[PRP] And Burn With You [Still x Burning Bush] [FIN]

[Chrystali]

Ugh.

All the parental hopefuls had finally exited The Mother's Club's territory, in part to his help. Still ground his sharp teeth, horribly unimpressed with the whole thing; he loved his mother and supported what she stood for, but did it really have to include other kin? ...okay yes he knew that it took two to make a clutch, but, UGH. There was clearly a reason the MotherFather saw fit not to let these parent hopefuls breed.

The Acha snorted as he made his rounds on the outskirts of the territory. It wasn't like he was one to talk about a healthy family, having a father he didn't know (but hated), a mother he worshiped and a mat--no. NO no no no. He had a -- a -- a thing? A fling? A thingfling? Something with a Kiokote. A large Kiokote. A male Kiokote.

So while Still wasn't the picture of a functional family, he still passed judgment on those he did encounter. Giddy little louts that they were.

Minsuil

 

[Minsuil]

After ascending, Burning Bush first went to the border where the desert met the swamp. She took one step out onto the sand and knew instantly that it was still untraversable. After that she'd gone south on an "errand". An errand that involved eels and freshwater mussels. A doe had her needs. And yes, she'd bring some back for the clan, of course, but first she wanted a moment to think back and come to terms with her new self. The flames were certainly something. Useful for cooking away from the fire pit that was for sure.

She had settled down with her catch and ignited a small fire. There was no salt to be found, a shame but not a surprise, so she had rolled the mussels in wet leaves and set them by the flame. The eel she impaled on a stick and set it as close to the flame as possible. It was around the time the skin was glistening with fat that she heard the tell-tell foot steps of someone pacing.

Sigh.

Maybe they would go away and leave her alone. Maybe their problem would magically solve itself. The smell of the cooking eel filled the air. The pacing continued. Burning Bush stared intently at the eel. It was fat and sleek. Perhaps the kin nearby didn't know how to fish for eels. A shame, but not one that she would rectify. At home, the gatherers did something to the eels with some plants and made them taste divine. Burning Bush hadn't paid attention then, but she wished she had now. It seemed there was always more to learn...

The pacing continued and Burning Bush could ignore it no longer.

"You!" She called in the vague direction of the pacing, "Stop your infernal pacing!"

She didn't invite them over, but Burning Bush had little doubt the other party would take some sort of offense (or follow their better senses, namely smell) and come over anyways. She resigned herself to sharing her eel.

Crhystali

For reference, Burning Bush leaves scorch marks on the ground she walks on, but she can control the temperature of the flames emanating off her body so Stillborn doesn't need to worry about being roasted LOL.

also im sorry about the food i spent all of yesterday reading about swamp animals and then imagining how a goat might cook them o(-<

 

[Chrystali]

-- and above all his annoyance, his territorial aspect, there was some odd smell in the air. Growling, the Acha started to advance on the scent - not out of hunger, no, at least, not for what was cooking - intending to scare the last idiot parent away from the territory --

-- except that was no mere idiot.

Still's face went from a wolfish sneer with intent to snap to a frozen curl of lip, eyes a touch wide. That...that had to be a Legendary. He hadn't seen one before, but he was pretty sure only such a blessed creature could survive, you know...being on fire.

The Acha, stunned into a blank face, sat down right where he stood, as he knew not else what to do. Would it be considered bad to just leave? He really didn't want to piss off the Swamp fertility specialist when he was part of a Den that kind of revolved around that. For all he could have said, for all he could have done, Still simply and dumbly said, "You're on fire."

Minsuil

LMAO NO WORRIES

 

[Minsuil]

The acha appeared from her left and Burning Bush watched with mild amusement as his sneer fell away to complete blankness and, daresay she, awe. She liked to think it was the eel but...

"Yes, as anyone with eyes could tell you." Burning Bush spoke slowly, careful to elucidate her words so that the acha might understand. She hated to repeat herself. "Do you have any other keen observations to share?"

The acha was, hmm, not a pure-bread. She took in the shape of his tail and the relative stockiness of his build. A kimeti perhaps? Or maybe a kiokote parent. Her eyes drifted from him back to her food. The eel skin was starting to blister and turn a crispy golden brown. It would be ready soon. The mussels looked like they needed more time. She put a hoof near the fire and willed it to grow. The flames on her body briefly flared out before returning to their normal contained blaze.

Chrystali

 

[Chrystali]

His lip briefly lifted in the ghost of a snarl, but he let it pass. This time. Instead, he stared sullenly at the flaming mare, less impressed since she had snark.

Bright eyes flickered to watch her move her meal before returning to her face. "You're as unpleasant as me," he countered, the statement clearly not intended as compliment. "Why are you here? You're too close to our borders."

It was obvious that the Acha was struggling with...polite words. It was rather foreign to him. Even so, he couldn't risk the mare's ire; he could only imagine how his mother would react if she knew - probably with the worst thing possible, disappointment in him. He licked his muzzle, trying again, "Are you going to be on your way after your..." the sneer briefly reappeared, "meal?" He wanted to leave, and the sooner, the better.

Minsuil

HI SORRY was afk all weekend!

 

[Minsuil]

Burning Bush watched with growing amusement as the acha seemed to struggle to contain his anger. Clearly he was someone that did not like being poked fun at. Not that it would stop her. If anything, she enjoyed poking at those types even more.

"Your borders? I don't see any markings or symbols of claim." She made a point of looking around before returning her attention to the fire.

"Enough of the sneering, didn't your mother teach you better?" Burning Bush used her tail to motion for him to sit down, her eyes never leaving the fire. "Come sit down and eat and then we can talk about the future" Her mouth caught in a grin at the last word, as if Burning Bush knew something that Stillborn did not.

chrystali

don't worry about it!!

 

[Chrystali]

"The borders of my tribe," he growled as a correction, "and your burning display could endanger a lot of little ones." He ruffled - as much as the scaled beast could - though his tail certainly showed it, practically doubling in size at the chiding.

Rigid, looking like he might snap in two from the tension, he stiffly sat down again, not about to come even an inch closer to the fire or her flame. That seemed like a bad idea. Disgruntled, he briefly groomed his agitated tail before he fixed her with a sullen look. His mother owed him for this. (Not that he'd ever tell her that.) "The future?" he repeated, just shy of mocking her tone, clearly trying to resist being riled - and moderately failing - eyes narrowed and jaw set like a stubborn child. "And what would interest me in knowing that?" There was a touch of sarcasm to his tone, ears back, tail writhing on the dirt-and-leaf campsite.

Minsuil

AND AGAIN LOL

 

[Minsuil]

Ah, children. She loved them so much. They thought themselves so clever, so strong, so... well, she wasn't sure what this acha thought of himself but if she had to guess it was somewhere between strong and scary. Burning Bush was amused. Between his Stillborn's antics and pipping hot eel she was about to eat, the mare was, in all senses, content.

Content enough to help this acha, even. "Oh yes," she said, eyes narrowing with mock mysticism, "the future. The one, your tribe no doubt hopes is filled with small little ones running all over the place mmhm?"

She did not bother to tell him that her flames would burn only those she willed it too. There was no point, his concern only gave her more information. She spoke as she pulled the eel from the fire, set it on a wide leaf.

"But perhaps, that is not the future you see."

Chrystali

Don't worry about it haha!

 

[Chrystali]

His jaw clenched as the Legendary seemed to be -- well, enjoying all that was going on? Figures. The Acha was only put in a more sour mood, snorting with derision.

"Yes, I have doe's just clamoring to have my babies." He didn't even bother to hide the sarcasm now, seeing that the rules that were laid out were clearly against his favor. "Surely it's my sparkling personality." The last part was drawled into a faint growl; he was perfectly aware he wasn't exactly charming, but he didn't dislike himself. No, he just...disliked everyone else.

Most everyone else.

He shook his head, ears askew without any idea what was going to happen next, watching the mare with a certain sort of wariness. Did he want to know his future? He wasn't really sure. If children were in his future, he sure as hell wasn't going to be like his father, so what could she possibly tell him? Thumping his tail in minor agitation, he shrugged. "The tribe has more than enough. They're literally giving them away."

Minsuil

 

[Minsuil]

A buck that could play along with her games! Ah, the wonders of the swamp... Burning Bush had half the mind to continue to tease him but that would be a disservice to the poor boy. A disservice she would enjoy in the moment, and probably regret later. Never let it be said Burning Bush did not have foresight.

"The doe's may be clamoring, but if you aren't interested then there's nothing to be said, and certainly no babies to be had."

She tilted her head, turning her bright eyes to him, observing.

"A fact you know well enough. And your tribe, if they have too many, shouldn't care. Yet it seems to bother you."

The eel was her's, but the mussels she could share. She slid the leaf-wrapped mussels towards the buck.

chrystali

for my next trick i will make burning bush talk in rhyming limericks

 

[Chrystali]

The expression he gave her was as unamused as he could manage: ears flat to the sides, lids halfway up his eyes, toothy mouth pursed to the side. He knew he didn't have to spell out he was being sarcastic, but he was tempted. Oh, so tempted. Then again, the idea of a burning hoof mark on his face was exceptionally less tempting, so he bit his tongue.

And yet, there was something about the statement she made that didn't settle with him. A flicker of a memory, a feeling that he couldn't quite pinpoint and lost entirely when she fixed her stare on him.

Between the offered mussel and her succinct but echoing words, the Acha suddenly seemed beside himself. Confused, Still lifted a hoof to accept the strange smelling meal, but what she said did bother him, and he'd retract his leg, looking off to the side as if the answer why might be there.

Why would it bother him? He didn't have any potentials, he'd rather snap their legs, and he sure as the sands in the desert didn't have a mate--

Oh.

Still's muzzle wrinkled, the memory of his exact conversation with a certain Kiokote crashing down on him. He froze, hoof slightly lifted, blinking at the fire. "That's what our tribe is about. Children. Propagating and caretaking, finding homes for the lost." He sharply shook his head, his hoof slowly finishing its path towards the mussel. "I protect the little helpless fleshsacks and their equally helpless parents. I don't need to add to that pile."

Why was he so uncomfortable with the topic? Maybe because it was a root of his own thoughts. His eyes narrowed slightly, lifting to meet the mare's. Telling the future, huh...?

Minsuil

I mean if we're gonna torture the boy, might as well go all the way right? XD

 

[Minsuil]

The moment of realization arced across his face. Burning Bush saw it and smiled. The boy had learned something then. Normally she'd have left it at that, but when Stillborn raised his head and looked at her, it felt like he was looking for answers. Tempting to just leave now. She'd more than pushed him towards the truth, but it seemed like the acha needed a little more help.

"Don't look at me like that, I don't have the answers you're looking for."

Burning Bush leaned down, took a bit of the eel, and chewed, and thought. Perfectly cooked. She was getting better at this. As for the acha, he already knew the truth and answers to all her questions. They were within him, obscured by some fog of expectation or something.

"The MotherFather speaks to us all the time, but when we are conscious, our senses prevent us from hearing Them clearly. When we sleep, our sense are dulled and so, it is then, that we hear the MotherFather most clearly too."

She stood up, the flames on her skin and in the fire jumping for a second. The light cast her shadow across him. Burning Bush looked down at Stillborn, "I can help you find the answers you seek, but first you must sleep."

Chrystali

burning bush is not a kidnapper i swear

and i spent a good 20mins trying to fit a limerick in but alas, rhyming is not my strong suit haha

 

[Chrystali]

The Acha was listening, but he was clearly preoccupied, bothered now that she'd managed to pull on his most predominant uncertainty effortlessly. Stupid Kiokote. (No, not stupid, you don't mean that.) How dare he just -- do -- whatever it was he did -- !

Still started and then blinked, looking up at the burning Mare as she all but loomed over him. She was impressive, but his patience was shorter than his capacity for awe or intimidation. Scowling, he asked dryly, "I'm just supposed to fall asleep on command with a walking fire hazard at my side?" Sarcasm was a lot easier than vulnerability. "That's not creepy at all."

Minsuil

I mean if she wants to kick him in the head, I'm cool with that >_>

 

[Minsuil]

Burning Bush laughed. The flames at her side flared outwards, almost licked the flanks of the acha she was most certainly laughing at. Ah, children.

"One day you will learn that lying to yourself accomplishes nothing."

With that said, the mare picked up the rest of her eel and languidly walked off towards the mangroves.

Chrystali

I thiiink BB's probably reached the end of her patience haha. We can end here if you want. o7

 

[Chrystali]

Sounded like a cop out to him. Rather than say that out loud, the Acha sneered and stood, shaking off the entire meeting with a flick of his lupine tail. "Lying to others is so much more convenient," he drawled back, emboldened by the lack of anything but licking flames. Still was one of those special children who didn't really learn until he was burned, and not a moment before.

At least she was leaving their territory. With a faint sound of annoyance, he turned and picked his way back to his patrol route. One less bout baby-obsessed psycho-babble to deal with.

Minsuil

Hokay, thank you~