#nottadog

From her perch in the boughs, a certain rider comes swinging down and tackles her opponent in a surprise attack, the two of them rolling a little ways from the spot. Mari skirts to a stop and rises to her feet slowly, her nose wrinkled in a disgusted snarl at the snake that had decided to show his face here again.

"YOUR BLANKETS ARE SO SCRATCHY. You live like this?" His wolf-eared companion had become tolerable, at most. Something about putting up with Gale's inherent stubbornness enough to at least provide him aid when he needed it. Gale had his pride, but he'd still take a dirt hovel with a makeshift door and some blankets over the musty and damp hollows he's been forced to take shelter in the past few weeks. His body still shivered from the chill of river water, hence why he had huddled all of the blankets he could find around his body selfishly. For once, his wings had the added benefit of keeping his sides covered, protecting that fragile warmth he so desperately craved. Still . . . the fabric itched on his scales, making his claws rake deeper into the dirt with some discomfort. He clutches both ends of the blankets with his forepaws as best he could, covering his belly. "Well, it's better than dish rags . . ."

WAIT . . . WHAT? HE COULD HAVE SWORN he had been taking a familiar trail—when and why did the scenery change so suddenly? Had he not been paying attention? Children are prone to follies like that; though Kubo is more insightful than most, it would not be unlike him to lose himself to his own music and eventually, lose his way. Though for once, the youth had not been playing his shamisen and thus risking such haphazardness.

Speaking of which, however, when Kubo begins to suspect that he is lost, the youth reaches for the instrument strapped to his back and swings it around. At the pluck of silken strings, sheets of washi paper fly out and fold into a pair of sparrows, which he commands to soar above the canopy and point him in the direction towards home.

Meanwhile, as he awaits their answer, he hears twigs and branches snap in the shrubbery nearby. It's so close it nearly makes Kubo jump, he jolts and turns toward the direction of the noise, staring wide-eyed in waiting.

@skxrbrand THAT DESCRIBES LIKE 2000 IMAGES

Tighnari was studying some nearby flora as his ears perk up to a fresh water stream that flowed peacefully in a vast open space, he sniffed the air before peering into the clear water as several fish swam by.

His stomach growled as he was hungry so him with his fennec instinct, he dunked his head into the water to grab a fish by his teeth, nipping around to get the tasty morsels.

Unaware if anyone was nearby.

@nottadog

“Okay.”

“So the blue lady that hurt Alexander, made him really really mad... she’s friends with Lupin.”

“She is?!”

“Yes, and... I don’t want you to see him anymore.”

“But he’s my friend!”

“I know but... do you remember when you made friends with Maddy? And then it turned out she was collecting information for Suzy who was her friend?”

“... yeah, she wasn’t nice....”

“Well that could happen with Lupin, even if he’s not bad the blue lady could still use him to get to you. You getting hurt would make Alexander really sad and angry again, and I don’t want anything to happen to you. Even Cromwell is worried about it. We can’t risk it.”

“Did the blue lady mean to make Alexander mad?”

“Yes she did, she also broke my leg.”

“That was her?!”

“Yes. I know you care about Lupin and this is really sad to stop seeing a  friend. And its okay to be sad about it. But you know I wouldn’t tell you this unless I really believed it was the best thing to do.”

“... was he just... friends with me so Alexander would let him come here, and so the blue lady would know about me?”

“I-... I don’t know sweetheart. I don’t think so. But you’re an amazing little girl with a big heart, and anyone would be lucky to have you for a friend.”

“... I’ll stay away from him.”

@xaallo "... Maybe?!"

Xaallo shakes his head. Kids.

...Wait--

He reorientates himself in the water so that’s looking directly at the child. And yeah, it’s a kid alright.