[PRP] Brave Sir Rye [Rye x Bluebell] - FIN

[Fea Line]

The little blue outskirter had been outside nibbling on some flay, her dainty little paws hard at work cleaning up after herself when her ears twitched to the sounds of laughter. Her two toned eyes glanced sideways to a group of outskirters, several weeks older than she was and also quite larger than she. Confused as to why they were laughing and pointing at her, she quickly ran her paws through her fur, searching for any misplaced particles of flay, but found none. She tilted her head and peered at them. "Why are you laughing?" she asked in a bit of a huffy voice.

The eldest of the group puffed himself up as if he was the head bun of the makeshift little group. He stuck his tongue out and turned around and waggled his little bun bum in her direction before chanting. "Prissy little Bluebell has some flay behind her eeaaarrrss!" he mocked.

Panic stricken, Bluebell began furiously swiveling herself, trying to find the flay and remove it from her ever prestigious fur, but to no avail. It was only after several more minutes of them laughing at her that she realized what was afoot. "Thats not nice! I will tell your marlis!" she threatened, her tiny voice slightly chocking.

"Ooh I'm so scared!" one cooed in mocking.

"At least we have marlis!" another chimed in.

"And littermates that weren't homba food!" the 'leader' barked before they rolled over on their backs laughing.

Bluebell sat in shock, little tears welling up in her eyes as she didn't know what to do. She had no one to run and cry too. She had never made a connection with the marli that raised her and she didn't have too many friends. How she wished someone would happen upon her that would save her.... 'Oh Frith and Inle'..why me?' she sighed inwardly. It wasn't her fault her entire family had died.... or at least thats what they had told her. She wasn't ever old enough to remember them, she just knew she didn't look anything like the litter she grew up with and they always treated her as an outcast for it. Perhaps little princesses like herself weren't meant to have friends....  

[Ryuukishin]

Rye quietly nosed up his flay, his cold gaze traveling across the warren. His family line was well-known for being unsocial, and he even more so, for it was not uncommon for him to strike out and physically reprimand any who displeased him. Still, there was the occasional member who'd try their paw at befriending him, and he was forced to keep his guard up constantly, quickly nipping such thoughts in the bud. Pah! There had been no such cares when he was only a kitten, and it left a bitter taste in his mouth to see others so amiable now, when he was already grown and not so susceptible to change.

Suddenly, his ear flicked and turned, focusing on the sounds of bickering outskirters. It took his thoughts down darker paths as he recalled his own young troubles. Children were cruel things, he learned -- crueler still than adults, for their malicious deeds were done naturally, rather than with any conscious effort. It was because of this that he chose to disregard the outskirters and return to his silflay, and he would have gone away had he not caught the words of the bullying rabbits.

He felt himself growing riled, for the taunt was similar to one he'd heard many times as a kitten. Nature had not been kind, and his own littermates had died. Although the adults hadn't said anything where prying ears could ear, their children would openly mock him and his, claiming his parents had probably killed them for their own pleasure, and that he'd be next.

He flickered his ears angrily at the memory before shaking his head to dispel the thoughts. The past was the past, and nothing would change it. The present, on the other paw, was still open.

He hopped closer to the band of youths casually, still chewing his flay. He did not know the extent of the matter yet, and in the end, why should he care? None had intervened for him, and it would be just as well for none to intervene for the female kitten's sake.  

[Fea Line]

The taunts continued and Bluebell now found herself fll on crying. Tears stained her fur as she fought to hold them back, only to have them come full force again once another insult was thrown.

"Poor widdle Bluebell.

Parli's dead down a well.

Marli smushed by a hrududu.

Littermates are homba food.

Left poor Bluebell to boo hoo hoo!"

one of the outskirters taunted her in a sing song voice before cackling like a grackle. "I'm going to make a great storyteller one day, and that will be my favorite poem!" he wiggled his bum at his friends as they all laughed again.

Bluebell wrinkled her nose as she did her best to puff herself up and stuck out her tongue. It was so un lady like but she was so angry! Ruffled, she hopped forward a few paces, ready to batter them with her paw.... before she stepped in an icky pile of mud! A squeak left her lips like a damsel in distress as she widely flinginf her paw, only managing to fling the mud right in her face!

The other rabbits paused for a moment.... before bursting into even louder roars of laughter. Several more taunts followed but Bluebell couldn't hear them now. All she could hear was the sound of her full on tears, her ears pinned flat against her head. Maybe if she cried loud enough, someone would come to her rescue... though she doubted it. She arched her body and turned to prepare to sprint as far away as possible without looking back, not even realizing that a rather large buck was right in her path.


 

[Ryuukishin]

And in her path he was.

The longer Rye had looked on, the angrier he got. It was pitiful, really. The doe's attempt at retaliation was laughable, and instead of putting up more of a fight, she was about to flee. He should have hated her weakness -- hated her, but it reminded him of what he was and could have been. If his parents hadn't been who they were, he wouldn't have been reviled. But he wouldn't have grown as strong as he was, either. He, too, would have run.

He knew not what it was that compelled him to approach -- it certainly wasn't reason -- but a few powerful hops landed him beside the doe.

"Quiet," he said softly, close to her ear. It was meant to be soothing, but he was not used to such things, and his message came out more demanding than it should have. Still, if his intention to help her was not clear, it would be soon enough.

Spinning round, he kicked out with his hind feet at what seemed to be the leader of the group, flinging him off a good few feet away. He maintained his kicking position afterwards, warning the others that they would be next if they didn't follow suit.  

[Fea Line]

Bluebell stopped dead in her tracks, one foot raised as a few drops trickled down her cheek. Her two toned eyes were wide with fear as the large buck issued a command in her ear. Her entire body was frozen like a deer in headlights. She didn't even dare to let her eyes wander over his pale cream fur before he was gone... and so was the leader of the older kits.

Staring in shock and disbelief as he landed in a pile of fur and raging paws, Bluebell dared to let herself relax just a little. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing seemed to come out.

The other outskirters stared in awe and anger as their eldest littermate went flying.

"Going to tell the owslas on you!" one threatened as he tried to puff up and look bigger but it was an obvious failed attempt as his back feet shook slightly.

The others darted their gaze between each other before slowly beginning to fall back behind the one that dared to speak.

Bluebell remained where she was, mouth now glued shut as she flickered her attention from the big buck to the rest of the group,somewhat silently hoping he would kick the rest of their fluffy behinds for what they had done to her...... but why was he even helping her in the first place, she wondered? Her ears flickered as she took a few timmid steps towards his rear as if to hide behind him as the others hid behind whichever one managed to have the brain dead idea of trying to stand up to the buck.  

[Ryuukishin]

Rye wasn't put off at all by the threat. Everyone knew what he was like, after all. Few would dare to rebuke him, and he would not be punished. No, it would be the outskirters. 'You shouldn't have bothered him,' they would say, warning their children against him. The victims would be the ones admonished -- such was the justice he had seen and known since childhood.

And so, when the young rabbits made it apparent they would not leave, he did not hesitate. He kicked out again and watched another body rise into the air. They were young and inexperienced -- they stood no chance against him. He struck out at all that dared to stay after that, sparing only the ones that chose to run. They would not be permanently hurt, unless they had been particularly unluckily, but they would be sore for days to come.

He stared at their retreating forms for a few moments, ensuring they would not return, before sliding his gaze over to the blue-and-brown doe. His job was now done, and he saw no reason to stay.

"You should be careful," he commented, perhaps unnecessarily, before hopping a few feet away and resuming his meal.  

[Fea Line]

In a flash the other outskirters were gone, fleeing for their lives. All that was left was herself.... and that buck.

"You should be careful,' his voice rang in her ears....

What a deep voice...

Shaking herself from her shocked state, she watched him hop away.... and hopped after him. He wasn't going to get rid of her just yet. "Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble?" she questioned him, her voice still a bit sniffly from all her tears. She even failed to realize she was still caked with mud and her fur was still ruffled from her tear stains. She was too in awe of this buck to realize her princess radar had yet to go off.

Hopping around to face him better, she wiggled her nose, taking in his scent, her ears twitching as she glanced over his coat of pale browns and creamy whites. He was quite handsome if a little prima'donna outskirter could say so. "Whats your name anyways?" she questioned, tilting her head ever so slightly, those two toned eyes seeming to bore deep into his soul. She hadn't even thought to thank him.  

[Ryuukishin]

Ah, what a resilient creature, Rye thought, eying her from the side. Rather than rebuke her curiosity, he endured it. She was still young, still so vulnerable to change. He'd already chased away her oppressors, and he supposed he could do a little more to ensure she wouldn't end up as he did.

"They need me. They won't hurt me," he explained matter-of-factly. His was a life with no social attachments, and it showed in his fearless fighting. If an elil threatened the warren, he was always ready to strike, and he often stayed until most were safely in their dens. There was no friend or family waiting for him, and he was in no hurry to leave. Fighting was, after all, what he knew best. His strength was admired, although his personality was not, but neither could come without the other. The others knew this, and although some stir might be made about his earlier outskirter-kicking, nothing serious would happen.

He waited when she sniffed him, leaning over her small frame for some more flay. Then, with a poppy in his mouth, "Rye."

She gave no thanks, and he expected none. Likewise, he expected their time together would be brief, and did not ask for her own name in return.  

[Fea Line]

She craned her head up as he loomed over her to reach another batch of flay, her tiny paws trembling as she basked in his shadow. And as he spoke to her, even through a poppy seed, he was still so....cool. "Rye....." she said in a voice that was half contemplative, half curious....and one part of admiration. "I'm Bluebell!" she squeaked proudly. She then took a paw and without even thinking of it, ran it over her face....

... and then let out a tiny squeak. "I'm..... ALL... DIRTY!" she cried. How long had she stood there gazing at him with mud... ON HER FACE?!? This was unacceptable! Frith and Inle' what next! Oh he probably thought she was just the most pitiful creature he had ever laid eyes upon! And her fur was ruffled and stained from her tears.... she as so very unladylike! Busy busy busy busy busy busy!

Her tiny paws worked over her fast so quickly she might have rubbed the entire thing off. Her ears twitched and she gave occasional huffs when she ran into bits of mud that refused to leave her fur. And finally when she was done getting herself cleaned.... she was still a poofy ball of baby bunny fur.

Her heart sank again. She swallowed hard to fight back more tears and dared to inch closer to his side so that their fur was nearly touching. She really.... really... really wanted a marli right now.  

[Ryuukishin]

Rye dipped his head lightly, acknowledging the fact that he'd heard her name.

His ears twitched at her sudden cry and one lay back in mild perplexity. It didn't look as if she was in pain. Was it really the dirt that worried her? And if so, was it worth getting so worked up over?

He sat back on his haunches, a clump of grass on his paws held close to his mouth. Her troubles were alien to him and he thought it best if he left now. If it was not a physical pain that ailed her, there was little he could do. She'd receive no understanding from him, and therefore no help. Or so he thought.

He recalled the fight between her and the bullies, where the small wad of mud had been enough to stop her from continuing. Evidently, cleanliness meant a lot to her. When one was alone, it was easy to care for trivial things -- what else would there be to care for, after all?

He slowly settled on all four feet again and, leaning close to Bluebell, gently began to groom her fur.  

[Fea Line]

Bluebell had shut her eyes to try to just make herself disappear..... and then something happened.

Her entire body froze as he did something she had not expected. Was he actually... grooming her? If rabbits could blush, she would be and then some. "Uum...." she blinked, her voice coming in shaky waves. This was not what she expected......and yet..... it was kind of relaxing. Not only that, he was able to reach the places she couldn't. Her eyes fluttered close and a small smile started at the corner of her lips. She hadn't been groomed by another in a long time and for once she actually felt like she had family again....

"Rye....." she said softly, leaning back and getting more comfortable as she relaxed like a newborn kitten in its mother's jaws. She didn't exactly know how to say thank you as that wasn't really a word in her vocabulary list despite the fact that she really wanted to show her gratitude somehow. Instead she decided a subject change would be best..... "Do you... have any family?"  

[Ryuukishin]

Rye paused when Bluebell spoke, wondering if he was being too rough. It wouldn't have surprised him: he'd done little but fight the past few years, and he struggled to be gentle. Unexpectedly, however, it seemed to be the opposite. Bluebell settled back against him, and it stirred him strangely. He didn't think there had ever been any who looked so content to be with him, and he shifted so that she lay between his forepaws.

"I do," he said, but his voice came flat, and he stated it as if he were saying he'd just eaten flay or had a brown coat. He had parents, and siblings from other litters, too, but the circumstances of his youth made him geared towards a loner's life, and he hadn't been in contact with them for many moons, despite them being in the same warren. He may as well have said no, for all the attachments and contact he felt towards them.  

[Fea Line]

Her tiny little nose wrinkled. Somehow his answer disappointed her slightly. She was hoping he was going to be more like her... but she couldn't seem to keep her mind focused on that as she had sunken between his fore paws when he shifted earlier and could now almost doze off to sleep. His fur was so soft and warm and he smelled like the most juiciest piece of flayrah she ever did smell..... he found her eyes quickly shutting and had to shake herself awake to keep from drifting into a heavenly dream. Crying really wore a young girl out......

"Oh...." she said softly, rolling on her back and curling her little paws at her chest. She peered up at him, her two colored eyes blinking yet again. He wondered if he knew anything about her. All the warren rabbits knew each other right? ... Maybe? ... She was sure she had certainly seen him before but.... this was the first time actually talking to him. "So where are they?" she tilted her head, looking up at him like the perfect little princess she thought she was. "I bet they are real proud of how strong you are..." she commented, looking away to lick a paw, her voice slightly filled with jealousy and disdain at her own words.  

[Ryuukishin]

Rye shrugged his shoulders in response, bringing his grooming to a close. It looked like she was about to fall asleep and he didn't want to wake her. The thought that his grooming could be consoling in her slumbers, rather than outright bothersome, didn't even cross his mind.

"Around," he said. It was vague, but it was all he knew. "I wouldn't know how they feel; I rarely see them."

Again, the strange stirring. None had ever outright told him his strength was something to be proud of. Admittedly, he kicked rabbits more than he did elil, and so whenever he fought an enemy off, he was not praised as the others were. He understood the reasons for it, and saw nothing wrong with it. It was odd -- though not necessarily bad -- to hear otherwise.  

[Fea Line]

Bluebell blinked again as she stared up at him, tucking her paw back at her chest before staring at the sky as best she could in her current position. He had stopped grooming her but she felt clean enough anyways. Her paws crossed over her chest as her ears twitched. "Well... at least you have some." she said, fighting back a yawn but it was no use. Her tiny little rabbit mouth popped open an the yawn escaped. She quick pressed her paws to her muzzle in embarrassment before letting out a tiny giggle.

She raised her paws up and gently pawed at his face. "So Mister Rye.... why exactly did you come rescue me?" she said, her eyes half shut as she seemed to finally be warming up and back to her usual royal personality. This was probably very unladylike and very childish but she felt so safe in his paws at that moment that not even the black rabbit himself could have scared her away. Rye was going to be her new very close companion if she had anything to say about it. There was also the fact she felt like a flirty teen in love, if she even had a clue what that meant... or whatever the rabbit equivalent was.