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Post by Lucca on Mar 20, 2010 14:46:15 GMT -5
Arkady forced himself to remain calm, despite the fact that every instinct was telling him to bolt, or else to challenge the ferocious creature. He couldn't help but think no one would keep such a pet in the Glacier...or...or maybe they would as a sign of status? That was a new thought, and one that made him pause. Having a dangerous pet...it could help guard precious people while the main protector had to be away...maybe he should get Laika a Bander.
And he'd have to overcome his nervousness around them, in that case, for sure! It couldn't be too much worse than Dima, although not nearly as quiet and obedient...but then not even most Toves were as quiet or obedient as his own. "H-hi Akane," the Coyote said clearly, and, in a show of bravery, walked up close enough to gently brush a paw over the bright red creature's back, feeling her fur with the pads of his paw. He was so focused on this task, he didn't even notice that the action put him rather closer to Conall that he would have preferred.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Mar 20, 2010 22:09:13 GMT -5
The bander's eyes locked onto the boy, watching his every move. Akane remained completely still when he brushed up against her fur. It wasn't until his paw was removed did she proceed to sneeze at him.
Castiel couldn't help but giggle as her Bander slowly backed up to sit behind her. Apparently she didn't feel like playing nice today. "She's just a little grumpy, but she doesn't seem to hate you or anything. Maybe after we find your sister we can play a game with her and she'll warm up." She turned around the ruffle the bander's fur.
Conall took notice that the boy was a little closer than before. Enough that they nearly brushed up against each other. Before anything could happen Conall side stepped him, pretending to be interested in something in the distance. He didn't want to cause any trouble, and he was sure from the way Arkady was acting previously that.... touching him would be a problem.
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Post by Lucca on Mar 20, 2010 22:38:06 GMT -5
Despite his resolve, Arkady flinched slightly when the creature sneezed at him. Sneezed at him? That was so odd...was a sneeze a way of communication among these animals? Ark would be the first to admit he didn't know anything about Banders. So maybe that was the problem. Fear of the unknown...but he couldn't afford to live in that fear. He was a protector! A brother!
"All right," he said, smiling at Castiel, tail wagging a bit at the thought of finally finding Laika. "M-maybe you can t-teach me about Banders?" He lowered his head, peering up shyly at the girl through his lashes, Mohawk falling over his forehead a bit. "I don't know too much about them."
He hadn't noticed the other boy so close, but he -did- notice the sudden movement, and jumped slightly...until he realized it had just been Conall, looking at something in the distance. Perhaps he had seen a sign of their elusive quarry? But when the pup looked over, he didn't see anything...at least, nothing that looked like his sister. "We should...move on?" he suggested, voice lilting to make it an almost-question. "To the play room..."
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Post by Kari Muffin on Mar 21, 2010 18:23:01 GMT -5
Castiel's face lit up at the idea of teaching someone about Banders. Even if she wasn't the greatest authority of Banders she could at least teach him a little bit. Maybe Xander would be willing to teach him the rest? The girl almost looked like she was going to squeal with complete and utter joy.
She was brought back to her sense when the boy continued to speak. Right! They had a mission! "Yep! I can teach you all I know about banders once we find your sister. Let's go the play room!" She turned to head in the proper direction, lightly tugging on the bander's leash.
Akane made a slight growling sound before taking the lead in front of her owner.
Conall would make sure to closely follow. If they were talking about the play room he was thinking of, he had never actually be in there. He wasn't exactly the getting along sort. Rough housing was something he wasn't capable of participating in without taking someone's eye out. And most children just didn't want to play with him. After all he looked like he was nothing but a mess, and smelled awful on top of that.
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Post by Lucca on Mar 22, 2010 11:11:57 GMT -5
Arkady's tail wagged a little faster and he perked up as Castiel agreed to teach him about Banders. This would be perfect! Not only would he learn more about the creatures (possibly even how to defend his sister against them if it ever came to that) but he'd also get to spend more time with Cas, who he was starting to get very fond of. He'd never had a friend outside of the family before, so Castiel was a new and interesting experience. Conall too, of course...though he was still a bit wary of the other boy's unsanitary appearance.
His only answer a happy yip, he fell easily into step behind girl and Bander, trying to ignore the growling noise. Maybe this Bander was all bark and no bite? And now that he thought of it, his thick fur should help protect him against piercing fangs anyway, at least somewhat. He peeked back, and was pleased to see Conall keeping closer than before. After all, Arkady didn't want to leave the boy behind. For all his...oddness...he was being very helpful and for that, Arkady considered him a friend as well.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Mar 22, 2010 18:49:05 GMT -5
The walk to the play room wasn't that eventful. Several servants passed by and the bander sent them dirty looks as it lead the way. Castiel made it a habit of humming while they walked along.
Making friends was fun. She should do it more often, but with the way things were she kept getting sick. On the bright side she was getting better now that she was older. Maybe she could go out to the capital and find some friends there? Would Mommy let her do that? The girl proceeded to ponder the possibilities until they arrived at the room.
Conall was silently debating with himself what to do. Once they found the girl they would probably end up parting ways, right? He didn't particularly want to be alone again, but it wasn't like he could change anyone's mind. Arkady ran into Castiel and he was simply tagging along. When they arrived at the playroom he glanced at the other boy.
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Post by Lucca on Mar 23, 2010 7:09:13 GMT -5
Castiel's humming was strangely comforting to Arkady. While he himself was very quiet for a child of his age, it didn't mean he really liked silence. He just didn't want to be the one to fill it. His tail kept up a slow, steady wag as he walked, and his ears were perked forward for any sign of anything important. When they reached the playroom, he felt that by-now familiar combination of anxiety and skepticism, but before he could nose open the door he felt eyes on him.
Turning, he saw Conall was looking at him oddly, and though his first instinct was to back away...he smiled in a friendly way and forced his paws not to move. He wasn't sure why the other boy was looking at him like that, unless...unless he was expected to look inside the room. Oh.
He hoped there weren't a lot of other children inside...carefully, he nosed open the door and peeked his head in. "Laika...?" he called softly, hoping against hope that their search was finally going to end...
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Post by Kari Muffin on Mar 23, 2010 19:48:52 GMT -5
Castiel stood to the side to allow Arkady to open the door. It was his sister, and it wasn't her play room. She glanced at Conall, who seemed terribly awkward about the entire situation. This was probably the first time that she actually noticed the bird that was sitting on his shoulder. Had it been there the entire time? Was it his pet? Or... wait... where were the bird's feet? The little human girl continued to stare at the boy's shoulder bird.
Conall waited with his arms crossed, eying the Solandrian. Wasn't he actually going to go in the room. It was his playroom, and it was his sister that they were looking for. She could be sleeping and couldn't hear him. He was just barely poking his head into the room. After a few moments he cleared his throat. "Maybe you should go inside? I mean, if she's asleep or busy she's not going to hear you..."
Unless he had and he was completely unaware.
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Post by Lucca on Mar 23, 2010 21:51:26 GMT -5
A first glance showed...nothing. An empty room greeting him and a flash of justified disappointment hit Arkady's mind. He knew she wouldn't be here. Just like she wasn't anywhere else they'd looked...but she had to be somewhere...had to be... His ears twitched as he heard Conall, and he suddenly felt very stupid. The other boy was absolutely right. He couldn't just stand in the doorway like a rock; what sort of brother did that? He shouldered the door open the rest of the way and walked into the room, brown paws moving softly over red-and-gold carpet.
As per Conall's suggestion that she might be asleep, he made his way over to the pile of blankets and pillows in the corner where sometimes he and his twin would bunk down for a little nap. Just the smell of the place was so very -her- and -familiar- and -family- that Arkady felt something in him loosen, something that had been tight and uncomfortable for the past several hours. He sniffed and sniffed, reveling in the heady scent of happy.
But that was nothing, nothing compared to the feeling he got when he actually -saw- a small form, breathing deeply, asleep. He ran over and put his nose in her blue mane, closing his eyes and making a soft, happy whimper. But he didn't want to wake her, of course. Part of him wanted to join her, nap away all the stress...but he'd told the others he'd come back. Castiel was going to teach him about Banders. With a final lick to his sister, he turned and walked softly back toward the door, offering Castiel and Conall a grin and an enthusiastic tail wag. "You were right, Conall...she's napping," he said in a tone even quieter than his normal voice.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Mar 24, 2010 0:02:15 GMT -5
The wait was awkward. At least for Conall. It was hard to miss the fact that Castiel was staring at him with wide eyed curiosity as her bander had taken to laying down at her feet. It was a little scary how intensely she was looking at him. Did she even realize she was doing it?
He looked over his shoulder once or twice, but the girl continued to stare at him. He was grateful when the door reopened and her attention snapped to Arkady as well.
"Good, I'm glad you found her," he said in a hushed voice as he moved away from the door. They might as well get going. They didn't want to wake her or anything. At least Arkady could close the door.
It took all of Castiel's concentration to actually be quiet. She nudged her bander away from the door and grinned at the boy. "Yay! I'm glad you found her!" she said in a half whisper. "Do you want to stay with here and we can talk about banders later or....?"
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