Well, this was a predicament. Not a new one, mind, but a predicament nonetheless. Hold Me Tight knew better than to question how this had happened, she knew very well how. Instead, as she strolled through the swamp a little aimlessly, she tried to work out just how she felt about it. The last time she'd found herself expected she'd been expecting it, flowers had been involved, and maybe a little fermented fruit on her part. She'd gotten three lovely daughters out of that encounter, and she loved her girls, even some of them were a little...strange.

There was nothing wrong with strange.

This time around this were a bit less expected. Of course, she'd known there was a chance, there always was. There would be more babies, and she'd love them as much as she loved her girls. Whether Panic stuck around or not.

Flower on a Tree was living his best life, strolling through the swamp admiring all of the plants that were growing. He enjoyed the peace and quiet of this beautiful day and his wonderful company. It wasn't often the whole party decided to come out with him since they group of them were often fighting over which of them got to ride on top of the stag. However, he was walking around at such a peaceful pace that no one was fighting at all. Absolutely beautiful.

As he moseyed around, he took notice of a doe in the distance. This caused him to stop awkwardly. He might have gifts from the Motherfather and newfound courage, he still was the same awkward boy he always was. He wanted to approach her but he was nervous. Although HE might have been quiet, the party with him was not. They were absolutely shrieking loud enough to get anyone's attention nearby, and what Hold Me Tight or Don't would see if she looked was a grand stag with budding branches coming from his head as antlers and budding flowers lifting out of his fur across his back, and don't forget those piercing and glowing pink eyes.

How did one approach a new friend? It was a very good question.

Beejoux wrote:

The peaceful quiet Hold had been wandering through was very slowly being eaten away. It was subtle at first, hardly noticeable, but it grew louder quickly, and at it wasn't like anything the doe had ever heard before. She stiffened, ears flicking up to listen. What on earth was that?

Then she saw them, round, furry little bodies all tumbling and swarming together from between the trees. No, if Hold Me Tight had ever seen an oddbody before this might not have been quite so...traumatic. As it was, the doe had not, and she let out a scream of distress.

appeal wrote:

How did one approach someone? Flower on a Tree still did not know but when the doe screamed he rushed over... well, not immediately. He gave a quick look around as one did when they were as cautious as him. The silhouette of a transparent humblebee flashed in the corner of his eye and he took a deep breath, preparing himself as he finally rushed over. Of course, he didn't know WHY she was screaming. He would never consider it, and the small herd of furbies, both odd and not, followed him. Some of them, particularly the ones with many... many... rows of teeth, seemed to be so excited they were making a 'nyam nyam nyam' sound. Today was so exciting!~ Quick, chase our best friend Flower on a Tree!

"Dear doe! Are you all right? You've given me quite a fright!" He announced, looking around and trying to assess the situation of his future friend.

Nyam nyam nyam, and many various shrieking sounds could be heard as the herd caught up to him.

Beejoux wrote:

Oh Motherfather, what was happening? The sound...that sound was awful.

She gave another little shriek when the buck appeared, more startled this time than afraid. Then rushed over to him, putting his much larger frame between the horde and herself. He was big, and he hand large antlers to fend them off with. He'd fair better than she would. "They just came out of nowhere!"

appeal wrote:

His large eyes looked around in a small moment of panic when the doe told him that they had come out of nowhere. What had come out of nowhere? What had he signed up for here?! He took a deep breath, "What do you mean? I don't see anything to be concerned about here."

And he'd know. This buck was frightened by a lot of things in the swamp. Thankfully, he had the tools to manage his fears now.

"Everything is fine! It's all right!" He said this was the octofurbody began climbing up his leg to get a better spot.

Beejoux wrote:

"Those things!" What did he mean he couldn't see anything to be concerned about, one was literally crawling up his legs as they spoke. "Right there, there's a dozen or so." She started backing away from him now as well, since he was being enveloped. "Teeth, and legs, and tentacles..."

Was she about to see some poor buck get eaten? She hoped not, but...better him then her.

appeal wrote:

The sun rose in the stag's head as he realized her concerns with deep disbelief. How could someone be afraid of these sweet creatures? He felt sympathetic for the doe who was afraid of something unknown. He could most certainly relate to that.

"Oh, dear doe, they're my companions! Do not be afraid, they won't hurt you! These are furbodies. I admit, some are a bit more odd than others but that's what makes them so enchanting," he said as he began to sing a song. This song caused the buds of flowers around them to suddenly bloom around them, an event Flower on a Tree hoped would sooth the frightened doe.

This action made the furbodies calm down a little as well, the scents of all the flowers opening at the same time relaxing them as they sat at Flower on a Tree's feet silently.

Beejoux wrote:

"What?" She'd paused her retreat, looking incredulously between the buck and the writhing mass of furbodies at his feet. These were...pets, companions. Hold Me Tight didn't look entirely convinced. "You're sure they won't hurt me? Not even the ones with the teeth?" Those, in particular, were nightmare fuel.

The buck started singing and Hold Me Tight blinked, looking up at him, then around as flowers exploded into bloom all around them. "Oh!" That was certainly something to see, and it did distract her from the furbodies, who also seemed to be calming down.

She perked up. "You're touched by the Motherfather, aren't you?"

appeal wrote:

"I am certain of this." There were not many things in this swamp that he was certain of but this was one of them. He had the company of these furbodies for many seasons now and while they might look frightening, they were absolutely harmless.

"Especially the ones with teeth, I'm not certain they can even see you," he said as he looked at them with curiosity. They didn't appear to have eyes but not everything in the swamp was as it seemed, which could be said for him I guess, too.

Flower on a Tree certainly smiled when the doe relaxed a little.

"I have been," he said calmly, recalling it. It was very surreal, something special between the two of them.

Beejoux wrote:

Hold Me Tight gave the furbodies another cautious look before directing all her focus on the buck instead. If she just ignored them...

"How fortuitous, I was looking for someone like you." While not an ideal meeting, it was convenient in timing. "I would like your blessing. I'm expecting, and I want the babes to be healthy, and happy and wise, if at all possible."

appeal wrote:

A blessing for the babies? Flower on a Tree looked at the doe with a curious eye now. Never in his life had so many does wanted something from him! First the one on the beach and now this one? Maybe he was a lot better at this friendship thing than he thought!

"Oh, I would be delighted give them my blessing! They're the promise of tomorrow, the future of this place," he said, his pink eyes glowing intensely. It was a cycle of life that seemed to draw him in, a content expression on his face. As his eyes dimmed, he stepped forward proudly.

"My blessing they have now. You'll have a healthy clutch but after that will depend on what is put into it, much like the care given to a flower."

Beejoux wrote:

This wasn't Hold Me Tight's first clutch, but this was her first time seeking a blessing. SHe didn't know what to expect from it, what it'd feel like...

Nothing, it felt like nothing. Well, there had been a sense of peace that came with it, but was that the magic, or was it just the kind words of a calming presence. It was hard to say. She smiled softly up at the buck. "Thank you, truly."

Hold Me Tight glanced down at the furbodies again, hesitating. "...and I'm sorry. For screaming at your, erm, companions." They were still a bit off putting, but they weren't coming after her, so she could tolerate them far better.

appeal wrote:

Flower on a Tree smiled and nodded his head, overall pleased with himself. The birth of more kin was part of the never-ending cycle of life that he devoted himself to, and he was also happy to cause the dear doe such happiness.

As she glanced down, his eyes followed her. Were they really so concerning? He only saw very devoted companions who loved him a bit tightly... or maybe that was the octofurbody that was wrapped around his shoulders contently.

"I' am... I am sorry they have caused you such fear. They're truly amazing companions."

Beejoux wrote:

"I'm sure they're very lovely, they just startled me." They looked a bit menacing as well, some of them, but she supposed not all that menaced was indeed menacing. She had children that could attest to that.

"Thank you again. I'll leave you to your companions." She ducked her head in gratitude and then turned to leave, pleased with his Blessing of her children.

appeal wrote: