(Thanks it’s just… idk, it’s only the second week and I already have loads of assignments and homework and there’s a lot of pressure to get good grades since I’m known to be a straight A student. Plus friends and family being dicks and all so… yeah, no fun :/)
Tanrial nodded, “I feel like if anyone’s going to know it’ll be Rick. I mean, I assume he’s been backwards and forwards between the village and here the past few days so he’s probably seen something.”
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(I'm sorry fam….it seems like so much unnecessary pressure and expectations are put on students these days, just because everyone "needs" to meet this random standard that somebody basically made up years ago. It's sad that your family's not being supportive of you either rn….take good care of yourself, okay? Only you get to say whether you're doing your best or not. hugs)
Bernon nodded. "Honestly, I feel like he's the kind of guy to adopt one or two of them if they asked. Um….do you remember the way, Mike?"
"Yeah, it's not much farther. I guess we should be careful, though….if that water beast doesn't recognize us when we enter her territory, she could get a bit….aggressive."
(hugs back Thanks. And It sucks because I can’t get on notebook as much like… it helps to talk to you and everyone else and write but because I’m so busy I can’t. And when I can everyone is asleep)
“Well, if we say we know Rick and Snatch we should be fine, right? And if those two see us first then we won’t have too much of a problem… hopefully.”
(Yeah, I wish we weren't in opposite time zones, that really sucks. And I'm busier too these days :( But if you ever want to talk more about stuff when we're online together, just let me know, k? You're one of my best friends and I want to be there for you when I can.)
"Yeah, fingers crossed." Mike pushed aside some branches blocking the path, glancing around cautiously. "So far, so good–"
As if he'd jinxed them by saying it, there was suddenly a low growl from the bushes up ahead. Mike flinched backward, pulling out his knife. "Dangit. don't move, guys."
(Same back to you, too)
“Do we just have the worst luck in the world or what?” Tanrial mumbled, making sure to be ready with her magic in case they decided to attack.
(thanks ^^)
The growling got closer and closer, along with a rustling of leaves and a flash of movement. Then, just as Mike was getting ready to spring into action, a surprisingly small shape came bounding into view.
"Raaarrr!" Snatch yelled excitedly, flaring open her fluffy wings and leaping in circles. "I'm a huge forest beast! Did I scare you guys? You sure looked scared, haha!"
(I swear I'm going to fucking kill myself or my mum. I don't ask for anything and the one time I ask to go out with my friend to both our bf's soccer game I get yelled at for having an 'attitude.' ffs)
Tanrial released a breath she didn't know she was holding, shaking her head with a slightly amused smile, "Jeez, Snatch. Don't ever do that again. You scared the hell out of me, that's for sure."
(Ouch…..that doesn't sound very fair of her :( I don't think wanting to go to a soccer game is a good reason to get yelled at. She really didn't give any reason at all for not letting you go?)
Snatch giggled and jumped up into Bernon's arms, almost making him drop her again as she shifted into her human form. "I missed you guys! You were gone forever and you never came to visit! Pa even had to go out looking for you, ya stupids!"
Bernon laughed. "We're sorry, kiddo. We would've come back a lot sooner if we could have. Are your parents busy right now? We'd like to say hi to all of you if that's all right."
"I guess that's okay," Snatch decided, hopping back to the ground and scampering off. "C'mon, I'll take you to 'em!"
(None. She asked for my friends address, the bus times and then the place of the game which I didn’t know at the time and she yelled at me. Even after I gave her all the details she was still pissed)
“Slow down Snatch! Some of us aren’t as young and energetic as you are!” She sighed, though headed off to follow the young girl.
(wow, just wow)
Snatch slowed down, but only slightly, leading them through the trees to the shore of the second lake. "Look," she said, pointing. "Pa's building us a house!"
Sure enough, the framework and foundation of a modest cottage stood at the edge of the trees several yards away. Rick could be seen cutting wood to size nearby, chatting happily with Fear the water beast, who was sunbathing on a large rock over the water. They both looked quite content and relaxed.
(And that concludes today’s episode of Carys has a crap home life and doesn’t want to be there but she can’t leave cause she ain’t an aduuuuult)
“Aww, that’s so nice of him,” Tanrial ruffled Snatch’s hair with a grin, “Although I wouldn’t expect anything less. He’s being a good dad, I presume?”
(Stay strong, only a few more years and then you can move on to bigger things. Hugs during the ad break after the episode)
Snatch nodded. "He's great! He lets me sit on his shoulders and he's super tall, so I can see for miles when I'm up there! Plus he plays with me and doesn't steal Mommy too much. He's teaching me how to fish the human way, and Mommy's teaching me how to fish the not-human way, so pretty soon I'll be the best fisher ever!" She turned and dashed over to her adoptive parents. "Mommy! Pa! Guess who's finally back!"
Rick glanced up curiously, setting down his tools. When he saw the trio, his face lit up. "Well now, that's a sight for sore eyes! I was getting mighty worried about you three. C'mon over!"
(Tune in next week and we may see a mental break down happen, who knows… sighs)
The trio headed over, making their way through the sand before stopping right by Rick, “Nice place you got here, looks like it’ll realllly keep the rain out.”
(I hope not, but I will still tune in come what may)
Rick laughed. "You got that right. Hopefully I'll have her rafters 'n shingles on in a week or so. Until then we're campin' on the beach."
Fear spoke up for the first time. "He's going to make us an icebox." She still kept her eyes locked on them cautiously, but didn't seem likely to flee or attack. "So we can keep food longer without hunting."
"That's right," Rick agreed. "Fear can make water turn to ice, see, so it shouldn't be too hard to whip up a nice refrigerator for meat and greens 'n stuff. But enough about us. Where were you three?"
(ha.. ha… the game got cancelled…. screams into a pillow)
Tanrial let out a nervous laugh, rubbing at the back of her neck, "Ah yeah, see we were on the way back from the nearby town when that huge storm hit. Bernon got separated from Mike and I and uh, Mike and I got captured by bandits."
(Jeez, that's a real string of bad luck right there. Was it the weather that cancelled it?)
Rick's eyebrows rose. "Bandits? I shoulda guessed, there sure are enough of the no-good troublemakers around here. How'd you get away?"
"It took a while," Mike answered. "Tanrial befriended some of them, including the leader, and she was able to learn their patterns enough to influence them. After a couple days, Bernon showed up and started pestering them, and we managed to slip away while they were distracted."
Rick nodded. "Sounds like quite the time! You can tell the story to your grandkids someday. I am sorry I didn't try harder to find you…..I went out lookin', but the storm had washed everything way and I couldn't track you."
(Nah, there was an FFSA game on so like a charity match to raise money for the fires. They cancelled all trainings and matches to get people to go)
“Don’t feel too bad, Rick. At least you went out and looked for a little while, it’s the thought that counts. Besides, we were quite a way out, anyway.”
(Ah, I see. Not to change the subject, but how are things going with the fires lately? Nobody over here's really talking about it anymore, but I still worry about you guys tbh)
Rick smiled ruefully. "Must have been. Anyhow, I'm glad you're all safe now."
"Hey by the way," Bernon spoke up. "What happened to Ryker's kids? We didn't see them around last night or this morning."
"Oh yeah! They're all out on the boathouses. They decided they'd stay here in the fishing village, and so far they're settlin' in pretty well."
(Well… it’s still pretty bad. Luckily it rained where I am but I think the fires are still burning like an hour away. The ones on KI have finished but there’s not a lot left, sadly. The ones in VIC and NSW are still terrible)
“Thank the Lord. Being honest we all got kinda worried on the walk over when we didn’t see them, thought they might’ve packed up and left without a warning or a goodbye,” Tanrial sighed, “Good to know they’re okay, though.”
(That's awful. I hope things calm down soon over there, stay safe fam)
Mike nodded in agreement. "I'm glad they're adjusting to everything that happened. Any sign of Ryker or Eric after they ran off?"
"Nope, nothin'. Good riddance, if you ask me."
At this point, Snatch ran up to Tanrial and tugged on her sleeve. "This is borinnngggg," she whispered while the others talked. "Come hang out with me, Tanrial, I wanna show you something!"
(Thanks)
Tanrial glanced down at Snatch, looking to the boys before back to Snatch with a smile, “All right then, lead the way.”
Snatch grinned and dragged Tanrial down the beach towards a small inlet sheltered by trees not far away. "This is my favorite place. I'm learning how to swim here, and I can practice using my fire when I'm in the water 'cuz then I can't burn anything." She spread out her wings and splashed into the shallows, kicking at a shoal of tadpoles that darted away from her. "I can catch minnows with my bare hands! Sometimes. Can you do that, Tanrial?"
Tanrial chuckled lightly, taking off her shoes and socks before rolling up the end of her trousers to join Snatch in the shallow water, "No, I can't do that. Then again, I've never tried to do that before but I doubt I'd be as good as you."
Snatch puffed up her chest proudly. "Hehehe. Yeah, I'm probably the best there ever was. It's really easy! The only hard part is sitting still until the fish comes close. But once it does, boom! You grab it and throw it out of the water really fast, and now you have a fish! You can also just swallow them whole right away, like Mommy does, but Pa says he'd rather cook them first." She kept rambling on, obviously happy to have someone besides her parents to talk to. "How do you eat your fish, Tanrial?"
(did I really cry for about an hour before I had to go out tonight? Yes. Yes I did)
Tanrial listened to her talk, smiling softly to herself as she let Snatch ramble, "I like my fish cooked, like your dad," She replied, picking up a flat stone and skimming it across the lake, "I could never eat one raw. Well.. I've done it before, didn't enjoy it though."