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Bagerlock is well-suited for the cold: his fur, heavier than most except where old scars show through the jet black, hangs warm around his shoulders and legs, the mane keeping the worst of the chill off the back of his neck. Add to this his own daily existence -- his preference to live on the outskirts, sometimes down near the waterfront with the rest of the Tidewalkers and sometimes venturing northward where the snow dulls sound and lets him alone in silence -- and the weather barely seems to bother him.

Nighteyes might be even more settled into this weather. The fine-boned wolf is a creature from the north of the swamps, and something rarely seen by most kimeti. He stretches his body out to step deliberately in Badgerlock's footprints with eyes flashing to the crowd surrounding them as they approach. Fine snowflakes stick to his fur, invisible except for the way they catch the sunlight.

They have been away too long, obviously. Badgerlock's eyes light on the Acha [though he knows the Kiokote, at least] with a puzzled expression tugging at the corner of his eyes, serious and quiet as he stalks in that direction.

((I beg you, please quote me if you reply directly! I'll reply faster if you do!))

The approach, in rapid succession, of Watch Me and Playing Fox--this was entirely Fix's style, and saves him from having to defend the existence of his otter against Rouge's predatory instincts. "Aren't we fabulous?" he demands of the Kiokote, and he puffs himself up for Playing Fox and the little fennec, the rainbow-pelted creature flung about his shoulders half-rousing from its snoozing as if to demonstrate willing: I have one too, Fix seems to imply, and mine is cuter. "Center of attention. Rouge and I always find ourselves in this predicament. It is a constant affliction but the blame cannot be placed on others. I am sure everyone is powerless to resist our combined charms." He butts his shoulder affectionately against Rouge, earning a disgruntled chitter from Dog, who is partially dislodged. And then he grins, a terrifyingly broad and genuine grin.

-*-

Wildflower Breeze doesn't leave the black and pink doe absent for long.

It is easy for Swan to move about relatively unnoticed here; in the guise of a swan he flies above, with his ghostly shadow moving below, white on white against the flakes and difficult to spot. So it is that he emerges from the trees, gradually gaining... reality until a fully-fledged stag stands before her. He has, quite astoundingly, a full set of luxurious wings, and these he folds at his sides after shaking the flakes loose. Behind him, the spectral shape of a swan follows suit, a perfect echo.

"Not very polite of a gentleman to leave a lady in the thick of a conversation," he says gallantly, and perhaps if Kimeti had arms to offer he would do so, "but it was a fortuitous opening for me, I suppose. I hope you won't think it forward of me to say that I overheard your conversation. I have my own questions--we all do--but I hope I might be able to answer some of yours."

Murkcrow hunkered down pensively with the Kimeti that he was, supposedly, related to, nestled to his mother's left and as far from the black-and-blue half-sister as he could get. His dreams, so disturbed and violent and, above all, cold, had woken him and now he lay watching the sun come up. The family had banded together when the bone-piercing freeze had settled over the swamp. Crow had sought his mother for any insight her wanderings might have offered, but she had only shaken her head in dismay while his spoiled half-sister wailed about the cold. When the dreams got too strong to wait for all of the absent family members to gather, the group had set out for the North, Shadelight carefully cautioning the rest of them to keep their wits about them. Well, it did do Shadelight some credit that she was still here with her swamp-given offspring, keeping them organized and calm as best she could, and not throwing herself at some poor buck somewhere "for the warmth," as he had wholly expected her to do. And...Crow hated to admit it, but he was glad the family was here, their warmth enough to stave away the cold, enough that no one would die in the night. They might have normally been a terrible, dysfunctional family, but they had their uses.





Shadelight rose as soon as the sun did, compelling her protesting daughter to stand up too while she stretched and looked around. A lot of kin seemed to be gathering not far away, and there was probably more safety and warmth in their numbers. The dreams really disturbed her, moreso than her offspring, it seemed, but they were young and knew nothing but optimism. Shadelight thoughtfully watched the kin that had already gathered: some of those lithe and gracefully Acha, a Kiokote, a number of Kimeti, even one or two of the Swamp's Chosen. Yes, it definitely seemed a better place to be than wandering around in a small group. The doe started moving towards the gathered Kimeti, carefully picking her way through the snow.

"Where are you going?" Murkcrow shouted after her.

Shadelight just waved her tail vaguely in the general direction of the gathered kin.

"What? Wait, are there bucks over there? Mother! This is really not the time!" Crow hurried to catch up with her before something altogether untoward happened, and she rolled her eyes. That was not her intention...entirely.




"Wait for me!" Midnight Sun caught up with them in a second, then took a look at the gathered kin herself. "Oooooh, what are they doing? Big groups are fun!" Eagerly she pranced about in the snow before noticing her hooves could kick up quite a lot of it. A mischievous grin spread across Sun's face and she kicked a clod of snow in her half-brother's direction before running in the direction of the other kin in search of a victim.

"What-" Crow shook his head when the snow hit his face. Sun had already figured out how to send the snow that high! He really hated her, but he was more intent on sticking to his mother than keeping his half-sister out of trouble as they, too, reached the group.

The answer was far from helpful, although she found some comfort in the fact a legendary such as himself had knowledge no more clear than she did. It seemed odd that he was plagued by cryptic visions but she did not know how or what it was to be favored by the Motherfather. Still it left her wanting...

A slight frowned curved her lips, "Of course." It wasn't as though she was going to seek attention she had already so clearly lost. She watched the stag slip away and then turned to move forward. There was surely -- oh. Well, an appearance such as that demanded her own attention.

She smiled, "Quite right you are," she agreed on both accounts. She took a step forward, "I hope you can, too."

Well she had to give it to him, he knew what he wanted and went for it. She was rather glad it was nothing more than her name -- although with his appearance and name, she might have been game to offer more. At least if he did not end up annoying her.

"They call me Lull in Sunlight," she answered with a bow of her head. She could feel her eaglehound against her back leg, undoubtedly attempting to keep her warm or so she liked to think). She was glad it was well-trained and she had little worry that it would misbehave. That would be rather embarrassing.

Jackdaw wasn't the type of guy who normally got a big kick out of hanging out with his family but the dreams had really unnerved him. What was it about a nightmare that just sent a kid running to mommy?

Shaking his head, he eyed his brother and sister. They seemed like opposites but who could blame them? Their mother wasn't exactly the warm affectionate kind. But it didn't matter, they were headed over to where more kin were and he could find someone to warm his sleeping spot later.

“Magnificent.” Watch Me proclaimed loudly to no-one in particular, looking admiringly at each Acha in turn. They were such elegant and graceful creatures; far more interesting than any Kiokote or Kimeti he had ever met (except himself of course). If only he had been born one of them! He should have been. Clearly a mistake had been made. But he would simply have to make do with what he had.

He paced around the small group, displaying himself and all his best features, and then came to a halt in order to drop his nose towards Kisses in order to receive a few licks. How very adorable! He should try getting one of his one day.

Watch Me lifted his head in order to address Fix, giving a very firm nod of his head. “But of course! I must say I am often given such regard in my own circles; however I am more than willing to give up the spotlight this day for my magnificent cousins. It is so very well deserved.” He looked immensely pleased with himself as he gave each of his new Acha friend’s a brilliant smile.

For a moment, Badgerlock is quiet -- chewing on that, trying to decide if his pride is worth more or if answers are. Were Nightlife a bit less frenetic, more dignified himself, perhaps Badgerlock would have chosen his pride over all else. As it is, though, he shifts after a moment, head craned down to peer at Nighteyes, and chooses careful words.

"Where did you come from, Nightlife? And your brethren there?" This comes with a nod, quick, to the other acha littering the crowd. He keeps his tone down, their conversation more or less private.