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Now he was confused - how cute! He wasn't such a bad buck after all. "You mustn't get out much," she replied gaily, "we've been here for ages!" - days - "haven't you heard about us at all? We're pretty hard to miss, I'd have thought."

She strutted in a round again, but much more slowly this time, showing her best features off: "I'm an Acha, I came from the desert - with some of my friends, and my hunting dog. And you are a handsome kimeti buck, yes?"

The fact that he was more or less used to his sister's whimpering didn't mean that he had endless patience. Lowering his head so that he could look into her eyes (while shaking his own mane out of his eyes), he spoke softly to her, his own breath puffing warmly against her face, "It will be alright. See? We're all here--" and he stopped as Plainsfire and Rock Squirrel bounded into sight. It actually made him feel better, too. They were all here. "We're all here, together."

It didn't stop his hooves from itching and his legs from tingling. He wanted to run, to compete and play, but he wasn't sure about it. Sneaking a covert glance towards Once Forgotten, he flicked his ears this way and that, torn. Finally, he tossed his head, unable to help himself. "Which of us are going to compete?"


-*-

Walks Without Rhythm did not see the doe approach until it was too late. Even with Pillar's sudden excited chittering, the taste of cool, fresh water had overcome all of his other senses. Too busy quenching his thirst, when she spoke to him he jerked upright so quickly that droplets of water scattered to all sides, some coming to rest in his hair. That much water being flung about and wasted was something that Slide would never have done anywhere near his own home -- the look he gave Meets was at once a touch embarassed and as painfully, stolidly dignified as he could manage. It helped that the water had washed some of the dust and grit off of him, so that he looked .. cleaner. Better.

Tossing his hair out of his face, he looked at her and nodded. "I followed the crowd." And then, after a moment, he adds, "I have never seen this many gathered in one area," but of course he wouldn't have -- the borderlands are a horrible sort of place.

The arrival of Plainsfire and shortly after, Rock Squirrel, elicited a mixed response from their older brother. Once Forgotten could not help the slightly disapproving look at their loud entrance. But he couldn’t really blame them for being excited. With so many Kiokote and non-Kiokote around, the atmosphere was electric. “Yes. We’re all here.” That was pleasing. He was never content without his siblings by his side.

Once Forgotten did not reply right away to Storm’s question and instead just made an odd sound in the back of his throat. He wanted to say ‘I will compete!’ but the words were held at bay. He knew Plainsfire and Rock Squirrel would not be kept from joining and Storm clearly looked like he wanted a go too.

“… you three can.” He finally grumbled and then looked at Scattered. Somebody needed to stay with her to make sure she didn’t have a mental break down. While he was doing that he could question the crowd.

Wayfinder wanted to point out that the buck didn't exactly answer his question, but felt that he'd be stepping out of line. He figured that he meant he was a 'Kimeti', anyways. The word sounded familiar, though the Acha was never one to sit still and listen to the stories told by the older Acha when he was a colt.

In regards to his name, he raised a brow at the buck. Little legs? Skinny? I am a perfectly average representation of my kind. I am not skinny...he thought, while still standing in place. What poor Acha would dream of the name "skinny" anyways...

"My name is Wayfinder...and this is Destiny's Union" deciding to introduce his sand dog as well. At her name, she panted happily and even barked a greeting of sorts to the dark-coated buck.

A gathering of skill, though? Oh...so that's what this was... Wayfinder looked around him. To him it was just a group of strange individuals, reminding him of the large tribes from home. It was familiar, and naturally he was drawn to it. For a moment, the Acha entertained the thought of participating...but what if he won? Surely others might not like the thought of a stranger swooping in and being victorious all of a sudden. It didn't matter if Way was even confident in his abilities to win. He didn't want to risk displeasing the others. Instead, he shook his head vigorously at the thought, stamping his small hooves slightly, nervously.

"I-I-I'm not here to p-participate. I don't think I have a r-right to..." he stuttered, looking everywhere but at the buck.




Nightmare jolted at the appearance of the buck. The doe's brother, apparently. The sudden movement finally woke up her owlcat, who proceeded to arch its back and hiss-screech violently at the buck. With the same bitterness, Nightmare growled, "Teach your sister some manners, regardless, little buck" Needless to say, this buck probably wouldn't be on her list of mating candidates. In fact, Nightmare already couldn't stand the buck. But at least the doe did apologize, and pleasantness washed over her face suddenly while she turned to the doe.

"You are forgiven, then. Just try not to do it again..." she said, sighing to let out her steam. However, she shot a fierce glance at the buck. He could learn his place and not yell at a doe he'd never met, and for something that wasn't even her fault!

"You..on the other hoof.." she started, trailing off while tapping her foot.

There were many colored four-legged creatures to wreak havoc on the red buck's ability to pay attention. He knew not were to look for longer than a moment's glance. He was only vaguely aware of his cat crowding his heels -- Guide was practically walking underneath him the further he moved forward -- or had been until he felt a sudden touch.

He stalled, cat almost stalking right on forward in the sudden halt, turning his head to the vibrant green doe that seemed to be talking to him. He blinked, whatever would be wrong with being red? He rather liked being red, made him doubly sure that any reflection was his own, and he meant to tell her such. His planned statement on the benefits of being so red were instantly lost as her attention darted to the Acha.

"Maybe they're babies...little as they are," he replied as his head tilted to the side. Kimoti? He supposed it was something, more specific than not-Kimeti that was for sure. "Is it terrible being so green?" wasn't what he meant to say but there it was. Oh well.

Ah, seeing the mentally flitting buck, Doom gave him her first true smile that day. This was better than expected. She got a show with her food! Purposely stepping close enough for her curls to brush him and to hear his accelerated beat, she took a dainty bite, perfectly severing her morsel from the main frame. Heaven burst through her eyes in tiny pinpoint pricks. In the amount of time it took for her to inhale the glorious, fresh and pungent bite, she had a conversation with herself.

In the name of all things sacred and green this is ********, I must destroy him and eat the rest.
But Gloom and Look-See would like ******** them and Gloom's swan. Hmm, I wonder how that swan would taste "pickled." Do I just dump salt on him? The buck would know. Oh speaking of the buck...
Look at that buck. He only brought what he could carry. If I kill him now, there'll be no more & it doesn't look like he's carrying much.
If I follow him back, I can have more. Then I can make him sleep for a while.
No, finite ********. This one is for keeping ******** blinked in sheer ecstasy. The surprising burst of flavor electrified even her hooves. She coughed faintly. Then harder. And heaved. "Oh, I think I got a piece of bone. You should really be careful." And took another bite, eyes closed to a happy slit, daring him to call her bluff.

Enough was enough. While Haze certainly wanted to know more about the strange creature, she certainly wasn't about to just stand around and let the newcomer be pushed about like that! Angrily, she stalked the rest of the way over, standing next to Wayfinder as she turned her glare on the acha's 'attacker' as her tail lashed. "That's no way to treat a guest," she pointed out irritably. "Do you mind not being mean?"

* * *

Searching snorted and turned away from Nightmare, keeping himself pressed up against Glow's side. "You're the one who needs to be taught manners," he informed Nightmare. "Especially since you are the one who bit Glow's tail! All she did was bump into you, not exactly difficult when it's packed like this!"