Redhawk Caldera cambric

chickadee had stayed away from the borders ever since that ill-fated day. she had seen no reason to go back, having been properly frightened by all the hubbub.
today she pawed at the placid surface of the lake where it ran into a thin stream. she sang quietly, setting flowers on the water and watching them slowly be carried off downstream. "bye fower!" she shouted.

Jay had heard about what happened when mama told them not to do it again, but that only made him even more curious as to what it really was.  He'd been so happy playing bulldozer to everything in the nearby area, these past few weeks, that he hadn't considered there might be more further.  His sister had forbidden knowledge.  He must know.

DEEDEE  He hollered his (annoying? Cute? Both?) nickname for her while he pounded, as much as a puppy can pound, towards her.  There was nothing graceful about Bluejay.  You wen faaaa.  Whasid?

Perfect.  Now she had to tell him.  His tail went crazy behind him as he crouched down, eagerly waiting all of the lowdown on these faroff wonders!

"jay!" chickadee did not mind his nickname. in fact, at times she thought of herself as deedee.
"go'im out over da buddah," the girl declared of the border. "run an' run fass!" her little tail lashed behind her. "but den. skranger." her face fell. that had been scary!

A skranger!!  Fass!!!  He agreed with an enthusiastic nod, then pranced in to lick her back to happiness.

Iffa skranger, didja bark?  He let out as powerful of a little bark as he could muster, as if this were the solution to all of her fears.  Then he nodded and smiled, with the full confidence of a small boy.  Gotta scared.  He hunched and growled, but couldn't keep it up and broke off into giggling instead.

"no, i not bark." chickadee huffed with great drama. jay was a better barker than her. she hardly even wanted to try. but her brother's laughter slowly softened her up, and soon she was giggling along with him.
"show me bark!" she shouted good-naturedly. she let out one of her own, but it was more of a yap than anything.

Jay shook his head studiously, but it was ruined when he giggled again.  He had to be a good brother and show her how!  That way she wouldn't be scared anymore, especially if he wasn't there to defend her.  He had great faith in Deedee's promise as a pro barker.

Gotta breave n', like dis.  Jay took in an exaggerated amount of air, puffing his cheeks out.  Then he completely ruined the lead up by releasing it.  An then *bark*!  This last word was punctuated, just like before, and his bark was no more effective than the first one. Still, he was proud of the demonstration and watched his sister encouragingly.  She could do it!

jay breathed and barked. chickadee's downy little ears fell backward for a moment. his sounds might have been no louder but the demonstration was thorough.
she put her head to one side.
she put it to the other.
and then she took a large breath and barked, a loud, shrill bite of a bark.

There was a moment delay.  Then Jay woahhhhed and reared up, as if both surprised and impressed with her bark!! He wasn't scared but anyone who was trying to sneak or be where they shouldn't definitely would be.

Betcha kin scare allda birds!!!!  He ran in a tight circle, then looked at the trees and tried barking at them.  Unfortunately, there either weren't any or they failed to be impressed by puppy yells.  He wasn't deterred!  Jay's tongue lolled happily as he watched, searching the trees for any sign of fluttering.

chickadee nodded quickly. "YAH! i scare them!" she ran after her brother, barking at the trees as she followed his gaze.
maybe they were just pretty smart. she barked herself hoarse and then panted, looking proudly at jay. "we did it!" chickadee exulted, reaching out to nip his cheek.

Bluejay let out a whoop of excitement as his sister went at the trees.  That'd show the birds who was boss!  Then he ran and set his paws on her back, grabbing affectionately at one of her ears.  Lessgo show mom!!  Maybe they could even scare her too!!  Bluejay was definitely going to try.  It would be the perfect test, even better than birds!

He nipped one more time at his sister encouragingly, then hopped down and tore off towards home.

fading! lets have another <3

chickadee ran right after jay! she only tripped once, giggling and burbling as she stuck out her foot and tried to get him to do the same!