Jade Fern Grove run, and grow up fast

Mothers all over would tell their kids that if they made a face too long, it would stick, and it seemed that had come true for Swift. At some point during their transition from the mountain to here, the boy's fearful countenance turned to an angry scowl, and his face had hardly been free of the deep creases ever since. His brows were dropped over his eyes, and he carried his head low as he trudged along.

His mother herded him and his sister to the creek. He had no interest, as he stepped into the creek with his sister he swatted at the water, growling as it backsplashed into his own face. He lifted a leg to wipe his face, and then his cold gaze settled on his sister as she play-bowed before him, attempting to coerce him into playing with her gentle growl. His ears drooped, and he shook his head no, before he turned his back on her.

Bazi spoke then, beckoning them out of the water she had wanted them in. This angered her son, who did not want to be in the water in the first place and thus did not take kindly to being ordered out. "We just—" his seething grumble stopped abruptly, as he realized his mother was tense. Just as his paws touched the stream bank, Bazi jumped up, shushing his sister and frantically scanning their surroundings.

Swift bristled, feeling that cold, flighty fear coming over him.

Then the bushes moved.