[B] Gluttony (Joint-Eater x Look-See)

[fluo]

It started off simply enough. She was hungry. She wanted to eat. She found something crunchy and tart, but it was connected to another acha. One with horns and a second set. And one all too willing to let her feast with a fun tumble in mind. All the right words were said and with the swagger to rival the pull of the moon, Joint-Eater was smitten temporarily and the memories were long lasting. But now she was back to being a black hole with an expanding belly. In the freshly fallen snow, she spied neat paw prints without front claws. Hidden claws she told herself. Perhaps a small tasty snack would fill her belly, but she wasn't exactly a natural hunter. All sprightly and energetic but lacking focus, that was Joint-Eater! She crept up. She spied bright flowers and fancied a taste. While flowers weren't filling, they did bring sweet nectar and highlighted other foods. On their own, they were clear and bright as the snow. They were a wonderful diversion, one she clearly needed. She nipped at a winter rose.

[fluo]

A white fluffball was curled around its kill, a blanket of flowers on top. Pristine white coat, it was a marvel that no blood marred its coat given the enthusiasm the lynx showed its meal. It huffed and devoured without a care of the world. Its audience dared to step closer. The wind blew and fur flew back to show milky orbs lost in the white fluff. While fangs were exposed, it wasn't dripping fresh kill that was in its mouth. And yet the lynx felt the nip of its florious floral mane. Something, someone decided it was a snack. A flurry of emotions crossed the lynx's mind but only after it reared back in reaction and swiped at the offensive being. It was not a snack. Hissing and hackles raised, Look-See shifted forms.

Look-See did not have the presence or menace that her siblings did. She could not even pull around a cloak of danger to deter would be assailants. But she had her old friend, indignation. Eyesight wonky, she had born the unrelenting attention of Doom and Gloom for a spell until she found her path. It wasn't a perfect life, but she was left mostly to her devices to go at her own pace and discover new loves and wonders of this grayscale, murky world. And some idiot of a doe dared to find her a snack. She hipchecked them back into submission, the pregnant acha spilling over herself.

"YOU TRIED TO EAT ME!" Look-See screeched, but time and distance were calming the Mare's nerves.

[fluo]

"Ahhh." Eloquence was Joint-Eater's name. Eyes blinking at nothing and time slowed, heartbeats jumped. The flowers belonged to another and the lingering taste was ash on her tongue. The acha could do little but gather herself and stand up, protruding belly half hidden behind a bare rock.

[fluo]

Time moved slower for Look-See. Nature compensated her with enhanced other senses, but she moved the rythm to which was accustomed to. With the falling snow, blood was running sluggishly through her body. Time was more languid. She gathered her thoughts after reflexes kicked in. And when she couldn't make sense of it anymore, she asked the interloper, "Why did you eat me?"

[fluo]

Just like how she got into this mess, her stomach was once again the culprit for this fiasco.

"I was hungry."

[fluo]

"Idiot." The word was emphasized in how unnecessarily drawn out it was. As if Look-See knew the acha's stomach was all of her problems, she was irritated but not unkind. Punting over the squash she was eating, she addressed the acha. "Here, it's not much, but it'll keep you full for a while which you'll need. May your offspring not be as stupid in the throes of hunger and for that reason, I will bless them with the ability to hunger less, be full longer, and for the sake of all that is grand and sacred in the swamp, they'll be a lot smarter that you."