[PRP] Hello, Darkness, my new friend... [Night Bird x Beneath the Surface] [fin]

[Jynk]

[imgleft]http://www.matope-swamp.com/images/arau ... uncert.png[/imgleft]


It had been some time since Night Bird went on a solo hunt, usually accompanied by Twilight Hunter, but tonight she wanted to roam alone in the darkness. She looked about the moonlit swamp, sniffing at the air for prey. She wasn't sure really what she was in the mood for exactly, being more attracted to the idea of tracking and chasing more than eating a creature. Perhaps it was a night of reflection. She understood that her grandfather often roamed about, lost in his thoughts. Maybe it was a trait passed through the family. Being alone with her thoughts wasn't so bad, but after some time, she was starting to miss having company.

@SerinaNight

[SerinaNight]

Beneath the Surface was practicing talking. After his... success? at the Winter Market he realized part of the problem was actually being able to get the words out of his mouth, something that was surprisingly difficult when it came down to it. So, off he had gone as he wasn't exactly going to sit around with everyone else muttering to himself. Besides, he could talk to them just fine, at least the ones he knew well anyway. He was still getting used to some of the newcomers in the herd but that would just take time. It wasn't real practice anyway, since the point was to talk to people he DIDN'T already know. Not only that he didn't really feel like listening to Sunlit Rock's teasing at the moment, and Fire in the Night would never shut up if she caught him and once again, he did not feel like listening to that right now.

So, off he had gone, wandering off to a more deserted part of the swamp, speaking silently to himself for practice. Even just imagining talking to an unknown kin left him stumbling over his words. He tried picturing himself back at the market, but that only made it worse as it reminded him of how badly he'd done. Well, at least he'd done it right? That was something. He paused, and took a deep breath. He needed to calm down. Working himself up wouldn't help, sighing, he shook his head and continued forward, testing a few more greetings. Turning a corner around a tree he found himself face to face with a pair of glowing eyes to match his own. Choking on the words that he had been whispering he stared, open mouthed for a moment before managing to stutter something out.

"H-hello."

@Jynk

[Jynk]

The doe's head jerked up at the sound of a voice, her senses snapping back to the present. It took a second to realize where the voice was coming from, a young buck standing not very far from her. "Hello," she replied, tentatively, unsure of his motives. He appeared to be somewhat withdrawn, but she couldn't tell if this was an act or his true nature. She took a cautious step forward. "What brings you to this area of the swamp?"

@SerinaNight

[SerinaNight]

The buck shuffled his hooves, rocking a bit as the doe spoke. While he wasn't uncomfortable enough to actually step back, especially since the doe herself was so cautious in her approach, but the initial reaction remained. Beneath the Surface did however glance down, away from the doe's face, finding himself feeling a bit embarrassed by the sudden conversation, even though he had initiated it. The doe's question did not help. Rubbing his face against his shoulder he peeked up at her, the glow of his eye almost hidden beneath his eyelid.

"I- uh, well-"

The buck felt his skin flush, and pawed the ground with his front hoof.

"I- was... practicing..."

Beneath the Surface honestly wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole, and looked away again. His words faded off into almost a whisper.

"...talking."

@Jynk

[Jynk]

Practicing talking? Night Bird had never heard an adult kin need to practice before. "You speak very well. I can't imagine you'd need much practice," she told him, letting her guard down somewhat at his flustered mannerisms. Perhaps he was like her grandfather and not very good at relating to others. Her expression softened at the thought. "I suppose you could practice talking with me, if you'd like."

@SerinaNight

[SerinaNight]

Beneath the Surface was so taken back by her compliment that his eyes shot up, and he stared straight at her seeming surprised. He blinked a few times before tentatively tilting his head.

"...thank you. I would like that quite a bit actually."

The buck flushed again, tilting his head the other way and smiling softly. He pawed the ground once more, glancing down and looking like he was thinking quite hard. Angling his head back and forth a few times he looked up, his eyes glancing back and forth sheepishly.

"...I can't think of anything to talk about." A small breath, probably a little laugh, escaped his lips before he paused, obviously embarrassed. After a short moment he suddenly looked up, like he had just realized something, his ears perking up and the smile returning.

"I- I haven't introduced myself. I'm... Beneath the Surface." The buck, peeking up at the doe again, shifted his weight before adding. "What are you doing out here?" This lead into another stutter as he quickly added, "I-if y- you don't mind my asking."

@Jynk

[Jynk]

The doe let out a chuckle, unable to help but be amused by the buck's demeanor. "I'm Night Bird. I came out to hunt, but I suppose really I just wanted to have time to think and reflect on things. I guess I got to the end of my thoughts, though, since I found myself missing the company of others." She smiled a bit, tilting her head as well, an unconscious mimic of the buck's. "Do you often practice talking?"

@SerinaNight

[SerinaNight]

The buck bounced a little while listening, enjoying this surprisingly more than he had originally thought he would. Beneath the Surface generally didn't hunt, though some of the other members of his herd did some hunting, as did the smaller companions they had, so he knew very little about it. He supposed Sweet was a hunter as well, but being a spider her method of hunting was probably rather different then a kins.

For a moment he had been worried he'd interrupted the doe's task, but was relieved to hear she has long since finished, sighing with relief to himself. The buck's ears perked up, twitching happily at her comment of wanting company, something he himself didn't notice, though made it fairly obvious he was enjoying their talk. His bouncing continued, though it seemed to have shifted into a more happy dance than an awkward shifting as time went on.

Her question brought a bit of embarrassment back into his face, and his ears faltered, eyes glancing away slightly, hiding their glow. "Ah, no... not... usually." The buck paused, and seemed to shift back into his more happy mood. "I- well, thought I should try it?" His tone was questioning, and he seemed to be wondering why himself. Suddenly he seemed to change streams of thought completely, and his ears perked back up again, eyes curious and glow bright. "I've never really been hunting before, but I know how it feels to want to think and reflect." The buck beamed. "It's nice to meet you."

@Jynk

[Jynk]

"It is nice to meet you as well," Night Bird replied, inclining her head slightly. "You don't really spend much time talking to others, do you?" She figured it was a fair observation, given her experience with her own family members that seemed to have the same social awkwardness. It was... endearing. Night Bird found herself warming up to this buck. "You have never hunted? I supposed it's not for every kin. Sometimes I say I am going hunting, but find myself just wandering the swamp. I think it must run in my family to get lost in one's thoughts."

@SerinaNight

[SerinaNight]

The buck's ears dropped a bit and he seemed to ponder the question. "I- well no, not often. I listen, mostly." He tilted his head a bit, curious at the phrasing of the Night Bird's question. He liked how she'd said it, if it had to be said at all, so he wasn't specifically bothered by it but wasn't exactly happy it was so obvious. Well, nothing much to be done about that, and he was enjoying this conversation. So far this doe seemed very nice, she wasn't brusk or in-your-face, probably because she also wasn't that type of kin. It made it easier to talk to her, as he didn't feel pushed to reach a certain point or talk a certain amount.

Her comments about wandering and thinking reminded him of Shadowed Moon, and he knew several other members of his herd liked to wander off with their thoughts. Not that he himself wasn't prone to his thoughts wondering off, but he usually did this while weaving grass strands, or watching Sweet, not while walking. He'd tried once, and it hadn't gone so well so he generally didn't do it anymore, plus it ended up distracting him since the idea of not paying attention to where he was going seemed uncomfortable. Though, he supposed this time it had worked out? "Many of my herd also like to wander while thinking, so I understand." The buck smiled softly, glancing up at her again. "I usually sit with Sweet or weave while thinking..."

@Jynk

[Jynk]

"My grandsire and his brother also tend to wander, often lost in their own thoughts. Neither are very good at talking with others, but for different reasons," Night Bird said, nodding a bit. "I find it sometimes helps, too, when wanting to have a moment of solitude. I guess I'm not as good at being lost in my own thoughts as they are, though. A moment with my thoughts and I begin missing others' voices." She chuckled. "I do listen more than talk, too, i guess."

She moved about, shifting her weight, before looking at him again. "You seem nice, though. Maybe we can listen to others together some time."

@SerinaNight

[SerinaNight]

Beneath the Surface knew his mother, but they weren't very much alike. He felt more in common with Shadowed Moon and his children than his own mother, but perhaps it was different in different families. Night Bird seemed to know more of her family, so it was likely he might have some relatives he was similar too. Then again, apparently Shadowed Moon raised Sunlit Rock, so perhaps he was like a grandfather in a way? The buck let this train of thought lapse as the doe continued to speak about herself. He nodded along, it was something he could understand. Despite being so unsure around talking or interacting with others, he also got lonely quite easily.

The buck found himself shifting closer to the doe subconsciously, leaning his shoulder toward hers as though to comfort or share his understanding with her. The buck nodded again, more enthusiastically this time, and was about to speak in agreement when Night Bird paused. The buck could tell she was going to speak but found he felt butterflies in his chest, and any words he had died when they locked eyes. His ears perked and twitched as he waited for her words.

Beneath the Surface felt his skin flush again, and smiled, his head glanced down but he peeked up, keeping his eyes on the doe, smiling softly. "Y-you seem nice too. I would really like that... quite, quite a lot actually..." The buck beamed at her, pawing the ground, embarrassed by his own forwardness. He looked around sheepishly before locking eyes with her again, ears standing up hopefully as his tail flicked back and forth with nervousness. "Perhaps... we can walk together? You can be lost in your thoughts, with me... to listen, or- or talk, if you want." He added quickly, but then trailed off and spoke softly "...or we can just be together, for a while."

"Then we won't feel lonely?"

@Jynk

[Jynk]

Night Bird smiled at the buck, warming up to him. "I'd like that. Having a companion on walks, I mean. I usually have my eaglehound, but he is following his own path tonight." She bumped her shoulder against the buck's own. "Come along. I know where a bush of sweet berries are we can eat while we talk." She walked away, pausing long enough to make sure the buck followed, then headed for the clearing her grandsire's brother had told her about on one of his visits. After all, her initial plan for coming out was to hunt and since she hadn't, she had begun to grow hungry.

@SerinaNight

[SerinaNight]

The buck stumbled forward a bit, beaming as the doe bumped shoulders with him, and quickly took up pace next to her, allowing their scales to brush as they walked. Night Bird was kind enough to wait for him to catch his feet and pace himself next to her, something he was grateful for. He was also, quite obviously by his tail swishes, pleased she also liked his suggestion of them spending more time walking together.

"I usually have Sweet with me, uh, she's my spider, but she's... weaving? right now." The buck wasn't sure the term for when a spider made thread, but whatever it was she was working on it so he hadn't bothered asking if she wanted to come along, as she often ignored him when working, and if she had wanted to she would have. Plus he was going to be heading back soon, or at least he had been planning on it. Who knew how long he'd be gone now, though it likely won't be long enough for Sweet to get angry at him.

If she did he'd just bring her back some lovely fat bugs and hopefully she'd forgive him quickly. "I'm a bit hungry myself."

@Jynk

[Jynk]

The doe stopped at the bush she'd been seeking and turned back to the buck, presenting the plant to him. "My grandsire's father said these are the best berries in the area. He travels a lot, so I'm inclined to believe him." She gave a soft laugh before taking a few bites of the berries, sating her hunger. "My other great-uncle has markings similar to yours. I wonder if you've ever met him."