Salt. It had invaded his senses. Choking as it burned his nose, invaded his lungs like water, and he felt its corrosive presence in his bones. It happened briefly, just a few jarring seconds, but it was enough to steal his focus. He stilled and listened to the Swamp, the drying taste of it still coating his tongue, sure that the intense sensation had been a message to decipher. He clicked his teeth together when he was met with only expectant silence. The Swamp was not always forthcoming in its desires, leaving them to him to decipher.

Taking a large piece of bark for a surface, he laid it on the ground. Next he journeyed to the end of a stream and plunged his face into the mud. Just as the salt had, he let it fill his mouth and soak into his nostrils. Keeping the mud in his mouth, he swirled it against his tongue and teeth before spitting it onto the bark he'd prepared. He then snorted any stuck in his nose onto it as well and studied the image left for him. He stared at the mud until his vision blurred, then continued to stare at the vague shapes taking place for him. He saw a solid, shifting mass standing firm against a violent, beating chaos. He stilled, trying to decipher what this could mean, what salt had to do with the image, what he was meant to do when the answers came.

It was a delighting kind of frustration, a puzzle gifted to him by magic, and he found himself growing excited to complete his prize. All at once, the answer sang to him, though it left him just as curious as he began. The Sea. The bite of salt met his tongue once more as if in confirmation. He was meant to go, that was for certain, but what awaited him there? The burn of excitement remained nestled in his belly as he began his Swamp-bade journey.

What he would find in his journey, as he neared the coast and it's sound of cashing waves and salt scented air, was a very colorful looking doe with a long and curling tail that looked like it'd be more at home onna fish of some sort, rather than any sort of creature that called land its home.

This was further than the water than she was usually willing to wander, but not without cause. She seemed to be looking for something, her gaze flicking keenly from underbrush to hollowed log, a periodic click of her tongue marking each time her target eluded her.

As such, it took her a moment to realize she was no longer alone. She didn't startle when she caught sight of him, but she did still, curiosity belayed by the subtle tilt of her head.

When she spoke her words and her tone were soft, almost dreamy. "Excuse me, you wouldn't happen to have seen a shuppy frolicking around here, would you?"

muffinsbaby wrote:

Swamp felt increasingly disconnected the closer he got to the sea. Trading the cacophony of bugs and animals for the constant rush of many whispers, coming and going in a push and pull he could nearly feel. He was only a few steps from the gloom he knew and called home, but he felt as if he'd stepped into another world.

This feeling strengthened when his attention was pulled by the voice of another. This voice belonging to a creature bearing features he recognized and never even thought to exist on another living being. His mouth hung open slightly in his suspended belief - an undignified act he would chide himself on later - and it took longer than a moment for her words to reach his comprehension.

"I know not what this creature is to know if I'd seen one," He replied slowly, "But if you'd be kind enough to describe it, I'd be happy to assist your search."

beejoux wrote:

If the doe had been a little more self aware, that stunned look on the Buck's face would have brought a pleased grin to colorful features. Instead she merely chuckled quietly at his surprise before considering how best to go about describing what a shuppy looked like.

"I don't suppose you've seen a shark before?" Not all kin paid visits to the sea, after all. "If not, then perhaps a catfish is a close enough comparison. Think of something like that, but with four legs, and always on the move."

As they spoke her ears twitched, listening carefully for any rustle or growl that would alert her to her rambunctious pet's whereabouts. As a rule shuppies we're not often hard to miss.

She hummed a thoughtful note. "Like a catfish with teeth." An important addition, she thought.

muffinsbaby wrote:

The buck stayed rapt at her words, despite his growing horror at such a creature, to make sense of what manner of....thing this doe was actually [/i]seeking out[/i]. Swamp had indeed never, to his knowledge, seen - or even heard of - either creature, and the picture painted to him was of the closes thing he could possibly think of.

Fish, she'd said fish. Yes, he know what a fish looked like. Round and quite bothersome. Legs? Like...his legs? Or fowl legs? Caiman? Fish were scaled, they must be closer to lizard or caiman legs. What he couldn't quite imagine was a fat fish with teeth. Blinking, he nodded to the doe and took her lead. Listening as she did, he noted the sand under-hoof silencing his steps to a gentle whisper. One more fascinating thing about this new environment.

"What about this creature compels you to find it?" He asked, though unsure why it came out in a low whisper.

beejoux wrote:

His inquiry made her smile and she chuckled at him, head tilting in a little shrug of a gesture before she started walking again. If he hadn't seen the shuppy, the search continued. "Shes my pet," World's clarified easily, watching him out the corner of her eye, even as she listened for any hint the little beasty was near by.

She was heading back towards the sound of waves and the rustle of beach grass. Surely Wonders wouldn't have headed deeper into the swamp. "A spirited creature, she's very affectionate and very adventurous."

She wasn't sure if the buck would follow, but she wasn't opposed to it. An extra set of eyes could prove very helpful.

muffinsbaby wrote:

Follow he did, and the further they got from swamp's edge the more he paid attention. The taste of salt in the air got stronger, reminding him this visit was the Swamp's bidding and he needed to discover why. Was he fated to meet this kin that seemed both real and part of a dream? Was there something else here he was meant to learn or find, like the doe's pet? The more he thought about it the more questions arose than answers and the weight of them pulled at his brow.

He tried his best to be helpful during despite his inner turmoil, the unusually empathetic desire to help also nagging at the back of his mind fueling the direction of his eyes and ears. The grasses rustled in the wind on their own, but they had a cadence of their own and, once learned, he could listen to a change or disturbance, just like he did the waters back home.

A twitch of his ear would give hint of a possible disturbance and the fear - no, if questioned, he would call it a healthy caution - of the creature returned as he implored, "Perhaps that noise might be a clue to the direction of your pet?"

Beejoux wrote: