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 Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 10:36 am
 Even though they'd been lost since they were younger, though not much considering they were nearly grown at the time, Shard and his sister had never stopped looking for their family. The swamp is a big place, but they never wandered far from where their childhood home was, so eventually they'd find father, mother or one of their siblings. "Hey sis, we should go fishing." Shard says, thoughts now turned to an empty belly. Putting action to words, the buck stands and starts walking to the stream path.Having just stuffed herself with various plant matter, Rat shakes her head. "Nah, not hungry." She states, making no move to leave the shady patch she's half dozing in."Suit yourself." He calls over his shoulder. "But it's still early enough for a swim, you might miss out if you sleep all day." He adds, knowing full well swimming is his sister's favorite pastime.Rat simply twitches her ears, weather or not she loves to swim right now the doe just wants to nap.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 11:04 am
 Today was going to be a good day, even at dawn Mudslide knew it would be nice out. A great day for fishing, a pastime she hasn't indulged in for a while. Spirits high, and mind pulled away from exploring, she sets off to both fill her belly and relax.
When she was nearly to her usual fishing spot, Mudslide stops. There, sleeping in the shade of some bushes is a brown and white doe. A doe big like herself, and with horns similar to her own father's. Quietly she makes her way over, ducking her head low to inspect the doe, taking in all her details.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 11:36 am
Unaware of his sister's visitor, Shard slips into the water. It's deep here, making it easy for the buck to fully submerge himself, which he does now. Slow movements, to keep from scaring the fish, moving just enough to bring his nostrils to the surface and replace breaths. Then back down to wait for a fish.
Not fully awake, nor asleep, Rat is in that weird place where dreams feel real and reality looks like a dream. For this reason it takes her mind several minutes to realize the doe over her is, in fact, real and not a dream figment. Startling awake she sits up rather quickly. "Who are you?!" She demandingly asks, the jolt of adrenalin kicking her usual lazy self into gear.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 11:39 am
"Ah, your awake now. I'm Mudslide, and you remind me of someone." This doe, with her similarities to both Mudslide and her father has piqued her interest. Now all thoughts of food and relaxation are gone, replaced once again by single minded determination to know everything about everything. "Do you know Swamp Song, by chance?" A long shot possibly, after all if the Motherfather had birthed one like her own sire, why not two or twenty?
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 11:44 am
Fishing was good today, already he had snapped up a smaller one and eaten it right there, it only being a mouthful. Now for the bigger ones. he thinks deciding at least two, one each for him and Rat.
That's all? She scares me half out of my wits j- the thought is cut off when the other doe says a name. "Swamp Song. How.. how do you know my father?" At this point she takes a good look at Mudslide, and gasps. Could she be related? A cousin, or aunt? the possibility of sibling - even half - doesn't occur to Rat.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 11:46 am
A moment of stunned silence, followed by a grin and an order. "Stand up, let me get a better look at you! Sister." Mudslide backs up, in anticipation of the other doe standing.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 11:55 am
Maybe it wasn't so good, two misses in a row. Deciding to rest, Shard surfaces and swims into shallower water. At this point, he hears voices, one is unmistakeably Rat's, the other he doesn't know. Forgetting the fish, Shard heads off to where he'd left his sister, wondering who's found her.
Coming back to the spot he stops short, beside his sister is another doe. What's more, she's built the same, even if their horns are different. And what's this about sister, none of our sisters look like her. he thinks, making himself visible but staying quiet.
This shock is enough to get Rat on her feet and following Mudslide. "What do you mean, none of my sisters look like you." She asks, confused. Catching movement Rat turns and sees Shard. "Tell her she's mistaken. She doesn't even look like mom."
He's about to reply, agree with Rat, when a thought occurs to him. "Not like mom, but she's like you a bit. What if dad has kids by other does?" Entirely possible, not all Kimeti are monogamous.
"But.. that.. it.." she splutters, unable to fathom why Shard is saying this Mudslide might be a sister. "She doesn't even have spots!" she shouts, the noise causing several birds to fly off.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 12:02 pm
Mudslide, who'd been circling Rat to get a good look at her during this exchange, stops and grins. "Nor should I. Our brother.." an assumption here based on looks. "..is quite correct. Father had children with another doe before you. My mother." She chuckles. "Including me, you have four other siblings by father." She resumes pacing, inspecting Rat while she talks. "Very pretty, your colors and patterns." She says, inspecting her sister's horns and ears last.
"Your turn." She says to Shard, looking at him over their sister's back. "How many were in your clutch?" She asks, making her way around Rat to get to him.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 12:11 pm
Shard shuffles his hooves, wondering why this doe is so set on scrutinizing them. "Seven. I'm Shard, by the way." He steps closer, wanting to oblige her because she's family, but still uncertain. "Why inspect us?" he asks, wondering if she thinks they're just pretending who dad is.
"I'm Drowned Rat." she says while she sits down to watch her brother get a once over. "Do you do this to all your family members?" That would be awkward at reunions. Rat could just imagine this doe doing just that, going from family member to family member and giving each the same scrutiny.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:01 pm
Mudslide stops in mid step to answer them. "I like to study things and Kimeti. Especially Kimeti, so many ways we can inherit from our predecessors." That being said, she continues on, making note of Shard's spots, horns and tail. "So, twins eh? Are one of you the twins, or two of the others?" She asks, finishing her scrutiny of Shard.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:04 pm
"Shard and one of our sisters are twins. They look like mom." Rat says, at about the same time Shard starts to speak.
"Do you know where dad lives?" Shard asks, over running the last of Rat's sentience as an idea hits him. "We got lost while exploring and haven't been able to find our way home." He explains, sending Rat an apologetic look for his rudeness.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:08 pm
It's harder, but understanding two who are talking over each other is possible. Filing away Shard's question, Mudslide turns to Rat. "I'd very much like to meet your mother, and our other siblings." She says, before turning to Shard. "I know where father lives, yes. Not far from here, actually." She turns again, indicating a path. "My den is that way and there's a path leading from it. It'll take about half a day but it'll get you to father's den."
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:22 pm
When Rat hears that Mudslide knows where dad is, she gets so excited she does a little dance. "I'm sure dad will know where mom is, if she and the others haven't left. Or even how to find them." She tells Mudslide. "You could meet her and our other five siblings." Excited by this idea, Rat's normally lazy disposition is lifted. With out waiting for the others she sets off down the path.
Catching Rat's excitement, Shard follows after her. "C'mon, we can have a family reunion. By the way, do you know how to find your mother and siblings from her clutch?" he asks, wondering if it would be possible to meet them as well. "I'd like to at least meet my other siblings."
Further down, Rat catches this and stops deciding to wait for them. "We'd be one huge family, lots of sisters and brothers!" Even when too lazy to play, Rat's siblings had always been her greatest joy, the thought of adding more made her as happy as finding her way back to the family.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:28 pm
Smiling Mudslide followed the two, for once her obsession to know things is overcome by simple joy. A rare thing, considering she hardly lets anyone close. "I left shortly after reaching adulthood, dunno where mother or my sister and brother went." She tells them. "I have met one of our cousins, though." She frowns at this, mentally putting family lines into place. "Well, she's my blood cousin no blood relation to you, even though we are all in the same extended family."
On this continues as the three head toward their father's den. A trip made to seem all the faster due to stories from childhood and of family members.
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