@Sjórbjörn

The underground was their home now, though it is a strange adjustment. There is little light and a persistent smell of damp that clings to the stone. It is strange, they think, but do their best to adjust. Despite their best attempts they've ventured outside Obisidans hold today and barely realize it -- it's not until the high-pitched clicks of the bats fill their ears do they realize something is amiss. Muzzle tilts upward but the bats are little more than smudged shadows against an even darker backdrop; they hard to make out, but not impossible. It is a strange sight, and certainly not a comforting one, and if it wasn't for the pumpkins artyom might just leave this cavern behind. The orange orbs are vaguely familiar, but what are they doing here? Did the bats bring them here?

Hmmm.

Photo by Kazuky Akayashi on Unsplash
Coding & Manip (c) Plymouth

sjórbjörn sigrún

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trailing behind @Artyom on lumbering paws is, predictably, their husband bestest of friends, bear. when artyom stops, though, bear nearly runs into the back of them - not really paying attention to where they're going, just following to make sure they don't run into trouble. skidding to a stop just in time and tripping over himself to back up, the bear priest offers a small, semi-indignant snort. what's got your attention? it's then that he looks over the top of his much shorter companion and catches sight of the pumpkins - and he's left staring in confusion. he's never in his life seen such a thing, not once, and he's... baffled.

Their sudden stop is advantageous in two strokes: one, it keeps them safe from the swarming bats above. And two, it leaves little room for Bear's prowling. He's following closer than usual today but still Artyom is unaware of his presence until he nearly collided with them -- they offer him a huff, a chiding noise to be sure, though their attention is truly elsewhere. This, they declare with an arched brow -- suspicious of both their friend and the pumpkins both. Caramel-colored muzzle jerks to the fruit, before their attention shifts back to him. Little rounded ears tip forward, then, realizing his expression ( and question ) means he has no experience with them. Oh, how the turn tables! They've seen them before ( but still have no idea how, or why, they are in these caverns ), but artyom puffs themselves up regardless, a little proud that he is the one grasping at straws. For once. Touch it, they instruct him -- a devious little twinkle in their eye. Oh, yes, Artie is enjoying knowing something that he doesn't!

Photo by Kazuky Akayashi on Unsplash
Coding & Manip (c) Plymouth

sjórbjörn sigrún

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the devious little glimmer in @Artyom's eyes does very little to comfort the priest, and he sends them a suspicious frown as he lumbers past them, confused and - well - nervous. reaching out one massively oversized paw, he touches a toe pad to one of the pumpkins. the alien texture has him jumping backwards, and he hisses in surprise. what is that? he asks, wrinkling his nose up and scooting towards it again. he bumps it with his snout, rocking it, and jumps back again, eyeballing it suspiciously - and then looking at artyom suspiciously. is it gonna grab me? he asks, and it's utterly comical how cautious he is of this strange new plant.

there is a certain glee in their chest, bubbling forth with intent, at the way he balks. it is not that artyom enjoys seeing @Sjórbjörn being scared -- rather, it is just that they are excited to know something he doesn't. it is not a feeling they get to experience very often; surely, he will allow them this one indulgence. quicksilver eyes watch him carefully as he moves forward, eyeing the pumpkins warily. a quiet rumble of laughter fills their throat, spilling out quietly into the bat-filled air. they quiet as he spooks once more, pawing at it with little confidence. no, they say with another quiet laugh -- sounding strange coming from their mouth, unfamiliar. it is food, i think. they say, even as their muzzle wrinkles up in suspicion. it smelled like food, at least -- though they had not tried it. bear probably would not be brave to nibble upon it, either, but he's surprised them before. taking a few steps forward artyom approaches their friend and the pumpkin, lowering their muzzle to nudge it. as if to say, see? it wasn't scary.

Photo by Kazuky Akayashi on Unsplash
Coding & Manip (c) Plymouth

double, double toil and trouble;
fire burn, and cauldron bubble...

Nafasi watches from the bushes, never once letting herself be seen by those huddled around her perfectly-placed pumpkins. They really were a curious bunch, weren't they? But, unfortunately for them, the sprite was feeling extra mischievous today, and had a trick up her sleeve! And so, with a small grin, the being tilted her maw down towards the earth, eyes glowing, before she gave a pointed flicker of her tail and brought her vision to life in the process.

Uh oh...

The smell of pumpkins fades away, and you start to smell... other things. Different, better things. The smell lines are almost visible, wafting through the air and tempting you forward. Following it the source becomes clear: a delicious smorgasbord has been laid out before you. The spread includes everything from meats to veggies and fish, and you're quick to notice even your favorites have been included! You don't know who went through the trouble of putting this altogether, but surely it'd be rude not to indulge!

(Unless, of course, you don't TRUST a mysterious buffet....)

pixel credit to moonlight-pendent13

sjórbjörn sigrún

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the appearance of the buffet has bear backing swiftly away, eyeballing it and @Artyom as if concerned this might be some sort of trap. uh, artyom, he says, blinking in confusion, what's happening? as if they'll know any better than bear - but they'd known about the pumpkins, right? squinting suspiciously at the buffet, bear wanders forwards and sniffs at it, looking adorably concerned. i don't trust this, he murmurs, unease rattling his chest with the force of a hurricane. he doesn't trust mysteriously appearing anything, let alone mysteriously appearing food. what if it's poisoned?

somehow they must have overlooked the buffet -- but soon enough, the smell of food becomes impossible to overlook. not in this cave but the one next, the scent wafting through the cavern and cutting through the strange scent of the pumpkins. they follow suit as bear meanders forward, a few steps behind but far less suspicious. their companion does not seem to trust the setup but artyom does not understand why, a slight frown twisting their features. it is food, they explain, hoping that will explain things for him. you do not need to trust it. he was a strange man, truly. sniffing towards a portion of zebra haunch, artyom pauses only a moment longer before their muzzle reaches out -- intent on taking a mouthful of the strange food.

Photo by Kazuky Akayashi on Unsplash
Coding & Manip (c) Plymouth