|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 6:27 pm
 So Bad's legs are covered with muck. It's sticky, and gross, and it's starting to dry which only makes it worse because now he's itchy too. He knows he's taken a wrong turn somewhere, but, well, he's never been to this part of the swamp until last night. It's not his fault for getting lost-- not really. Except for that doe last night... He sighs softly, a bit of a half-smirk flitting over his features as he remembers her. Cricket had been her name. A lovely green doe, she was. But when morning had come, even before the first rays of light filtered into the cave they stopped in, So Bad had been up and gone. In fact, it was early enough that the first rays of light hadn't even really touched the swamp yet. And, as a result, he's gotten a bit, well... turned around trying to find his way to more familiar land. And so, okay.. maybe sneaking out on a girl the next morning isn't exactly the best behavior. And maybe his current state is some sort of just punishment, but hey, there's a reason his name is So Bad.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 3:31 pm
There was a crane that looked like the very night sky that seemed to be the harbinger of So Bad's punishment. It stared at him as he was covered in muck. It made a coo that almost seemed like a laugh. It was like it knew what he did. How he abandoned her. It stared. And stared. And then it hopped forward, closer and closer to the buck. It did not seem to have any qualms with getting up close and personal with the buck. In fact, it almost seemed like it was trying to mount him -- climb on top of the buck like he was a rock. A rock is exactly what the crane thought So Bad was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:58 pm
So Bad doesn't notice the crane immediately. He's too busy shaking one hoof after the other, trying to dislodge the sticky goo. Actually, he looks rather silly doing it. But he thinks he's alone, and so the strange dance continues. That is, until the crane walks up to him.
Bad stops mid-shake and stares at the crane staring at him.
"Uh.... Can I help you, little crane?" He laughs softly, but really, the way the thing is looking at him is kind of unnerving him a bit. There's something about the crane's eyes that just seem, well... kind of different. And then the thing jumps up on his back.
"..Hey! What the--.." He turns his head around to look at the bird on his back, who seems perfectly at ease resting there. He's never had a crane, or any animal for that matter, simply come right up to him like this. Not to mention jump on his back. "...You're not very shy, are you? Do you at least know the way out of this bog? The trees are so thick, I can't tell if the sun is coming or going..." He trails off and gives himself a light shake as if to dislodge the crane and then continues in the direction he'd been heading, still unsure if it's the right direction or not.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:11 pm
The crane didn't move, in fact, it seemed to get even more cozy on the back of the rock it had found. It was a most suitable place to be, out of the muck and ick of the bog. It flapped its wings a little as if telling the rock to stop moving. Rocks were such bad things, always trying to to ruin Stargarden's day. The rock didn't stop though and the crane did what it knew: it dug its claws into the hide of the buck. It sure felt softer than rocks usually did. This rock must have spent so long in the bog that it softened up!
It seemed to hum at the buck. Just what was it thinking?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:19 pm
As the crane flaps it's wings in what So Bad assumes is a disgruntled manner, he pauses slightly before continuing on.
"Hey, if you're going to use me as a perch at least calm down back there. I don't really fancy getting-- OW! Hey! Stop that!" So Bad gives himself a good shake, but the cranes claws seem to be really dug in there, and after a moment he stops and turns to glare at the creature (it really is a pretty crane, but Bad doesn't let this distract him-- much).
"I don't mind giving you a ride-- but making me into your scratching-log is one step too far." He 'hmphs' softly as the creature hums at him, and the note sounds almost condescending. Maybe it's just his imagination.
"...Sheesh. What is this? Payback for the doe I dumped..?" He mumbles it under his breath and gives the crane one last stern look before continuing on again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:34 pm
The crane seemed to mostly ignore the rock until it mentioned having abandoned a doe. The crane just stared down. He knew rocks were horrible creatures that were worth nothing more than a place to sit on and scratch but to do such a thing? The crane had the perfect solution. It would just make sure the doe would have lots of children to love instead... ones that would hopefully come track down rock daddy dearest. It kept flapping its wings as it thought, using the rock as a scratching log. Gosh, claws sure were shape. He really should scratch them on a rock more often. Finally finished, the crane remembered what it planned to do.
It stared down, and adjusted itself until it started on the climb to the top of the rock: the head of the buck. The buck probably didn't like it very much but the crane seemed pleased with itself, having concurred the rock. After that, something mysterious seemed to happen. There was a strange whisper in the wind, that hovered all around the buck.
The price you pay for being so bad is that of many more.
Many more children, many more days in the bog, many more things undesired, many more pains from a crane. It pecked the buck on the head, before ruffling its feathers in the buck's face. It seemed to smile almost at the buck as it flapped its wings and then flew off into a nearby tree. It seemed to laugh. It seemed to mock the rock that was stuck in the mud. What a fun game.
It didn't seem much like a blessing, but Stargarden thought having many more things was wonderful. He could only imagine what it would be like if he had many more moons -- although his one moon was more than enough to fill his heart with joy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:31 pm
So Bad starts a little as the crane moves on top of his head. "Hey! Get down from there, you."
Giving his head a good shake, he growls softly as the crane continues to cling to his head. It probably would have been a rather hilarious site had another kimeti happened upon the sight of them like that-- but as it is, they seem to be alone, and So Bad is very much not amused.
But suddenly, he stops. The whisper on the wind gives him pause, and he shivers a little as he is unsure as to where the faint, whispered voice came from. But the mysticism is somewhat broken as the crane pecks him and and then flies off of his head, finally.
Bad watches as the crane lands in a nearby tree and glares at it, his head still smarting from where the thing pecked him. "Yeah, well... good riddance to you too." He huffs softly and swishes his tail in a somewhat agitated manner before making his way away from the area, and away from the crane -- lest it decide he'd make a good scratching log once more.
Though, in all honesty.... it's probably the least he deserves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
