City Slicker

[Kitzu]

Well. This was something. A girl walking through the outskirts of town, leading a Thundergug and cradling a baby Harachiu. It ought to have been a recipe for disaster, really, but the 'Gug itself was looking rather placid, so maybe it wasn't quite as doomed a trip as it could have been. The girl, at any rate, seemed cheerful enough to hum a song. Her tail flicked up dust as she went, so that her tracks were a little odd, an irregular trail snaking between her footprints. Not that it mattered, however, for any imprints she left in the dirt were soon engulfed by the 'Gug's gigantic feet.

"Isn't it nice out, Claire?" Kitzu grinned down at the tiny bundle she was carrying. The tiny baby within stared at her with huge green eyes, burbling incoherently. Kitzu was well-pleased; Claire was nice and calm today. She was shaping up to be rather like Dami, one of those babies who were almost constantly unhappy with something or the other, though unlike Dami, Claire opted for screaming outright rather than crying. Kitzu had a vague sense of foreboding about that, considering how disagreeably Dami had turned out, but she tried not to dwell on it.

Today, though, she was going to enjoy herself. Claire was in as good a mood as she got, and the weather was pleasant, and she was out of the house, the dreaded house... If she had to look at the insulation peeling off the walls any more that day, she might have started screaming herself.

[Kitzu]

Normally, Grunty wouldn't have been her companion of choice to take along for a walk, especially not with Claire. However, Kitzu had been considering working on the Thundergug again in preparation for... something, since the species was known for their usefulness, and figured they ought to know each other better. Besides, Claire wasn't acting up today, and she might as well take the chance. If Grunty was to become a part of her team, the family ought to get used to him. Even the fussy youngest didn't mind Daimon's presence anymore.

The nice thing about Grunty was that he didn't aim to be unpredictable. She trusted Daimon because she knew Daimon well; she couldn't say that about Grunty, but the Thundergug was one of those solid beasts who didn't care for antics, one way or the other. She patted his side experimentally, and though she earned herself a look of mild annoyance, Grunty made no move to do anything more. Not worth the trouble, she supposed. And hey, she got to notice just how surprisingly blue his eyes were, so it was all good.

"What should we do today, guys?" she asked, addressing her question both to her companions and to the empty sky, knowing none of them would answer. Grunty flicked his ears, and Claire yawned. Which did just as well, she supposed. "Not much for conversation, are we?" she said, frowning in exaggerated disappointment. She scuffed the ground with her foot, raising another small puff of dust, stopping to watch a moment.

(Grunty: Level 4, Loyalty 15)

[Kitzu]

After a moment of her standing still, Grunty plodded over to see what exactly had caught her interest. It was only a small puff of dust, which settled quickly anyway; she wondered if he'd seen it at all, really. From the way he gave her a long look, she figured he thought she was crazy. She'd seen it often enough from adults she'd passed on the street or, occasionally, from Aster or Daimon, so she'd gotten pretty good at picking out that particular expression. "Oh, shove off, Grunty. I'm having fun," she said, sticking her tongue out at him. Without a Ribbon, he didn't understand her, but she felt better for having said that anyway.

Claire, seeing the big thing move closer, began to squirm and make unhappy noises, so Kitzu immediately devoted herself to placating her. It wouldn't do to have Claire start now. She might be small, but boy, did she ever have some lungs on her... Even Rey had been driven up the wall by her screaming, and on multiple occasions too; Daimon often threatened to just eat 'the damn scrap' to shut her up for good. It wasn't a pleasant thought, and Kitzu always told Daimon just so, but she did understand why the Vulticus voiced it. "Hush, Claire, it's okay. 'S just Grunty, that's all. He's nice. Aren't you, Grunty?"

Grunty, who had just enough training to know she was talking about him, snorted. At least he didn't stamp, she thought, which would have been just dreadful at that moment.

[Kitzu]

Kitzu was starting to wish she'd brought Cole along too, or instead. The entire family had each tried their hand at calming the unhappy baby, starting with Rey and ending with a last-ditch attempt involving even the usually-aloof Dami and Daimon, whose attitude towards the entire 'infestation' of fae-children was that of grudging tolerance. The only one who had any real success was Cole. It made enough sense, she supposed; they came into the family together, and Kitzu had a guess that they might be siblings, though Cole hatched far sooner than Claire had. Claire cheered right up when her brother was around, and proved otherwise inconsolable.

Today, however, luck was on her side. "Hush, Claire," she said as soothingly as she could, made patient by her trials with Dami's similarly turbulent childhood. She breathed a sigh of relief when Claire quieted. She was afraid that Claire's wailing might drive the stoic Grunty into doing something drastic. As solid as his nature was, Grunty was still an untried beast, and they didn't have a very close bond as of yet.

But that was why they were here, wasn't it? When Claire calmed down, Kitzu presented the Harachiu carefully to Grunty for inspection. "See, Grunty? This is Claire. She's little, so ya gotta be careful," she warned, trying to make her voice stern. Grunty again gave her that look, the what-in-the-world-are-you-doing one, and she tried a smile at him. He was certainly proving to be quite the cynic.

[Kitzu]

Eventually Grunty settled for snuffing at Claire, though Kitzu got the distinct feeling that it was just a token action, more to please her (or get her off his back) than any real interest in the fae-child. Claire, in turn, regarded the large nostrils with an expression as close to suspicion as could be managed by someone so young. Kitzu was sorely tempted to laugh at the situation. It seemed as if every soul around her was a cynic, even the babies. "There's just no magic left in the world, is that it? Oh, you guys. You make me so sad," she said, with a shake of her head. For shame. She really ought to read them some fairy tales, remedy all this.

"Just you wait," she said with mock severity, "I'll get you guys on dreamer therapy! Happy endings! Worlds of wonders! I tell ya, when I'm done, you guys will be wide-eyed idealists, that's what!" She shook a fist at Grunty's nose, just for emphasis, and she could have sworn he raised a brow at her. She stared at him. He stared back. After a long moment, she sighed and patted his nose. "Well, maybe not you."

Really, though, they ought to at least meet the Draconic half of her family... Or maybe just Luke and Zair. Zeth was too stone-faced to tell what he was even like; Ari was too stuck-up; and Marric, while honestly the most sentimental and idealistic of the entire family (even the childlike Zair had a blithely grim streak), was inclined to be spacy. Or otherwise focused.

(Claire: Level 1, Loyalty 11)

[Kitzu]

As they continued walking, she was glad for once to live in a more suburban area. Most of the homes she passed were large farm estates, with huge plots of land and relatively few actual homes. Places like this didn't bat an eyelash at a 'Gug pacing the streets, but if she went into the more urban parts of the city, where things were more packed together with the clean-cut, fancy condos, she might run into some serious trouble. And she couldn't even hope at avoiding notice. Grunty's colors weren't flashy, not really, but he was large, and not particularly quiet.

She resumed walking, and winced as Grunty began to follow; his footsteps were by themselves quite audible (which was WHY he was loud; Grunty wasn't particularly vocal) and took a bit to get used to. In the daily hustle and bustle of the kennels, where everything was loud, it didn't seem so bad, but out in the peaceful streets of the suburbs, it was something else. She was surprised Claire wasn't more upset about that, actually. Though, having grown up in the aforementioned loud household, maybe noises weren't an issue with her.

"Honestly, though" she started, because the quiet was starting to get to her, and the sound of her own voice filled the silence, "we ought to have planned something today. A picnic, maybe. A couple of sandwiches would do right about now, eh?" Grunty flicked his ears as she talked, probably a leftover habit from training, where words were actually supposed to mean something.

[Kitzu]

Maybe it was coincidence, or maybe it really was the mention of food, but Claire began to flail her arms around and make whining noises. That was her particular signal that she wanted to be fed. Kitzu had worked this out more quickly than usual, as Claire stuck to a specific action from the first for when she wanted something, which made things pretty convenient. She offset that with being demanding and, worse, prone to her wailing, but Kitzu had every hope that she would grow out of it. After all, even though Dami made a sulky adolescent, he did stop crying.

"Okay, okay. I don't see how it's fair that you get your bottle when I don't have a sandwich... Oh, I'm not serious," she said, when Claire suddenly threw more energy into her fussing. "Here, already." She presented the eyedropper that served as the bottle, and Claire, recognizing it, opened her mouth obediently. It was good that the other children were older now, and willing enough to help. They knew better than she did how the formula ought to taste, and were a tremendous help with things like that. Whatever Claire might complain about, it certainly wasn't the food.

Grunty, again curious at this new, strange ritual, nudged Kitzu with his nose, nearly causing her to start. "Shove off, Grunty," she said, her voice a bit strained; he didn't mean anything by it, she knew, but he was very large, and even small actions of his could cause problems. She waved him away with a hand, and though she didn't know if he understood, at least he left her alone after that.

(Grunty: Level 5, Loyalty 17)

[Kitzu]

Claire was always good after a feeding. That was saying, of course, that it was the one sure way to make sure she slept, and after she finished her meal, she promptly shifted to her side and dozed off, without a care in the world. Claire was really quite cute when she slept; all Hara babies were, but she was that sort of beautiful baby, with perfect honey-colored curls and milky pale skin and rosy, chubby cheeks. Kitzu had no doubt that she would grow up into a pretty little charmer, but she had to wonder at what the child's temper would be like, then.

The ease of sleeping was a blessing, she thought, sighing contentedly as she began walking again. Not only did it ensure that the baby cuddling against her was at peace, but it was a stark contrast to Juni; Cole, like his sister, was always a sound and easy sleeper, but Juni had the worst sort of trouble. It got better as she got older, but the Issen always had fits and starts, always woke at the slightest provocation. If not for that, she was really such a nice baby.

Grunty broke her out of her thoughts with a nudge to the shoulder, nearly knocking her over again. "Hey, what's the big idea?" she said, raising her voice before she remembered who she was carrying. But Claire just went on sleeping, unaware of the apparent disturbance, so she breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe it was for the best that it wasn't Juni out with her after all.

[Kitzu]

Kitzu turned to look at Grunty, wondering why the Thundergug would want to knock her about. She was a little annoyed at having been startled, and moreso for nearly being knocked over on top of it all, but she knew he didn't mean it. It was simply his way of getting attention... Speaking of which, she really needed to maybe get a ribbon on him. If she was serious about making him a member of the team. The price of such things, though, were horrendous; she could think of at least two or three pets that she would like ribbons for.

Grunty, having gotten his attention, opened his mouth wide. At first, she wasn't sure what he wanted, but then she realized that he must be begging for food. Or, well... As close to begging as a Thundergug got, anyways. She looked at him dubiously, patting her pockets all the while. Nope, nothing; the treats she kept with her were for meat-eating critters, and anyways, Grunty liked bamboo. She shook her head, and shrugged when he made an insistent noise. "Sorry, buddy, I got nothin' for ya. I promise, when we get back, alright?" she added, when he snorted and stamped in disappointment, glancing worriedly at any nearby houses.

Grunty's head sagged, but he didn't make any more protests, and she patted his nose in a gesture of sympathy. "I know, it's not fair, is it?" she murmured. "Well, that's life, I guess."

[Kitzu]

The pets were never in the front yard, she mused, walking by the many farm properties strewn over the area. The roads were, thus, not quite plotted in the strict grid system that she found deep into the city, where the properties were smaller and the people were more densely packed. It was still a low-population area, for all that; she found many people knew many of their neighbors, and though not everyone knew everyone (they had more than their fair share of recluses), there was a townsy feel to the place. But maybe the pets were in, because there wasn't a whole lot to be done now. Midday naps were a popular thing back home.

"It's quiet, isn't it, Grunty?" She slowed down so she walked beside him, and he glanced at her, rolling one big blue eye in her direction. She smiled and patted his shoulder... Ah, well, maybe not. His foreleg, then. It was all she could reach, as things stood. The reality of the situation was comical, really: a small child, perfectly at ease and possibly in control of something that could easily have eaten her for dinner, if its diet involved that sort of thing. Trample her, otherwise. She had the absurd urge to laugh.

Claire rolled over in her sleep, and Kitzu hurriedly began singing snatches of a lullaby before she realized that no, Claire wasn't really waking up. She was probably still a little high-strung from Juni. Probably.

(Claire: Level 2, Loyalty 13)

[Kitzu]

It was getting a little tiring now, to be walking so much. She sat down on the grass, feeling a little odd for it, but there was no-one around to see and these were not fancy pants. In fact, she thought as she inspected them, they were pretty much the color of grass stains anyway, so it ought not to matter. The color looked horrid against the dusty russet of her fur, but she wasn't ever one for fashion anyways. Besides, color-coordinating to russet fur was hardly a walk in the park.

When Grunty didn't immediately plop down beside her, she looked at him, confused and expectant. But he just stood there, looking at her blankly, which she supposed was his version of confused. She was much too used to Daimon, or to a pet who was at least more energetic, more expressive. Toen's confusion was an uncertain way of stepping, and Lumi's something closer to panic. She sighed, and beckoned him over. "Come, Grunty. Come on." The only thing she'd trained him in, really. He walked over, and continued standing, so that she felt completely futile for having done that. He didn't know 'sit' or 'lie down', and didn't particularly look as if he wanted to.

"Fine, stay like that," she said, waving her hand at him dismissively. "See if I care. I'm nice and comfy down here." When she didn't do anything in particular, except maybe arrange Claire's blankets more securely around her, he began to graze.

[Kitzu]

Kitzu didn't realize what he was doing until he was already well into it; she regretted not having taught him 'no' either, and pushing him away was out of the question. She bit back an angry sigh or some useless phrases and looked around hurriedly to see if anyone was around to see, but there wasn't a soul around as far as she could tell. She didn't even trust the creatures here, for this sort of thing; a lot of them had ways of communicating such things to their owners. Hopefully the person who owned this particular property wouldn't mind some missing grass. It was just on the edges, anyway.

"You really shouldn't be doing that," she told him, shifting Claire to her other hand as the one she was using to hold the Hara was beginning to cramp up. Grunty flicked an ear at her dismissively, and she shook her head. "Ya could've waited til we got home," she whined. "Then you could've gotten bamboo. And I wouldn't be at risk for getting my tail fried for property damage." He replied by ripping out an especially large hunk of grass up by the roots, dirt and all, munching with the worst sort of satisfaction. She ground her palm into her forehead. He was rubbing it in.

She ought to leave. Ought to start walking again, just so Grunty wouldn't be tempted to chew up any more yard. But her feet still hurt a little, and she was tired, and it wasn't as if she had anywhere to go.

(Grunty: Level 6, Loyalty 19)

[Kitzu]

She tried to sit there and ignore him, but it wasn't really possible. He ate loudly, almost pointedly, and she could have sworn that he grinned at her. She punched his shoulder without any real meaning, glaring to show just how much she disapproved of this. Even the otherwise-lethargic Thundergug was teasing her. Her world had come to this.

She figured maybe it was because she let Daimon get away with too much. The Cave was becoming a bit of a bad influence, and the informal relationship inspired a complete and total lack of respect... It was alright with Daimon, because she knew Daimon would listen, even when she thought Kitzu was out of her right mind. That was what the training was for, wasn't it? And they'd been through a lot together. But a creature as inconveniently large and untried as Grunty gave her real cause for worry. Not that he had the troublemaker nature that she saw in Rook, or the uneasy shyness that Faber carried; as far as temperaments went, his was actually a good one. And yet...

"Okay already, let's go," she said unhappily, getting to her feet and adjusting Claire again, so the baby wouldn't shift too much as she walked. Then she set off, taking the longest strides she could easily manage, eager to get away from the scene of the crime. "Grunty, come," she said, just to make sure he didn't stay for seconds.

[Kitzu]

Grunty grumbled his complaints at having been torn away from his snack. It wasn't as if she was feeding him, so how could she blame him for helping himself? She still frowned at him, but at least he did follow, so she couldn't exactly complain. She babbled at him as she walked, sounding clearly unhappy, but he tuned her out and watched the scenery. It wasn't as if he understood most of what she was babbling about, anyway. That rosebush looked very appetizing; if they could perhaps stop a moment, he just wanted a bite... But no, she had to keep walking, didn't she. This wasn't a very nice outing at all, from his perspective.

She kept looking at the little white speck she carried with her, too. He was wondering what that was. She held it up to him at one point, and he'd sniffed politely when she was insistent about it, but all it smelled like was flowers and milk. Briefly he wondered if it was food, but if it was, she would have eaten it already or given it to him when he began grazing, right? And it made noises too, he thought; there was a voice he'd heard a little while back that wasn't Kitzu's, so maybe it came from that strange white thing.

"Claire," he heard her say to it on many occasions. She held it just like the black winged thing carried his favorite shiny things, so maybe that was what it was. It didn't look very shiny to him, but maybe it was just too small to tell.

[Kitzu]

After they'd gotten a good ways away from where Grunty had his case of the munchies, Kitzu saw Claire begin to stir. Her naps were odd like that; sometimes she slept for the entire twelve hours (though that rarely coincided with said nap lasting the entire night), and sometimes she could only manage to stay under for a little while. She wasn't waking up just yet, but Kitzu could take a hint; she turned, walking a few houses down before heading back in the direction she came, just to avoid that one particular yard. No need to give them another chance to see the Thundergug, make any connections, something like that. Grunty had a fairly distinctive pattern, after all, and she had no doubt they would be able to identify him if they saw him again later.

Besides that, she'd seen Grunty eyeing some of the greenery around the yards, and she figured she better hurry home and feed him before he got any more ideas. Her feet were still a little sore, but now she had to choose between facing property damage or momentary discomfort, and that fueled her so that she walked faster than she really wanted to. That, of course, jostled Claire, so eventually she developed an odd rolling walk, so as best not to disturb what little time she had left with Claire in her slumbering state. She had no intention of disturbing the neighborhood, if she could help it.

(Claire: Level 3, Loyalty 15)