Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Hey wait!" Nuawahn scrambled from his shelter to chase after the spitorog as it hopped into the jungle, "Its ok! I can help!"

Energy stirred, sparked, and finally blazed within him, his lethargy held at bay for the one inane task of helping the spitorog.

The spitorog, honestly, did not need help. It was doing what spitorogs did: be inane and random and annoying. But Nuawahn had convinced himself, and there was no stopping him.

He chased the beast over swamps and trails, through mists and mud, and finally onto the path, where he pounced on it, cuddling it close as its spines poked into his scarf, worn despite the heat of Jahuar.

"I got you!" he laughed, playfully, holding it out to take a look. The spitorog began to burble, its eyes crossing as Nuawahn examined it. It had no wounds, not even a scrape. "You look healthy!" he commented, poking it once. It gurgled a reply, weakly shoving at his hands, "And pudgy too!" he snuggled it again, giggling, "Pudgy froggy!" he said, in a singsong voice, "I love you pudgy froggy!"

Having found a road, he figured he may as well use it, and he began to walk in whatever direction suited him at that moment, humming as he hugged the wild animal to his chest.

Finally, in a rush of wiggling, the spitorog freed itself and bounced back into its jungle home. Nua's feelings were not hurt - in fact, he waved a cheerful goodbye as it vanished into the shadows.

Today had been a bad day when it started. But now, thanks to the pudgy froggy, it was a good day, and Nuawahn was forever grateful.

Well, for as long as forever meant to Nuawahn, anyway. The spitorog was forgotten by the end of the day, but it's legacy of joy remained. And that was enough for Nua.