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"Bugs make you sneeze?" Re-wind finally caught up, zeroing in on that unfortunate statement with interest, "a respiratory insect allergy! Normally you hear more complaint of sting afflictions, but insects can play havoc with your respiratory system. That's to be expected with some of them of course, with scales, dust - but did you know that cockroaches are a major cause of respiratory allergies? All the substances they pick up!"

Any attention he might have paid to the doe's ramblings was severed as the buck left. Bitter Heartbeat felt himself deflate. He hadn't meant to drive him off -- any effort to blame the obvious discomfort the bugs had caused Dreams failed -- and he lifted a hoof to kick at the ground. Stupid, he was stupid and horrible and stupid. And very rude, he hadn't even had the decency to say good-bye after driving him off. Really it was much better than he tended to avoid others as this encounter once more proved. He was a very sorry excuse for a buck, for a kimeti.

All of his instincts told him to slink out then and there -- and then he thought of all the kimeti out there, in the entrance, and didn't move. This was starting to become very problematic. Deciding, although he was perfectly sure it would be a disaster, to make the best of it he looked up at the remaining two kimeti. "Hullo," he offered solemnly. The very best thing was that he was so busy thinking ill of himself that he forgot he'd said that already and thus didn't beat himself up for being a repetitive idiot.

The buck ears flicked once, twice, three times as the sound of dried leaves crinkled and crunched. He lifted his head. One hoof moved forward as if though to investigate the noise. And then there came the buzz -- a harsh angry sound that had the buck's entire body tense with fear.

A myriad of bugs burst out and he wasn't sure whether to run, with shouts of warning at the top of his lungs, or fall to the ground and cower. Instinct overtook sense and he reared up, kicking his front legs at the swarm attempting to flee the cave. He thrashed, ducked his head and voiced to any kimeti that may have stayed, "Run!" He had little (no) idea what he was doing, attempting to kick vicious and angered bugs. Eventually his mind overtook the reaction and he dropped, hooves crashing against the ground. He had no idea what to do and rushed to the side of the cavern, ducking down and hoping none of the bugs would come after him if given a free route to flee.

Voices -- one voice -- speaking. Had the bugs gone then? He lifted his head and wondered if the others had run or stayed but his mind was too addled to notice. He sighed. Really he should leave but if the bugs had gone they'd be out there now and in here would be safer. Unless they hadn't gone. His ears flicked and perked hoping to determine whether he should stay or flee but it was hard to do when someone was speaking. He looked up -- speaking to him.

"H-hello." A pause. "H-have the bugs g-gone then?" he asked instead because he had no idea how to answer it. He could assume she meant the live ones but he had no clue about those. His eyes searched about the doe and found no one; he saw nothing but who was he to say nothing was there? "Hello to you and your ghosts," he murmured. Another pause, "My name is Bitter Heartbeat..." he offered trailing off as he looked around. Maybe the bugs had gone...

Re-wind had been contemplating the bright buck's departure with some distress - had she annoyed him off? Some kimeti really hated it when she started on one of her tangents, but, oh, she didn't mean to. This reverie did not last too long, however, for insect fury abruptly erupted in the cave. She did not quite scream, but she did jump, and as her perfect memory took a perfect capture of the veritable bug tornado coming straight at the little gathering, she couldn't help but shut her eyes and cower.

Stealjaw was before her in a flash, a low, steady growl rumbling in his throat as he pressed against her side, shielding from the worst of the fliers. The eaglehound's comforting bulk eased her panic, and she could crack the barest sliver of an eye open. So many bugs! "W-well," she said weakly, careful to keep her muzzle angled down and away, "the allergic buck left not a moment too soon, you could say, old friend." She was considering the best way to inch towards escape, glancing down at the carpet of crawlers in dismay - she did not quite want to leave squishy carcasses in her wake - when a darting wing caught her eye: "Oh!" she exclaimed, suddenly straightening, "I've never seen one of those in the flesh - or should I say, chitin?"

"RE-WIND!" He called as he returned from the entrance, then shut up rapidly to avoid attracting everything in the cave. He shuffled deeper into the floor of worms once more, and sighted his sister perkily examining a group of flying goodness-knew-whats.

Her academic dedication was certainly admirable, but he was starting to get the sense that there was really something Not Right about her.

"Re-wind!" Pieces whispered loudly and lowly, increasing the speed of his shuffle cautiously.

"Oh that's good." Screams says with relief, smiling at Bitter Heartbeat. "From what I saw they were all kinds of bugs. But even the smallest one can bite, I think. I dunno if we'd feel it, at least until it turned into an itchy bump." Screams trails off, listening to another ghost. "What do you mean, I'll scare him more? I'm only telling the truth. Besides it's been my experience that most bugs only bite if you bother them." This last is directed as much to Bitter Heartbeat as the ghost.

Screams turns her full attention back to the buck. "Why don't you leave, if the bugs scare you?" It didn't occur to her that leaving means traveling with the bugs for as long as it would take to find an uninfested room.