@Vasili

summer ebbs and wanes, slowly giving way to cooler weather. it's slow to roll in but he finds solace in it regardless, happy to trade the blistering heat for some cool relief. he was built too large and too thick for anything but the mild days towards the end of the year. he was built, too, for grass instead of sand and happily he trades this too, leaving caladan behind in the early afternoon to meander deeper into the island. the grove's trees grow tall and ominous here but he does not mind them, weaving his way lazily through the game trails. it's only when he comes across a moss-covered log laying across his path does he pause, hefting himself up with quite some effort as he leaps atop it. it is a small perch but a perch nonetheless, and he wears a soft expression. enjoying this soft, fleeting moment, for however long it might last.

cassidy is his father's son, after all, and he lives for these small moments of peace.

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This land was so fresh and new. So exciting. So unlike home in it's own unique ways. The young lad hadn't seen even a small fraction of the lands that surrounded him yet. Each step was like a bolt of electricity coursing through his body; what will he find? Would it be food? A friend? Something he had never dreamed of seeing despite his family's tales of their own homelands? Something mystical, unexplainable....

A bug

A large insect caught Vasili's attention. Blue eyes snapped to its sturdy, intriguing form. Actually very similar to one he'd seen before but that wasn't the point here. Suddenly, he felt very excited. Couldn't contain himself. Brain empty. He crouched, haunches wriggling back and forth unbeknownst to him. The bug sensed it and quickly leapt away into the thick growth of the grove. Without a second's hesitation, the gray youngster bounded off after it, crashing through the foliage like a tiny elephant.

He caught sight of it flying over a log. All he could see was his prey and the trick catch of his life. He leapt. Gracefully as a gazelle... that was mortally wounded. Vasili didn't get near enough air to clear the obstacle in front of him thanks to jumping out from the brush. He smacked right into that.... very.... soft.... log? His thick skull was met by a very plush form and he let out an oddly youthful yowl of surprise as he fell onto his butt and flopped backwards onto his back.

@Cassidy

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it seems to be a law of the universe that his peace and quiet is always meant to be broken.

he thinks — hopes? — it is not malicious thing. yet, it happens over and over again. the afternoon wanes as he stands, enjoying the scenery — until he cannot. a body slams into him, a solid hit that sends him flying. scrambling into the dirt and grass he’d been just admiring moments before, limbs flailing to try and right himself. he manages but just barely, turning towards vasili with offended, narrowed eyes.

hey! he says in a huff, the only thing injured was his pride. it wasn’t like he was particularly small, so how @Vasili managed to run into him… was beyond him. or rather, leap into him. ears tip backward against his skull, looking for all the world angry — before he huffs out a sigh, the exhale suddenly sounding more wounded than angry. what’s your problem? he grumbles, puppy dog eyes abound.

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Bright blue eyes, wide from shock, dart over to the furry log he'd run into when he'd heard the abrupt "hey" that came from it. Oh Gods. He'd run right into someone trying to enjoy peace and quiet with his cub-like antics. Too focused on insect hunting, practicing his insane skills... eyes on the ball, but not his surroundings. Or rather, what was directly in front of him. And contrastingly colored compared to the greens and browns around them with that white fur.

Horridied, Vasili flopped around on the ground for a couple seconds trying to find his feet under him. Finally he scrambled up, sending dirt, mud and clumps of leaves and grass pretty much everywhere in his panic. A very obvious huff came out of his as he tried to catch his breath and calm himself at the same time and suddenly he was still, sitting in front of the ... now rather pathetic-looking fellow. At first he was fearful of getting his butt whooped but now he just felt bad.

Ears flatten and he looked downward, crossing his front paws and scuffing the ground nervously with his claws. "'M sorry, was huntin' a bug," the youth said sheepishly, his accent thick. Also probably sounding younger than he actually was speaking that way. Vasili looked back up, attempting to meet the other male's gaze, "Mne ochen' zhal'! Are you hurt?" As if his slinky butt could hurt the larger stranger.

@Cassidy

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despite his own large and imposing figure, cassidy knew how to use the puppy-dog eyes -- and wasn't afraid to use 'em. fortunately ( or, maybe, unfortunately ) they work pretty quickly on @Vasili and so he does not have to pout for very long. he still wants to, though, with his pride and body a little bit bruised. he forgets to look pathetic for a moment as the grey-pelted boy speaks, explaining that he was hunting a bug. a bug? cassidy repeats, blinking sunset eyes owlishly. his sister enjoyed that, running after all sorts of creepy-crawlies, but he'd never been a fan. mainly because it was a lot of effort for very little pay -- then again, ida fancied herself a huntress, while cassidy was just.... here. getting pounced on accidentally by strangers who sounded kinda weird. ah, no, i'm okay, he murmurs, a little sheepish for putting on such an impressive display of his acting prowess. i'm fine, really -- ya just surprised me. his father's twang comes out of his mouth for a second, syrupy with guilt, ears tucking tight against his skull. did you, um, get your bug? cass hoped he did, lest all of this be for nothing. but maybe four eyes were better than two?

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