Welcome to Gaia! ::

With an adorable little waggle of his tufted tail, Smudge gamboled merrily through fern and moss and swamp-flora while a kimeti doe languidly trailed behind him. Her pale eyes were alight with warm affection; Berrybramble kept a close watch on the foxbun as he scampered and played, comfortable under her watchful gaze. "Just don't get too far ahead, Smudge," the motherly doe warned gently. The swamp was full of dangerous things, creatures that would not hesitate to snap Smudge up in a single bite if he was not careful.

Berry was protective of her little friend, though, and would gladly spend the rest of the day being Smudge's eyes and ears if he wished to continue playing. Her heart was true and kind, and nothing that Berrybramble wished to accomplish before sundown was nearly as important as whatever Smudge wanted to do.

But it seemed as though neither kimeti nor foxbun would find either of their desires satisfied; Smudge was careless and quick and not too keen on watching here he was going, and with Berry just a few steps too far behind... well, Smudge tripped over a pair of outstretched hooves and slid nose-first into the dirt. Berry quickened into a trot to catch up at the sound of his surprised and alarmed squeal, but relaxed immediately upon seeing Never Act as the reason for Smudge's distress.

"Up you go," Berry ambled to the foxbun's side and nosed him up from the swamp floor with a gentle nudge of her snout. The aged doe turned to Never Act and with a gentle smile, made an apology on behalf of her little companion.

"Sorry about that, sometimes he gets too excited and forgets to watch where he's walking. I hope he didn't hurt you," not that Berry could see any harm to the dark doe's hooves of legs, but there was always the chance!

Berrybramble was an old and wise doe, one who had lived long and experienced much. The angry lashings-out of a young doe would not push her away so easily. Berry simply smiled understandingly, a gentle display of emotion that was barely a whisper across her face. The slightest incline of her head was indication of her relief Never Act had not been hurt.

"I'm glad you're okay," she said simply, and shifted her weight upon her hooves. Smudge had long since righted himself (with help from his old lady, of course!) and came over to sit on his hind paws between Berry's front legs. The foxbun leaned forward and placed one front paw upon the ground while holding the other to his chest, sending out an inquiring chitter to the dark-and-red doe.

"Hush, Smudge. Don't press her," Berry lightly chided her mud-splattered familiar. "He is also very curious," the muted doe explained to the younger, smiling in an affectionate way at the foxbun. She refrained from acknowledging Never Act's request to be left alone, instead simply remaining where she was.