For @Cupid <3

They hadn't explored much beyond Maua's Passage since settling in, especially with Riptide's condition to consider. However, after they had finally begun to speak again--a night of terror Riptide and Cupid both would have a hard time forgetting, but one that had brought progress nonetheless--Riptide had also started to open up again, slowly.

They had requested this trip, remembering stories of labyrinths from Witchlight Cove and wanting to know what being in a real one was like. They hadn't even entered yet; Cupid had gone ahead briefly to investigate and make sure Riptide was even able to traverse the caves, and told them to wait nearby.

Riptide had been left alone. It was meant to be brief, Cupid said, and he had hovered before he'd left, but Riptide had assured him they would be fine. Once upon a time, leaving Riptide unsupervised would have been a disaster waiting to happen; their adventures as a younger cub had been frequent and far-ranging, an inability to sit still coupled with boundless curiosity leading them to explore even when told to stay put.

...Really, it was no surprise that that part of them was still alive, deep down somewhere. Riptide hadn't meant to go exploring while Cupid was gone; he had told them very explicitly to stay within sight of the cave mouth, which basically meant not to move as Riptide couldn't exactly...see the cave.

The scent was just so appealing! It had caught their attention as the winds changed, and they had gone to see if there were was something yummy out there. The scent had lead them to a tall plant with what felt like tiny flowers all over it, and broad, fluttery green leaves. Rubbing against it didn't cause any irritation, so it was probably safe...right? They nosed at the plant for at least five minutes, investigating it thoroughly, and finally decided that it seemed like the perfect snack.

Maw opened wide, Riptide moved to take a bite, heedless of the fact they were trying to snack on the poisonous thimbleweed.

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The caverns live up to their reputation; Cupid does not mean to adventure further than a tunnel or two yet he gets invested himself and before he knows it, there's extra twists and turns in his path. He shakes himself free from stray cobwebs as he sweeps his way back towards the labyrinth's entrance where he'd left Riptide — instructions to "shout" left with them, for even the barest of sounds echoed loud.
He sniffles, and peaks out of the month. "I think it's all good—" He cuts off as his two-toned eyes fix on the empty spot his spikey ward should be. Eyebrows frown in concern. 'Don't panic, Cupid.' "Riptide?" Maybe they are crouched behind that boulder planning their mighty ambush to take Cupid down from the shadows — y'know, like the good ole days.
When there isn't a response in what he thinks is about a minute though? Yeah, okay. Time to go find them. Tasting the air, he is relieved to at least smell that it seems like no one else was around here recently. He can hopefully cross kidnapping off his list of possibilities. Hopefully. He follows the trail of awkward sized cub paws in the dusty earth, and eventually, he spots a familiar dark brown blob.
"Riptide! There you are—" He's about to go on scolding them a bit for giving Cupid a miniature heart attack when he notices just what the little gremlin is doing. Cupid goes from concerned to relieved and somewhat annoyed to full on !!!!!. "RIPTIDE, NO!" Insert him lunging forward and attempting to grab them by their scruff.

table by sentinel / meme-tastic

Riptide was almost positive they hadn't gone that far. The thought didn't even occur to them that Cupid might panic when he returned and they were gone. The scolding tone when they finally hear Cupid had come back has their ears flattening, mouth pausing in the act of ripping off flower petals to start turning as though to peer over their shoulder, an old habit despite their loss of vision.

A moment later there are teeth in their scruff and they are being bodily dragged away from the plant, only a little flailing conveying their surprise. The shouted reprimand earned a pout from them, and they couldn't help whining a little. "But Cupid, it smells tasty!"

They only wanted a snack before their adventure. Was that so bad?

table by sentinel / meme-tastic

OOC: "+5 Save a cub from danger" 2/2 & "+5 Teach a cub something new" 1/2

IC: He’s grateful that @Riptide is starting to act like themself again. Yet, here they are!! Again!! Trying to give Cupid even more grey hairs!! The spotted yearling attempts to drag the unruly child away from the dangerous plant that has seduced them so.
He waits there with his dark ears pinned back and his tail twitching like an irritated house cat until he is certain that his friend won’t bolt back towards the “tasty” vomit-maker. It is only then that Cupid releases their scruff.
“It’s not tasty,” Cupid warns, scrunching his face up and sticking his tongue out as if he’s smelt something gross. “It’s bitter and sets your mouth on fire. You didn’t eat any, did you?” The spotted lion squints, and leans his head off to the side to peer at Riptide with one raised eyebrow.

table by sentinel / meme-tastic

Riptide huffed as they were lectured on the not-so-tasty nature of their potential snack. Though having their mouth on fire didn't sound particularly good, that was true...hm. Riptide tilted their head longingly toward the plant's scent, but didn't move to resume eating. And though they could no longer see the softly judgemental look Cupid was sending them, it was ingrained in their memory well enough that Riptide could picture it...almost perfectly.

Some things were fading.

"Only a little?" Riptide tried, sticking their tongue out in a fangy grin. It was their least convincing liar's face, and they knew it. "No, I didn't get a chance before you showed up. Are you sure, though? What about the one that smells like spicy zebra, can I eat that?"

There were plenty of nice smells in the area. Riptide was happy to lead Cupid around to them until they found one they could actually eat.

table by sentinel / meme-tastic

OOC: "+5 Teach a cub something new" 2/2

IC: “Only a little?” Cupid repeats after @Riptide with a less than pleased voice — scolding with puffed cheeks even though he’s known his friend since they were but a squirming potato. They were lying, but he is nonetheless concerned that they will have a trip to Pain if they managed to get in contact with it.
“It’s called Thimbleweed,” he informs, gesturing a paw towards the poisonous “tasty” plant. “It doesn’t have any healing properties and has some nasty side effects, like nausea and itchy skin.” Not like Cupid has had any first hand experience with this. Nope. Pain.
Fortunately, Riptide says they haven’t had any of the thimbleweed so they are safe from a… less than stellar afternoon. Except, there is apparently another smell that’s caught their attention. “Spicy zebra?” The spotted boy whispers under his breath.

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A giggle, quiet but there escapes at Cupid's scolding. They grinned at him with all their teeth, and eagerly nodded along to the explanation. Thimbleweed, the thing that smelled delicious but was actually not great. They sniffed at it a little more, then turned away toward the spicy zebra scent. It was like musk and rot with heat involved, and the combination was making Riptide's mouth water.

"Come on, over here!" They lead the way toward the scent, pausing as they approached and sniffing at several different plants before landing on one with long, flat leaves and round, ripe-smelling berries. Though Riptide didn't know it, the berries were bright purple and the leaves had bright yellow circles radiating from the center, signifying yet another deadly plant. "This one!"

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He has to admit; he is pretty curious what this “spicy zebra” smelling plant is. Witchlight Cove hosted doctors that mixed herbs with meat to get their sick to eat and ease off the bitter taste of various remedies — knowledge that Cupid is grateful for, as cubs tend to be the pickiest of contenders.
The spotted boy trots after his friend, only to… once again stand on guard. He holds back as a sigh. Riptide has found yet another Danger Plant in the matter of minutes. He thinks the ward needs a warning label. They’re too attracted to things that are toxic. What even are the odds that they would find thimbleweed and adam and eve so close together?
“OK, nope,” he says, and trots forward so he is between the two. “You can’t eat this one either.” Riptide might actually remember this one, if he describes it. So Cupid decides to take a seat and see if he can jog their memory. “The leaves almost look like a snake’s open mouth, but green and… yellow, with bright purple-red berries.”

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Cupid put himself between them, and Riptide pouted in response. However, this time the explanation that comes isn't just information--it tickles something in their memory. There was something about that description...oh!

"You mean the one Tito ate and then we couldn't play for three weeks because his lungs would get all wheezy?" Riptide couldn't remember what it was called at the moment, though they did remember that it was like the names of people. Adams' eve, maybe? Something like that. They did remember the brief terror of being the only one around when their friend started gasping for air, and running to get a medic while the other cub's mother did her best to help.

Tito hadn't been able to play again before anything else had happened. Riptide...hoped he was okay.

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@Riptide pouts, yet their expression morphs with the pinch of their forehead and Cupid gives a soft, prideful smile when he sees the light bulb click. Though the memory of Tito's fate isn't one that he wants to linger on, it is a real experience that they can connect this devilish plant to — and hopefully that is enough to keep the cub from going after it again despite how delicious it must smell to them.
"Yeah," the spotted boy says gently, tredding the thin line as he sees Riptide has grown quiet; they're both thinking about Witchlight. "It's called Adam and Eve." Change the subject... Changethesubject.
"Oh! I meant to tell you, the, uh, cave looks safe so we could go exploring." There is a cheery note in his voice that comes across a tad forced, but he hopes the news soothes whatever storm is brewing in his friend's mind. "Let's go check it out!"
With that, Cupid brushes Riptide's side with his dark tail and circles back towards the direction of the cave's entrance. It'll be a good distraction for a bit, and hopefully great shelter during the night, too.

— EXIT WITH RIPTIDE —

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