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The first coin made Inkling jump up in surprised. He was a bit freaked out. He moved closer when he was told to keeping an eye out to doge projectiles. “If I said that I’d end up back in the river for another bath.” He made a face and heard the crazy female laugh. “I wouldn’t do that unless your mouth decided to follow your coat.” And just what was that supposed to mean? Inkling knew he wasn’t a social butterfly but he wasn’t that bad.. was he? Clearing his throat he looked at Copper flinging one. “Stop that n eat. You need it.” Inkling could fend for himself. He was good at it by now. He had to be. A thought occurred to him and he gave Lightning a strange look. “Copper and copper. Lightning?” He kept his gaze on Lighting and lowered his head like he expected to be zapped any moment.

Ithil got up and examined the coins copper had flung. She started to pick them them up and dropped them off by Copper pawn. He might be able to reattach them or something. He was so small already he didn’t need to lose more bits of himself.

Oh that made sense. Inkling shrugged. “ok.” He moved closer to the food so that copper wouldn’t end up flinging things again. He was staring at the food not wanting to reach over and take anything and leave a mess. “Hey uh Copper could you pass me some nuts?” It felt so strange and awkward to ask such things. Inkling couldn’t remember the last time he had sat down and actually eaten with another gladier. He made sure there was space between him and Copper because his ink would soon start to form a puddle again. It was so embarrassing.

Ithil awarded Copper with a huge smile and gave him a quick lick on the forehead. “You’re very welcome Copper.” With that she moved back to Lightning’s side and gave him a more tender kind of lick that she had only for him. “mm you know I was talking with Copper before and both he and Dripp… Inkling will be staying with us.” She gave her the look that said this was final and there would be no argument. In a low voice that she was sure wouldn’t carry she continued. “Your brother may be small and weak and need help but Drippy is hopeless and pathetic and your brother can take care of him. It will do them both good.”

[colordarkcyan]“I never said it wouldn’t be that way, but I did say your brother would help take care of Inkling. It’s a two way streak stupid.” She nuzzled him nearly purring now. She was happy that things were working out so well. She had learned a bit about her stupid pawn of storms and every bit of information she got she cherished. She watched as a few of the nuts Copper held fell down. That boy had a long ways to go but so did Inkling. Somehow she hoped the two would balance each other out so she wouldn’t have to yell too much.

Inkling was surprised at how Copper handed him the nuts. “What are you doing? Use yer claws. Like this.” Putting his weight in his rump so he wouldn’t have to worry about balance Inkling raised his paws and held them at an awkward angle so he could cup Copper’s paws. His claws were slightly out so they tipped around Copper’s paws to hold the nuts in place. He realized he was getting ink on Copper and let go. “oh ah sorry.” He used a paw to roll the nuts that were on the ground toward him before using his weight to crush one and his claw to flick of pieces of ink coated shell.

With a nut half chewed in his mouth Inkling swore and shouted. “SHE DID WHAT?!?” He couldn’t believe it. Reaching a paw forward he moved one of Copper’s paws up with surprising tenderness. He leaned his head over and inspected the paw making a small whine looking at the scars. Very very gently he licked each scar on Copper’s paw. He couldn’t believe it. The mother had ripped out Copper’s claws which many gladier’s needed and then the witch tossed him off a cliff? It wasn’t right it wasn’t fair. Inkling felt so sorry for Copper he didn’t even realize tears were sliding from his eyes mixing with his ink.

Ithil didn’t hear what Copper said but when Lightning said something was wrong she had perked her head up. Wincing with Inkling’s shout she moved closer concerned. “Are you ok Copper? What happened?” She glanced between Copper and Inkling concerned.

Ithil couldn’t believe it. The mother of Copper and Lightning was a monster. That woman deserved to be beaten and have every punishment she inflicted on her children done to her. Reaching a paw up she stroked Copper’s head in Lightning’s grasp. “There there Copper.” Her voice was soft and gentle as she kept stroking his fur. “Lightning’s here and so is Dr.. Inkling. I’m here too. We know you say you’re ok, but we won’t let you get hurt like that again.” She licked his head and licked the side of Lightning’s head. She looked at Drippy and beckoned him closer.

Inkling moved closer but didn’t touch the three curled up gladiers. He tried to settle down but inside he was still riled inside. Copper had been abused and abandoned. At least his brother and that crazy mate were there for him.

Getting whacked with a coin was not Inkling’s idea of fun, but the sorry excuse of a smile that Copper gave made it impossible to be mad at him. Picking up the coin in his mouth he shook his head and smiled around the coin. Whatever at least Copper was not a sobbing messed up wreck; Inkling didn’t think he’d be that strong.

Ithil nodded at Lightning and went to go get the food. She was not about to let the feast go to waste. She’d drag it along and have Drippy help if it got to be too much. Right now Lightning needed to focus on his brother.

Hauling the food behind the brothers she looked back at Drippy to see if he was following. She scolded him a few times if she thought he was falling too far behind, but was relieved to be on their way back home. She wondered what they were going to do with Copper and Drippy. They would have to set up sleeping areas for them.

Inkling followed quietly with the copper coin still in his mouth. He had no idea where he was going but it wasn’t like he had anywhere else to go right?

Ithil nodded more than happy to have an excuse to cuddle up next to Lightning so there was no space between them. She jerked her head again understanding when Copper feel. She rushed to get everything set up. She didn’t know what Lightning would bring back but she hopped it would be good. She shooved the bedding together quickly and padded it down so that Copper wouldn’t be uncomfortable. She came back to see Inkling curled up around Copper licking his head softly and whispering to him. She made a noise that made drippy look up at her. “The bed’s made. Take him and lay him down. Keep an eye out on him.” She still had to drag the food in and of course there was the fact that Inkling seemed like he had been signing or at least humming to Copper which would be more helpful than her since she thought her signing sounded like a bird trying to batch in a fish’s mouth.

He had been shocked when Lightning told him to watch his brother but with him gone and the crazy female making a bed someone had to look out for him. He moved forward and even thought it would make Copper dirty Inkling wrapped up around him knowing that whenever he had been sick as a little one it was what would have made him feel better. Searching his memory he found a tune that he could hum and even knew a few words to. Then Ihil told him to take Copper to the bed he was shocked that she hadn’t yelled at him for making the other all dirty. Still he did as he was told and kept humming to Copper when he had finally gotten Copper onto the bedding. Of course it was stained from the ink Copper had on him from Inkling wrapping him up and again when he had carried him the bed on Inkling’s back. Inkling lay down next to the male and kept petting Copper’s paw.