Frail branches shot out of the thick trunk. Further down lay the fruits of its labor: sunset pink, orange and yellow papayas hung in tight bunches. A tropical flair permeated the surrounding of the island. The tree is the only one of its kind here and it beckons invitingly to all of the swamp. The water swarms to the lip of the island idly. It's peaceful here, quiet and slow moving. Almost removed from the swamp but not quite yet. At the base of the tropical tree lay/lie two dog: a perky runt and its larger, bulkier cousin. Both partake in a restful sleep, guarding the tree. They wait for their master.



original

Drowning wandered toward the papayas she smelt, her eyes bright. "Come on, Searching!" she called out, looking back the way she came for a moment before turning back toward the tree and catching sight, for the first time, of the dogs. She froze, catching her breath as her tail flicked nervously. She... didn't recognize these dogs! 

Searching had dawdled rather behind his sister, distracted easily by the sights and smells around them as his stomach tried to get the better of him. Drowning's voice caught Searching's attention in an instant, and he nosed up alongside his sister, sniffing the air. "Pretty dogs," he decided. "I wonder whose they are? And if they'd mind us getting some of those papayas. I'm hungry." 

Drowning glanced over at him in vague irritation. "You're always hungry," she countered, before her eyes flicked back to the dogs, a bit of nerves creeping back into them. "...I'm not sure we should bother them. What if... they're not friendly?" 

Twin pair of canine eyes swiveled at the approaching twins as if reading their intentions. They stand up, eyes alert and ears forward. Luckily for all, in sauntered Hemlock from a pair of coconut trees. She's just as perky as her smaller traveling companions. She greeted the twins with a nod and a jaunty smile.

"They are very friendly to those with good intentions. Looking at my papayas are you? But it'll cost you!" There's a wicked gleam to her eye and a grin seems to be permanently affixed to her face. 

Searching's first instinct was to put a shoulder between his sister and the stranger; his second, however, was to smile quite sincerely, bobbing his head a bit in a nod to the acha. "Cost us what, then?" 

Drowning quite easily let Searching take the lead, stepping back a bit behind her brother as her eyes flicked between Hemlock and her dogs. "There's other food around," she murmured lowly, one back hoof tapping lightly at the ground as she prepared to back away further. "Food that doesn't... cost."

Hemlock was game. She gave as good as she got. Despite being an acha, her humor wasn't as dry as the desert she escaped from. Was the slighter twin bluffing? Her smile deepened. Hardy stock kin were best for adventures. Sensing a shift in currents, her canines assume a more alert pose, ears tipped back. They waited for her next move.

"The cost? Let's go on an adventure to look for more food. Papaya is best with game meat or other fruits." 

Searching nudged at Drowning, shooting her a playful look. "But it could be fun. Why not? We could get plenty and share it all together, and we'd have company for a meal." 

Drowning's brow furrowed in worry, her ears laying a bit more flat, but... she couldn't see the danger, really. She was capable of gathering fruit, after all! And certainly, Low Flight might be able to gather a fish or two for her, if she could catch the crane's attention.

"If... Searching says so," she decided. "I think I know where there are some nice berries?" 

"A fruit salad it is! Let's go." She ran off and halted sharply. That's right, she did not know where berries could be. Gamechanger, the doe twin knew where. All for adventureseeking! Soon she had new info to work with. She barked orders to her canines to stand guard.

"Alright, where to?" She all but skipped from side to side. But when silence met her, she looked back and found her friends gone. Perhaps they had sneaked off for a bite to eat, were swallowed up by quicksand, or found her manner overbearing. Whatever it was, Hemlock decided to forget on, a mastery of her own destiny. And she was famished.