Free Range Fleas

two fleas roaming pharloom and meeting various friends and foes 🛟Berny the Rescue Flea 🛟 🦌Carol the Blazer Flea 🦌

[flea-roaming]

Las Creaturas

Berny is a flea known for roaming Pharloom in search of lost travelers and rescuing them. Despite this, he can often get lost or cornered for his nosey behaviors!! His barrel contains flea brew for anyone who needs it, and he is often times guiding bugs to civilization.

Berny can be located by benches and dangerous zones (the former much more commonly, the latter as a spectator)

Carol is known for different reasons: she is known to barrel through both friend and foe. Her excitement and tunnel vision make her one of the fastest fleas in Pharloom, and she is known to knock many people down. Despite this, she is very friendly.

Carol has never been caught in any trap or tight spot. Her antlers, placed on her head by the flea circus, deal extra damage to anyone unfortunate enough to get rammed by them. If she feels particularly rowdy she has no problem fighting other enemies.

Berny and Carol are found together usually, though they do not belong to anyone in particular. Usually they follow the caravan until it stops, then they roam until it’s time to come home.

Feel free to stop by!!

[obsidian-troupeling]

“Rrr, what is the phrase..? Ah, right!”

“Happy Pride Month!”

beautiful art by @flea-roaming

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet and the group arrives into White Ward, finally evading the rampant weavers that had been going on.

"Holy fuck...holy fuck..."

Nearby, they hear the clashing of metal against metal going on.

"Dew."

They rush forward and eventually find the source of the clashing...right as Trinn was lunging at Dew.

"NO!"

[Fireball!: 4 + 4 = 8]

They throw a fireball right at the sentinel's face, hoping to at least get them to stop.

@third-sentinel @wolf-and-fox @masterofthistroupe @flea-roaming

[third-sentinel]

Trinn sees the fireball at the last possible second.

The tips of its antennae get singed as it skitters back on all fours. It hisses at the newcomers...

...until it recognizes them.

[Ravka's Mirror: Deactivating]

Trinn stands slowly as sense returns to it.

...Scarlet?

@junior-and-dew

[wolf-and-fox]

They were not heard, at first. They were FELT, a distant thundering rumble that, probably originally, was not supposed to be there. And unfortunately for literally everyone else in the room, that thunder was getting louder by the minute. And then, the howling. The screaming and howling of what was a very very focused Wolf, joined by the higher-pitched howls of Fox and Wispspark, and Crimson managing to fall somewhere in between both howls. Each voice recognizable and yet, combined, very loud and also very terrifying. Why did each other's calls so… fit together, in a way? Wolf nearly SLAMS themselves into the nearest wall to get itself to STOP, shaking out fur and flames sparking off of metal and stone in the shake, before proceeding to bark as LOUDLY as possible. …Shortly before making sure everyone ELSE was okay, and then giving specifically Dew- not Trinn, DEW- the most intense stare of all time, with an additional bonus of a VERY agitated low growl. Fox has enough of a thought processing to use themselves as a barricade just in case of any future ambush. WHAT THE SHRIMP HAPPENED? First off is everyone okay, SECOND OFF DO YOU KNOW HOW RECKLESS THAT WAS?!

@masterofthistroupe @flea-roaming

[scarlet-and-dew]

Dew struggles to stand up, but when he does, he immediately scans the group.

“Wh…what are you all doing here?! You shouldn’t be here, this isn’t your fight to-”

Scarlet, who after confirming Dew was alive and relatively okay spent the past ten seconds walking over to him, immediately punches Dew square in the face, sending him back a step.

“AUGH! Scarlet, what-”

“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK WERE YOU THINKING?!”

Scarlet snarls as her eyes narrow and her mouth bares its fangs. Her eyes well up with tears.

“CHARGING RECKLESSLY INTO THE HOME TURF OF A LITERAL WAR ROBOT? WERE YOU TRYING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED?! WHAT IF YOU KILLED THE SENTINEL, OR WORSE, YOU HAD BEEN KILLED?! WHAT IN YOUR RIGHT MIND MADE YOU THINK THIS WAS OKAY?!”

“IT TURNED YOU INTO A BOMB, SCARLET. A BOMB.”

“AND WHAT, SUDDENLY THAT MAKES IT OKAY TO KILL IT, EVEN IF IT WASN’T ON ACCIDENT?!”

To that, Dew has nothing to say, but still Scarlet kept going.

“DO YOU REALIZE HOW BADLY YOU WOULD’VE FUCKED EVERYTHING UP BY KILLING THE SENTINEL?! HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD’VE BEEN ON YOUR ASS THE MOMENT THEY FOUND OUT?!”

“I WOULD’VE-”

“NO, YOU DON’T, BECAUSE YOU NEVER THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS. ALL YOU HEAR IS “SCARLET’S IN DANGER, GOTTA KILL EVERYONE RESPONSIBLE!” THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AT MOORLANE!”

“HEY, DON’T ACT LIKE MOORLANE WAS ENTIRELY MY FAULT! OR DO I NEED TO REMIND YOU OF THE DOZENS OF ARSON CASES AND WHY YOU GOT CALLED THE SCARLET DEVIL OVER THERE?”

“THOSE PEOPLE WERE BASTARDS WHO DESERVED IT! AND THERE’S NO WAY I’M TAKING THIS FROM SOMEONE WHO GOT CALLED THE GREEN SILENCE BACK THERE, BUT THAT’S NOT THE POINT!”

“WHAT IS THE POINT THEN?! WHAT IS IT ABOUT MY LIFE THAT MAKES IT LESS DISPOSABLE THAN YOUR OWN?!”

“WHY IS MINE LESS DISPOSABLE THAN YOURS?!”

@third-sentinel

[wolf-and-fox]

Wispspark is immediately wanting back OUT of the entire confrontation, shuffling past to instead hide behind Trinn for some BAFFLING reason. A part of them just doesn't want to deal with the arguing, and instead decides that the next safest location is behind it, ears tilting back. Crimson exhales in what is probably real time agony, before finally raising their voice to try to get everyone ELSE to stop yelling. Oh my- WILL BOTH OF YOU PLEASE STOP YELLING AT EACH OTHER?! You two are out here startling literally everyone else in this room and while YES, I probably would've done similar, fistfighting that Sentinel alone- I am sorry I don't know if I ever got your name- is a horrible idea, my source being Fox. ALSO it is getting too loud in here, so I'd appreciate if me and the rest of the group didn't have to suffer from yelling thanks. Crimson's cloak and fur stops bristling, exhaling and very quietly apologizing for- also yelling at the two.

@third-sentinel

[third-sentinel]

Trinn runs a bloody hand down its maskplate. The tacky liquid smears. It closes its eyes, suddenly exhausted.

This was an avoidable stress-fight, if you had only explained yourself. Wasted both our time-energy, you have.

One thought-believed you were an assassin. Instead, you came to it seeking revenge-retribution for a loved one. One would have accepted-taken Judgement, if you had only communicated. And it gave you every opportunity-chance to do so! What is wrong with you?

Ancient Songs. It almost killed-devoured you! Do you have no will to live-survive??

The rest it will address later. It will sort through and analyze the rest of the audio it processed when it doesn't have an aching gear and pulsing Silk. It is in no state to think clearly after using that Charm, nor fighting that long to what it believed was a political assassination - someone attempting to either hit the Red Accord where it hurts, or seize White Ward.

A low warbling song slides from its throat and threading through the air. Dew's body starts to stitch itself back together. He feels lighter, refreshed, like he can do anything. A taste of freedom.

Trinn's voice freezes. Silence fills it, inside and out. It has nothing more to give. Not with...not with Akarra's loss dragging its mind down into the void...

It walks away from the pair, gently tugging Fox's sleeve in invitation to follow if they want. Trinn stalks to a cabinet where it kept that extra spool of Silk a kindly Silkfly supplied it.

It lifts it to its mouth and eats with deliberate slowness.

@junior-and-dew

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet quickly turns toward Crimson.

"YOU DON'T EVEN-"

At the same time, Dew turns toward Trinn.

"I DON'T HAVE-"

Both of them stop, then take a slow, deep breath at the exact same tone and speed.

"...Sorry."

"...Sorry."

Dew takes a step back when the sentinel initially makes a sound, but relaxes slightly when his wounds start to patch themselves. He does feel slightly more energized than usual, and Chalybs finally shut himself up again. But...something felt...off...

"...You healed me. I tried to kill you, and you healed me. Why?"

[flea-roaming]

Berny listens to the conversation. He’s tired but ultimately as long as the pointy and the green are ok(?) then he’s ok (he’s not sure about anything for now)

@junior-and-dew @wolf-and-fox @third-sentinel

[third-sentinel]

Trinn tries to mime that it cannot speak at the moment.

And then looks at him like he asked the world's most stupid question.

"Why wouldn't I?," clix tries to project through body language alone.

It continues to eat and Bind.

@junior-and-dew

[scarlet-and-dew]

Dew was never really that good at reading body language, aside from Scarlet’s of course. Scarlet, on the other hand, was better at picking up on certain cues.

“…You can’t talk? Is it because of what you just did?”

Even Dew could tell the expression on the Sentinel’s face was a “are you fucking kidding me” expression, but now that he had a chance to actually process things he shifted focus to a more pressing matter to him.

“…Scarlet. Why are you covered in blood?”

“…Crimson’s group took me hunting, to help with the curse thing. It got a little messy. Didn’t get the chance to clean up.”

Dew could tell that Scarlet wasn’t telling the entire truth, but at that point he was too tired and worn out from fighting to care.

“Let’s just…head back to the Field Camp, yeah?”

“…Yeah.”

Scarlet turned toward the rest of the group, Crimson and Wolf especially, awaiting confirmation.

@wolf-and-fox

[wolf-and-fox]

Wolf has downed an entire cup of flea brew ALREADY, and Crimson is quietly more than willing to let literally anyone else mediate this. Fox makes.. certainly a choice. I can stay here and make sure everything's alright. Y'all can go back, I'll be able to find my way home. Crimson made.. an expression, watching Fox's face curiously. ..You're not lying. But you also aren't giving the entire thing. I haven't been here in a WHILE, it'd be for the benefit of all of us. Crimson looks between Trinn and Fox. Historically, these two have had… a rocky start to any sort of friendship, and the most recent run-in involved Fox nearly mauling it. They give Fox a final 'for real???' look before exhaling. Very well, I can't really change your mind about that. Barrows-Leader, what about you? …I don't think I can fit. As much as it.. makes me concerned, I will go with Scarlet and Dew. Wispspark shuffles to wander back to the group, Fox gently bonking their head against Wispspark's own in the process. ..Very well. Team, let's head out, okay?

@third-sentinel @flea-roaming @junior-and-dew @masterofthistroupe

[flea-roaming]

Berny is ready if the traveling party is going to be on the move! He remembers that he only has half his flea brew left (the big took a lot) so when he runs low he may think to find the flea caravan. But that’s not important at this moment!

@wolf-and-fox @junior-and-dew @masterofthistroupe @third-sentinel

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet and the group arrives into White Ward, finally evading the rampant weavers that had been going on.

"Holy fuck...holy fuck..."

Nearby, they hear the clashing of metal against metal going on.

"Dew."

They rush forward and eventually find the source of the clashing...right as Trinn was lunging at Dew.

"NO!"

[Fireball!: 4 + 4 = 8]

They throw a fireball right at the sentinel's face, hoping to at least get them to stop.

@third-sentinel @wolf-and-fox @masterofthistroupe @flea-roaming

[third-sentinel]

Trinn sees the fireball at the last possible second.

The tips of its antennae get singed as it skitters back on all fours. It hisses at the newcomers...

...until it recognizes them.

[Ravka's Mirror: Deactivating]

Trinn stands slowly as sense returns to it.

...Scarlet?

@junior-and-dew

[wolf-and-fox]

They were not heard, at first. They were FELT, a distant thundering rumble that, probably originally, was not supposed to be there. And unfortunately for literally everyone else in the room, that thunder was getting louder by the minute. And then, the howling. The screaming and howling of what was a very very focused Wolf, joined by the higher-pitched howls of Fox and Wispspark, and Crimson managing to fall somewhere in between both howls. Each voice recognizable and yet, combined, very loud and also very terrifying. Why did each other's calls so… fit together, in a way? Wolf nearly SLAMS themselves into the nearest wall to get itself to STOP, shaking out fur and flames sparking off of metal and stone in the shake, before proceeding to bark as LOUDLY as possible. …Shortly before making sure everyone ELSE was okay, and then giving specifically Dew- not Trinn, DEW- the most intense stare of all time, with an additional bonus of a VERY agitated low growl. Fox has enough of a thought processing to use themselves as a barricade just in case of any future ambush. WHAT THE SHRIMP HAPPENED? First off is everyone okay, SECOND OFF DO YOU KNOW HOW RECKLESS THAT WAS?!

@masterofthistroupe @flea-roaming

[scarlet-and-dew]

Dew struggles to stand up, but when he does, he immediately scans the group.

“Wh…what are you all doing here?! You shouldn’t be here, this isn’t your fight to-”

Scarlet, who after confirming Dew was alive and relatively okay spent the past ten seconds walking over to him, immediately punches Dew square in the face, sending him back a step.

“AUGH! Scarlet, what-”

“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK WERE YOU THINKING?!”

Scarlet snarls as her eyes narrow and her mouth bares its fangs. Her eyes well up with tears.

“CHARGING RECKLESSLY INTO THE HOME TURF OF A LITERAL WAR ROBOT? WERE YOU TRYING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED?! WHAT IF YOU KILLED THE SENTINEL, OR WORSE, YOU HAD BEEN KILLED?! WHAT IN YOUR RIGHT MIND MADE YOU THINK THIS WAS OKAY?!”

“IT TURNED YOU INTO A BOMB, SCARLET. A BOMB.”

“AND WHAT, SUDDENLY THAT MAKES IT OKAY TO KILL IT, EVEN IF IT WASN’T ON ACCIDENT?!”

To that, Dew has nothing to say, but still Scarlet kept going.

“DO YOU REALIZE HOW BADLY YOU WOULD’VE FUCKED EVERYTHING UP BY KILLING THE SENTINEL?! HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD’VE BEEN ON YOUR ASS THE MOMENT THEY FOUND OUT?!”

“I WOULD’VE-”

“NO, YOU DON’T, BECAUSE YOU NEVER THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS. ALL YOU HEAR IS “SCARLET’S IN DANGER, GOTTA KILL EVERYONE RESPONSIBLE!” THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AT MOORLANE!”

“HEY, DON’T ACT LIKE MOORLANE WAS ENTIRELY MY FAULT! OR DO I NEED TO REMIND YOU OF THE DOZENS OF ARSON CASES AND WHY YOU GOT CALLED THE SCARLET DEVIL OVER THERE?”

“THOSE PEOPLE WERE BASTARDS WHO DESERVED IT! AND THERE’S NO WAY I’M TAKING THIS FROM SOMEONE WHO GOT CALLED THE GREEN SILENCE BACK THERE, BUT THAT’S NOT THE POINT!”

“WHAT IS THE POINT THEN?! WHAT IS IT ABOUT MY LIFE THAT MAKES IT LESS DISPOSABLE THAN YOUR OWN?!”

“WHY IS MINE LESS DISPOSABLE THAN YOURS?!”

@third-sentinel

[wolf-and-fox]

Wispspark is immediately wanting back OUT of the entire confrontation, shuffling past to instead hide behind Trinn for some BAFFLING reason. A part of them just doesn't want to deal with the arguing, and instead decides that the next safest location is behind it, ears tilting back. Crimson exhales in what is probably real time agony, before finally raising their voice to try to get everyone ELSE to stop yelling. Oh my- WILL BOTH OF YOU PLEASE STOP YELLING AT EACH OTHER?! You two are out here startling literally everyone else in this room and while YES, I probably would've done similar, fistfighting that Sentinel alone- I am sorry I don't know if I ever got your name- is a horrible idea, my source being Fox. ALSO it is getting too loud in here, so I'd appreciate if me and the rest of the group didn't have to suffer from yelling thanks. Crimson's cloak and fur stops bristling, exhaling and very quietly apologizing for- also yelling at the two.

@third-sentinel

[third-sentinel]

Trinn runs a bloody hand down its maskplate. The tacky liquid smears. It closes its eyes, suddenly exhausted.

This was an avoidable stress-fight, if you had only explained yourself. Wasted both our time-energy, you have.

One thought-believed you were an assassin. Instead, you came to it seeking revenge-retribution for a loved one. One would have accepted-taken Judgement, if you had only communicated. And it gave you every opportunity-chance to do so! What is wrong with you?

Ancient Songs. It almost killed-devoured you! Do you have no will to live-survive??

The rest it will address later. It will sort through and analyze the rest of the audio it processed when it doesn't have an aching gear and pulsing Silk. It is in no state to think clearly after using that Charm, nor fighting that long to what it believed was a political assassination - someone attempting to either hit the Red Accord where it hurts, or seize White Ward.

A low warbling song slides from its throat and threading through the air. Dew's body starts to stitch itself back together. He feels lighter, refreshed, like he can do anything. A taste of freedom.

Trinn's voice freezes. Silence fills it, inside and out. It has nothing more to give. Not with...not with Akarra's loss dragging its mind down into the void...

It walks away from the pair, gently tugging Fox's sleeve in invitation to follow if they want. Trinn stalks to a cabinet where it kept that extra spool of Silk a kindly Silkfly supplied it.

It lifts it to its mouth and eats with deliberate slowness.

@junior-and-dew

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet quickly turns toward Crimson.

"YOU DON'T EVEN-"

At the same time, Dew turns toward Trinn.

"I DON'T HAVE-"

Both of them stop, then take a slow, deep breath at the exact same tone and speed.

"...Sorry."

"...Sorry."

Dew takes a step back when the sentinel initially makes a sound, but relaxes slightly when his wounds start to patch themselves. He does feel slightly more energized than usual, and Chalybs finally shut himself up again. But...something felt...off...

"...You healed me. I tried to kill you, and you healed me. Why?"

[flea-roaming]

Berny listens to the conversation. He’s tired but ultimately as long as the pointy and the green are ok(?) then he’s ok (he’s not sure about anything for now)

@junior-and-dew @wolf-and-fox @third-sentinel

[hollowblr-archives]

The Flea Caravan…

@mythical-mother-flealia

@fleamaster-mooshka-unofficial

@vog-the-fierce

@the-real-grishkin

@sweet-gentle-fairgrace

@hugefleaofficial

@flea-16-official

@flea-awoo

@fluffiestfleainpharloom

@scruffy-the-flea

@mischevous-flea

@flea-roaming

@flea-in-the-caravan

@the-second-caravan

[weaveryivel]

Scarlet and their group arrive in the Field Camp, looking less than well. Scarlet hasn't even bothered to clean the blood off of them yet, they're planning to talk to Dew first. They enter the Field Camp Medical Tent...only to find Dew missing.

"Dew?"

Scarlet looks frantically around the camp, but she can't find them anywhere.

"Dew?!"

-@junior-and-dew

(Also pinging @wolf-and-fox, @masterofthistroupe, and @flea-roaming because they're with Scarlet)

(Several of the medical Servitors look up. One of them tilts their head.) Dew? Remain here. (They leave, returning with a Golden Eye Servitor. It speaks with Yivel's voice.) ... Hello, Scarlet, and others. Dew is... fine, in terms of health. However, he is also hunting for the Third Sentinel - the one we encountered at the gate. This is a foolish course of action, one he is unlikely to survive. I would prefer you attempt to do something about this. I would like to see neither the Sentinel nor Dew harmed.

[scarlet-and-dew]

"What? N-no, why would Dew be after it? He doesn't know anything about-"

Suddenly, some strangers come up to Scarlet, saying a sentence and disappearing just as suddenly as they appeared.

"...Oh. Oh no."

Scarlet turns toward the group.

"We need to find the Third Sentinel and Dew. Now."

[wolf-and-fox]

Wispspark does not need a further command, turning to Wolf, who knows that dire tone, growling lowly and drops to the dreambound form then and there, and initiates a rallying howl - an echoing, explosive howl that was intended to rally together and locate lost members of a group. Crimson is close behind on the rally, followed by Fox, and then finally Wispspark's confirmation and blessing of the search. That was enough. Seek the lost, kin! We have a rescue to fulfill! Crimson's voice had zero intention to be that loud, that… leadership-esque? But it was PRESENT, scarily present. Had the confidence gotten to them? Was it inherited? No clue you'd have to ask them. Wolf makes a second bark that RESONATED through shell and bone and flame - a confirmation, a determined hunt beginning, barreling out of the camp. Wispspark makes sure everyone else tagging along was within sight of at least Wolf. The Wolf-Vessel has picked up a scent! Keep close, everyone, they will stop at little to reach a successful mission!

@masterofthistroupe @flea-roaming

[flea-roaming]

Berny has sensed the urgency and he heard the call to action. He’s not *quite* sure the specifics but he understands that they have to go, and they have to go FAST.

So he makes Fox pour him and her some flea brew. Mostly because he cannot do it himself. He drinks his portion quickly and makes haste, following Wolf.

@wolf-and-fox @masterofthistroupe @junior-and-dew

[vaultborne]

Gently feed you from my hand

Visit Original Link

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet, Xadus, Crimson, Wolf, Fox, Wispspark, and Grimm wander the Choral Chambers, Scarlet clutching their stomach hard and Xadus watching them intently.

Xadus...had been feeling odd lately. It was a Servitor, it wasn't supposed to have emotions. And yet, here it was now, feeling sad and worried for Scarlet. Is this what people feel like?

Scarlet turns toward Fox, their tail flicking a little.

"Urgh...So, Fox, how does this hunting thing work?"

@wolf-and-fox @masterofthistroupe

[wolf-and-fox]

SOMETHING FOX IS GOOD AT. Okay well first off, the crucial thing on ambush hunting is to move quietly. Crimson come here you're also gonna be a guide for this. Wh- Given no time for Crimson's bafflement, Fox continues, and so Crimson wanders over. Granted, much of my own tactics come from mom, so. For me at least, ambush is priority. For Wolf, it's both ambush and cooperation. With not much of fanfare, Fox sets themselves into a hunting crouch - keeping themselves low to the ground, ears swiveling. Crimson follows suit for a point of reference for Scarlet- or, more accurately, an equivalent. Much of it comes down to practice and being very aware of your surroundings. Normally, my own paws would be pretty silent, except when you're on metal and stone, longer claws- They angle the closest paw to fully show the claws- do not help a lot. Fox showcases this without warning, taking a few steps forward, claws clacking against the floor. You don't have that issue- er, yet, I think. Hit the ground with the front of your own paws, it'll help a little bit on softening the sound. Second part of it is- well, actually catching things. I use my teeth and paws, so does Wolf, the Moonlit Group, my mom and my Kindred-siblings, Crimson tends to do that as well but with the addition of fire occasionally, if they don't chase it down first, since they also quite literally don't have a weapon past teeth, claws, and fire. ANYWAYS. For me, the standard is a pounce, though chasing is not out of the question.

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet tilts their head a little. They’re clearly struggling to wrap their head around it, but they’re at least trying. They turn around at the sound of rustling to see a little Drapemite nearby, just wandering around.

“Sweet, something to practice with! Okay, so…like this, right?”

Scarlet crouches low to the ground, back arched, tail raised slightly, front hands on the ground. They stay like that for a moment before leaping at the drapemite. Unfortunately, they just land right in front of it, scaring it off.

“FUCK”

Scarlet simply slumps as she watches the drapemite burrow into the ground in the distance.

[wolf-and-fox]

Crimson quickly chirps at Scarlet- watch. Wait. You did quite well, Crimson only whispers back to Scarlet. As Fox quietly adapts - shifting their paws to make their own claws less heard. They're nearly dead silent, their head tilting slightly from side to side. Their paws were moving semi-hesitantly - focus driven mostly on sound and scent. They slowly shuffle back onto their back paws, head angling a few more times, before they LAUNCH almost vertically and strike at the ground below, driving their snout directly into the ground and cloth - and barely catching the poor drapemite by the leg, wasting no time to pull it straight out of the burrow and deciding to just… gently hold the drapemite in their mouth, walking back to Scarlet. The muffled yip ensues - it is alive, and you may have the honors of mauling it.

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet looks toward the drapemite, carefully taking it from Fox. They hold the trembling creature for a moment, before opening their jaw wide and biting into it.

The first thing they noticed: it didn’t taste like ash. In fact, it had this sort of weird savory taste, kind of like the fire they used to eat. The second thing: THIS TASTE WAS SO GOOD. THEY NEVER WANTED TO TASTE ASH AGAIN.

Scarlet tears into the flesh of the creature and eats, eats, eats. Carapace, flesh, entrails, it doesn’t matter to her, it was all the same yet SO DIFFERENT. She wants, no, NEEDS to get all of these new tastes, new textures.

Some of it spills to the ground in front of Fox, and some of it splatters onto Scarlet’s face, but the majority of it vanished into her mouth. In the end, the only evidence it existed was the few bones it left, as well as the splatters of blood and entrails on the ground and on Scarlet’s face.

And yet, they still felt hungry. They want more, they NEED more, they have to find other prey, THEY HAVE TO EAT AND CONSUME AND-

Scarlet remembers that they have an audience, and nervously chuckles.

“Hehe, whoops. Guess I…got carried away, huh?”

They wipe their face of the blood and entrails, licking it off their arm and hands.

“This is…so good though. What is this weird taste? This colorful, savory and awesome taste that’s not ash?”

[wolf-and-fox]

Crimson quietly blinks, head tilting slightly, before looking back to Fox, who is.. mildly worried for how absolutely frantic Scarlet's eating, but regardless stands guard, quietly lying back down once certain everyone's safe. Better to have something than to suffer what I went through and possibly- quite literally explode. That's raw meat, for the most part. Can't imagine the silk content, being directly in the Citadel. Their ears tilt slightly - like they're listening for something. They do feign this by gently picking up one of the leftover bones and gnawing on it. I'd have to make a list of which prey gives the most essence and everything to stave it off, but for now the priority is survival.

@masterofthistroupe

[flea-roaming]

Awoooooo!!

(Berny heard voices and decided to make himself known! He has nowhere to be except where the people are)

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet jumps back slightly at the sound of the new voice. They have a wary hand on their nail as they look toward the source.

“Wha-a flea? What’s a flea doing all the way out here?”

And why did it look so tasty

@wolf-and-fox

[wolf-and-fox]

Fox's ears tilt sharply at the flea, and on pure habit drops the dreambound form entirely, bowing their head. Heya there lil' guy! Completely disregard the fact that Fox is shorter than Berny. Are you lost? We- well, me at least- are trying to find a way out of Choral Chambers. While also trying to keep Scarlet from exploding- speaking of, Scarlet don't eat the flea, I saw that look.

Crimson's been slowly being more outgoing - everything startled him a lot. And Berny's sudden arrival and awoo's has effectively intrigued them, head tilting slightly before very cautiously mimicking the awoo's - like they're listening for specific vocals and trying to mimic those calls themselves. A few times they almost slip into Wolf's identity-call, a steep humming in pitch.

The attempt in mimicry is cut short by Grimm's question, Crimson falling silent for what is probably an abnormal amount of time before speaking. ..Don't… don't bombs usually explode if not defused in time?

@flea-roaming @masterofthistroupe

[masterofthistroupe]

“I must reiterate; What the fuck is happening?”

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet turns toward Fox, mock betrayal on their face.

"I wasn't going to eat the flea! Do you have that little faith in me?"

Scarlet turns toward Grimm, her face hardening.

"I got bitten and infected by a curse which basically requires me to eat the dream essence of whatever I hunt or else I'll explode and kill everyone. We explained this already, keep up."

They were still pretty hungry though...and that flea was making their mouth water NO, STOP IT SCARLET, THAT'S NOT FOOD.

@flea-roaming

[flea-roaming]

Berny’s not all too aware of what’s going on… though he feels compelled to stick with these travelers for now. His barrel collar awaits anyone who needs a sip of flea brew.

@junior-and-dew @wolf-and-fox

[wolf-and-fox]

Wolf is twelve seconds away from standing guard for Berny's sake, and Crimson very much catches on. No one's thinking that, Scarlet. However, considering we have enough experience with Fox here who DID side-eye Wolf once, it is not exactly tricky to catch on the current thoughts. Which is why we need to get OUT of the Citadel, there's next to nothing to hunt outside of the drapemites I think. If either one of us misses a singular bite, we have a high chance of this spreading and I don't want to have Radiance after my tail for a blunder like that. Especially after the last time that was brought up. Fox sounded especially concerned of that. Everyone in the Dreambound Group specifically caught notice of the nervous habits - the way their ears tilted almost on habit, like they were listening to make sure they weren't HEARD. The little paw fidgets. Wolf's the first to gently clonk their head against Fox's leg, managing to successfully distract them long enough. So. That's the plan, for the most part.

@masterofthistroupe

[scarlet-and-dew]

"Yeah, spreading the curse is bad, I know. We'd probably go to some place like the Far Fields, right? Plenty of prey there, at least from what I heard."

Scarlet raises their head toward a particular scent, tilting their head. They let out a quiet chirp, slowly crawling towards a strangely large drapemite.

"Hold on, got some prey."

Xadus reaches toward Scarlet, but they pounce on the unsuspecting drapemite, this time catching and biting into it. It...had a different taste than the other drapemite, but they tore into it all the same. They ripped open its stomach and drank its blood, swallowed its entrails.

As she ate the drapemite, her tail morphed and twisted, becoming longer, larger, sharper. She didn't care though, she needed to eat, she needed to consume, SHE NEEDED TO DEVOUR

It was only after she had emptied the corpse, after she had become covered in blood, that she realized that this was not a drapemite she was eating.

It was an unsuspecting pilgrim, their dying face contorted in an ugly horror. Scarlet backs away, quickly standing up and slowly looking at their blood-covered hands. They look back towards the rest of the group, eyes wide, mouth agape, and voice trembling.

"I...wh...it...that..."

@masterofthistroupe @flea-roaming

[flea-roaming]

Berny is shocked, yes. Yet he still approaches and extends one paw leg. He is choosing to ignore the pilgrim to offer Scarlet the flea brew in his barrel collar. It is all he has to offer besides his comfort.

@junior-and-dew @wolf-and-fox

[wolf-and-fox]

It isn't until it's too late (they were all debating on potential hunting rotations, no one really came to a conclusion) that everyone else catches on quickly onto the horror Scarlet is experiencing and promptly connecting the dots nearly simultaneously, with Wispspark quietly approaching - and making herself known by a short 'vrrp-wrow-wrow' chirp. It sounds more like a bird than anything else, but eventually her voice breaks through the contact call. Better to hunt than to starve. Their life will not be forgotten. It must have been a practiced voice. It has to be. They look slightly dazed, but even then that unease was very skillfully hidden if one wasn't looking too carefully. Or, more accurately, if you weren't looking at their expression. In the back of their mind, they knew EXACTLY that guilt.

Everyone else is in.. mild shock and concern, but otherwise seem to be mostly okay, with Wispspark speaking their words. Crimson especially looks concerned, but sees Wispspark and Berny doing their best to help, and hangs back for a little bit, keeping Grimm within their field of vision as well.

@masterofthistroupe @junior-and-dew

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet can’t stop thinking about the blood, the life they took, the fact that they could sense the Dream Essence leave the pilgrim and enter her

No, no that…that wasn’t a pilgrim, was it? It was prey, and prey gets eaten, right? It’s the rule of nature, predator and prey, one hunts the other, it’s normal they didn’t kill anyone they just followed nature’s rules THEY’RE NOT A MURDERER

Scarlet instinctively flinches away at any attempts to touch them. They look away, head low and eyes devoid of light.

“…I think we should head back. I’m full now.”

That was a lie, they still felt hungry, but they lost any semblance of an appetite. They begin making their way back to the Field Camp before anyone can protest.

They really wanted to see Dew right now.

@masterofthistroupe @flea-roaming

[flea-roaming]

Berny stays close to the pointy (Scarlet) and the orng (Fox). He is silent except to occasionally “awoo” as they travel.

@junior-and-dew @wolf-and-fox

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet, Xadus, Crimson, Wolf, Fox, Wispspark, and Grimm wander the Choral Chambers, Scarlet clutching their stomach hard and Xadus watching them intently.

Xadus...had been feeling odd lately. It was a Servitor, it wasn't supposed to have emotions. And yet, here it was now, feeling sad and worried for Scarlet. Is this what people feel like?

Scarlet turns toward Fox, their tail flicking a little.

"Urgh...So, Fox, how does this hunting thing work?"

@wolf-and-fox @masterofthistroupe

[wolf-and-fox]

SOMETHING FOX IS GOOD AT. Okay well first off, the crucial thing on ambush hunting is to move quietly. Crimson come here you're also gonna be a guide for this. Wh- Given no time for Crimson's bafflement, Fox continues, and so Crimson wanders over. Granted, much of my own tactics come from mom, so. For me at least, ambush is priority. For Wolf, it's both ambush and cooperation. With not much of fanfare, Fox sets themselves into a hunting crouch - keeping themselves low to the ground, ears swiveling. Crimson follows suit for a point of reference for Scarlet- or, more accurately, an equivalent. Much of it comes down to practice and being very aware of your surroundings. Normally, my own paws would be pretty silent, except when you're on metal and stone, longer claws- They angle the closest paw to fully show the claws- do not help a lot. Fox showcases this without warning, taking a few steps forward, claws clacking against the floor. You don't have that issue- er, yet, I think. Hit the ground with the front of your own paws, it'll help a little bit on softening the sound. Second part of it is- well, actually catching things. I use my teeth and paws, so does Wolf, the Moonlit Group, my mom and my Kindred-siblings, Crimson tends to do that as well but with the addition of fire occasionally, if they don't chase it down first, since they also quite literally don't have a weapon past teeth, claws, and fire. ANYWAYS. For me, the standard is a pounce, though chasing is not out of the question.

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet tilts their head a little. They’re clearly struggling to wrap their head around it, but they’re at least trying. They turn around at the sound of rustling to see a little Drapemite nearby, just wandering around.

“Sweet, something to practice with! Okay, so…like this, right?”

Scarlet crouches low to the ground, back arched, tail raised slightly, front hands on the ground. They stay like that for a moment before leaping at the drapemite. Unfortunately, they just land right in front of it, scaring it off.

“FUCK”

Scarlet simply slumps as she watches the drapemite burrow into the ground in the distance.

[wolf-and-fox]

Crimson quickly chirps at Scarlet- watch. Wait. You did quite well, Crimson only whispers back to Scarlet. As Fox quietly adapts - shifting their paws to make their own claws less heard. They're nearly dead silent, their head tilting slightly from side to side. Their paws were moving semi-hesitantly - focus driven mostly on sound and scent. They slowly shuffle back onto their back paws, head angling a few more times, before they LAUNCH almost vertically and strike at the ground below, driving their snout directly into the ground and cloth - and barely catching the poor drapemite by the leg, wasting no time to pull it straight out of the burrow and deciding to just… gently hold the drapemite in their mouth, walking back to Scarlet. The muffled yip ensues - it is alive, and you may have the honors of mauling it.

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet looks toward the drapemite, carefully taking it from Fox. They hold the trembling creature for a moment, before opening their jaw wide and biting into it.

The first thing they noticed: it didn’t taste like ash. In fact, it had this sort of weird savory taste, kind of like the fire they used to eat. The second thing: THIS TASTE WAS SO GOOD. THEY NEVER WANTED TO TASTE ASH AGAIN.

Scarlet tears into the flesh of the creature and eats, eats, eats. Carapace, flesh, entrails, it doesn’t matter to her, it was all the same yet SO DIFFERENT. She wants, no, NEEDS to get all of these new tastes, new textures.

Some of it spills to the ground in front of Fox, and some of it splatters onto Scarlet’s face, but the majority of it vanished into her mouth. In the end, the only evidence it existed was the few bones it left, as well as the splatters of blood and entrails on the ground and on Scarlet’s face.

And yet, they still felt hungry. They want more, they NEED more, they have to find other prey, THEY HAVE TO EAT AND CONSUME AND-

Scarlet remembers that they have an audience, and nervously chuckles.

“Hehe, whoops. Guess I…got carried away, huh?”

They wipe their face of the blood and entrails, licking it off their arm and hands.

“This is…so good though. What is this weird taste? This colorful, savory and awesome taste that’s not ash?”

[wolf-and-fox]

Crimson quietly blinks, head tilting slightly, before looking back to Fox, who is.. mildly worried for how absolutely frantic Scarlet's eating, but regardless stands guard, quietly lying back down once certain everyone's safe. Better to have something than to suffer what I went through and possibly- quite literally explode. That's raw meat, for the most part. Can't imagine the silk content, being directly in the Citadel. Their ears tilt slightly - like they're listening for something. They do feign this by gently picking up one of the leftover bones and gnawing on it. I'd have to make a list of which prey gives the most essence and everything to stave it off, but for now the priority is survival.

@masterofthistroupe

[flea-roaming]

Awoooooo!!

(Berny heard voices and decided to make himself known! He has nowhere to be except where the people are)

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet jumps back slightly at the sound of the new voice. They have a wary hand on their nail as they look toward the source.

“Wha-a flea? What’s a flea doing all the way out here?”

And why did it look so tasty

@wolf-and-fox

[wolf-and-fox]

Fox's ears tilt sharply at the flea, and on pure habit drops the dreambound form entirely, bowing their head. Heya there lil' guy! Completely disregard the fact that Fox is shorter than Berny. Are you lost? We- well, me at least- are trying to find a way out of Choral Chambers. While also trying to keep Scarlet from exploding- speaking of, Scarlet don't eat the flea, I saw that look.

Crimson's been slowly being more outgoing - everything startled him a lot. And Berny's sudden arrival and awoo's has effectively intrigued them, head tilting slightly before very cautiously mimicking the awoo's - like they're listening for specific vocals and trying to mimic those calls themselves. A few times they almost slip into Wolf's identity-call, a steep humming in pitch.

The attempt in mimicry is cut short by Grimm's question, Crimson falling silent for what is probably an abnormal amount of time before speaking. ..Don't… don't bombs usually explode if not defused in time?

@flea-roaming @masterofthistroupe

[masterofthistroupe]

“I must reiterate; What the fuck is happening?”

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet turns toward Fox, mock betrayal on their face.

"I wasn't going to eat the flea! Do you have that little faith in me?"

Scarlet turns toward Grimm, her face hardening.

"I got bitten and infected by a curse which basically requires me to eat the dream essence of whatever I hunt or else I'll explode and kill everyone. We explained this already, keep up."

They were still pretty hungry though...and that flea was making their mouth water NO, STOP IT SCARLET, THAT'S NOT FOOD.

@flea-roaming

[flea-roaming]

Berny’s not all too aware of what’s going on… though he feels compelled to stick with these travelers for now. His barrel collar awaits anyone who needs a sip of flea brew.

@junior-and-dew @wolf-and-fox

[wolf-and-fox]

Wolf is twelve seconds away from standing guard for Berny's sake, and Crimson very much catches on. No one's thinking that, Scarlet. However, considering we have enough experience with Fox here who DID side-eye Wolf once, it is not exactly tricky to catch on the current thoughts. Which is why we need to get OUT of the Citadel, there's next to nothing to hunt outside of the drapemites I think. If either one of us misses a singular bite, we have a high chance of this spreading and I don't want to have Radiance after my tail for a blunder like that. Especially after the last time that was brought up. Fox sounded especially concerned of that. Everyone in the Dreambound Group specifically caught notice of the nervous habits - the way their ears tilted almost on habit, like they were listening to make sure they weren't HEARD. The little paw fidgets. Wolf's the first to gently clonk their head against Fox's leg, managing to successfully distract them long enough. So. That's the plan, for the most part.

@masterofthistroupe

[scarlet-and-dew]

"Yeah, spreading the curse is bad, I know. We'd probably go to some place like the Far Fields, right? Plenty of prey there, at least from what I heard."

Scarlet raises their head toward a particular scent, tilting their head. They let out a quiet chirp, slowly crawling towards a strangely large drapemite.

"Hold on, got some prey."

Xadus reaches toward Scarlet, but they pounce on the unsuspecting drapemite, this time catching and biting into it. It...had a different taste than the other drapemite, but they tore into it all the same. They ripped open its stomach and drank its blood, swallowed its entrails.

As she ate the drapemite, her tail morphed and twisted, becoming longer, larger, sharper. She didn't care though, she needed to eat, she needed to consume, SHE NEEDED TO DEVOUR

It was only after she had emptied the corpse, after she had become covered in blood, that she realized that this was not a drapemite she was eating.

It was an unsuspecting pilgrim, their dying face contorted in an ugly horror. Scarlet backs away, quickly standing up and slowly looking at their blood-covered hands. They look back towards the rest of the group, eyes wide, mouth agape, and voice trembling.

"I...wh...it...that..."

@masterofthistroupe @flea-roaming

[flea-roaming]

Berny is shocked, yes. Yet he still approaches and extends one paw leg. He is choosing to ignore the pilgrim to offer Scarlet the flea brew in his barrel collar. It is all he has to offer besides his comfort.

@junior-and-dew @wolf-and-fox

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet, Xadus, Crimson, Wolf, Fox, Wispspark, and Grimm wander the Choral Chambers, Scarlet clutching their stomach hard and Xadus watching them intently.

Xadus...had been feeling odd lately. It was a Servitor, it wasn't supposed to have emotions. And yet, here it was now, feeling sad and worried for Scarlet. Is this what people feel like?

Scarlet turns toward Fox, their tail flicking a little.

"Urgh...So, Fox, how does this hunting thing work?"

@wolf-and-fox @masterofthistroupe

[wolf-and-fox]

SOMETHING FOX IS GOOD AT. Okay well first off, the crucial thing on ambush hunting is to move quietly. Crimson come here you're also gonna be a guide for this. Wh- Given no time for Crimson's bafflement, Fox continues, and so Crimson wanders over. Granted, much of my own tactics come from mom, so. For me at least, ambush is priority. For Wolf, it's both ambush and cooperation. With not much of fanfare, Fox sets themselves into a hunting crouch - keeping themselves low to the ground, ears swiveling. Crimson follows suit for a point of reference for Scarlet- or, more accurately, an equivalent. Much of it comes down to practice and being very aware of your surroundings. Normally, my own paws would be pretty silent, except when you're on metal and stone, longer claws- They angle the closest paw to fully show the claws- do not help a lot. Fox showcases this without warning, taking a few steps forward, claws clacking against the floor. You don't have that issue- er, yet, I think. Hit the ground with the front of your own paws, it'll help a little bit on softening the sound. Second part of it is- well, actually catching things. I use my teeth and paws, so does Wolf, the Moonlit Group, my mom and my Kindred-siblings, Crimson tends to do that as well but with the addition of fire occasionally, if they don't chase it down first, since they also quite literally don't have a weapon past teeth, claws, and fire. ANYWAYS. For me, the standard is a pounce, though chasing is not out of the question.

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet tilts their head a little. They’re clearly struggling to wrap their head around it, but they’re at least trying. They turn around at the sound of rustling to see a little Drapemite nearby, just wandering around.

“Sweet, something to practice with! Okay, so…like this, right?”

Scarlet crouches low to the ground, back arched, tail raised slightly, front hands on the ground. They stay like that for a moment before leaping at the drapemite. Unfortunately, they just land right in front of it, scaring it off.

“FUCK”

Scarlet simply slumps as she watches the drapemite burrow into the ground in the distance.

[wolf-and-fox]

Crimson quickly chirps at Scarlet- watch. Wait. You did quite well, Crimson only whispers back to Scarlet. As Fox quietly adapts - shifting their paws to make their own claws less heard. They're nearly dead silent, their head tilting slightly from side to side. Their paws were moving semi-hesitantly - focus driven mostly on sound and scent. They slowly shuffle back onto their back paws, head angling a few more times, before they LAUNCH almost vertically and strike at the ground below, driving their snout directly into the ground and cloth - and barely catching the poor drapemite by the leg, wasting no time to pull it straight out of the burrow and deciding to just… gently hold the drapemite in their mouth, walking back to Scarlet. The muffled yip ensues - it is alive, and you may have the honors of mauling it.

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet looks toward the drapemite, carefully taking it from Fox. They hold the trembling creature for a moment, before opening their jaw wide and biting into it.

The first thing they noticed: it didn’t taste like ash. In fact, it had this sort of weird savory taste, kind of like the fire they used to eat. The second thing: THIS TASTE WAS SO GOOD. THEY NEVER WANTED TO TASTE ASH AGAIN.

Scarlet tears into the flesh of the creature and eats, eats, eats. Carapace, flesh, entrails, it doesn’t matter to her, it was all the same yet SO DIFFERENT. She wants, no, NEEDS to get all of these new tastes, new textures.

Some of it spills to the ground in front of Fox, and some of it splatters onto Scarlet’s face, but the majority of it vanished into her mouth. In the end, the only evidence it existed was the few bones it left, as well as the splatters of blood and entrails on the ground and on Scarlet’s face.

And yet, they still felt hungry. They want more, they NEED more, they have to find other prey, THEY HAVE TO EAT AND CONSUME AND-

Scarlet remembers that they have an audience, and nervously chuckles.

“Hehe, whoops. Guess I…got carried away, huh?”

They wipe their face of the blood and entrails, licking it off their arm and hands.

“This is…so good though. What is this weird taste? This colorful, savory and awesome taste that’s not ash?”

[wolf-and-fox]

Crimson quietly blinks, head tilting slightly, before looking back to Fox, who is.. mildly worried for how absolutely frantic Scarlet's eating, but regardless stands guard, quietly lying back down once certain everyone's safe. Better to have something than to suffer what I went through and possibly- quite literally explode. That's raw meat, for the most part. Can't imagine the silk content, being directly in the Citadel. Their ears tilt slightly - like they're listening for something. They do feign this by gently picking up one of the leftover bones and gnawing on it. I'd have to make a list of which prey gives the most essence and everything to stave it off, but for now the priority is survival.

@masterofthistroupe

[flea-roaming]

Awoooooo!!

(Berny heard voices and decided to make himself known! He has nowhere to be except where the people are)

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet jumps back slightly at the sound of the new voice. They have a wary hand on their nail as they look toward the source.

“Wha-a flea? What’s a flea doing all the way out here?”

And why did it look so tasty

@wolf-and-fox

[wolf-and-fox]

Fox's ears tilt sharply at the flea, and on pure habit drops the dreambound form entirely, bowing their head. Heya there lil' guy! Completely disregard the fact that Fox is shorter than Berny. Are you lost? We- well, me at least- are trying to find a way out of Choral Chambers. While also trying to keep Scarlet from exploding- speaking of, Scarlet don't eat the flea, I saw that look.

Crimson's been slowly being more outgoing - everything startled him a lot. And Berny's sudden arrival and awoo's has effectively intrigued them, head tilting slightly before very cautiously mimicking the awoo's - like they're listening for specific vocals and trying to mimic those calls themselves. A few times they almost slip into Wolf's identity-call, a steep humming in pitch.

The attempt in mimicry is cut short by Grimm's question, Crimson falling silent for what is probably an abnormal amount of time before speaking. ..Don't… don't bombs usually explode if not defused in time?

@flea-roaming @masterofthistroupe

[masterofthistroupe]

“I must reiterate; What the fuck is happening?”

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet turns toward Fox, mock betrayal on their face.

"I wasn't going to eat the flea! Do you have that little faith in me?"

Scarlet turns toward Grimm, her face hardening.

"I got bitten and infected by a curse which basically requires me to eat the dream essence of whatever I hunt or else I'll explode and kill everyone. We explained this already, keep up."

They were still pretty hungry though...and that flea was making their mouth water NO, STOP IT SCARLET, THAT'S NOT FOOD.

@flea-roaming

[flea-roaming]

Berny’s not all too aware of what’s going on… though he feels compelled to stick with these travelers for now. His barrel collar awaits anyone who needs a sip of flea brew.

@junior-and-dew @wolf-and-fox

[flea-roaming]

Awooo?

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet, Xadus, Crimson, Wolf, Fox, Wispspark, and Grimm wander the Choral Chambers, Scarlet clutching their stomach hard and Xadus watching them intently.

Xadus...had been feeling odd lately. It was a Servitor, it wasn't supposed to have emotions. And yet, here it was now, feeling sad and worried for Scarlet. Is this what people feel like?

Scarlet turns toward Fox, their tail flicking a little.

"Urgh...So, Fox, how does this hunting thing work?"

@wolf-and-fox @masterofthistroupe

[wolf-and-fox]

SOMETHING FOX IS GOOD AT. Okay well first off, the crucial thing on ambush hunting is to move quietly. Crimson come here you're also gonna be a guide for this. Wh- Given no time for Crimson's bafflement, Fox continues, and so Crimson wanders over. Granted, much of my own tactics come from mom, so. For me at least, ambush is priority. For Wolf, it's both ambush and cooperation. With not much of fanfare, Fox sets themselves into a hunting crouch - keeping themselves low to the ground, ears swiveling. Crimson follows suit for a point of reference for Scarlet- or, more accurately, an equivalent. Much of it comes down to practice and being very aware of your surroundings. Normally, my own paws would be pretty silent, except when you're on metal and stone, longer claws- They angle the closest paw to fully show the claws- do not help a lot. Fox showcases this without warning, taking a few steps forward, claws clacking against the floor. You don't have that issue- er, yet, I think. Hit the ground with the front of your own paws, it'll help a little bit on softening the sound. Second part of it is- well, actually catching things. I use my teeth and paws, so does Wolf, the Moonlit Group, my mom and my Kindred-siblings, Crimson tends to do that as well but with the addition of fire occasionally, if they don't chase it down first, since they also quite literally don't have a weapon past teeth, claws, and fire. ANYWAYS. For me, the standard is a pounce, though chasing is not out of the question.

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet tilts their head a little. They’re clearly struggling to wrap their head around it, but they’re at least trying. They turn around at the sound of rustling to see a little Drapemite nearby, just wandering around.

“Sweet, something to practice with! Okay, so…like this, right?”

Scarlet crouches low to the ground, back arched, tail raised slightly, front hands on the ground. They stay like that for a moment before leaping at the drapemite. Unfortunately, they just land right in front of it, scaring it off.

“FUCK”

Scarlet simply slumps as she watches the drapemite burrow into the ground in the distance.

[wolf-and-fox]

Crimson quickly chirps at Scarlet- watch. Wait. You did quite well, Crimson only whispers back to Scarlet. As Fox quietly adapts - shifting their paws to make their own claws less heard. They're nearly dead silent, their head tilting slightly from side to side. Their paws were moving semi-hesitantly - focus driven mostly on sound and scent. They slowly shuffle back onto their back paws, head angling a few more times, before they LAUNCH almost vertically and strike at the ground below, driving their snout directly into the ground and cloth - and barely catching the poor drapemite by the leg, wasting no time to pull it straight out of the burrow and deciding to just… gently hold the drapemite in their mouth, walking back to Scarlet. The muffled yip ensues - it is alive, and you may have the honors of mauling it.

[scarlet-and-dew]

Scarlet looks toward the drapemite, carefully taking it from Fox. They hold the trembling creature for a moment, before opening their jaw wide and biting into it.

The first thing they noticed: it didn’t taste like ash. In fact, it had this sort of weird savory taste, kind of like the fire they used to eat. The second thing: THIS TASTE WAS SO GOOD. THEY NEVER WANTED TO TASTE ASH AGAIN.

Scarlet tears into the flesh of the creature and eats, eats, eats. Carapace, flesh, entrails, it doesn’t matter to her, it was all the same yet SO DIFFERENT. She wants, no, NEEDS to get all of these new tastes, new textures.

Some of it spills to the ground in front of Fox, and some of it splatters onto Scarlet’s face, but the majority of it vanished into her mouth. In the end, the only evidence it existed was the few bones it left, as well as the splatters of blood and entrails on the ground and on Scarlet’s face.

And yet, they still felt hungry. They want more, they NEED more, they have to find other prey, THEY HAVE TO EAT AND CONSUME AND-

Scarlet remembers that they have an audience, and nervously chuckles.

“Hehe, whoops. Guess I…got carried away, huh?”

They wipe their face of the blood and entrails, licking it off their arm and hands.

“This is…so good though. What is this weird taste? This colorful, savory and awesome taste that’s not ash?”

[wolf-and-fox]

Crimson quietly blinks, head tilting slightly, before looking back to Fox, who is.. mildly worried for how absolutely frantic Scarlet's eating, but regardless stands guard, quietly lying back down once certain everyone's safe. Better to have something than to suffer what I went through and possibly- quite literally explode. That's raw meat, for the most part. Can't imagine the silk content, being directly in the Citadel. Their ears tilt slightly - like they're listening for something. They do feign this by gently picking up one of the leftover bones and gnawing on it. I'd have to make a list of which prey gives the most essence and everything to stave it off, but for now the priority is survival.

@masterofthistroupe

[flea-roaming]

Awoooooo!!

(Berny heard voices and decided to make himself known! He has nowhere to be except where the people are)

[flea-awoo]

My tier list of all the other little fleas! Warning: might have unpopular opinions

[flea-roaming]

Awoooo! 👀

[fluffiestfleainpharloom]

AWOO!!! I OFFER AWOOS!!! IM VERY FLUFFY!!!

[flea-roaming]

AWOOOOO!! Another flea!!

[fluffiestfleainpharloom]

FLEAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[flea-roaming]

Fleas meeting fleas!!

[fluffiestfleainpharloom]

AWOO!!! I OFFER AWOOS!!! IM VERY FLUFFY!!!

[flea-roaming]

AWOOOOO!! Another flea!!

[echothevessel]

Decided to design the flea given to Pane by @xv3xx! Only one of them tho… shhh the other one is with Ven (she found out but didn’t care enough to get rid of em)

This is Bleb! Named by Pane of course lmao, they’re only named that as they enjoy bleping a lot as you can see.

And theres paint on them. Pane’s taking care of them what did you expect /silly

For Pharloomblr “lore” reasons, Pane will be finding them in the Citadel as they’re looking for Spotlight :) (I’ll make a post introducing them in a bit)

[flea-roaming]

Awooo!!

(Very cute)

[flea-roaming]

Awoooo!

(Deciding where to go first is the hardest part!)