Pull My Strings [bhu]

[I L Y I C H]

We'd only been walking for a few minutes, and nothing of any real import had occurred. I kept quiet for the most part, large ears perked atop my skull. Listening as per usual. Really when you had two satellite dishes on top of your head you didn't do much else. It was especially bad with all this rain, pouring out of the opening sky as if to punish us for daring to venture out into it. Not that it really made much of a difference, it rained constantly. I was shocked my toes weren't webbed at this point. At least my fur had reacted and grown out most of the under layer before it was normally necessary. It made me frown at the other two trotting in front of me. Their fur was so god damn short how did they retain any sort of body heat?

Though I was also sopping wet, so maybe they had their advantages. Usually uncontainable hairs lay swept back against my frame stuck their by wind and rain and I felt pathetically small because of it. So I would probably be dripping well into the day, though there wasn't really much to do about it. The only real annoyance came from my collar, bunching wet fur under it and itching. Pausing once again to scratch at I, I blinked against the rain and hurried to catch up once more. "So their just everywhere I guess? Just gonna show me the big fat ones?" I looked up at Ryan and down at Ray, seeking answers. I'd really like to know where these things were to avoid falling into them and dying some horrible slow sink-hole of doom death, but I'd really rather not drown in the process. Kind of made the point moot.

Which reminded me. I shook my head slightly to resettle the beige band there and shifted my ears to make sure the flower stuck in my fur staid in place. It had thorns so it shouldn't be a real issue but I rather liked the way it smelled and I didn't want to disappoint the kid. Brownie points and all that. He was really adorable too and he'd have to have found them somewhere. It would have been rude to loose it. I mean it obviously meant something to Ray, for him to have a crown of literal thorns stuck on his head. There was import there, so I would follow along. Didn't want to be rude.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Ray had allowed himself to get a small portion of his bounce back, occasionally glancing over his shoulder at us before speeding up for a second to put distance between. He was trying to lead the way through the rain, which had gotten heavier as we walked the short way to the plains. I myself did not know where any real dangerous sink-holes were, but I imagined Gavin and Ray had found them all by way of almost dying. I could not help trusting Ray here, his head and tail high in confidence. I was often over protective, sheltering the man behind me. It must have been a real treat for him to be leading the way--to have me let him be the guide.

Then the earth fell from beneath his paws as he skirted around a pool of murky water. I moved forward quickly to grab a hold of his tail, put his back leg was already in the air and he swiped it purposefully over me maw as he lunged towards the water, rather than away. I could hear his loud 'Fuck!' as the muddy bottom slurped at his front paws, which were now hidden beneath the water's surface. He pushed forward as I climbed to my paws, and I watched as he stretched his neck and grabbed for a dry rose that was floating on the surface. Once it was in his jaws, and tried to pull back, and I immedietly dug my fangs into his tail and tugged, ignoring his howl of pain as one tooth actually pierced his skin.

During all this I had kept my body between him and Joel, keeping from having the man go forward to help, not needing another body to get tugged in. He was smaller, only slightly larger than Ray, so I could not be confident in his strength. I let Ray stumble and collapse into the mud beside me, before he nonchalantly stood back up and shook mud and water from his skin-tight fur. He seemed oblivious to the seething fury that was pulsing through me. "What the fuck, man?" I couldn't help it, the shout ripped out of me as I demanded the boy look at me with the words. He did, dropping the rose to the ground in surprise at my tone. He blinked a couple times before using a paw to push the dried rose in my direction, asking for help, his words suggesting he was ignoring my anger, but tone clearly showing the plead of 'not here, not right now'. I ignored him, watching him stare at first me, then looking around my form to see if Joel was still there. A sense of panic seemed to leap into his eyes when he saw the man, then he turned his attention back to me.

"It fell off my band. I couldn't just leave it--" I cut him off as I shook my head no, ears back and eyes closed. He was not this stupid. There was no way he was that much of a fucking moron.

"You could have drowned over a fucking flower, you idiot!" Everyone has those moments when they say something and as it is coming out of their mouth, they just want to reach out and suck it back in so that it never happened. This was my moment. I watched Ray stare at me hurt for a second, then look to the ground with narrowed eyes, ears back in pained agitation.

"It's a rose." That was all he gave me, but I could already feel my anger melting away. The man had never even hinted to why his crown meant so much to him, but I knew there had to be a reason behind the obsession. Ray was bright, not at all mentally disabled. There was no 'oo shiny' or 'pretty colors', the roses actually meant something to him. All roses were valued by him, but the crown was something he found worth his own life. I hung my head down and took a step forward, reaching out to touch my paw to his apologetically. he pulled away, and I found myself backing up to leave Joel between us.

"Well, there is one sink hole." I tried to laugh, but it was dry and flat. Joel, so far, had only witnessed the worst times between me and Ray. I worried the man would step in and be the superhero, stealing away my son with his gentle kindness that I could not match. I panicked and I overreacted, while Joel seemed calm and with just enough childishness that I feared Ray would begin to look to Joel for protection. I did not look towards Joel, I could not let him see such a painful, terrified expression on my tank of a body. It seemed wrong. I instead looked at Ray, who was still glaring at the ground as if it were that which made him upset. "Ray, any other places we should watch our step?" A plead, that was all that could be heard in my tone. I could not mask it.

Ray was silent for a moment before forcing that small hint of a smile forward once more, obviously trying his best to apologize with his expression alone towards Joel for having had the man see their little fight. It was upsetting enough to be part of the fight, but both Ray and I knew how awkward it was to just sit outside and hear it. Gavin had scolded us once at it, saying we needed to take our brawls elsewhere because he was bloody sick of it. "Yeah, there is one other nasty one nearby. Most are only big enough to be an inconvience, but you can get your foot out without help. But first," he shot me a quick glare before smiling towards Joel, "could you please help me get this flower back attached to my crown somehow?"

[/b][/i] There was the smallest hint of panic in his tone, as if the very thought of not being able to reattach it terrified him. But that was mostly hidden behind a thick layer of affection.

And it begins. Ray was going to leave me.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[I L Y I C H]

The silence had been companionable until it wasn't. Ray had apparently dropped something, and by the looks of it it was a piece of that crown he had grown into his head. My ears flicked back and I took a step forward, trying to help. Trying to get something back was one thing, but we could get a stick or something- but no. Paws right into the mud. That would be a fun way to get stuck. What if we couldn't get him out? My panic levels sky rocketed, and maybe I moved forward a bit too fast, but Ryan was already there. Blocking me. No, he was built he'd have a better chance of dragging Ray out of the muck then I did. My ears flicked back forwards as I all but pranced in place, shifting my for-paws around worriedly. I wasn't one that was very good at hiding my anxiety it was the only lie I sucked at spewing. "Hey you guys ok-" My words were cut off by Ryan's yelling and I swallowed anything else I was about to say. Worried or not.

I couldn't really be upset with either of them, least of all for this shouting match. They both had their reasons after all, or I would guess they did. People didn't get pissy about shit unless they cared about it. I couldn't help the awkwardness of my situation though. So I turned my nose towards the ground and stared intently at the mud. Let them hash it out and all that, wasn't like I could do anything about it. I didn't know either of them. Didn't know how to calm down the situation, and was of the opinion that maybe I wouldn't have been able to do anything about it even if I had known them. Fathers and sons fought. That was just that. Or well I had been told that was that, I'd never really had the opportunity to argue with good old dad. I didn't look up again until Ray spoke up after a long silence. Blue eyes flicked towards the kid, narrowing in concern at his tone.

It seemed wrong, how thickly emotional those words were. They just didn't belong on that tongue. Even in my limited time frame of knowing Ray I could sense the utter wrongness in the upset under tones of his voice. So I looked up and offered a stupid crooked smile and tried once again to lighten a mood I didn't really have any business butting into. "You can have mine if you need it, but you'll have to drag it out. I don't think I'm ever going to be able to get it out of my fur" I shook my ebony masked head in emphasis, waking myself in the skull with the blossom multiple times. Not that I was the only one. Ryan tried to turn the mood around to, and I turned my gaze back to Ray's face. Waiting for an answer.

Tipping my head to the side in response I looked at the dried flower carefully. Glancing at Ryan I bent to sniff it carefully. "I don't want to hurt it." I offered almost pathetically, one ear turning away slightly. Really though. That would be my fucking luck I would pick it up and bite it in half by accident or something. Being as careful as I could be I picked the thing up with the barest ends of my teeth before shifting to peer at the wreath of them on Ray's head. Oh fuck yeah the thorns were pretty much grown into his skin and as weird as that was I guess everyone had fucked up comfort mechanisms. Question being how to reattach this thing without stuffing more thorns into the kid's scalp because I would really really rather not do that. So with a frown I leaned forward and set about carefully threading it into the others, hoping their grip would keep it up rather then it's grip on Ray's head.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

"No! It has to be this one! She--" Ray all but shrieked the words in response to Joel's offering of his own flower. He cut himself off, stopping himself from saying more than he needed to. My ears were perked but he said nothing more, just stared at Joel hopefully. I felt as if Ray would never tell me the story behind his crown, but I was okay with that. He could have his past. I just feared I would be the last to hear of it, rather than the first. I watched silently in dismay as the man moved forward and even expressed concern over harming the flower. I did not want to be angry at Joel for being so fucking perfect, but it clouded my heart in a light blanket of jealousy. No, I would not let myself be jealous of the way this man handled Ray so well. Joel was a good person, and I just had to accept that. Ray would not forget who was the one that saved him before Achievement Hunters. He couldn't. Besides, I thought rather highly of Joel, the way he handled himself, and the way he had a good balance of maturity and child-like nature. I could learn to be his friend if I allowed myself. And I would. For Ray.

I said nothing, and neither did Ray, as Joel gently picked up the dried rose and began to twist it back into the crown. I could see Ray breathing fast, the hairs of Joel's chest closest to Ray's snout swaying quickly with the constant flow of rough moving air. This was the first time a flower had come off the crown, and Ray was obviously distraught by the fact. I would have to be more sensitive to it, to try and notice the shifts they made when they came lose, so I could warn him. It was clear Joel was being careful not to get the thorns into Ray's skin, so I found myself worrying that one would fall out again soon. "You know, it probably got lose when you were attacked by Gavin. You two should take it a bit easier." I offered cautiously. Ray didn't move, not wanting to interfere with Joel's process, but I saw his eyes flick guardedly towards me.

"You're probably right." He gave me nothing more, but I released a breath of relief due to his tone not being hostile. It was almost carefully considerate. Okay, so Ray had never held a grudge against me before, why had I been so nervous he would suddenly start now? I glanced towards Joel, reminding myself I never had competition before. No, I couldn't get like that. Joel was a friend, not competing to play Dad to the younger dog. I released the jealousy. It had no home here. It would only cause me to do things to dig a rift between my son and me.

Ray stepped back and shook his head fiercly, testing to see how well the twine held. Nothing came off, and I gave the two of them a smile, moving forward to butt my head to the side of Joel's. "Thanks for saving the day, again." I whispered it into his ear in a sheepishly cheerful voice. His appearance earlier had kept me and Ray from having a brawl over the prank, and now his presence was enough to lighten the mood after our battle. Ray sat himself down, unaware of the kind show of gratitude I had given our new friend, and looked to Joel gratefully.

"Thanks! Oh, and for next time, you don't have to worry about smushing it or tearing it or anything." He considered his next words carefully for a minute, his face clearly scrunched in an effort to word it guardedly. "The creator put some pasty stuff on it to protect it from water damage, and it also strengthened the leaves." he gave a deep-throated laugh. "If she hadn't, it would never have survived Gavin this long. The cow." He took a breath and looked back to Joel with a kind, but more sincere expression. "But really, dude, thanks. I don't know what I would have done if we hadn't been able to get it back into there."

I found myself wagging my tail slowly at the euphoric tone in the younger man's voice. It was as if Joel had just jumped in and fought an army to protect him. I had always known the crown meant a lot to Ray, but I seemed to have underestimated its importance. Ray's ears pricked at the soft sound of my tail hitting the mud, and offered me a smile. He told me I didn't smile enough. Well, here we go, smiles and wags all around. Joel had to be a fucking god because he was somehow binding this family back together.

Getting back up, Ray bounded further into the plains, dodging smaller puddles and snorting every time his paw got stuck and he had to tug it out. I followed slowly behind him, letting the boy splash around and enjoy himself, allowing my heart beat to steady after my little panic attack back there. I heard Ray 'woop' in surprise as his paw was swallowed into, yet another mini-sink hole. He grunt as he tried desperately to yank it out, but to no avail. A cruel smile spread over my fangs and I turned to face Joel. I sunk down to my belly and nodded my head towards a shrubby bush a leap away from where Ray was stuck. "Can you make a tiger sound?" I asked innocently, though my voice was quick, knowing Ray would soon give up and look back to ask for help. He had managed to put a good fifty or so feet between us by now, so he was far enough away that my dark pelt would camouflage me perfectly into the drenched earth. "Ray almost got a tiger cub killed a few days ago and the dad was pissed. Ray has been all up in arms since, thinking the dad was going to hunt him down, because we think the dad only backed down because I stepped in and apologized for the stupid prank. Anyway, care to have some revenge for this morning's prank of his?" I arched my eyebrows playfully, but kept my body low and hidden. "Go hide in that bush and when he realizes we are gone, he will get scared, and I want you to go an impression of a tiger's roar and just tackle him, okay? I can't. My voice can't bend to a snarl in the least." I looked up at the man hopefully, eager to see Ray panic and have the tables turned for once. Maybe it would teach him to go and prank the children of creatures much larger than him.

Or maybe it would just be a cruel laugh, and a taste of his own medicine, no lesson involved.

[I L Y I C H]

I fought to keep myself from jumping at his outburst, keeping my face still and peaceable before nodding. Everyone had their thing. Their precious memory all wrapped up and hidden away in some special place. My collar was mine, as unconventional or corny as that may be. A little girl with soft hands and a gentle voice had wrapped it around my throat all those years ago. It was precious. So I would not question his own. This grown his own person gave him, by the sound of it. His own girl, young or old as she may be. I curved my ears back and faked a smile around my sentiment. "I'll just have to keep mine then." Eyes jumping between their almost awkward make up I smiled my quiet smile and waited.

Ray's breath was warm and quick against my throat. Almost distracting as I worked, careful to stick the rose back where it belonged in a way that would not allow it to fall out anytime soon. I shifted my shoulders, rolling my collar in a way that I had developed as a comforting mechanism. I really didn't want to fuck this up. Didn't want to feel the guilt if my failed attempt at repairs left Ray missing one of his puzzle pieces. So I worked diligently and only pulled away when I was certain the rose was back in it's place. Maybe I was just meticulous, or just a worried mess, but I wanted to make it perfect. There was little point if it would just unweave itself. So I backed off finally and sat down, ears tuned into his explanation.

Ah. So they were treated then. Like that funny plant collection Mother kept in her books, only not so flat. It made sense I suppose, but wasn't something I had really expected. That was a lot of work to be put into something like a rose crown. I frowned lightly for a moment, concerned about the implications before offering up a smile of my own in return. "it's all good, I know the feeling" I batted at the collar hung around my neck in emphasis. Everyone had their safety blanket. I'd almost throttled myself a couple of days ago trying to protect the thing from some stupid little shit of a folami who had tried his damnedest to remove it. That had been a fun experience, the very reminder made my lips twist into a deep frown. I still had scabs under the thickness of the fur surrounding my throat.

Kids were rude as fuck these days.

I stood up, fixing the frown off of my face before waiting politely to follow after Ryan. I might be the elder here, but I lacked the seniority in this arena to be placing myself forward. Padding after the larger man I didn't really expect for the quiet of watching Ray step into hole after hole to be interrupted by a playful mischievous tone. I lowered myself automatically along side Ryan, eyes shifting to watch his face as he spoke. Oh yes. I could do this. Twisting my lips into a manipulative grin I all but batted my eyes at him. "I can pull off just about anything" The words all but purred off my tongue and I was already slinking off before the bulkier hound had given me full instructions or details. Payback could be a very sweet thing.

I guessed I would feel bad about this in a total of two seconds but I hid behind my bush and waited. Ray turned to ask for help as I assumed Ryan knew he would and found nothing. I bubbled a snarl out of my throat, parting my lips and finding the depth of my chest to press out the most authentic feline sound I could. It was a skill I was very good at. A neat little actor. Being one of the things that had impressed my fellows during the failed brutal training endeavors I had built up my repituare. I had a voice on me. A born faker. My smile curled around the end notes as I shuffled forward, careful to make my body seem larger then it was while remaining hidden. I didn't lunge until I was completely certain I had his full attention, roaring at the top of my lungs as I did so. Scattering mud was always fun, flinging it at everything in touching distance was better. Laughing hard I sniggered poking at the smaller hound hoping for forgiveness and trying to contain my giggles at the same time.

Sure it was a stupid joke but I could laugh at anything.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I had left them behind on purpose, pushing distance for several reasons, all a bit selfish. Most importantly, I wanted them to talk amongst themselves. I wanted them to be friends, because only then could there be trust for Joel and me to be alone. I needed Ryan to see Joel was not a killer, not a sly little snake waiting for the opportune moment to strike. Perhaps I had no proof he wasn't, but my gut had never lead me wrong before. Then, of course, I still had a little bit of the nasty taste of frustration brewing on my tongue. I adored Ryan, and I could not understand why he had to treat me like a child. I acted like a kid, but I was not Ryan's puppy, so he had no rights over me. Harsh, perhaps, but this was why I was keeping distance. I didn't want the reminder that I only listened to him for his benefit, not because I had to, slip past my tongue. It would hurt him. I think he really believed he was my father.

I had absentmindedly been tugging my paws free as they slipped into sink-holes, but with a yelp I found myself knee deep in one. I yanked at it fiercely, embarrassed about letting myself be caught so off guard. My leg was aching by the time I forfeited the fight and looked over my shoulder to call for the older males. They had been awfully silent since the last mishap, so they clearly weren't making friends. It would do no harm to walk with them now--perhaps their presence would keep my head on earth long enough not to die before getting to the next sink-hole.

They were gone.

I could feel the hair begin to rise along my spine as I realized there was no sign of the pair anywhere. No wonder they had been silent. My lips pulled back to show my fangs nervously as I glanced around as far as I could without being able to actually turn my body. I wanted to shout this wasn't funny, wanted to believe it was a cruel joke, but my mind was whirling with all the possibilities. I was separated and they would not find me, so I would just sit here in starve. Something had killed them and now it would find me and I would be an easy target. And it was all because I had been childish and irresponsible, running ahead.

A tiger snarled nearby. My fur shot up as I howled in alarm. The sound had come from a bush only a leap away. I saw its shadow now. I should have known pranking a tiger would end badly for me. I hadn't even hurt the kid! Just, almost did. But I had not meant it. And Ryan apologized. Why--the shadow burst from the bush and moved like lightening to me. I narrowed my eyes and wanted to snarl back at him, but all that came past my lips was a whimper. Ryan had been right. My pranks would be the death of me. I should have listened and grown up and--

Fucking Joel.

Ryan's bellow of a laugh erupted from a dark mound a distance away. It stood up and the man trotted over to us, laughter tearing from his jaws like he had just seen the most fucking hilarious thing the world has ever known. I glared at him first, and then looked harshly to Joel. "Doesn't feel so good, does it?" Ryan laughed it as he easily tugged me from the muddy trap. All my fury washed away at this. Revenge. These two had plotted revenge against me. Together. The assholes!

I flipped around and tackled Joel, snapping softly at his ears. Ryan's laughter grew louder, but it came fainter to my ears. I would teach Joel to take my father's side against a Lad! Gavin, Michael, and I would make them pay for this. There was only room for three pranksters in the Achievement Hunters! I let a cold snarl rip from my throat, though it curved at the end as I tried to contain my laughter. I snapped once more at the man's ears, though this time I felt words whisper past my lips, too quiet for Ryan to hear, but loud enough to slip into Joel's ear alone. "That was impressive acting." Perhaps the words themself were innocent enough, but my tone was not the same child-like tone I typically used. It was...deeper. I didn't even know how the fuck to decipher it and I was the one who said it.

I attempted to pin the slightly larger man down, grin large across my face, ears turned back to listen to Ryan's laughter continue as I battle the half-breed, and praying to Skoll Joel had not heard me.

[I L Y I C H]

His panic was delicious. And it was all his own fault really, no guilt. Nope. Okay maybe a little guilt. None the less I was still laughing at near hysterics when he jumped me. Giggling into the mud I pressed my massive ears backwards in an effort to protect them from light teeth, kicking at his belly once I'd managed to squirm myself into the position to do so. Snapping right back, aiming to nip at his jaw in self-defense. How dare he attack my ears! That was just mean. "Oh noooo. You can't have my ears thats a low blow! Their twice as big as yours!" I forced as much affronted dignity as I could into my words before breaking down into hysterics again. "Your faaaaaace" I was wheezing at this point, the weight of the smaller folami on my chest fighting to hold me down combined with my laughter taking it's toll.

I looked up at him through water filled eyes, grinning unabashedly in responce to his statement. "I am a brilliant actor" I huffed dramatically, adding a purr to the end of the statement just for kicks. I didn't miss the way his voice had dipped, and though I knew it was pretty scummy of me to respond to it I couldn't help it. Maybe I was just an asshole. Huffing out another heavy breath I waved my paws at him, playing at asphyxiation. "Oh get off you dick. You wouldn't kill an old man would you?" Shoving at him with my hind paws braced against his stomach I fought to squirm free. He wasn't bigger then me, but he was bulkier. It'd take a bit of maneuvering. So I kicked back hard and parted my jaws letting out a bark that was neither folami like nor quiet in the least degree. Hoping to shock him enough to get free, I fought to leap to my paws prepared to turn around and tackle the smaller dog with my greater height and gain the advantage. Then I'd just fucking sit on him. See how he liked that.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I almost willingly stepped off the man to release him, having had my fun, but then he insulted the terror I had had on my face and I found myself throwing out a playfully aggressive growl. Nipping down slowly, almost guardedly affectionate, at his snout in response. I smirked at his actor comment, his tone erupting a fire into my gut. My movements had gotten a little slower now, not so child-like, as I fought to hide the fact that I was indeed enjoying this much more than I did with Gavin.

Ryan wasn't laughing anymore.

I felt the larger beast squirming for his freedom, saying something referring to his age, and I reacted to it but moving cautiously off, almost...dream-like. I poked my snout at the side of his head playfully before completely releasing him. "You aren't that old." The voice was deeper again, and it made me uncomfortable but I could not seem to stop it. I moved off him, pulling my snout away. I caught Ryan standing a few paces from us with narrowed eyed curiosity. He didn't say or do anything, but I could feel the swirl of questions running through his skull. Hell if I had answers, though. I had the same questions.

It had felt oddly good wrestling with the older man. Oddly right.

I shook it away and let my faint smile grow into the boyish smirk I so commonly held. "Though, you do fight like an old fart." I tried to be light, but I could still feel Ryan watching. The curious expression had grown into an amused smile once more. But it still felt wrong. Something about wrestling Joel in front of Ryan (in front of anyone) just didn't feel right. It made my skin heat up in embarrassment, and caused me to restrain from saying all the things that came to my mind. Like pointing out how beautiful the man's eyes had been, corners creased by that adorable smile. No, things like that were not welcome. Yet, I did not try to chase the thoughts away, only swallowed the sounds. A thought could do no damage if the words go unspoken.

Shit.

[I L Y I C H]

I wasn't stupid, I knew what was going on here. Stupid pranks had morphed into something else and damn was I really fucking enjoying this silly little flirting game? Yes. The answer was yes. I huffed at Ray's apparent correction, blue eyes rolling an attempt to peer up at him. My grin stayed in place though, of course it did. This was hilarious, and Ray's face was fucking adorable. Jesus I'm a predator. I'm a child predator. "Old enough" I admonished automatically, face light but voice almost wilting. If only I could age down just a bit. He really was adorable but their came a point when one realized they are twice someone else's age and that just ruins it.

Clambering to my paws I gave the kid a hearty shove, mostly out of my own internal embarrassment but also for that last little bit of touch. I couldn't help me being the obnoxiously touchy person I was. Even if it was creepy. Ray spoke up again, more playful this time and I had to fight my own laughter down. That was just down right cruel. Pulling an affronted expression on my face I looked at him with wide eyes. "I can't help having never gotten real training. I'm a pet. An old fat pet." I all but whined the words, eyes innocent.

Grinning once more I leaned away, arching a brow and flicking my ears forward. "And besides this coming from the big bad folami who screamed like a caught song bird" Teasing was automatic, and I crinkled my eyes at him, curling my lip enough to show the barest hints of my fangs. Playing as per usual. All that was. Playing. Flirting wasn't anything but playing. So it was ok. For now. Right? I turned my head to stare side ways at Ryan. "Are there anymore horrible death traps I need to keep my paws clear of?" I said it all in a high almost gleeful tone. Wanting to extend the little adventure but knowing we would have to turn back soon.

Right.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

My ears flicked at the insult, opening my mouth in a mock expression of shock. "I knew it was you, but I figured the old guys need to have their fun, too!" Right, because that is what this all was, my father and his friend getting revenge against the young puppy--the motherfucking child. I fought back a sulk. Age was such a stupid thing. Age didn't mean shit. Oh, but it did in society. Age was so fucking important to so many people. Age dictated what you could hunt, whether you could do it alone or not, if you can ever be by yourself, who your friends are.

Who you fucking get attracted to.

I was pissed, but I did not let my smile falter as the attention was turned to Ryan. I could admit I was attracted to Joel, he had some nice looks and a charming smile. We had only met, but I wasn't blind--the older man was gorgeous. I could innocently play with those thoughts, but I could never act upon it, no matter if after some time I still found interest in him. It didn't matter how long we knew each other, it was already predecided that he would never be anything more than the friend to Ryan, Geoff, and Jack that I occasionally scared shitless. I was only allowed to date those my own age. I should only want to, because I am a drone to the Man.

Ryan moved forward and took the lead, his eyes having sat on the spot my paw had gotten stuck in. "Hey, dingus, is this the sink-hole you were planning to show us?" He indicated with his paw to the larger puddle of water not even a foot past where my foot had been stuck. I nodded, a little bit of heat rising to my cheeks as Ryan rolled his eyes and smirked with what I took as a superior expression. Right, because his balls were bigger than mine, so he's the fucking man. With a sigh of relief, Ryan moved past me again and started to head back to where the rest of our pack had been left behind. "I don't know about you two, but I am freezing. I'm going home." A small little prick of hope flared into my gut. Was Ryan really leaving me alone with someone he only met this morning? "Come on, Ray, even if Joel does decide to explore some more, he doesn't need you to watch." Again my cheeks heated, this time in a mixture of embarrassment and anger. But I swallowed it back down and smirked, turning to look to the newcomer with arched eyebrows.

"I'm gonna kill him, so you best stick with us so you can keep me from doing so." I laughed it before running after Ryan, sweeping my whip-like tail gently over the shepherd-mix's face. Ryan was running, but his bulk made him slower than me.

"Unless you're too old to run, too." I called it over my shoulder teasingly to Joel, but it was as I was passing Ryan so I knew my father would not find my playfulness suspicious, assuming I was speaking to them both. Ryan denied my challenge, letting me pull a good distance ahead. Part of me wanted Joel to catch up to me, but an even larger part willed him to just laugh and let me be, choosing to walk with Ryan instead. I didn't know this man and I was only drawn to him because he was attractive and didn't treat me like a child. I knew I had no filter and I might let something slip.

I needed more time to see if he was actually worth the ridicule.

[I L Y I C H]

I smiled broadly at his horrible attempts to regain his pride. Oh was that how it was? The old men having their fun. I cocked an ear to the side, my smiling pulling into something far more mischievous then it out to be. "But I was playing with you" My voice remained low, toying maybe. Half of me really just wanted to see the expression that would draw up on Rays face. The other half knew the words were entirely true. The man was funny as shit, and though it almost pained me to admit it he was attractive. And young. Rally fucking young. So i turned away when Ryan spoke up, cutting my playful gaze away from Ray and focusing my blue stare far less intently on his father. This was Ray's fucking father and I was hitting on him in front of- oh Skoll. I'd forgotten just a little bit.

Ray was young. An adult certainly but still young. He didn't need me sniffing after him. Kids had all the opportunity in the world when it came to attraction. Me, not so much. So I would leave it alone. My ears lifted in reaction to Ryan's calling and I let my smile slip into something a fraction sloppier. I could deal with getting to play around in the rain for a while. Even if I was just throwing the idea of 'no more flirting' out the fucking window. But alas such was not the case and I couldn't help the need to prod back just a little bit. "You have such short fur. What do you do when it snows?" I almost whined the words, playing at empathy while actually wondering. How the fuck did either of them survive winter? Especially around here where snow liked to fall in blankets. Though I wondered if Ray had ever seen snow, and if Ryan was from close enough around here that he had had to deal with it.

As much as I did want to keep looking around, I knew I could do that later. Geoff didn't seem like he had any intention to leave where they currently were. Like it was a base or something. I could go out when ever I wanted and look around. Besides. The idea of walking around and getting stuck like Ray had was worrying. I would be alone and I didn't particularly enjoy the idea of having to lay there and hope someone found me. Ray beat me to the punch though, and I nipped playfully at his already abused tail. "I am not getting involved in your family battles you twerp." My smile was back, pulling at my face the way it always did. Ryan seemed very overly protective, which in one sense could be a very good thing for a person like Ray. At least as a child. But kids grew up and new adults did so loath the idea of having to deal with shit like that.

And Ray fucking took off and tried to diss me and oh hell no. "I'm a shepherd! You couldn't out run me if you had nitros strapped to your ass." My claws dug into the soil and all but flung mud as I tore after the smaller folami. I was a built runner. Designed that way by my father's breed. I might lack the muscles that many folami bulked out with, but I had a set of legs made of fucking titanium and I wasn't gonna be beaten in a race by an upstart who thought it was funny to call me old. Sprinting took some of the worry off of me anyway. It felt good to just bolt through the wind and rain. To relieve stress in the sheer power of muscles and ligaments simply contracting. I laughed loudly, half having to leap in an attempt to avoid a mud hole spattering the stuff up my own side before chugging on ward. It wouldn't take too long to get back at this pace and a part of me wanted to double back to Ryan and see if I could still catch back up. The other half was enjoying watching Ray's muscles shift under that too short fur.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I couldn't hear what Joel answered in response to Ray's excuse, but I saw Ray laugh and move forward as if to shove his nose against the new guy's. My call had caught the boy's attention, though, and he took off past me, throwing mud up my side in the process. His comment almost made me push myself a little too far, but I knew a lost cause when I saw one. Joel, on the other paw, seemed more than confident (and perhaps a little too eager) to accept.

I quickened my pace, but made no real success catching up to either of them. I built to fight. That was it. I had no speed, and I sure had no stamina for running. My paws were quickly sore from having my large mass stomp down on my ankles repeatedly, but still I kept moving at a reasonable pace. I saw Ray glance over his shoulder, heard a deep squeal of pleasure, then watched as he purposefully starting digging his paws deeper into the mud with each landing. It slowed his pace ever so slightly, but mud began to kick up towards his pursuer. I couldn't help but smirk--it was a move that could actually prove useful if he were in danger.

Taking in a deep breath, I pushed myself to the limit, barely catching up to the duo. I knew I would not last long, especially if Ray learned how to actually aim the splashes of mud (they were merely splotching my chest). I was close enough that I could grab Joel's tail if I wanted to. The way the man focused on my son unnerved me to some extent, but I chose to ignore it. He was merely responding to Ray's taunts--some people just couldn't say no to a challenge, and Ray was very good at pushing people. "What the fuck is a nitro, man? Nothing Ray can actually get his paws on, I would hope." I puffed out the words, beginning to run out of steam, but there was certainty a light laugh to my tone. I didn't need Joel giving Ray any ideas that would make him any faster.

My heart was about to explode as it was.

[I L Y I C H]

My paws caught the mud easily and I shot a quick glance back at Ryan as he spoke. Tongue hanging out of my jaws I gave him a shocked look but refused to slow down. Poor dude was so fucking muscular he couldn't keep up. "Nitrous!" I half howled the word, shocked by the abrupt cold of wet mud slung into my chest. "How do you not know?" I let my shock seep into the words. Damn! Dad liked to play those games on the big screen, and he loved nitrous. Guess not everyone grew up with that shit though. "Dear Skoll I'm going to have to teach you pop culture. Oh this is horrible" Tail waving sharply once I slowed down with a huff, conceding to Ray as I did so. Little fucker; but my excitement at having someone question me on something I could gleefully rant about was too great.

"No, it's like a chemical thing that comes in a can." I waves my snout about for emphasis. Normally I would use my paws but that was made a bit difficult by being in motion. "Humans put it in their cars and it gives the engine a massive kickstart. Like serious shit goes down." The thoughts made me giddy. Wish I could have that much speed. I'd always loved to watch those kinds of games. Who's only real reason for existing was wreaking fast cars and shooting people. They were just so stupidly violent. "It's like the king of all speed boosts but no I don't think it works on folami" I added the last bit almost whimsically. If only if only.

But I eyed Ray from where I had slowed, panting happily as I trotted along. I had explained and maybe the kid had slowed down enough at the end of our race for a second burst of speed to surprise him. Ryan could have other questions too, but I'd been distracted. I never had been one to be able to hold any sort of conversation. Tensing my haunches I lunged forward again, moving in an effort to slam Ray into the muck before gallivanting off. I wasn't about to let the kid beat me after all. That just wouldn't do, and I had bragged. A man didn't back off of his reputation. So I hauled ass away from them, laughing hard as I neared that little glade of trees we had only left a short while before.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

I took in all Joel had t say, more confused at the end than he had started, and let the beast run off. I watched the man catch up to Ray, who had slowed slightly after realizing we had slowed, and tackled him into the mud. I laughed at my son before trotting by his shocked form laying in the mud, and entered back into camp. Ray quickly clamored to his paws and followed, mumbling something about the 'fat old man mushing him in the mud' to Gavin when the white folami questioned all the filth.