[PRP] Of Literal Exaggeration (Giveforward x Thaw)

[Minsuil]

Thaw had spent many seasons in the swamp, and though he thought it was arrogant to call himself wise, he did not deny that he had a knowledge of the swamp that some youngsters did not. It was part of the reason he liked to help people. Sometimes what people needed was just another to listen to their troubles.

The warm season was coming, was already upon them if the current weather was an indicator of that. His little garden was withering in the heat. So Thaw headed out towards a spring not too far away from his current home to get some water. He grabbed the clam shell he used to carry water back and forth. It had been when he was younger, when he wandered the swamp endlessly. On one of those trips, he'd found himself by the sea. Thaw was long past his traveling days. He liked the peace and familiarity of the swamp, but the shell itself had proven itself more than useful.

He was surprised to see a doe sitting next to the pond. It wasn't that he didn't like people, it was just that Thaw was relatively sure the area he lived in was fairly secluded. That and he'd never seen the doe before. She looked troubled, staring into the depths of the pond. Thaw moved towards her.

"And why," he said bending down, "are you staring into these waters? Did you lose something?"
 

[Minsuil]

The buck could not hide the expression of shock that came to his face. The doe in front of him was a little thing, so sweet and very endearing. Thaw had only just met her and still, he was charmed. The slight shake of her head, was also very endearing, though her hair had not shifted at all. Thaw wondered about that, he'd met quite a few kin in his life. Some with hair, and others without. Perhaps it was a genetic trait. Three of his own children had been born with hair, but the forth had none.

"A caiman?" He asked, both perplexed and amused, "and why would you be searching for one of those?"  

[Minsuil]

"Aha, I see."

Thaw nodded slowly, as old men were oft to do. So this young doe had been asked to find a caiman. He had his doubts about the validity, and sincerity, of the request but that...was a different matter.

"Unfortunately, there are no caimans in this pond. Or the one near it. I should hope not! I have just planted a batch of waterlilies and would loath to find a caiman in one of the ponds. However, there are many foxbuns and mongooses around here. Cranes and songbirds too. Perhaps we can catch one of those for your friend instead. Caimans are terrible company in my opinion."

Hunting for animals was much safer than sending the poor girl off on a caiman chase. Caimans, though smaller, were still formidable foes. Thaw would hate for her to get hurt on what was most probably a joke.  

[Minsuil]

For a second, Thaw thought he had convinced the poor girl otherwise. He should have known better than that, it was never this easy.

"Perhaps that is so. Perhaps the caiman are just misunderstood. But what if one day the caiman decides he does not like his friend and bites him? What would you do then?"

Thaw took in the earnestness in her eyes. This poor doe really believed in what she was saying. He wondered if she was being tricked. He hoped not. Who could trick such a sweet doe?

"And even if you could find a caiman so kind as to not bite, you could not find one here. I spend half my day in these surrounding ponds and am not quite sorry to report that there isn't a single caiman here."

The buck shot her a kind smile. "It would be bad to go back empty handed. Let us find your friend another friend in the meantime and if he should want a caiman even after that, then I will help you in your search."  

[Minsuil]

Thaw was glad he'd managed to talk Giveforward out of seeking a caiman. He was starting to believe that he could not change her mind, and Thaw could not let a young one wander out in search of such dangerous things by themselves. The buck thought briefly of what critters he'd seen in the vicinity often. Perhaps one of them would appease the sweet doe and her mysterious friend.

"There are quite a few songbirds, moths, and cranes around here. Occasionally I have seen a turtle and otter too, which do you think your friend would prefer most?"

anemosagkelos

 

[Minsuil]

anemosagkelos

He laughed at that. "Yes, just as bad as tricking any other living thing I suppose." Thaw turned back to the doe with a twinkle in his eye, wondering how she'd reply to that. It was in his opinion that the Motherfather didn't really care. Not in the sense that the Motherfather didn't love the creatures living in the swamp, but just that, this was the way of life, and Thaw did not think that the Motherfather would intervene in such a thing.

"Otters are quick little things, it is probably easier for us to capture a turtle instead, don't you think? Come, lets go this way, I believe I saw a turtle bathing in the sun this morning."  

[Minsuil]

Thaw led the doe to the edge of a pond he was familiar with. Sure enough, sitting on the banks basking contently in the sunbeams was a turtle.

He turned around to the doe, "Well? What do you think? Will this suit your friend, or should we try our hand at catching an otter instead?"

anemosagkelos