Duo grinned as he snuck off with his older half-sister’s latest creation in his jaws, tail twitching in amusement. Heheh…it would take her FOREVER to realize he’d snagged it! At least…he hoped so. He didn’t really feel like getting whacked upside the head by her. She was, after all, all grown up. And his mane hadn’t even started growing in yet. But…well, the way she panicked when looking for things was HILARIOUS. The cobalt-eyed cub stashed the jeweled creation in the crack of a rock, then trotted back to where Nyx was.
Heh…she’d never guess he’d stolen it. He was, after all, the best at snatching and hiding things. And she NEVER thought to just ask him straight.
Nyx hummed as she worked on another rank marker, this one for her troublesome younger half-brother. When she went to grab another gem with her claws, she noticed something missing. VERY missing. Blinking, the crimson eyed lioness looked over. The bracelet she’d made for Shu’reh was missing. The pretty, nice feeling bracelet was GONE. Disappeared. She made a panicked sound, putting Duo’s rank marker aside and looking about her work area. Had she misplaced it somehow? Knocked it aside? Her ears were back as she searched.
She’d spent a long time on that bracelet! She’d known it couldn’t just be the average rank marker. Not with Shu being blind! It had to feel nice too, so Shu would actually wear it! A rather panicked noise escaped her.
Duo arrived at the entrance to Nyx’s work area in time to see her wig out. Yup. Just as fun as he’d thought it would be. THAT’S what she got for trying to boss him around. The cub plopped his butt down in the entrance, tail twitching lazily behind him as he watched. Even if she annoyed him, Duo always found Nyx entertaining. Especially when he could knock her down a notch or two. Though…she had seemed to be mellowing little by little. And he KNEW it had nothing to do with him and his littermates.
It wasn’t there. At all. Had some mouse come along and snagged it? Nyx took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. And then she noticed the sitting bundle of black and brown and white fluff at the entrance to her crafting area. Wait a second…
“DUO…” She stalked over, eyes narrowed. “Duo…have you seen one of the bracelets I made?” She loved her baby brother but….ARGH. The boy was a little thief. An adorable, full-of-himself little thief. And he just LOVED pushing her buttons.
Duo squeaked. s**t. She was being smart today! He grinned nervously and held up a paw. “I know Mister Dovev was wearing one!” She didn’t say WHICH bracelet she made. Hopefully that would save him. Otherwise…he was doomed. He was ALWAYS doomed when she was having one of her smart days. And those…oh heck. Those WERE getting more often. She was figuring him out! This was not good. He’d need to rope Shini into helping him for a while.
Nyx sighed. “Nice try, Duo. I’m talking about the one that was right HERE.” She put a paw down where Shu’reh’s bracelet had been. “Where IS IT, Duo? I know you snagged it.” She wasn’t falling for his misdirection trick again. Last time, that had led her in a wild goose chase around the pridal lands. She had a tone of voice that said she wasn’t AT ALL in the mood for his antics.
Duo cringed. Damn. She was getting it. Argh….”I hid it.” He sat, pouting. “And what’s so important about that bracelet anyways! You spend more time making this stuff or making a fool of yourself than you spend with others!” She was always crafting or singing or dancing or…who knew where! There were times when no one could find her, sometimes for a couple of days at a time! She certainly had HIM worried, every time she did that. He liked needling her but…well, she was his big sister.
Nyx blinked, surprised. Well…Duo didn’t lie. If nothing else, she knew THAT about her youngest brother. He might omit things, or use the facts to his advantage, but he had never told her a lie. She shook her head and reached out, pulling him to her and placing a lick on top of his head. “That bracelet was a rank marker for Shu’reh. It wasn’t easy to make, y’know. Had to be something that’d feel nice, as well as look nice. Feel for Shu, look for others.” She really didn’t mean to shun her family or friends…she just…got distracted. Occupied. “And I was working on something for you, little scamp.”
Duo made a noise of protest when she pulled him over, ears going flat in annoyance. Blah. He was also a little sheepish. He hadn’t known it had been for Shu’reh. “I…I didn’t know.” He leaned into Nyx, sighing. “I’m sorry.” He did perk up a bit when she mentioned making something for him though. “Really? What?” He was curious, his normal smile on his muzzle again.
Nyx giggled and nodded. “Really. Now…I won’t tell or show you what it is until Shu’s rank marker is back in here, safe and sound. Understood, you scamp?” She gave him an amused smirk, one brow quirked. Even if he drove her nuts…Duo DID have his adorable moments. Not to mention seeing him in any semblance of depressed just seemed WRONG. Best to keep the little thief happy. For now.
Duo nodded vigorously. “Got it, Nyx!” He moved to leave and retrieve the bracelet…but stopped a moment and wove around her front legs, butting them with his head affectionately. “I really am sorry. I love you, big sis.” And then he took off. She was safe to say it to. SHE had….something looking after her. His weird dreams showed him that much.
Nyx watched the cub take off, then sighed and shook her head as she got back to work. Little scamp. She smirked and chuckled. Then spoke quietly, as if to herself. “Love you, too, baby brother.”
