[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]With a warm spring breeze to serve as his blanket and the earth as his bed, Fox was napping in the sun's dappled light beneath a tree hung heavy with blossoms. The gentle singsong of the local birds roused him, and with a wide yawn, the dappled buck rose to greet the sun. He shook the dew from his fur and stretched his long legs. Normally, the laid-back buck would have lounged about, dozing in the sun, snacking on wildflowers until sun-high, but not today! No, Fox was out here with a purpose.

There was a doe, you see. Tall and lithe, with a beautiful white coat and a mane of sunsilk, so long it tickled the grass as she walked. He smiled to himself, remembering their light-hearted conversations as he helped her remove the leaves and twigs that ended up there.

She was pregnant. He was to be a father, again. The thought blossomed in his heart like a flower with petals made of sunlight. Speak No was in no condition to travel and so he had taken it upon himself to trek across the swamp and bring her back a Blessing.

And so, the rosey buck looked about, lifting the small bundle from his makeshift nest, chose a direction at random, and walked on.

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... ncert7.png[/imgleft] A fat fish bobbed along in a stream, keeping pace with... someone. She couldn't see them, but she knew they were there. She always knew. The mothers and fathers that she found- she always knew they were there, somehow. The swamp worked in mysterious ways.

Was she getting closer? She leaped from the water to see if they were within range. Fatfish being the shape they were, it wasn't a particularly high jump, but she did come down with a mighty splash. That might attract someone. Or it might do nothing. If it did nothing, she'd try a different shape.

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]He meandered right along, following a bubbling stream. His bright green eyes, flicked this way and that, although truthfully, he had no idea what he was looking for. Fox had never met a Legend before. Did they look just like kin?

His thoughts were interrupted by his stomach grumbling. Hm, breakfast would help.

It was then that he heard the splash. Turning his head, he looked at the stream, swollen by the snowmelt from the mountains, and watched as a brown, bloated fish bobbed along. He licked his lips and trotted along after it. He didn't hunt too often, it was a lot of effort, but this little fish seemed easy enough. As he leaned in to try and snatch it, the fish leaped and splashed! He laughed, shaking the water from his nose.

"What a funny little fish," He chuckled, waffling on whether to try again or go for something easier.

@Scaramouche Fandango

Fish launched herself again, this time wiggling about a bit more before splashing down. This was the one! This was who she was looking for!

And oh, she was going to play a hilarious joke on him if he took the bait. She waited just under the surface of the water, face angled in his direction. As soon as he moved in, she'd change shape. It would be funny and practical.

See, Fish liked to assess new parents by watching them fish. It always showed her something important about their character. Most kin, when left to their own devices, did a pretty good job with their kids- but you could always suss out their anxieties or concerns if you were patient enough. Fishing showed patience, and it showed where kin shone and where they lacked.

Additionally, kin's reactions to this kind of ridiculous practical joke could also be a wonderful predictor of how they'd react to sudden and abrupt changes. Like children. Or suddenly finding that the fish you thought you were about to eat was a Totoma, really.

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]In the end, his stomach won out. He lowered his face, almost touching the surface of the water, staring unblinkingly at the strange brown fish with a grin on his face. Such fun!

He waited there for a good few moments. Some kin might label him as patient. Others would say lazy. In his mind, though, he was neither. He just didn't enjoy wasting energy on things that didn't need it. Why be upset over something you can't change? Or make double work for yourself instead of being efficient? Life was short, why not enjoy it? That's what he thought, anyway.

He struck out at the fish, wanting to make short work of the kill and get to the tasty treat as soon as he could.

@Scaramouche Fandango

And THAT was when she turned back into a kin. Her nose in his teeth, water splashed in all directions.

"You caught me!" she said, sides heaving with laughter. "So now that you've caught a fish... make a wish!"

@Blinded By Silence

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]It all happened so fast. A blur, really. One moment, he was bringing his teeth together to catch a tasty-looking fish, and then the next there was a Totoma's snout in his mouth. Fox swore for a moment that his heart stopped entirely! But before he could even begin to wrap his mind around what had just happened, the mare's laughter had gotten to him and he too was soon snorting with laughter. The rosy buck fell back on his haunches and laughed so deeply, petals fell from his horns.

"Oh my," He said between bits of laughter, "Well I can't say I've ever had that happen before! That's it, no more fishing for me."

When he had finally caught his breath, he blinked the tears from his eyes and looked at the mare before him.

"I've never met a Totoma that could turn into a fish! That must be convenient when random kin doesn't try and pluck you from the water. Sorry about that!"

@Scaramouche Fandango