Reaping: Unwanted responsibilities

Why... Why me? By the gods, WHY?

Serilda just couldn't understand how she could be just, well, collecting ketu companions! Do I have a sign on me saying, 'join me on my travels! Free meals and lessons!' Geez, what is going on here? To make matters worse was how the relationship between the male and her female companion was developing.

If she didn't like looking behind her before, she certainly didn't want to now. Since Serilda had made it clear she wasn't interested in having a male around, the brown newcomer was throwing all his charm at Quilla. Poor girl is too innocent to even realize what he's doing. It's a disaster waiting to happen. Whatever, not my problem. She's a grown ket, she can do what she wants. Still, Seri couldn't help but worry a bit about the small charcoal female.

They had been traveling together for months now, and she did decide to look after her and take care of her. Seri silently growled at herself. Why me? This is NOT what I'm supposed to be concentrating on right now. She could just chase the male away, but Quilla would probably just go with him. She would need to intervene eventually, but for now she let them have their fun.



Meanwhile, Aurek was doing his best to show off, recalling tales of “heroism” from his journeys. Even if he had only saved a bug from being washed away by rain, his dramatic flourish captivated the young female. But she wasn't the only one captivated.
By now Quilla had cleaned most of the mud off of her, and Aurek was surprised by how beautiful she was. She's a vulnerable little thing, with no idea how the world is! She needs someone to protect her, and Serilda isn't exactly the best ketu to do that! And those violet eyes... Aurek caught himself staring. “Oh, um, where was I?”

Quilla giggled. “You were at the part where the ant got washed down into a puddle!”

“Oh yes! As you can imagine, he might as well been washed into a vast lake, with no way out! So I cried out to him....”

Quilla couldn't remember the last time she had been so happy. In fact, she couldn't remember the last time she laughed. Her world had been a dreary one full of misery, failure, and self-pity. To her, Aurek was a light in that darkness. Instead of dwelling on her short-comings, she could just focus on his words and enjoy herself. His intense green eyes flashed with emotion as he spoke, and the vents by his eyes gave him a fierce look, but he was anything but to her. She had a sneaky suspicion he might be embellishing his stories, but she didn't mind. He just might be the one who can rescue me from myself...



As evening fell, Serilda picked out a spot for camp and started a fire. For a moment she just stared at the other two, and they stared back, uncertain. Maybe I can send the male away for a bit so I can talk to Quilla about all this. No pain is worse than a broken heart... “Aurek!” she barked “Go get dinner for us, now.”

Aurek was flabbergasted at first. The whole reason he left home was so he couldn't be ordered around anymore! About to form a not so polite reply, the male was interrupted by Quilla.

“Can I go with him?”

Gods help me... Serilda thought. “Whatever! Just get food! I'm hungry.” She would have to have the conversation with her another time it seemed.



Quilla led the way away from the camp, a bounce in her step.

“So, what shall we eat?” Aurek asked. “I'll hunt anything you want!”

“How about a moorstalker to test your bravery?” She teased. She doubted he would really face one. Plicilopes was far easier to hunt and catch.

Aurek puffed up his chest and raised his golden-orange frill. “Anything for you, Violet-eyes!” The brown male trotted to the lead, towards a small rocky hill. Around the base was a medium-sized cave. Without hesitation Aurek entered alone.



Quilla waited by the cave entrance, shocked. I can't believe he's actually going to do it! What if he gets hurt, or killed? Oh, it will be my fault! She waited there for what seemed like forever, as the sun dipped below the horizon. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest as she began to panic.

“RAAOOOOORRR!”

Quilla jumped straight up in the air, feathers on end! The moorstalker had won, and was coming for her too!

A hearty laugh came from inside the cave. Aurek emerged into the open air, with a slain moorstalker on his back. He had a few claw injuries and one nasty bite, but he stood there proudly, a grin spread across is brown face. The shock and amazement in the dark female's features was payment enough for him. Definitely worth it. “Let's get back to Seri and eat!”



Where are they... I'm STARVING! Seri growled at the evening air. The wind had started to blow, and a cold chill was making its way through her fur and feathers. With a heavy sigh she moved closer to the little fire for warmth. This area was nothing but a disaster. She'd be glad to just through the Blasting Moors and move on. As the minutes slowly ticked by, Ser began thinking about all the reasons they could be late: eaten, injured, lollygagging,  or heavens forbid, mating! Ugh! I swear if she has cubs already I'm going to kill them all!

The sound of rustling grass reached her ears. She raised her head and peered into the darkness around the camp. Violet and green eyes flashed against the light of the fire. Finally! “Where have you two been?! It's been hours!”

Quilla giggled at Serilda's astonished face as Aurek laid down his catch by the fire. Aurek immediately felt the need to recount the skirmish.

“So there I was, alone, stalking my prey in a cave, as dark as pitch! With only my nose and ears to guide me, I roamed through the stone labyrinth of tunnels....”

The females gladly ate while he told his tale.



After dinner, Seri hit upon a plan that might just work to get the male out of her fur. Once there was a lull between Aurek's stories, she spoke up, a pleasant smile on her white face.

“You know, I've been thinking, and having a male along may not be such a bad idea. But I think you should pick up some skills first before you join us. I can't teach you both everything, and it would be good for you to increase your strength... not that you aren't already strong, but a little more knowledge and power never hurt anything, right?”

Quilla looked panicked at the thought of Aurek leaving them, even if it was only temporary. Aurek was thoughtful, considering the possibilities.

“I think you may be right, Seri,” Aurek replied, standing tall. “It does me no good to be strong if I do not have the skills to go with it!”

Seri smiled, internally patting herself on the back for a job well done. The male will be gone and things would be back to normal, at least for a while. Besides, who says he'd come back, or even be able to find us again? Seri struggled to stifle a chuckle.

“I should go, too,” Quilla's small voice was barely heard over the crackling of the fire.

“You are always welcome by my side, beautiful Quilla!”

Shyly she smiled back at the large male, but she knew better than to even look at Serilda. The white-faced female looked about to explode.

Damn it all! Why can't things ever turn out how they are supposed to? I must be cursed... Serilda let a small growl escape her throat.

Quilla shrank at the sound, but she really wanted to go. “You said yourself, you can teach us everything...” she began slowly. “Maybe I could help you better if I knew more.”

“FINE! Whatever! Do as you wish!” Serilda yelled across the flames. “But we have to have a talk before you go, understand me?” Not waiting for a reply, she trotted off into the dark night.