her level she titled her head at the amount of insects flying about now. One in particular caught her eye, a large greenish thing with a quite big wingspan that was fluttering gently above Rook. With a soft croon she called out to the blue from her lounging position. Look up Rook.

[Avu]

Ohh, Darmosk had such lovely ideas! Tekivisk whuffed a soft agreement, the green padding away from her brother. Her wings flared out at her sides – too short to be beautiful, but effective nonetheless as she swept them carefully along the uppermost stalks of flowers, gentle so as not to snap the stems, sending insects and bugs scattering into the air with a near-audible hum. Moths of all descriptions – save for the most beautiful kind, more was the pity – fluttered up, dark winged and dusty, the general shape earning a few double takes from the green before she moved on, tail swishing behind her.

At least Darmori knew, Vix thought, although he to wonder if the kid really knew how good the chances for a butterfly at night were. Didn’t matter, he supposed. Roommate bonding moment, yaaay. Pushing the mock-enthusiasm out of his mind (it didn’t fit there, what was it doing there), Vix nodded. “Lunar moth?” he muttered. How he knew types of moths – or rather, how he knew that kind at all, since moths in general were to be kept far, far away from him – Vix didn’t know, but that was okay. “They come in red too sometimes, with black and tan markings…”

Random fact spewing, who, Vix?

Never.

That was precisely when a large white moth with black rosette markings burst out of the thick flowers right in front of Tekivisk, the green yelping in astonished bewilderment and falling back onto her rump as the bug’s wings fluttered before her eyes. Tekivisk froze, utterly still, fascinated even as she reached for all of the minds in the clearing excitedly; look look ohhh looooook, wasn’t it beaaautiful…and big. The creature fluttered aimlessly mid-air for a minute, and then came to a delicate rest on the tip of the green wher’s nose, Tekivisk instinctively grabbing at her breath and holding it to keep from blowing off the moth, going cross-eyed with the effort to see.

“Um,” Vix said, gaping at the white-and-black creature perched on Tekivisk’s muzzle, wings fanning out slow and graceful, “I don’t think that’ll fit in the net. I mean, I think I’d probably hurt it trying…” And even though moths – and pretty though it was this one was no exception; he was going to have to wipe off Tekivisk’s nose before he let her cuddle up to him again – were not his favorite animals in the world, he didn’t want to hurt it just so they could get a better look. Wasn’t like Tekivisk wasn’t getting a very up-close-and-personal look already. Tch.

Love, Rook repeated, slurping at the mint again as he clambered up to join his mother. His tail wrapped around the branch to keep him from toppling off, the blue content to simply sprawl out like an extremely undersized feline and suck at the sticky candy. It was only a matter of time before the sugar rush hit, but he had perfected the art of keeping it down until after he’d finished the candy – it wouldn’t do to accidentally drop the lovely, lovely, delectable mint from bouncing around, would it? And – what? Rook looked up obediently.

And squeaked, the sound coming out garbled and half-choked around the mint. His eyes widened, frill spikes fanning out and then slicking back against his neck nervously, Rook digging his claws into the bark to keep from falling off. Flutterbye not, he murmured cautiously, tense.

Really – it was almost the same size as him.


((click for prettiness ;o;))

[Rei]

Darmosk watched Tekivisk go with a broad smile on his face. Good sister his. Wagging his overlong tail from side to side the bronze started on the other side of the cirlce. Like his sister the large male extended his wings but also made use of his long prehensile tail sweeping it as well over the flowers. The large amounts of insect life disturbed into the trees caused him to rumble in happiness his blue eyes watching them strive for the sky. Rearing up after a large brown one exploded in front of him he shook his head and continued onward.

Darmori prodded carefully at the flowers in front of him. Almost lazily he nodded to Vix and reached out to allow a lightning bug to creep along his hand. Turning back to his roommate he smiled broadly. “Yeah . That’s it. A Luna moth. One time when I was feeding the feral felines outside the Main Hall there was one sitting on the bark of the tree. It was real cool. I watched it for awhile and then it fluttered off. It was one of them green ones. I didn’t know they came in red. Gosh that would be cool to see.” It would to. Red was one of the best colors ever. Raising his had he allowed the lightning bug to flare it’s wings and merrily blink on it’s way to wherever it was going.

Dropping his hand the bronze handler was about to continue his search when he felt the brush to his mind. The feeling distinctively feminine. Tekivisk then. Spinning around he heard Darmosk give a wuff of awe. It Didn’t take Darmori long to get to the green wher’s side. “Wooooow.” He breathed slowly crouching down to get a better look at the massive winged insect. “Good job girl it’s beautiful.” Darmori wanted so bad to reach out and see if those wings felt as soft as they looked but he stayed his hand, instead simply watching the insect as it fanned it’s wings slowly. “Yeah it’s huge. I don’t think it would fit either. I didn’t even know moths got that big…”

It didn’t take Darmosk long to get to Tekivisk’s side. Once there he gave a soft hum and blinked at the large black and white moth. Oh! Clever sister it was a quite pretty moth. Did she want a better look? Carefully so as not to scare the moth the brown offered it the tip of his tail. With feathery legs the moth grasped hold just as the bronze slowly lifted the winged insect from his sister’s nose. See look. Pretty, pretty night creature. Just like his sister. The day didn’t get all the pretty things. Like these flowers and this moth. Those where reserved solely for them. For a minute the moth stayed suspended between the two pairs clinging to the bronze’s tail. What now? Bringing the large moth close rot his face Darmosk lolled out his tongue as he examined it.

At her blue son’s squeak Harmony eyed the moth with distaste idly wondering what kind of meal it would make. It was certainly big enough, but too much wing to likely make a decent meal. Pity. Her long yellow tail coiled protectively around Rook as she dipped her head and licked the top of his head. Ugly no come here. She said reassuringly as the moth fluttered away to perch on the bark of the tree beneath them. Tilting her head Harmony hissed at it, her frill spines flaring outwards in a threat display. Never mind the creature probably didn’t give one whit what the large mandyr queen was doing.

((Omg so pretty <3))

[Avu]

For some reason, that Darmori would feed the homeless felines did not surprise Vix in the least. Absently, he thought to himself that he would also not be surprised if Darmori got rabies someday. The kind of rabies that all the ‘brats heard about, complete with frothing at the mouth and everything. No, that would not surprise him at all. Well, one obstacle at a time. The current one was the moth on Tekivisk’s nose. Vix hovered awkwardly next to Tekivisk, not wanting to scare off the moth and risk Tekivisk’s upset. He made a small noise in the back of his throat as Darmori knelt down next to Tekivisk, but didn’t interfere, instead reaching out to rest his hand lightly on Tekivisk’s back.

Good job.

Tekivisk didn’t move at the grudging praise from Vix, nor from Darmori’s words; her eyes whirled a little faster in delight, but holding still was at the top of her priorities. She gave a wordless croon as Darmosk used his tail to lift it from her nose, ducking her head quickly to sneeze as soon as the moth was far enough away from her. The green buried her muzzle into Vix’s shirt, eyes whirling in embarrassment, but it was temporary. In a second, she lifted her head to examine the moth that had been on her nose, crooning in fascination. So pretty! Not butterfly-bright, but stunning nonetheless. And so big. Butterflies didn’t that big, did they…?

“Moths don’t usually get that big either,” Vix mumbled, though he wasn’t really sure if he was talking to Darmori or to Tekivisk. Probably both. His hand rose to Tekivisk’s head automatically, and the green leaned into his touch, crooning contentedly. She did so like to be close to those she loved…a start, eyes flickering into surprised yellows, before fading back into blue, as the moth’s wings flared outwards and it made a short, fluttering hop to Darmosk’s head, perching above the left eye ridge. Clearly not a shy creature in the least…

Ugly gone? Rook inquired nervously, leaning against Harmony – but his body was beginning to show the effects of the sugar in his bloodstream, a shiver tracing down his spine. It wasn’t something the blue consciously noticed, though – it was just getting a bit harder to stay still. He bounced in spot, the words beginning to slur together. Wherswhy likenotso prettyclose… Suuulk. He was sure that the whers wouldn’t be nearly so fond of the butterflies or the moths if they were as big to them as they were to the Salamandyrs…

[Rei]

Darmori watched with a smile as his wher removed the moth from Tekivisk. At the very least he was glad that they could all get a good look at the creature. The blonde gave a slight smile as the green sneezed and buried her face in Vix’s shirt. The fact that she had stood so still for so long said much about her patience and temperament in his opinion. But then again he was slightly biased due to Darmosk’s obvious affection for his green sister. Turning back to look at the insect clinging to the bronze’s tail he blinked at it in obvious fascination. “So if they don’t usually get this big I wonder what makes this one so special.” Trialing off he watched as the white and black moth fluttered to perch on his wher’s eyes ridge. It was hard to resist the urge to poke it. Almost automatically he sent soothing thoughts to the wher along with the instruction that he may want to lid that eye. Moth’s tended to shed a lot wing dust after all. Especially if they where bothered.

Darmosk crooned at the moth dangling form his tail tip and his eyes widened almost comically when it moved to perch on an eye ridge. Going completely still the bronze obeyed his and closed the eye the moth was sitting on. A soft whimper left his throat. But he wanted to see it! He couldn’t very well see it on top of his head. Silly moth. Wuffing softly to it he resisted the urge to itch at his eye ridge. Moth legs tickled. A lot actually. To his sister he impressed. Big moth was indeed big. He still wanted to see a butterfly though. He had never seen one. At least he didn’t think so anyway. They where prettier than moths? He thought this moth quite pretty. Very bright and certainly friendly. If butterflies where brighter they must be the prettiest things ever.

Harmony crooned soothingly, her mass curling around Rook in a display of possessive affection. The shiver that she felt in the smaller mandyr’s body was misinterpreted as fear and the gold licked along the top of the blue’s head in an attempt to soothe. This action was made difficult however due to the smaller mandyr’s bouncing. A touch amused Harmony stopped with her ministrations long enough to speak the tone soothing. Yes. Ugly gone. Pointedly she shot a poisonous look below their perch as if daring the thing to come back. Rook’s next question caught the gold however by slight surprise and she tilted her head din thought. Uglies like uglies. She finally decided. Obviously that made sense. Complete sense. Yes. Wher’s where ugly so why would they not like the other not pretties, as her son so eloquently stated, of the world.