[ PRP ] Brotherly Love [ Crack x Waltz ] <GAIA REPOST>

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... ce_tia.gif[/imgleft]Crack in the Ice crept slowly after a foxbun she had spotted as she roamed about the swamp. Just a little more...catching the creature should be no trouble for a kiokote like herself, she thought, licking her lips as she inched closer. She was covered in muck, but she didn't really care. It was dinner time.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]Dances with Shadows wasn't overly fond of the swamp. It wasn't the dampness that clung to his fur, or the noisy, buzzing insects that darted about his ears. It was the blasted mud that covered everything. It was sticky and nasty and it impeded his movement. But the gooey mix of dirt and water were the last thing on his mind as he crept as silently as he could through the mucky terrain.

His sister had wandered off, again, into this strange, untempered land where any number of threats could take her. He was her older brother, after all, and as a gentleman and sibling, it was his job to keep her safe, and she was making that job particularly difficult. And so, he was now currently mucking about in a mud puddle, sneaking after her.

Waltz was an excellent hunter. On solid ground, that is. He moved silently in the tall grass and struck as fast as lightning! But here, the mud slowed him, tripped his hooves, one of which had just stepped on a particularly loud twig. SNAP! The sound echoed in the suddenly silent swamp. Wincing, Waltz lifted his head and watched as a foxbun darted away. His ears drooped as his eyes met those of his sister.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... ce_tia.gif[/imgleft]Crack frowned at a sudden noise that sent the foxbun scampering, and looked around to find the cause. Of course. Her brother had followed her. Frowning, she stomped up to him through the muck. "What do you think you are doing here?" she demanded, scowling at him. "You just scared my dinner away!"

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]Waltz huffed, his ears pointed back. Why was his sister always like this? Didn't she understand that it was dangerous out here? Especially being the beautiful young doe that she was. And alone too! He stood as tall as he could, raising his chin, trying to look intimidating, like a male should be.

"You shouldn't be out here alone, " He said, his voice cracking slightly, "The swamp is full of dangers for a lady. I was making sure you were safe."

Waltz thought of the poisonous snakes and hungry crocodiles, imagining the many ways his little sister could come to harm. Slipping in mud, breaking an ankle, anything could have happened. She was lucky he was there to protect her, really! 

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... ce_tia.gif[/imgleft]Crack continued scowling at him. It was impossible for her brother to intimidate her.

"What dangers? Do you see any crocodiles out here?!" She made a sweeping, annoyed gesture with her tail. "Just because I'm a girl does not mean I need to be taken care of all the time! I'm not a foal anymore! I'm an adult. I can take care of myself."

The doe eyed her brother challengingly. What made this even more exasperating was that they were the same age.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]Waltz flicked his ears, holding his sister's glare. After a moment, his eyes lowered and his ears drooped.

"Well... No. I haven't seen any. but..." He twitched his tail and lowered his head, "I really am sorry, sister. I just don't want you getting hurt..."

He shuffled uneasily under her stare. Why was she so mad at him? He was only trying to help, really...

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... ce_tia.gif[/imgleft]Crack frowned at her brother a moment longer, then relented. She knew he only wanted to protect her, but she absolutely couldn't stand being coddled and defended. It was why she was always wandering into the swamp, away from the obnoxious males on the plains who just wanted to hide her away in a harem with the other does.

"Don't worry so much," Crack said soothingly. "The Kimeti have lived here for a long time, after all, and they don't have any problems. I'm not going too far south. Besides, the swamp...calls to me. Don't you feel it even a little?" Crack tilted her head and looked at her brother expectantly.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]Waltz tilted his head slightly in contemplation. She did have a point, he thought. The swamp, as nasty and inhospitable as it seemed, was very well populated with the goat-like creatures.

The smokey Kiokote lifted his hoof and watched with a raised eyebrow as the soupy earth-water mix slopped off into the water.

"Yeah... I think you must be hearing voices, Sister," Waltz gave her a friendly smile before gazing up at the pretty green canopy, "Although, I do like the way the sun feels here. Gentle, not overbearing." 

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... ce_tia.gif[/imgleft]Crack sighed. Many who hadn't experienced the Ache for themselves tended to view it with incredulity. But even their parents had been known to wander down into the swamp...particularly their mother. If Crack wanted to find her, all she had to do was wait around at the beach and her mother would show up eventually.

"Well, at least you can see there are good things here too," she said, returning his smile and taking a moment to shake the muck out of her fur. "Even if it's dirty and the insects bite. Now, if that's all, I'd really like to get on with dinner." 

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]Waltz gave a gentle laugh, grinning and wincing as some of the muck from his sister's fur sprayed him. With a smile he stepped over to her and nudged her lightly.

"The flowers are beautiful, and the grass is soft. I'm sure you will be happy here," He stood tall again, "So, I'll leave you to play in the mud. Just check in every once in awhile, okay? Adult or not, you are still my sister. I worry."

And with that, Dancing with Shadows lightly made his way back to the plains where he belonged. To lie in the grass, dance with the dusty winds, and occasionally check in on his sister when she wasn't looking.