King Elk Forest When no one's around

Vidaar stalked out of the den into the midday light. The forest was dense with clouds today, he couldn't see a single sunray. He was feeling restless, and there was no one around to keep an eye on them today. He called out to his sister @Venere and brother @Vaska "Come on, lets play!" He was going to try to be nice today. He waited in a play bow, with his rump in the air and his tail wagging confidently.

Play. It was almost a foreign concept to Venere, who craved violence and bloodshed, even at an age as young as hers. She had come to realize her brothers and sister were not food, however, so that was a good thing. She still fought with them regularly, mainly Vidaar, but also bullying Vaska. Today, she supposed she could be nice. Still, she grumbled, "Play's boring."

Vaska, on the other hand, pulled himself from the den with a spring in his step - even as he kept a bit of a distance between himself and his siblings. Uncertain, still, of what they might do, and of whether they'd decide they were in the mood for something more aggressive after all.

He bowed himself like Vidaar, less confidently, but still eager to do something fun.

"We could go 'splorin, too..." and he looked to Vidaar for direction, in case the idea was stupid, in case he already had a game in mind.

"Play." Vidaar would lead. They would follow it was as simple as that, it was how it had always been, right? He tilted his head to the side waiting for his brother. "Come on, 'Nere says she doesn't wanna play and if she changes her mind I'll make sure she's nice."

Exploring, something they had not quite been allowed to do yet. They knew the weir was off limits, but surely they could go deeper into the forest? With how often mama was gone, it was likely their borders were quite secure. There was no way they'd find anything dangerous!

Venere grinned slyly at her brothers. "Explore! C'mon!" And she would dart off to take the lead.

Playing? Exploring?

His siblings tore him in two directions; he had tried to compromise, but neither seemed willing, and here he found himself in the middle of a decision he didn't really want to make.

'Daar met him with a promise, and he wondered how true he'd make it be. 'Nere, for once, seemed to agree with him - and this took Vaska by surprise. Venere? Agreeing? With him?

Something had to be up. But what if it wasn't? Had she - had someone like his idea?

An apologetic duck of his head, a nervous twitch of a smile to his brother.

Sorry, 'daar.

"Maybe we can play somethin' along the way..." he offered, even as he ducked aside after his sister, "we could play I Spy? There's gotta be lotsa cool things to choose!"

One ear inclined to Vidaar. Would this appease him? And one ear inclined to his sister. Would she agree with him again?

Vidaar growled "Play." He repeated. Except he wasn't really interested in playing anymore, now he was angry no one listened to him in the first place, and what he truly wanted to do was fight. He growled at Venere, then turned faint red eyes on his brother. "I'm not being nice no more." He warned his brother.

Venere was in no mood for play, or fighting. She scoffed at her brother, then looked to Vaska. "We can go 'splore alone, too, just us..." They'd not really spent any quality time together, though for Venere, quality time was more... being her chew toy. But she was trying to be nice today.

Oh no.

Oh no oh no.

Though Vidaar turned a wicked growl on Venere, his eyes set on Vaska, and the pale child shrunk beneath his glower. These were the things he feared - how quickly one could turn from kindness to anger - and Vaska wished he might sink into the ground, or stand up for himself as his sister stood up for herself and like Vidaar stood up for himself, too.

But Vaska was Vaska, and he deflected to the space he found the most safety, while realizing he stood in a losing battle. Appease Vidaar, suffer Venere. Appease Venere, suffer Vidaar. He wished to suffer neither, and he wished to please both. But instead, he found himself inching toward his sister with an apologetic look towards Vidaar.

the last from me

Vidaar struck out at a the ground. Fine, go! He snarled. Tearing the ground up more. Finding that the strike to the ground felt quite satisfying beneath his claws, he began to take more earth in his awkwardly too large claws and paws. His brother and sister forgotten, he began to dig a truly magnificent hole.

Fading here!

Venere had won — Vaska was coming with her. She smirked and snickered while Vidaar angrily began to dig, and she jerked her head to Vaska, saying, C'mon, let's go! She would lead him away and they would explore to their hearts' content.