[ASK] A day at the Minders' (Cubs!)

[Annchen]

((Open to cubs, minders and plaything-slaves, but please ask before jumping in))

Urd hadn't decided what to think about spending time with the minders yet. They taught them about the Spirits and about being a Sacrifice, but mom did that too. The minders didn't tell things like mom did, but mom had told her it was all right. One particular minder had used her and Ilo as an example in one class, and Urd hadn't liked to suddenly be the centre of attention of the whole class. So she only had half a Spirit, that didn't mean she enjoyed being used as a teaching aid.

Playtime was also a bit iffy. She loved playing as much as any other cub, but the crowd of other cubs bothered her a little. She much preferred being with mom and Ilo and perhaps cousin Skadi. She knew them, and loved them, but she didn't know most of these cubs. They were loud and strange and didn't seem to mind tumbling around in a crowd at all.

---

Aruná had started to get antsy, and playtime suited her just fine. Staying still and staying quiet was not her forte and she needed a good run around to make up for it. Without wasting any time she took off, bouncing between the other cubs and minders.

 

[Raspberry Hippos]

Ilo bright blue eyes scan the big vast land, that was now called his playground. He sniff the air and smiled. Oh yes, he knew that this was going to be a great day. He had already been called up to the front of the class with is sister Urd to be use as example. His half spirited had yet help him again! He was so full of joy that he wanted to run out like the other cubs and play with them. Yet, he stay by his sister side. He would never leave his sister like, unless she told him he could. The all by means he would. He jump up and down in his place and poke his sister. "Sissy! May we go play now?" he said in a overly joy voice.

He wouldn't hold on for much longer and he hope that his sister was getting the idea.  

[Annchen]

Social gatherings like this didn't seem to bother her brother much, and the fact that he was so excited and just as happy as ever was comforting. Urd couldn't help but offer him a small smile. So there were a lot of other cubs here, the two of them could still play like they did at home. There were just more people in the way, that was all. She took a deep breath and her smile widened into a grin. Mom probably wanted them to get new friends here, but Urd was content with being with her brother for now.

"Yeah we should go play. It's playtime, right?" she said and followed the dark cub with her gaze as Aruná rushed around, getting in the way of cubs and minders alike, "Oh... Look at her go!"  

[Raspberry Hippos]

Gently jumping up and down once again he gave a small playful nuzzle to his sister. He knew that she was shy. Luckily for her, she had a brother like him. He was outgoing, loving and fun. She wouldn't be too shy for too long with him. He gently smile at her and then back at the playground.

Ilo bounce even higher as his sister spoke. She was saying the words that he really wanted to hear. He nodded and nodded again at the words that was coming at of her mouth. He gently took her paw and started rushing after the female lion. "Urd! Lets go meet her! It should be fun stuff!" he said grinning ear to ear.  

[Pearlyblue]

Udongo took her time shifting gears from "sitting still and listening" to "playtime", and was still lazily scratching herself when Aruná rushed off. When she finally finished scratching and stretching, with a shake of her head that made her ears flap around audibly and made her lose balance for a short while, she was surprised to find that there was no cub by her side anymore. She heaved a small sigh of confusion, but smiled widely when she heard the sounds of cubs at play, gathered up her slightly-too-big paws and plodded off, somewhat unsteadily, to join them.  

[Annchen]

It was really hard to stay shy and reserved when Ilo was so enthusiastic, and Urd simply couldn't say no to him. Her little brother had a way of making her do things she thought she would never do. Like chasing after a cub she didn't know. Besides, there wasn't much choice but to follow when he rushed off after the other little girl like that.

---

The sound of pursuit only served to excite Aruná further and she turned sharply to see if the cub running after her would manage a near 90 degree turn. She looked over her shoulder, still running, to check out the cub that was following. Unfortunately this meant she didn't notice that she was heading straight toward Udongo and might even collide if one of them didn't change direction soon.  

[Raspberry Hippos]

Running after the female made him so excited. Even more then he already was. She was hopping, bouncing, and anything else that he could do while running. He was so happy that his sister came too, even though she really didn't have a choice. His paw was stuck on her's like glue.

As the female made a sharp turn, he halted to a complete stop. He had saw the other little cub and knew that it would end badly if he keep running. He yelled out to both of them, "Cubs! Cubs! Please watch out! You're going to hurt yourself!".

He was so very scare. He knew that it would not be good in they ran into each other.  

[Pearlyblue]

Udongo stepped out into the sunshine, still smiling happily even as her sister's black-and-fire-coloured neck came rushing towards her. The brown cub opened her mouth to greet her speeding sister, when suddenly the voice of another cub interrputed her. It sounded very worried and even urgent, and Udongo's smile faltered as she nervously began looking for:

1, the yelling cub, and
2, the danger that he was warning for.

Unfortunately, she didn't really have the time for those kinds of considerations if she was also to brace for or try to dodge the impact of her excited sister. The brown cub stood frozen in place, a look of worried confusion evident on her face.  

[Annchen]

The frantic calls from the dark cub only served to further confuse and distract Aruná from what she was running toward. When she finally got the message and turned her head around there was little more to do than to try not to break anything as she tumbled into Udongo.

Luckily, she was very good at falling. It took practice to tumble and Aruná had made sure she got lots of practice stumbling, falling and landing during her short life. All on purpose. Eeevery single time. Yeah. No accidents here. Ooof!

You might think that she had run into Udongo by mistake, but Aruná had already started to make herself believe that this was just a fun game all on purpose. As she tumbled round and round, finally coming to a halt with her big oaf of a sister on top of her she flashed a happy if somewhat dazed grin at her sibling.

"That was fun! Now geroff me," she said as if she was eager to do it all again.

---

Urd covered in fear behind her brother as she saw the other cubs collide. This was one thing she disliked about playtime. It was all so rough and tumble and you never knew when someone decided to pounce on your tail or gnaw on your ears. Urd's tail was unfortunately a fine target with its white tip and she curled it close to her body when she remembered the sharp cub teeth that had surprised her last time it was playtime.  

[Pearlyblue]

It all happened way too fast. Udongo barely had time to think before the spinny tumble was over and it took her yet a little while to get her bearings back. She was aching in a lot of places because of Aruná's impact and the uncontrolled fall, but the moment that her vision cleared and she saw her sister's smile, she knew it wasn't anything serious.

Her little fangs gleamed white as she grinned down at her inadvertently pinned sibling, and she giggled happily.

"What happened?" She giggled, not in a patricular rush to untangle her paws from Aruná's legs. "I'm all spinny!" Then, as an afterthought, she leaned in and begun licking her sister's face. It was dirty, and easier to get at than her own face right now - Because, since she was still a little bit disoriented, Udongo felt that if she licked her sister's nose, maybe that would make her own nose stop smarting.  

[Annchen]

"We're playing, duh," Aruná said as if Udongo had been participating all along, "Isn't it great?"

Being spinny and wet at the same time was not as great, however, and she started to squirm and try to get away. It was bad enough that the Minders insisted on cleaning them in the middle of all kinds of fun, now her sister was doing it too.

"I'm clean, I'm clean," she squealed. "Geroff!"

Minders usually didn't care if she protested or said she was clean, but it might just work on Udongo. When she saw no instant results she impatiently started to counter-lick to show her sister how it felt.  

[Raspberry Hippos]

Ilo giggled. He watch as the two girls played and his tail sway with there movement. Oh he wanted to go play with them so bad but he should see that his sister was so very nervous. He gave a small whine and look down at his huddling sister. "Urd, Would it be ok if we could play with them? I'll protect you. I know I would. You don't even have to worry. If they get to rough, I'll tell them to get off of you," he said with twinkling eyes.

He hoped that she would say yes. He really did love to play so very very much. But he wouldn't if his sister didn't want to go. He would never leave his sister alone. Never.  

[Pearlyblue]

Usually, Udongo liked being licked. There were few things she found more soothing than feeling a big, warm tongue brush calmly through her fur - but Aruná was not doing it right. Her sister's swift, impatient licks were not soothing at all, in fact...

"It tickles!" Udongo squealed, laughing too hard to push away from her sister properly. Her paws kept slipping and she fell down to lie on her side, still panting with laughter. She swatted at Aruná, clumsily trying to grab her with her big front paws, although she didn't have much of a plan for what she was going to do to the other cub if she caught her. Probably lick her some more, or possibly gnaw her a little to pay her back for the tickling.

"I'mma get you for that!" She giggled. Then she paused for a moment as something even brighter than Aruná caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. It took her a moment to recognise the half-spirited cubs that the Minders had talked about earlier in the day, but when she did, her ears perked up with interest.

"I wonder what that's like."  

[Annchen]

When she was finally free and not assaulted by icky licks Aruná forgot all about trying to get away or even getting up from the ground. Instead she pushed and swatted at Udongo's paws with her own, amused by the sudden play fight. Unfortunately her sister seemed to lose interest in the brawl just as she had managed to get into a position where she could get a few good kicks in.

"What the what?" she asked and kicked half heartedly towards Udongo's belly, "What's what like?"

She hadn't noticed the half spirited cubs yet and since she was still in a play fight mood she didn't understand what on earth her sister was prattling about.

---

Ilo looked so eager to play, and Urd didn't want to be the one holding him back. She nudged him with her nose, trying to say without words that they could go play with the girls. She would follow him as usual since she always kept close. When the larger of the cubs looked her way she couldn't help but flinch a little, but she resisted the impulse to hide.  

[Raspberry Hippos]

Ilo giggled at the light touch of his sister nose and gently turn around and lick her wonderful face. He gave his sister a sweet smile and bounce around her for a second before whispering in her ear, "Urd! They're talking about us! I just know it! They want to know what it's like to be us!" he pause to giggle, "Isn't that wonderful? I mean we gotta play with now sis! They want to know about us! This is so exciting! I'm not even sure what to do" he said giggling.

He couldn't wait any longer. The built up energy inside of him couldn't stand inside of him too much longer. Without an answer from his sister he ran over and jump into the pile of girls. He wag his tail and gave the one the was brown and black a nice lick of affection. "Hi! Hiya! I'm Ilo! You wanted to know what it's like to be like me? I can tell you!" he said with another sweet giggle, giving her another soft lick to her ear.