Welcome to Gaia! ::

Something in the doe's bearing made him stop short of walking straight up to her, content to stay downhill and well within hearing range. "We should," he drawled in return, "Could just be me who sees it, though." Spindrift kept his smile light and unbothered by the strain that calloused her words. He had been turned aside more roughly before, and she hadn't even threatened to pummel him yet. A beating hanging over his head was the universal sign that he had gone too far, but he usually saw it coming. Usually. There were a few memorable exceptions that he could draw on, but she looked calm enough, if abnormally self-contained.

Her next statement had the buck shaking his head in mock remorse, armored brows lifting with chastisement. "Why, miss, that's a shame. What else could you possibly be here for?" He turned to look over his shoulder, as though he truly had to peer down at the roiling mass of kin to know what they were doing. There were loose-knit groups indulging in drowsy discussion, others drenched in sweat as they sought to rebuild what nature had struck down. A pair of orange-spined twins were acting questionably with turtle shells and a banked fire, but he turned away before he got a close enough look. "Lot of stuff going on down there, not just back-breaking labor and gossiping. World is burning down, if you haven't heard. You might as well make merry." He winked to underscore the irony, half-expecting to be clobbered from behind for his insolence. It wasn't that he didn't see the point in tradition, and he understood the importance of maintaining safe zones during a time of crisis. He did. But when the solemnity of the occasion started to outweigh the jovial aspect, the lighthearted buck took offense.

One didn't really need to know the way. One simply followed the smoke, and the eventual merry-making, and you would find the fire festival. That is what Lost was doing. Aimless wandering, not even through the game trails or well worn paths the other kin used in the swamp. No. She forged her own path, walking every which way she please.

The pale doe had missed most of the merriment the night before because she took her sweet time in finding her way, but now, she gazed upon everyone working. They were working hard! Though it seemed some were hardly working. As long as she was here, she might as well be useful for a little while before she vanished into the brush again. Lost Trail saw what the others were bringing to the mound, and how they were tramping it down and began milling about herself to carry what she could over. A small branch perched on her back, leaves in her mouth as she held it steady. She had to walk sideways so she wouldn't run into anyone, or smack them with the large stick.

















Was he here first? Step to the Right had left his brother's side in an attempt to find the fire festival first. He had heard of it in stories, and wanted to go. It sounded like a party! There was supposed to be does, and dancing, and stories, and does, and food, and does... right? He pranced through the smoke-thick swamp, swaying this way and that as he half danced, jumping to the left and stepping back to the right before he came to the... sort of clearing with many kin gathered. He paused to watch them a moment before leaping about. The orange feather tied to his horn twirling with his movements. He was here before his brother! He won! Though he hadn't told Two Left Feet that they were competing for anything. Right just wanted to win.

He pranced about, looking at all those gathered. He couldn't recall seeing this large a gathering... ever! Sitting away from the group, he spotted a female. Oooooh, a female, and his brother wasn't around! This was perfect! He picked his feet up high as he walked towards Sunlight Garden, putting on a show of how gracefully he moved, unaware of her blindness as he got closer.

Life excused herself as she skidded into the side of a buck pulling a tree across the ground. The little foal she'd be chasing had easily darted under the stomach of the buck and away, giggling at his perceived game of "Tag". Life sighed, watching the colt barrel into a group of his friends and they began the game of tag all over again.

She turned, looking for any member of her family that needed company, but her eyes drifted over a couple of does, white with sploches of color, a couple of gryphons and a tiny, fluffy black creature. Life was curious. Crossing the distance between this group of kin and herself, she smiled at the two doe as she came upon them, inclining her head a little.

"Hello.." she greeting them all, though her eyes looking over the dark little creature at their feet.


(A little tease for Edge ;p )

New Life stood pack proudly as the tree he'd was working on fell. Sweat made his pelt glisten and he shook some of the perspiration out of his hair and eyes. His tuft of brown hair flopped back lazily across his forehead and eyes. He was enjoying this, a lot. The sweat on his shoulders, the burning in his muscles..he'd never felt so alive! Rolling his head around to loosen some of the taunt tendons in his neck, he spies his mother a bit away, talking to some other doe, and smiled in their general direction.

"ahmphum, humphumr uhr." Though the stick had fallen from her back, the leafy branches were still in her mouth, and that had made it quite hard to speak until she spit the leaves out. "Probably my fault~" She said in a carefree, singsong sort of voice. She looked over the ashen buck, then looked around. Ah, she supposed it was hard to see her in the pale light and smokey air. That had to be it of course. "Don't worry sweetling, no harm done." She watched him dip his head to help her with the branch, and she let an amused smirk settle over her face. "Ah man, it would be easier to carry if we both shouldered it. Then we could see where we're both going, yes?"

Sunlight heard the steps coming near her. Her ears perked and swiveled towards the noise but she didn't raise her head. Light, fast steps indicated the gate of a Acha. Most likely they were looking for the big party.

"Down there.." she said in her quiet voice, indicating towards the mound with her nose. "They're all down there if you're looking for the festival."

"Hmmm?" He glanced behind him, stopping his prancing steps. "Well, yes. I can see that. But you're so far from them. Why are you sitting all alone up here when you could well join the others and dance. I bet you're a fantastic dancer. Or are you a singer? You have such a soft voice." Surely she wasn't hear to work. She must be here to cheer everyone else on! Yes, that was it!

Disappointment, but not expected. Edge shook her head as well, the previous day had been a merry one, but unfruitful -- the few builders who she'd approached had been strong but unsuitable for the tribe lifestyle, one had even refused to give up some sort of herb, the very thought made her roll her eyes.

She would have shared the story had another doe not come wandering up to them just then, one of the sleepers beside totoma-horns. She could see him now, every bit strong enough but out of reach. His smile was for this other doe, so she ignored him, focusing on her, noting how the green eyes watched her grandson. Edge took the moment to size her up and found her too soft by half, and there was the obvious family thing she had going on. No potential here. Savager hissed from behind her grandson, belligerent as always, his mood darkened by his partner's disappointment.

"Good morning," Edge nodded civilly, "Ignore Savager, he doesn't like strangers."