He was, not for the first time, quite outside of his own depths.

Promises had spent the better part of the morning idly wandering the small thatch of (rather sad looking, if he was honest) strawberry plants just beside a cluster of trees that had branches heavily laden with late night rain. The strawberries had been delicious, if not a bit meager, but they hadn't settled anything in Promises' stomach - or his heart, which seemed to be a little faster every time he considered what lay ahead of him.

He wondered what his grandfather would think.

He wondered what his father would think.

He wondered a lot of things, but there were very few answers and Promises was too hesitant (or weak) to go and talk to his grandfather, who of all kimeti would have known what to do. Or, at the very least, he would have had some advice, but Promises wasn't sure he could take that sort of seriousness right now, not when everything else was looming at the forefront of his mind.

So he stood here, near the despondent strawberry patch, floundering.

@Gl!tch~

[imgright]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... ncert2.png[/imgright]
Tidal Terror didn't flouder.

How could she, when she was too busy turtling?

Instead she toddled and swayed, bobbing about less than half the height she usually was.

The usually-totoma had an appreciation for strawberries herself, and there was something delightful in having the bushes loom over her for once. For a little bit she could pretend that the world was bigger, that it was more plentiful.

Even though today's pickings seemed slim, she took no issue.

She opened her mouth, leaned in to bite some fresh fruit, then felt that familiar tug.

Tidal Terror paused. Slowly, her gaze traveled over to a nearby kimeti.

Ah. So she wasn't just in the area for breakfast.

She picked a strawberry then started ambling over to the buck.

@kuropeco

Briefly lost in his own thoughts, Promises missed the fact that there was a rather large (and apparently hungry) tortoise lurking nearby. It wasn't until the slow shuffle of crushed grass rustling underfoot that he realized that he wasn't alone; his head rose, brow furrowing, as he took in the creature.

Somewhere at his hooves, Vow, who had been napping peacefully, roused herself and peeked out from behind, the snow fox curling closer to him. Promises tilted his head uncertainly.

"Hello?" he tried, somewhat meekly.

@Gl!tch~

Tidal Terror nodded her head in greeting in return. Her pace stayed steady, and she made it over in due time. Once she did, she looked up at the buck.

She shifted back to totoma form, then looked down at him. She crunched the strawberry in her mouth, then swallowed. It was hard to speak with food in your mouth, after all!

"Hail and well-met! What can I do for you on this fine day, my friend?"

@kuropeco

Oh. It was speaking to him. Promises tossed his head, a nervous gesture that had nothing to do with dismissal and everything to do with the fact that he suddenly felt uncomfortable and couldn't for the life of him understand why.

Because you're not worthy of whatever it is they're going to tell you, said a small voice in his thoughts - one that sounded suspiciously like his grandfather. Promises pushed it aside and cleared his throat.

"I...I'm not sure," he said, pressing a hoof against the ground. "I've never spoken to a tortoise before. Are you here to..."

He trailed off, thoughts slightly askew. "...talk to me about something?" he eventually finished, somewhat lamely.

@Gl!tch~