Meeting over Food
Erasmus didn't venture far from his little home often, the world outside being rather scary and intimating. He kept to his garden, letting himself be distracted by whatever came across his path. At times he made short trips into town, purchasing supplies he needed when he traded vegetables, flowers, plants and seeds he tended.
There were times he had to venture more out into the wild. he got crazy ideas in his head to find some new plant out in the wild and bring it home to tend. The locals say he had a green paw, and he didn't disagree. Well, he did disagree when he took the statement literately, forgetting it was just a figure of speech.
The melanistic male packed a few bags and decided to head out. He lost track of where he was after a short while, and his paws led him down a deer trail, his idea of plants all but forgotten. He was far too easily distracted and it showed.
When a chipmunk ran across his path, he turned from the trail again, and the small brown mammal distracted him from the bigger problem of the scent of another reo nearby.
***
A large, silvery Reosean rushed from his cover, brushing just past the smaller Runner before slowing his cantering to a disappointing stop. The chipmunk had long fled the scene and scurried off out of sight. Perhaps still close, but out of reach to the Angora’s misfortune.
With Erasmus looking over carefully to what had just unraveled within the few seconds of it happening, the Angora stood still, regaining a steady breath behind barred teeth. He had not yet turned to face the interloper in his way, still scrounging the area with his eyes, but sensing the defeat was incounterable at this point.
He sent a glacier cold look to the runner, his frown clearly showing he was unhappy, but with a hint of uncaringness settling in near the end. He withdrew his snarl, showing he wasn’t hostile, but also not exactly pleased with what had gone down either.
One look over could tell that the angora was hungry. Too hungry to struggle or care.
***
Erasmus flinched from the angora's gaze, but he was quickly drawn in by the fantastical smoky markings on his hide. He found himself staring, his eyes wide as the mark almost moved hypnotically before him.
Grumpy reos were nothing new to him, the runner had already gone cross country with a trio of soldier types, and Horai had been a bitch the entire trip. At least this time there wasn't a ton of ice, he didn't want a repeat of the near slip down the cliff.
There was still some snow around though, but the chill was nothing compared to the puller's gaze. Yeah, the pink brushed vay clearly had done wrong, although he wasn't sure what he was. Or what he was doing out here anymore either.
"Uhh, hi?" Erasmus stuttered in his speech normally, so he kept it to a few short words so he wouldn't show that. But his voice was nearly drowned out by the rumble of hunger from the other male. Maybe he had something for that? The runner decided to root through his pouched to discover some long forgotten herbs in the bottom, and realized he hadn't gathered anything yet today. Oops.
"Can I-I-I help y-you?"
***
Taken aback, the silvery Puller’s ears flicked and his eyes widened, not expecting such a soft response as an answer as well as the Runner’s fumbling through his satchel drove him curious, even if empty handed. He quickly caught on that they had -easily- noticed his non-stop grumbling stomach. His ribs showing through might have been a good hint as well, though thankfully, his angora fur kept him warm in these regions despite how little fat he had beneath his skin.
This time though, he completely turned himself to the melanistic Runner. Giving a somewhat of an apologetic bow, but remained quiet.
His ears pulled back and his look turned to one that clearly showed he had difficulty in finding a proper response, or in some way, he simply lacked the words. But his unease was apparent and expressive, he hoped the runner would understand as he plopped his butt down on the cold ground and lowered his head.
He thought long and hard at what he could say, but in the end, it fell somewhat short; “I… need to find food.” He scrambled himself back up, nearly ready to leave again, not knowing if this was even any of the runner’s concern but couldn’t piece together how to ask for help himself.
***
The grey reo confused Erasmus, who cocked his head and glanced at him curiously. If he needed food, why didn't he just get some?
Perhaps the angora was as terrible a hunter as he was too, which would certainly explain a lot. He had food at the house though, which would be way better for a weak, tired, and hungry reo who couldn't even catch a chipmunk.
"Co-come." The pink and black reosean spluttered out, and turned around to head back home.
The process was difficult though. Every little thing caught his attention. That butterfly flying across his path made him bat at it like a pup. That leaf with an odd shape was super cool and he had to collect it for later. The rumble of the thin male's belly caused him to turn himself around more than once as he'd look back at the fluffy male, and then find himself walking in a different direction.
The idea that the puller might lose paitence and attack him only made Erasmus more nervous, and the more nervous he was, the more distracted he grew.
***
The trek was a long one, but the smoke patterned Angora followed through out of curiosity and slight hope, as well as a part of it was not wanting to offend the runner further with how he first reacted, already reliving slight regret from that. He had let his stomach take over his mood and he knew it soured his first impression.
They kept following the soft small male, taking silent- as much as one could- steps in the half thawed out ground that left a crunch whenever one pressed over the snow. The grounds weren’t much frozen over, but the air was crisp and so was the leftover snow. It made the ground wet and cold to the touch, but nothing these Reoseans couldn’t handle.
As the melanistic runner increasingly became distraught, the puller noticed and thought up of a way to get through to him, when finally it clicked to him that he didn’t even know the Runner’s name, thus unable to call to him. It was a perfect opportunity.
“M’name’s Jenova…” the large yet skinny puller spoke, loud enough so that the runner could catch it. Perhaps an introduction could settle the seemingly increasing anxiety that the runner held.
The Angora curled his lips at an awful attempt at smiling, trying his best to show friendliness after such an unnecessary harsh start.
***
The introduction from the other reo startled Erasmus into focusing and he figured it was only best if he returned the favor.
"Oh. Uhh, umm." He frowned, forgetting his own name for a moment as his eyes caught those of the angora, but it finally came to him in a tumble that almost left his lips too fast to be heard. "Erasmus!"
Clearly embarrassed, a slight rosy tint rising to his dark cheeks, the friese runner finally realized where they were and that he had mostly led them back in the right direction.
"Ah h-ha!" He burst through the undergrowth to pad into the small field that his house lay within. Carefully manicured gardens filled most of the land, everything in neat, meticulous order. Rows of plants were labeled, and not a single plant over extended. No plant stole sunlight from another, and they were sorted by which ones complimented each other the best. Very few weeds grew, and as they walked though, his claws picked a few and tossed them to the side.
"Meat in-inside. Fr-fruit and veggies if-if you want." The melanistic runner looked back at the smoked puller for approval, and gestured in general over the field, his paw resting in a pointed position to the small house.
***
Jenova couldn’t believe the kindness this stranger was offering him, though he sure was glad that he had followed rather than wandering instantly off like he normally would have. Perhaps it was the Runner’s charm that crept up to him without realizing. Such a soft and innocent look to the young pup that was offering them the help they so needed.
His stomach growled in high anticipation at just the words and the Angora had to try and hush it awkwardly.
But first and foremost, even if the thought of food clouded nearly all of his judgments above all else, Jenova’s eyes wandered over the meticulously cared for garden, impressed by its neatness and organization. He simply couldn’t let that pass up.
“You made this?” Jenova softly spoke to avoid spooking the runner any further, but he held genuine recognition for the work it must have amounted to take care of such a field in such freezing regions. He eyes and head twirled at all the corners of the place, mesmerized by it all.
***
Erasmus almost missed the puller's response when he started picking some beans that were ready, adding them to his bags now that he remembered they were empty. He perked his head up and looked at the smoky vay, processing the words before nodding.
"Garden-gardening is fun. Helps the-the hungry i-in winter." Roenden did have longer winters than most, and the growing season was short. But due to a touch of magic, he was able to keep the plants growing even with the snow on the ground, although they produced dramatically less.
"My mag-magic is nature b-b-based. But I-I'd like to build more gr-greenhouses." His stuttering was lessening with time as he grew more comfortable around the other male. He pointed to a small building close to the house, outfitted with glass panels. The walls were opaque due to the amount of condensation built up within.
"I keep so-some trop-tropical plants too." With his bags full, he headed to the house to drop off the veggies, gesturing for the angora to follow. His magic only assisted the plant, once he snapped off the fruit, he had to get it inside before it froze.
Jenova quietly followed the runner, pausing from time to time to observe his work closer, only to take a few steps faster to catch up. Erasmus kept an eye on him as they walked, worried both for his precious plants and for the weak angora. They eventually made it to the house, where Eramus gestured to the pantry stocked full of preserved and some fresh foods.
"He-help yourself. I-I-I will get a s-stew going for some-something warm."
He smiled softly as he turned from the other reo to busy himself in the kitchen. When he was satisfied with his work, he turned to look for the angora, the smile making his eyes sparkle when he found him.
Jenova had found the cushions in his living space, and had collapsed against them, clearly exhausted. Eramus started a small fire in the hearth, and pulled a blanket up over the fluffy male, deciding to let him sleep as long as he needed. The stew would be fine and ready when he was.
With that, Erasmus made himself a cup of cocoa and settled in himself. A new friend wasn't quiet how he expected the day to go, but that's how he felt it had ended, a new friend relaxing in his home, someone Erasmus could help and hadn't judged him for his stuttering or hobbies. Perhaps the tide was turning, and life wasn't so gloomy for the two of them.
-End-
Training - Baby Steps
♦ Draw your Reosean and their companion. This can be their first meeting, or how they've learned to trust each other.
Collab between xQueen0fHellx and Zevanox
CP
WC 2008 +20
Personal +3
Collab +2
Other Reo +2
Training +2
Total = 29 CP