Welcome to Gaia! ::

Despite the rough start, the equine found that this guy really wasn't so bad at all. Despite his being a little gruff, he seemed to be a little considerate and maybe a little caring on the inside. "Well, my name's Briar.. Yours is..?" He flicked his eyes up towards the pandas face, giving him another appreciative smile as he flicked his tail lightly trying to dislodge the pesky twigs that had taken up residence there. He curled his fingers gently against the males shoulder as he took another step, a soft grunt of mild discomfort leaving his throat as he reminded himself that he should be watching the ground rather than the panda.

The female watched as the other female moved over to her, her own hands folded in front of her. For a moment she looked about, blinking lightly before looking back at Osami. "Well I do say I've never walked here before. I was just wandering about, you see, and well... now I'm here." She smiled lightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Osami. My name is Hiroko."

Osami continued to approach, stopping just outside the other womans personal space.. She wore a slightly stern expression on her face as again she looked over the equine carefully before smiling softly again. "Hiroko, you say..? That's a lovely name!" She inclined her head and swiftly offered her arm to her, "Well.. Seeing as your here now, shall we continue..?" She took a step, still offering her arm to the equine, inviting her to walk.

Briar nodded, his eyes travelling down to the offending fallen tree as he hobbled around it, mindful of the dips and ruts in the ground surrounding it. "Yeah.. He.. He does always seem to come back particularly bright eyed, and he is very fit too.." He mumbles a little absently towards the end, shifting his gentle grip on the pandas shoulder and wrist, "He says he's a klausian though, and apparently they're all pretty much born fighting fit.." He grinned a little looking up to Ratch, "You should see him! He's just all muscle! Ah-!" He gave a small startled noise as he stumbled just a little, this is what he got for not paying attention to the task at hand, his tail swishing once, twice. "I.. I'm not odd!" He protested gently once again. "You maybe.. But not me!" He teased.. Just a little..

The equine frowned lightly pouting just a little, "I'm.. I'm not an odd kid!" He curled his fingers against Ratch's shoulder a little more firmly this time as they continued to hobble along, drawing closer to the house, though it was still a fair way to go yet. "It only really hurts when I put weight on it.. It's just a dull ache other than that.. Besides, you're being nice now and helping me home! If I was helping someone I'd get a bit angry if they kept on being horrible and grumpy about it. It wouldn't make me want to help them at all!" He grinned just a little bit. Truthfully it did hurt a little more than a 'dull ache' but like he had said earlier, if he bitched and moaned about it, people weren't going to be as likely to help out. "And I'm pretty sure.." He started again, taking care to lift his hurt ankle a little higher, "That Cliff would relish the chance to spar with you. He likes a challange.. Though I'd bet he'd say it wasn't much of once.."

Briar looked a little taken aback at the slightly gruff words, not catching on to the joking tone at first. He hung his head, tensing a little as he chewed his lower lip. He was a sensetive soul in reality, his friends usually choosing their words carefully around him.. Or not, they continually teased him about his weight and height which certainly didn't help his security at home. He swished his tail up and to the side, curling the short manipulatable part of it slightly as he cautiously glanced up, at last catching on to the voice and Ratch's expression. It made him relax a little again at least. "You know.. I don't think he actually does anything for a living anymore. He usually talks about spaceships.. Aliens and something called Quark.. I think he was like.. Some sort of mercenary..?" He decided to hazard a guess before sighing gently, "If he's in you could always ask him..?"

Briar nodded slowly, not really too sure what to say. "I haven't spent all that much time with Cliff so I don't know what he'd say to that.. But like I said, he'd probably be up for some sort of sparring match.. Or something.." He put forward in the end. He nodded to him, Ira was the same way with crowds, they frightened the small unicorn quite a lot.. He didn't really think Ratch got frightened by then, maybe they just made him feel uncomfortable..? "I don't think it's that much further you know.. Not long until you can be shot of me!" He laughed softly, maybe a little self mockingly as no too far ahead a comfortable home started to come into view.

The equines ears flicked his eyes darting to the house with a small smile on his features again, "Thank's.. I don't like thinking people don't like me.. I really try not to be offensive or annoying.." He half mumbled, his tail wiggling just a little with excitement. He was nearly home! And home meant some relief at last from his aching foot and maybe some food, food would be good. After a few more aided steps he let go of the wrist that was tucked so gently against his slim waist and reached out to curl his fingers around the door-handle instead, peering curiously up at Ratch, "Thank you for helping me all this way.. It must have really been out of your way.. You don't have to bring me inside if you don't want to.. Just.." He wiggled the fingers of the hand that the panda was holding onto, "Well.. Thank you!" He smiled a little and gave Ratch's neck a firm little nuzzle with the bridge of his nose.