Tico and Holland's Early Relationship

Tico's relationship with Holland was... shaky, at first. The massive rex barely gave him the time of day (under the pretense of "giving Tico his space," but Tico's been in other warrens and knows when he's not wanted.) after he saved Tico from those slavering dingos, and even weeks later and after meticulous medicinal aid from Holland, the larger buck still seemed to keep him at paws-length, almost like Holland didn't really know what to do with Tico now. The cold shoulder he got in the weeks following was such a dichotomy from the protective way Holland shielded Tico from the juveniles that it made Tico question why the dark male even bothered to keep him around.

Once Tico was able to get his legs up under him, Tico seriously debated leaving Holland's territory despite the debt he still owed to the sable buck. Any attempt to make friends with the male, offers of food ("Tico... I can forage for myself.") resulted in awkward shuffles that left Tico too embarrassed to confront Holland again for the day and sapped the speckled lapin's confidence to try. The only thing that kept him within the sanctuary of Holland's warren and the looming threat of predators just lying in wait on the outside. Tico's leg smarted at the thought. Though Holland really didn't seem to enjoy his presence, Tico had to admit that this was the first time he had felt safe in months. He was grateful to Holland for his generosity, but dang, couldn't the buck at least see he was trying to show his thanks?

The complete lack of interest Holland showed in developing any sort of relationship between the two left Tico cold in the semi-arid nights. Tico was just thankful that Holland seemed to tolerate his presence in the warren, but Tico made a focused effort to make himself take up as little space as he possibly could, both inside the burrow and outside.

It all came to a head one night when the self-induced stress from Tico's own anxiety exacerbated his nightmares to the point of them becoming physical. The night was especially cool that day even down in the burrow, much like the night he was nearly ripped apart by those dogs. Tico's own fears, fears he desperately tried to suppress, kept him awake well into the night, long after the sun went down, and long after Holland entered the warren to settle down after a night of patrolling. The lack of sleep over the last few days made him delirious, and it wasn't until the harsh barks started to resound in his ears did he realize his feverish brain led him out of the safety of Holland's territory.

It was only after hot breath ghosted his ankles and teeth dug into his hind legs that Tico snapped awake to the safety of Holland's burrow, with the large buck looming over him. Holland's legs were covered in scratches, and Tico's own throat was roughened by his screams.

("Great stars, Tico. You look like you've seen a ghost. Why haven't you said anything about these nightmares?") ("You barely seem to like me as it is, Holland.") ("... I suppose it's my fault for letting you believe that to be the case.")

It was only through that quiet discussion, done in the steadily growing light of dawn that Tico realized how socially (and emotionally) stunted Holland really was. The way the big male shuffled his paws in the face of a rabbit almost half his size was oddly reminiscent to a kit in Tico's eyes. The wave of relief that coasted through him pulled a soft laugh out of the speckled buck. So. It seemed as if they both were works in progress.

("I'm sorry that you haven't been feeling safe here, Tico. Just know that my home remains open to you.") ("I think I'll stick around a while longer, Holland. If that's alright with you.")

...Yeah, they were definitely works in progress. But, as Holland curled around Tico in the nights following that incident and successfully kept the nightmares at bay, Tico remained hopeful for the seasons to come.