Imrae has observed many kinds of relationships between lions. Some good, some great, others... well not so great. She'd never heard of one called a buddy. And it's not often she gets the chance, or the bravery, to actually ask one of her questions. But slightly she shakes her head - No I don't. And it comes with a silent demand of teach me. An intense, and very very interested look overtakes Imrae's features and @Freckle has her complete attention.

I can rely on my parents I guess. Do they count? But even she didn't sound excited about that. She didn't think they'd count, she didn't think she wanted them to count either for the record.

If possible she grew more engrossed, more green eyed with envy and desiring of what he had. A buddy. Pelts. And more importantly the space, the freedom, to have it all whenever he wanted it. Imrae doesn't necessarily want his pelts (not to say she wouldn't swipe one if given the chance...) but she wants the chance to gather them like he's got. To build a pile of treasure and sit up on it. Tell me about them. She can't hide the jealousy, her face is growing a frown and she licks at lips as if hungry, gluttonous.

Surprise registers on the spotted boy’s features at @Imrae's admittance. “Dang.” he says in his fleeting puzzlement, “Well, that’s okay. We can fix that.” Hello, I’m your new best friend. Presumptuous of him to offer himself in that place? Not at all; he was helping! He considers the clay girl’s reasoning, finding himself not quite certain on the answer. “Hmm. Unless they’re cool… I dunno.” he decides, “Cus for a buddy, you can tell them anything and they won’t ever snitch or getcha in trouble.” Wasn’t that what parents did? It was one of the reasons Freckle much preferred the guardian he had over a stifling parent. Freckle grins, proudly, boastfully, as she inquires of his collection - privately pleased he had this rare opportunity to brag. “Mm, so the first one was an antelope. It’s kinda boring, but it’s soft. I also have a goat, and part of a wildebeest. But my favourite-!” he lifts a paw with a flourish, “S’ from a Kudu. It’s all stripy!” True, he hadn’t necessarily hunted them all himself, but helping organise the cache meant he could often have his pick.

Fix? Imrae looked confused and maybe even down right suspicious of @Freckle's offer. She was a watcher, the one who stayed at a distance. Being involved, having a buddy was something she was not sure she'd like. Little did she know what she was missing. Besides his glowing recommendation she didn't know the value of it... but for now said nothing of her concern or hesitations. But eventually nodded her face subtly in agreement. Ok. Let's 'fix' that. That doesn't sound like my parents. She points out after his analytical thought. They weren't really cool, and Imrae could tell them anything but they were the one who made her get in trouble and decided what to do about it. Not buddy material. If she was going to have one of these she wanted a good one.

You need a rabbit. They're really small but very soft. Imrae loved his descriptions, the details she consumed like air. She needed to know these things. That one was soft, that one was his favorite. It painted a more clear picture for her but especially of this striped Kudu pelt that immediately became so vivid in her mind she swore she could reach out a paw to feel it. She's jealous. It's ingrained and obvious on her face.

Could parents be a ‘buddy’ at all? Freckle really had never had the chance to consider it at length. Gut instinct said why not but that could be his lack of a literal parent talking. He wasn’t really sure what they were supposed to do, aside from what Fang had taught him, quite a long time ago by now. From what he’d heard, Freckle knew he preferred the guardianship arrangement he’d found himself in with Bruno. After all, Bruno was cool and Freckle was pretty sure he wasn’t a snitch. With the matter confirmed on his mental to-do list of helpful things, Freckle’s eyes narrow in curious interest as @Imrae details a necessary addition. “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten rabbit.” he admits, glib with this shortcoming, “Are they easy to catch?” Because in truth, the softer the pelt the better. Even if it was only a small one. “Maybe we could go look for some t’gether?” he suggests quickly, brightly. “Then we can both get one.” Or more-! If Imrae was a good hunter and could make up for his novice talents.

Easy? Imrae shakes her head but then after a second to think about it she stopped and shrugged. They're quick and bouncy. But if you can get one you got it. Once the catch was made it was an easy kill an little chance og things going wrong. But up until then? It could be a hard catch especially if the rabbit was smart and wily about his hops and movement.

But, it was definitely something she wanted to see if he could manage to do ot help with. So when he suggested they go hunting Imrae nodded. Ok, I'll show you where I've seen them before. Maybe she'd learn something from his technique... or maybe she'd get a chuckle from a fumble between them.

/ exit to go rabbit hunt?

Quick and bouncy? Freckle thought he could deal with that. He was quick and bouncy - so matching such movements would be a good bit of fun in the least, and a tasty snack and a new trophy if they succeeded. “Ok.” he agrees with a nod, “I’m sure they’ll never see us coming!” Hefting his muddy self to his paws, the spotted boy casts a glance at Imrae to check the direction, letting her take the lead. It didn’t take long for him to pick up the conversation, chattering on as the pair disappear into the mangroves. “So how many rabbit pelts d’ya think it’d take to fill an entire den…” /exit Freckle to rabbit hunt!