Slumbering Beast toiled away at the entrance of the enclosed burrow. Spry, leafy branch in his mouth, he dusted away the larger sharp rocks to reveal smoother gravel and dirt. Packed in, it was as gentle on the hooves as it was going to get. And soon there would be the pitter patter of hooves onto packed clay to contend with. It was fortunately Spring and the tundra was held at bay. No nasty slips from the sacs or whatever a livebirth would entail. While Totoma were common, they still were not that numerous. It was a miracle Slumbering Beast even got to meet or catch the fancy of one. Seeks Them out was much too good for him. And  as he pruned and tended to their entrance garden, he deemed it as beautiful as the one who caught his eye, and set forth for his journey. He would find a legendary one way or the other. With a swagger to his hips, he whistled a jaunty tune and swished his tail to the tempo.

"Help. help. I've fallen and I can't get up," he squeaked in a high pitch voice. Kimeti in distress was a universal call right?

Atone's eyes narrowed as the call seemed to louden within her ears. She had found a semblance of peace lounged in an abandoned eagle's nest that gave her a great view of the swamp below and she loathed to give it up just yet. It was a duty that never slept, this being in need. It gave her a much need purpose, true, but there were days where she would have liked to have turned it off or tasked someone else with it. She twitched her wings as she climbed to her webbed feet. At least she could fly there in this form; she'd have smirked if a swan could have done so.

It might have taken her longer to find the fool than she would have liked to admit but once she did . . .

The swan flew in with a decidely long and loud series of what could only be called yelling at the buck who was not in distress at all. It hissed and charged ahead. He deserved it, after all.

Slumbering Beast had many failings, but thanked the Great Crane for his thick hide and back spikes. Until the not so ordinary swan switched tactics and aimed for the eyes. Ow ow ow.

"I give up. I'm sorry, Ouch, ouch, Okay. HELP FOR REAL NOW. FOR REAL." He tried to wack back at the swan, but it was more adroit at moving in quick bursts and that damn neck was agile. All his vulnerable bits were pecked at. Total war was waged and nothing was spared.

Bloody and bitten, he glared at the murdering swan.

"What is wrong with you, featherbrain?"

Another hiss and then a mare stood before him, glowering but proud. The thought to crush him came to mind but she imagined that would be frowned upon by the MotherFather. They had chosen her and it likely wasn't to maim and kill. Unfortunate, really; sometimes a little culling stopped the spread of stupidity. She'd leave it for later, assuming her patience and kindness lasted that long.

"Haven't you ever heard of the kimeti that cried wolf?" she growled; it was sickly and sweet and threatening all at once. She could have been a lover, a friend, or a predator. He'd have to settle for one out of three.

"It ate the wolf and got indigestion" Slumbering Beast asked. What was this doe asking him and oh my MotherFather, it was not just a doe but a Mare. And he needed a Mare, but this Mare just beat his ass soundly.

Like a fish out of water, he was gaping open mouthed. Thankfully, his beloved wasn't here to witness this low moment of his life.

She simply stared, then slowly replied with a drawn out, "No," like she was talking to a newborn. "The kimeti continued to cry wolf and when he came upon a crocodile no one came to help him. Why should they? He'd always been lying before," she lifted a brow, "Sounds familiar, doesn't it?"

How does one recover from such an event and then beseech the kin they offended and got beaten up by?

If he survived today and did not die by embarrassment, he would have all the secrets of the swamp at this point.

"I.. I. that's a nice story."

He was stuttering and stalling, but wanted to desperately ask the Mare for help, but did not know which words to force out of his mouth.

"Pineapple," the dumbfounded buck blurted out.

Atone let out a sigh, "You're a bit hard headed, I see. We'll have to eradicate that from your seeds sprouting, won't we?" She looked all too happy to do it, possibly by force, if her previous rampage was any indication. Thankfully for him, and them, it wasn't. At least, not yet.

"Your children," and she paused, "Oh, yes, I know why you called. Next time, try to be drowning," she shot. There was no shame in taking a moment to imagine it, this foul fellow sunk to his chin in frothing waters as he bleated like a pathetic child. But then that was insulting to children, wasn't it?

Then she resumed, "will learn from their father's mistakes and listen to their elders to better themselves. They will be healthy and happy and polite to those they wish favors from."

That was good. Pointed like a talon to the throat, but good all the same. Outwardly, she only stared though her smile was pleased; inwardly, she preened. She might enjoy this after all.

Like succor to those dying of thirst, Slumbering Beast was overjoyed.

"Thank you" he stated quietly. A bit meekly, but quietly overjoyed to live another day.