Kainudy's Vacation Part 1


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It's early evening as Andromeda and Kainudy approach the gaming centers at the edge of town. Through a shimmer in the air numerous flying battles seem to be taking place between various groups of felitaurs, and the buildings seem to occasionally shudder with internal violence. One feather explodes against the shimmer, which is apparently a protective force field for the rest of the city.

Kainudy hmms...

Kainudy says, "I bet a doctor owns this place."

Andromeda circles by the forcefield and purrs, "I've let them know you're coming, and we're to fly right through and to that door, they'll keep that pathway safe."

Kainudy blinks, "Thanks.. I guess." She follows the indicated route..

Andromeda follows behind Kainudy and wonders just how vulnerable her guest is? She notes Lucretia walking out of the gaming center with 5 males and 2 females in tow. They all look a bit singed.

Andromeda is chuckling as she lands by Kainudy at the door.

Kainudy watches the group pass, guessing there aren't any shower facilities inside..

Andromeda smirks, "Never bet against Lucretia, unless you want to spend an evening with her. I'll probably never find out if my brother was just stupid or challenged her on purpose. Shall we go in?"

Kainudy nods, somewhat relieved to discover they were participants, and not spectators..

Andromeda grins, "Well, from what you said about seduction, make it clear you are just playing for the challenge and not for any forfeits. ;)"

Kainudy says, "Challenge?"

Andromeda purrs, "If you play a game it's assumed you want to pit your skills against someone else. Therefore we call that a challenge."

Kainudy says, "Oh, of course."

Kainudy says, "Do you play chess here? }:)"

Andromeda taps a panel and the doors slide open, "I'll keep you in the low impact arena's at first. Copernicus would be so annoyed if I got rid of his favorite person to argue with. Sure, we play chess, you want to start watching a game first?"

Kainudy says, "Sure, it's been awhile since I've played."

Andromeda leads Kainudy off to one side hallway, with a variety of felitaurs in various states of fur quality padding along. "So, what level do you play at?"

Kainudy says, "Level? Ground level usually.."

Andromeda hmms, "Limited contact, standard rules or contest rules, full contact? You prefer to direct or actually play on the board?"

Kainudy hmms, "Apparently, you play a version of Chess I'm not familiar with.."

Andromeda blinks and hmms, "Oh, you mean the standard play on a small wooden board? This is all variations on that, to make it more fun. ;)"

Kainudy grins, "I didn't know Chess was supposed to be fun. I'd like to see these variations of yours. }:)"

Andromeda purrs, "Sure, let's check out the standard play full contact room. We go this way to observe. ;)""

Kainudy follows along.

Andromeda pads through a set of sliding doors. It's a balcony full of cushions and pillows overlooking a giant chess board about 20 feet below the balcony. Each square is big enough to hold 2 felitaurs comfortably. Near the front of the balcony, two felitaurs are sitting next to the edge and calling out commands to their players.

Kainudy looks over the edge to see the gameboard.

Andromeda chuckles, "This one is basically standard chess, but full contact. So what piece takes what is never in doubt. However, unlike some games where the pieces fight out the battle, full contact is a bit different."

The male Chirr'T'Thar grins and shouts out, "Knight to Bishop's three!"

His female opponent blinks, "What? That leaves your queen wide open to attack."

The male nods, "Yeah, but I think those two will make a cute couple. ;)"

Kainudy watches the 'knight' capture the 'pawn'.

The female "knight" moves up three spaces and left one to the square with a blushing male felitaur in the square. They lunge at each other and get into a major wrestling match.

Kainudy whispers to Andromeda, "Why the wrestling if the knight is going to 'win' anyway?"

Andromeda grins and whispers back, "That's the fun of it. We like to make it a spectator sport as much as possible. In other games, the pieces literally fight it out to see who wins. Much more challenging."

Kainudy says, "Well, I guess it does fill the time between moves.."

With a yowl of triumph the female "knight" finally pins the pawn onto his back and nuzzles him, taking her reward.

The audience, many of whom are snuggling here and there, purrrgiggle as the hapless male is "taken" in chess.

Kainudy hmms, wondering if the piece players have to be rotated to avoid exhaustion..

Andromeda hmms, "You may be more interested in the combat versions I take it? Those are much more competitive."

Kainudy says, "Err.. are those played in the same sort of room?"

Andromeda nods, "Basically, though there is a forcefield to protect the audience"

Kainudy says, "Okay, lead on then. }:)"

Andromeda looks down and chuckles at the two pieces and then sighs and pads off to lead Kainudy to another room.

Andromeda purrs, "Now this game is actually much harder to win. You still follow the rules of chess to make your move, but the two pieces choose the method of combat involved. So you not only have to consider your moves, but consider the physical strength and skill of the two pieces, as the outcome is not preset.""

Kainudy hmms.

Kainudy says, "So if the attacking piece loses, what happens to it?"

Andromeda purrs, "They're given to the winners side until later."

Kainudy nods, not quite understanding but hoping it will be clear when she sees it.

In the next room, Leda appears to be giving the orders for her side, though she's doing though from the board instead of the sidelines; apparently she prefers to lead from the field. Her opponent is Sirius, who seems to be on the losing side so far...

Andromeda motions for Kainudy to curl up next to her on a cushion near the front to watch the game.

Kainudy settles down to watch on the cushion.

Leda watches calmly as one of Sirius' rooks takes out one of her pawns. It's hardly a fair fight, the rook being twice the mass of the poor sacrificial pawn. It's not until after the fight is over that she breaks out into a wide grin.

Sirius and Leda are both playing the "Kings", and Sirius is getting frustrated.

Leda says, "HaHA! Cassie, take him!" Her queen, who's probably the Cassie mentioned, leaps halfway across the board in a pounce onto the poor bishop in the back corner who's no longer being protected by the rook that just moved... Cassie takes full advantage of the leap and her mass, plowing directly into her hapless opponent.

When Cassie hits the bishop, the square they are on elevates above the floor above the heads of the other players and then spreads to cover the playing field, giving the two players plenty of room to fight. Sirius is looking desperate.

Kainudy blinks at the effect.

Leda rubs her hands together in glee.

The bishop finally pulls back from Cassie and tries to slash with his wings at her legs.

Cassie braces herself on the bishop's shoulders, and vaults upward on them, leaping up above the slash. She uses the vault to distract the mel by pushing her chest right up against his muzzle, then drops down and rolls back in an attempt to flip him.

The bishop mrfffles as he does get a bit distracted for a second by where his muzzle is stuck, but quickly recovers and tries to roll with Cassie.

Cassie kicks upward as she rolls, seeing how far away she can toss him.

And it's a long high drive to Bishop's 1 where he bounces off the wall with a grunt.

Cassie hehs, and stands back up, brushing herself back off.

Kainudy blinks..

The bishop staggers to his feet and ponders, then decides the forfeit will be more fun and pads off the field to the side with his fellow defeated pieces. The fighting field shrinks back down to the square where the bishop had been, Cassie now standing proudly there.

Sirius growls, "Did she feed my team catnip or something?"

Cassie decides to rub it in by thumbing her nose at Sirius.

Leda yells out, "Check!"

Cassie sights down the line towards Sirius, the King... she's halfway across the board, and safe from any direct retaliation. Sirius doesn't have a lot of choices left.

Sirius growls and moves one space diagonally toward the opposing side.

Leda points to one of her own bishops, then to an empty space out in the middle of the board. The bishop grins, and sashays over to the new spot. "Check!"

Andromeda curls up next to Kainudy, pressed against her just a little as she watches, "Those two really fight it out. She's the captain of the ship, and he's her first mate, in both senses of the word. But they are always challenging each other. It's kind of funny to watch."

Sirius growls and sends his own bishop to remove the one threatening his present position.

The female bishop chooses the form of combat as a simple tournament: explosive feathers. Biggest yield after three from each wins.

Again the square expands to cover the field, but now a target forms on the far wall, and a meter that reads "Force in MegaPascals" that reads zero for the two.

The female bishop smiles, and plucks one of her feathers. She licks the edge of the feather, and flips it like a dart at the target. The explosion is impressive, but then she wouldn't have picked a contest she didn't expect to be able to win...

The blast reads "12,555,325 MPa"

The last bishop on Sirius's side twists a feather in his wing, then with a series of odd motions, snaps his wing forward so that the feather hurtles from it towards the bullseye, hoping the extra force will help. The target's sensors are the most sensitive at the very center of the bullseye, so skill counts a bit.

Another impressive explosion rumbles through the chamber, and the tally board reads "13,000,423 MPa."

First round goes to Sirius's side, but it's best 2 out of 3.

The female hmmms... and seems to be impressed. She carefully brushes a feather from a spot tucked in under some others, and licks it again... she pulls her hand back, and tosses it forward harder this time, taking this more seriously now.

The forcefields start drawing more power to handle the increased strain as an obviously much larger explosion occurs, reading "20,245,328 MPa" this time.

The female bishop looks overly pleased with herself.

Kainudy tries not to wince at the force of the explosions.

Sirius's whiskers droop and then he cheers, "C'mon, just one more and you take her!"

The male bishop looks over his opponent thoroughly and grins at the thought, he twists another feather and wingslings it again, this time nearly perfectly on center.

Again a rocking blast, however, it only says "18,768,250 MPa". Round two goes to Leda's side.

Andromeda chuckles at the fighters.

The female fluffs her wings again, drawing one more feather out with almost reverence. She takes a deep breath, licks it once, then rears up and flings it dead on the target...

Andromeda slyly curls a wing around Kainudy as she feels the next explosion through the floor. Apparently a mildly stimulating sensation to the Chirr'T'Thar. She chucklepurrs as the meter reads "19,345,557 MPa".

The female looks disappointed.

Kainudy says, "They seem evenly matched."

Andromeda nods as she rubs against Kainudy a little and purrs, "Yep, one of these years Sirius is going to win. But I rather doubt tonight."

The male bishop grins and twists another feather loose. He's getting a bit wound up so that when he wingslings the feather, it's a bit off center. The resounding explosion appears to be bigger, but because of the aim problems it only reads "18,778,245 MPa". Round 2 and 3 go to Leda's side. Sirius's bishop pads dejectedly over to the "Captured pieces" balcony.

Kainudy shifts a bit on her cushion. "They compete often like this?"

Andromeda nods, "It's pretty clear they must love each other to compete like this. It's fun to watch young couples working dominance battles out. ;)"

Kainudy says, "What are they seeking dominance over though?"

Leda calls out, "You're still in check..."

Sirius sighs and moves one square to the left to get out of check, as the bishop is still there. He's running out of options.

Leda calls out, "Cassie! Queen takes King's Knight." Cassie strides up to the knight, who's right behind Sirius... if she wins, it's checkmate as Sirius has nowhere left to go and Cassie will be protected by the bishop.

Cassie says, "Name the challenge."

Andromeda blinks, "Well, the way my brother scandalously puts it is this, basic Chirr'T'Thar nature abhors being subservient to anyone or anything. A holdover resentment from our days as a slave. Leda however is the captain OVER Sirius. That, and females often dominate males, or at least seem to. No matter how it works, there is always this friction as one or the other feels the occasional struggle with who's in charge. So they work those frustrations out in various ways, like these two. ;)"

Kainudy says, "Hmmmm.."

The knight pads over to Sirius for a strategy conference.

Cassie ruffles her wings in impatience.

Kainudy says, "What do you think he'll try?"

Andromeda hmmmms, "I'm not sure. Cassie plays rough, even when being affectionate."

Sirius nods and growls to Leda, "He'll play touch tag."

Kainudy asks Andromeda, "What kind of tag doesn't involve touching?"

Leda hmmms. "All right."

Andromeda purrs, "Slam tag, where you hit. Feather tag where you can impale or blow up. This is sneaky, you can only touch the body of the opponent lightly, not their wings. And it has to be in flight too."

The square once again expands to fill the playing field, but the roof irises open and the force field extends up to a total of 100 feet.

Andromeda purrs, "See, they are coating their hands with a fluorescent dye. It glows under this light when its on fur. First to cover a square meter of fur with dye wins. Any hits on the wings or use of claws and you lose. It's pure skill, no fighting.""

Cassie quickly takes off into the air... at her size she's not as maneuverable, but she won't let herself be caught on the ground.

Kainudy nods, watching attentively.

Sirius's knight leaps into the air, much slimmer and a bit more agile in the air. The small enclosure limits speed however, so it's purely agility and quick wit that's tested in this flight tag.

Cassie drops down as the knight moves up past her... she rolls in mid-air, trying to either tag his tail or get her wings in his way.

Kainudy says, "I don't see how one could tag without being tagged back.."

Andromeda purrs, "You can only tag with the hands. And that is the trick of it, to touch but not let their hands touch you."

Kainudy hmms. "Do you ever use this dye for anything else?"

The knight does his own slick roll and follows along, making a nice swipe at Cassie's haunches, where a brilliant blue glow appears as he rolls away.

Cassie snarls as the knight makes a fool of her... she pivots and backwings, braking to a halt in the air just above the board, then pushes herself back upward.

The knight swallows and remembers Sirius's warning not to get cocky as he tries to predict Cassie's next move.

Cassie zigs downward at close to the last second, spreading her wings out like an umbrella to protect her. She tries a barrel roll behind him to bring herself around to tag him back...

The knight curls his wings around him and drops like a rock under Cassie's wings, dragging his hands across her belly as best he can.

Cassie slaps the knight hard on the rump with one hand while she tries grabbing his wrist with the other to keep his hands away from her torso.

The knight eeps as his behind lights up a nice green under the lights, but smirks in satisfaction as he at least gets two blue hand prints on Cassie's chest. His falling prevents Cassie's illegal grab at his wrists, but it's also too fast to fully recover from and even as he spreads his wings he lands with a loud fwump.

Cassie flies straight down, coming in behind the knight. She pulls out of the dive at the last minute, spreading her legs to pass over his body as her hands slap his shoulder blades and knock him forward...

The knight growls and rolls away, shoulders now a glowing green as he launches back up into the air. Scanners are keeping track of how much of a square meter is covered so far. The knight's reads 20% green while Cassie's is reading 35%. So far looking good for Sirius's side. The knight launches after his opponent.

Cassie keeps flying quickly, and almost literally bounces off the force-field, bracing her legs against it to kick herself directly back at the knight...

The knight continues flying towards Cassie though he is noticing where Cassie is at.

Cassie wings down, charging straight at the knight, snarling.

Andromeda hmms at Kainudy, "It's mostly used for marking things. We use it as a theft detection system for other races, as it's invisible without the right light shown on it. Ooooh, a head on dive."

Kainudy says, "Oh.. thought you might use it as a body decoration as well.."

The knight rolls sideways and drags his hands down along Cassie's underside, a nice long streak of blue showing as the meter goes up to 80% blue. However, he gets greedy and tries to make one more slap on Cassie's behind and his rear paw slams against her wing.

Cassie pivots, trying to get back at him anyway...

Sirius whimpers as a buzzer sounds declaring a "foul" and challenge going to Cassie.

Cassie snarls again. "Hmmph."

Kainudy says, "An odd competition, considering how much your kind enjoys being touched."

The knight dejectedly lands over in the "captured" balcony.

Andromeda grins, "We do control how and when we are touched. Despite what you think, we discriminate a bit in choosing our partners, and there are occasional times we don't want to be touched."

Cassie lands, still fuming that she didn't 'really' win.

Leda, on the other hand, is practically bouncing. "Check, and mate!"

Kainudy arches a brow, "Oh? What selection criteria do you employ for choosing partners?"

Andromeda blinks, "It varies from person to person. My brother throws out 25% of all Chirr'T'Thar just cause they are male. How silly."

Sirius sighs, "And I'll bet it's on my back for the next two months too, right Leda?"

Leda bounds across the board, and tackles Sirius to the surface.

Leda grins. "Pretty close."

Sirius grins slightly, "One of these times, YOU'LL be serving under ME for once. ;)"

Leda grins. "Purrrrrrhaps. But not this year."

Sirius nods, "Well, could be worse."

Kainudy says, "I don't think Chess is the proper game for me right now.."

Andromeda giggles as the two make up, "Well, that's about it for this match, you want to do something else then?"

Kainudy says, "Sure, what other games are played here?"

Leda gives Sirius a mouth-covering kiss as the rest of the players head off, and someone dims the lights on the way out.

Andromeda and Kainudy leave the gaming room after a rousing game of chess. A game so rousing that the great masters are probably rising from their graves to retaliate. Chess was never that fun when THEY were alive!

Andromeda purrs, "So, what did you think Kai?"

Kainudy says, "I think you enjoy your games more than most. }:)"

Andromeda smirks, "You say that as if that is bad? Our games test our skills, and are fun too. I see nothing wrong with that, do you?"

Kainudy hmms, "No, I suppose I don't."

Andromeda chuckles, "From what Coper tells me, an admission that there is nothing wrong with fun from you is quite an accomplishment, what else are you interested in doing on your vacation?"

Kainudy says, "It's my first vacation.. what do people normally do?"

Andromeda smirks at Kai.

Andromeda chuckles, "Well, you've already said you're too hard to seduce. We have orbital games. Wilderness areas. Zero friction lubricant wrestling."

Kainudy hmmms, "What would you suggest? Do you have any sights to see?"

Andromeda purrs, "It really varies a lot, we have some art museums and such. Oh shoot, what now?"

One of the "gems" on Andromeda's armband beeps softly and she taps on it.

After a moment of chatting she turns the device off and purrs, "Forgot I had volunteered to help watch some cubs today. Sorry Kainudy."

Kainudy says, "A friend's cubs, or do you raise them communally?"

Andromeda purrs, "Once you reach start reaching adulthood, we all help care for the cubs, gives the parents the occasional break and it's good for socializing them. Say (as she gives a wicked grin) you wouldn't mind coming along, would you? ;)""

Kainudy shrugs, "I have nothing else to do, and I *am* curious to see a Chirr'T'Thar child."

Andromeda tries to hide her smile, "Well, lets fly off to the forest then. They're teaching them some of our more "natural" traditions."

Kainudy spreads her wings and follows Andromeda.

Andromeda leads Kainudy to a tight canopy of deciduous forest, with a small park like clearing to make landing easier. A mixture of adults and cubs of all ages can be seen. The cubs have short, immature wings and are extremely fluffy.

Andromeda lands and waves to one of the mothers, "Hi, I'm Andromeda, I'm supposed to help with your cubs today. Oh, and this is my friend, Kainudy."

Kainudy remembers not to smile to folks, so just grins and nods politely.

Brahe turns around, nods to Andromeda, then goes back to trying to haul one child away from another... then does a rather shocked double-take.

Scorch a young fuzzball that could be male, is wrestling with a fuzzball that could be a young female. Hard to tell at this age.

Stardust eeefs, tumbling over and grappling at one or two of Scorch's limbs, grinning.

Scorch attempts to growl as he rolls, "Gotcha now!"

Andromeda looks at Brahe, "Is something wrong?"

Brahe brushes her hands off. She looks at Andromeda, then at Kai, then back at Andromeda. "You have interesting taste in friends."

Andromeda's ears go back a bit and then she very calmly purrs, "Actually, it's my brother that has the exquisite tastes in friends. Hopefully Kainudy will be my friend someday."

Stardust giggles, tumbling over and over until she's on top of Scorch. "Noyadon't!"

It may be your imagination, but the scent of simmering female Chirr'T'Thar comes from Andromeda's direction.

Brahe shakes her head. "Sorry, just still in shock. I don't mind, it's just not what I was expecting."

Kainudy blinks, figuring Brahe to be one of the xenophobic types.

Andromeda truly calms down a bit and nods, "I think my brother was right. We've gotten too used to the universe, it was time for us to HAVE to change a bit. Life needs it's surprises to keep it interesting. So, are these two the fuzzballs we get to take care of?"

Scorch sputters, "Hey, no fair! Maaaaaaaaa!"

Brahe nods. "Yes, these are the little devils."

Stardust giggles, grinning down at him, and presses on his nosepad.

Scorch sighs and noses his sister, "You always win."

Kainudy grins, and mutters, "Get used to it, kid.."

Andromeda purrs, "So, what are you teaching them today?"

Stardust clambers off of her brother, smirking in a rather self-satisfied way.

Andromeda whispers to Kainudy, but loud enough for Brahe to hear, "Be nice. The poor mels have to think they have a chance at this age. You don't want to break their spirit. ;)"

Brahe says, "Tracking skills today. Unfortunately these two tend to prefer tracking each other than the target."

Brahe snerks, just holding in a laugh.

Kainudy nods, and whispers, "Wouldn't dream of it. That's their wive's job."

Andromeda nods and whispers back to Kainudy, "With the occasional exception. Coper's group isn't sure what to do with him. They figure maybe Melora can train him right."

Scorch giggles and rolls to his feet, "Awww, we'll work at it this time then. Honest. Hey, can she be the target?" pointing to none other than Kainudy.

Kainudy thinks, o O { They'll probably blame me for his stubborness. I always get blamed.. }

Kainudy smiles to the little mel.

Andromeda hmms, "Well, what do you say Kainudy?"

Stardust grins a bit, peering at Kainudy oddly.

Kainudy says, "Sure. What happens if they can't find me?"

Scorch pads up and pats Kainudy's leg, "Smooth. But you have feathers too?"

Andromeda purrs, "Oh, I'm supposed to help them. If they don't, we try it again. Probably only have time for 2 or 3 tries before our time is up.""

Kainudy nods to Scorch.

Kainudy says, "How much of a head start do I have?"

Brahe shakes her head. "This I've got to see..."

Andromeda purrs, "I don't know, are they up to moving targets or just stationary?"

Scorch sniffs at Kainudy, apparently getting ready for the tracking.

Brahe says, "They're supposed to be up to moving targets, it's just been difficult getting them to concentrate. How about we start with stationary and if they show they're all here today we try moving after that."

Kainudy says, "So I just go hide then?"

Andromeda nods, "Yep. Fly up and go north 100 yards, land where you see a small opening or a gap, then go on foot on a curvy path for say half a mile. Ok?"

Andromeda motions to Scorch and Stardust, "You two watch where she goes, ok?"

Kainudy nods, and flaps off..

Scorch nods and mews.

Kainudy quickly finds the path, and strolls along it.

Andromeda purrs, "Ok, we'll go in a minute then. Brahe, you're going to tag behind and watch how they do while I help them?"

Kainudy hmms, and walks back along her own tracks for a few dozen yards before jumping up into a tree to hide.

Brahe nods. "Just call me Rear Observer." She grins, turning it into a leer.

Andromeda grins, "Well, just remember to watch the cubs once in a while."

Scorch rolls his eyes, "Adults. C'mon, she's getting away!"

Stardust looks about for a few moments, then back towards where Kainudy had flown.

Brahe gasps, putting her hand over her heart. "Ah. A direct hit!"

Scorch thtptptps at his mother and then lopes off in the direction Kainudy went when Andromeda gives the signal.

Stardust nonchalantly trots after Scorch, letting him blaze the trail.

Kainudy stretches out on her tree-branch, and watches the path.

Andromeda pads after Stardust and purrs, "Don't let your brother do all the work or you'll never learn how to track yourself little one."

Brahe pads along quietly behind, taking notes...

Stardust snorts softly. "If he wantsa do all the work..."

Scorch turns around and chides, "Yeah, if I do all the work, then I pass on to moving targets and you don't. ;)"

Stardust blinks! "Hey!" With that, she lopes out in front of Scorch, jostling him as she passes.

While Kainudy waits in the tree, a variety of life moves about. Birds, small squirrels, and lots of Chirr'T'Thar adults, hunting for one thing or another.

Scorch tumbles and gets back to his feet and races after his sister purring, "Hey, that's cheating!"

Brahe chuckles. "Told you."

Andromeda pads along with the two, easily keeping pace with their shorter legs. "Remember, this isn't a race, you need to use your noses and eyes and especially brains right now. Show me where she landed first."

Stardust trots along, snuffling at the air.

Scorch tries to figure out if they've gone 100 yards or not and then starts looking for good places to land. His short stubby wings along his sides flick a bit. He's a bit impatient to be able to fly.

One pair of hunters are stalking each other about 50 yards from Kainudy's tree. The two felitaurs launch at each other and wrestle over the path Kainudy followed.

Kainudy grins and watches. That should confuse the scents a bit.

Andromeda hmms, "Scent is good Stardust, but your brother is looking too. What would you look for to help?"

Scorch keeps checking various landing sites, sniffing the air only when Andromeda reminds him.

Finally one felitaur pins the other, and amazingly enough the male wins this time. He and his female partner enjoy their reward, right in the middle of the pathway.

Stardust wrinkles her nosepad a bit. "Pawprints." It's her standard answer for that question, and she still doesn't pay much attention to the ground.

Scorch pads over to another landing area and sniffs and looks, and shouts in triumph, "This is where she landed!"

Brahe continues following along behind, and hmmmms...

Stardust heys! And bounds over towards Scorch. "I was gonna say it was here!"

Andromeda pads over to where the little fluffball male is and purrs, "Yes, that does look like the track her feet would make. Stardust, be honest now. Though I think your brother did it more by sight than scent."

Andromeda purrs, "Stardust, looking at her tracks, which way did Kainudy go?""

Kainudy perks an ear. Even this far away, she can hear the cubs yelling.

Stardust shuffles a foot petulantly, and finally lowers her gaze to a vaguely ground ward direction. She stares at the tracks for a few moments before deciding which way. She takes a few hesitant steps in that direction, then grins, and charges headlong along the path.

Scorch just smirks for a second, then yipes, "HEY! I found em, I should go first!"

Scorch runs after his sister.

Brahe sighs, and quickens her pace to keep up.

Scorch quickly loses the footprints and starts sniffing along as he chases after his sister.

Stardust's nose is raised slightly as she follows the scent.. so intent is she that she doesn't even notice the two adults being.. *ahem*.. intimate in the middle of the path. She runs directly into them, and tumbles onto the ground.

The two adults utterly ignore the little cub, being rather occupied.

Brahe peers ahead. "Oops."

Scorch pads up and hmmfs as he pads up to his sister, "Bet they ruined the scent. Maybe on the other side" and pads right over the two, oblivious.

Kainudy tries not to chuckle out loud..

Andromeda chuckles to Brahe, "Hard to believe we we're ever that oblivious, isn't it? It's almost a shame to see them hit puberty sometimes. ;)"

The couple gives a slight glance after the cub then earwave to the two females, indicating a request for implied privacy.

Stardust frumps a bit. "Ow," she murmurs, as she straightens herself out and regains her paws. "Stupid place to do that," she mumbles indignantly. Thrusting her nose back into the air, she trots around the two, not deigning to spare the couple a glance. Once she reaches the other side, she peers to see where Scorch has run off to. "Hey! Wait up!" she calls as she lopes after her brother.

Brahe chuckles, and flies over the two, then continues walking down the pathway on the other side.

Andromeda pads along with Brahe and chuckles, "Course, reaching puberty DOES have it's advantages. I wonder if Kainudy has done anything to make it hard on them."

Scorch sniffs along as he pads forward, past the tree Kainudy is in to where she doubled back on the trail.

Brahe says, "No idea."

Stardust trots along, following the scent. She darts in front of Scorch and presses along the path.

Scorch heys and turns around to shout at his mom, "That's no fair."

Kainudy thinks o O { All's fair in Love and Stalking. }

Stardust goes a short distance further along the path before skidding to a stop. She blinks. Twice. She looks around, then back at Scorch. "It's gone!"

Scorch says, "Did she go up the tree?"

Andromeda looks around carefully, sniffing and finally grins and nudges Brahe, nosing towards a tree that Scorch is resting against.

Brahe peers at the tree, then grins and nods back.

Stardust looks up at the empty trees. "She's not up there! Ma, she took off again! That's no fair!"

Andromeda purrs, "Kainudy knew the rules, she wouldn't do that."

Scorch hmmfs, "Well, I'm gonna climb up and see if I can see her in a tree someplace."

Stardust frowns at Andromeda. "Well the trail stops here! She musta flown off!"

Andromeda grins at Brahe, "How much help should I give them?"

Scorch gets impatient and with a scrabble of sharp claws, starts heading up the tree he was leaning against.

Brahe says, "Hmmm... well, point out that she doesn't have to have moved since they started..."

Stardust wrinkles her nosepad at Scorch. "You'll just get stuck, like last time!"

The sound of the little mel sticking his tongue out at his sister can be heard from all the way down to the forest floor. Oddly, none of the cubs have noticed the specks of bright blue between some of the leaves up above Scorch.

Andromeda giggles a bit.

Kainudy can't resist, she snakes her head down so that she bumps snouts with Scorch when he turns his head back. "BOO!"

Scorch loses his grip and instinctively grabs with all six limbs at Kainudy.

Brahe almost collapses giggling.

Andromeda is leaning against Brahe as she too giggles uncontrollably.

Kainudy erps, wearing a cub on her face. She sneezes!

Stardust blinks, trotting over towards the tree that Scorch clambered up.

Scorch looks a bit embarrassed, but like a typical cub, purrs, "I found her!" Minor details being overlooked of course. ;)

Andromeda falls down laughing loudly at this point against Brahe.

Brahe chuckles, and marks that down. "Yes, you did."

Stardust points out, grinning, "You got stuck again, too!" At least it wasn't a total loss. ;)

Scorch retracted his claws before he did any real damage, but he's still clinging to Kainudy, "Did not, I'm holding on to her."

Stardust giggles. She calls up, teasing, "So when're you gonna let go?"

Scorch eeps, "Dunno." as he looks down at the ground.

Kainudy murphls, "Yeah?"

Kainudy starts blowing into Scorch's tummy. If Chirr'T'Thar are ticklish, that's probably the spot..

Andromeda finally finds her breath and giggles, "Need some help Kai? Oooh, that's mean. ;)"

Stardust regards her brother mirthfully. But prudently takes a sidestep so she's not directly under him. ;)

Scorch giggles and eeps and lets go. Gravity, which refuses to ignore even the Chirr'T'Thar, takes over and he lands with a "FWUMP" on his back. The little cub seems unhurt and just growls up to Kainudy, "Thats not fair! That tickled!"

Brahe almost falls over again, leaning against another tree to laugh.

Stardust giggles and prods Scorch with one footpaw. "Hey, at least ya didn't get stuck this time..."

Scorch decides his sister is a better target and leaps at her saying , "Yeah, but I found her."

Kainudy climbs down out of the tree.

Kainudy says, "Next time, look for the fallen leaves. };)"

Stardust ooofs, tumbling over and wrestling with her brother. "Only 'cause I letcha!"

Andromeda grins, "Those two are so cute. You're lucky Brahe."

Scorch continues fighting and tumbling.

Brahe smiles. "Thank you."

Andromeda looks a bit wistfully at the two cubs and purrs, "Thanks for you help Kainudy. It's safe to come down now."

Kainudy hops the rest of the way down to the path.

Brahe says, "As safe as it's going to be with those two around, anyway."

Stardust rrrrrrrs, tumbling over and over with her brother until they reach the base of a tree...

Kainudy hmmss, watching the rolling ball of fluff the two cubs make. She wonders if the Chirr'T'Thar know how to bowl..

Andromeda chuckles, "My, two healthy young cubs. And one a male. You have been lucky. Tycho was the eldest of my birthmothers litter. It hurt us all when we died during that tempering accident. And then my "runty" little brother, who was too stupid to know he wasn't supposed to live. Life is strange. So what do you think of our cubs Kainudy?"

Scorch tries to roll his sister into the tree.

Brahe smirks. "Yes, your 'runty' brother. And look at him now."

Stardust oooofs, squirming and struggling as she's wedged into the spot between the ground and tree. "Hey! Leggo!"

Kainudy says, "They seem to burn a lot of energy. }:)"

Brahe says, "We can only hope they burn it off..."

Kainudy says, "What are they like when they're alone?"

Andromeda grins, "Oh, if they're like the litter I grew up with, they get along well enough. They are just playing now. It's not till they hit their twenties that it gets serious."

Scorch grabs his sister with his arms and forelegs and drums on his sisters belly with his hindlegs, cat fashion.

Brahe groans. "Don't remind me."

Andromeda pats Brahe's upper back and purrs, "Don't worry. Scorch looks like he'll be a survivor."

Stardust eeefs! "Quit it! Ma!"

Brahe says, "That's almost what I'm afraid of."

Kainudy says, "Well, he's brave enough to attack a dragon. }:)"

Andromeda grins slightly, "Well, you want to break them up and try something else?"

Brahe wades in. "All right, you two..."

Brahe grabs both kids by the scruffs of their necks, and yanks them apart.

Kainudy watches curiously.

Scorch growls as he dangles from his moms hand, "She started it!"

Stardust grrrs right back at Scorch. "Did not!"

Brahe says, "I don't care who started it as long as it ends now."

Stardust snorts softly. "You're lucky Ma stopped us," she murmurs at Scorch, "I was just about ta win again."

Kainudy grins.

Scorch hmmfs, "Would not!"

Stardust cuffs at Scorch with one paw (or tries to, depending on how far apart Brahe is holding the two kits). "Would so!"

Scorch just thtptptptpts at Stardust.

Brahe snarls at both of them.

Andromeda tries not to smile as she looks at Kainudy, "My brother once suggested that this is why our population is so small. ;)"

Kainudy blinks, then bursts out laughing!

Scorch hmmfs but quiets down at his mothers insistence.

Andromeda giggles with Kainudy, "Yet despite all that, he already has cubs on the way. ;)"

Stardust reluctantly quiets. But sticks her tongue out at Scorch, just so she has the last word.

Scorch totally ignores his sister.

Brahe drags both of the kits back to the others. "Look, I've got to finish off some cataloging, so if you'd finish off the lesson and bring them back to me later?"

Andromeda looks at Kainudy, "You up to it?"

Kainudy says, "What's the next lesson?"

Andromeda purrs, "Well, we can't really do a moving target one. Maybe a game of coordination, or maybe swimming?"

Brahe says, "Fine, as long as you tell me what they did."

Kainudy says, "Swimming? }:)"

Andromeda nods, "We will. And take care Brahe."

Brahe waves, and heads out. "You too. You'll need it."

Andromeda purrs, "You know about swimming?"

Stardust prods at Scorch's shoulder, once her mother is safely out of earshot. "Would've."

Kainudy blinks. "Know about it? Of course I know about swimming."

Andromeda puts both cubs down and purrs, "So, you two been swimming before?"

Stardust gives Scorch another teasing poke. "Slowpoke here fell inta a pond once."

Scorch heys and purrs, "Did not, I was diving after a frog."

Andromeda hmmms, "Well, the best pond for this is about a 10 minute flight. Think you can carry one Kai?"

Kainudy nods, "Which one of you wants to ride on a dragon?"

Stardust bouncebounces! "Me!"

Scorch heys, "I'm the one who caught her!"

Kainudy smirks at Scorch, "You've already had a ride though, of sorts. You can ride on the way back, Scorch."

Scorch hmms and sighs, "Ok, if you promise I can on the way back." And hops up onto Andromeda's back.

Stardust works to clamber up onto Kainudy's back, slipping a bit on the dragoness's scales.

Kainudy checks Stardust's position. "Got a good grip?"

Stardust says, "I think so..."

Stardust clings a bit tighter.

Kainudy takes off gently.

Andromeda watches Kainudy take off then curls her tail around Scorch and leaps into the air, catching up to Kainudy and pointing to the lake in the distance.

Kainudy follows after Andromeda towards the lake.

Andromeda lands near one bank where it's fairly clear, as a lot of other Chirr'T'Thar are using the lake for playing.

Kainudy spirals down to land next to her.

Kainudy says, "Is there anything special about teaching cubs how to swim?"

Andromeda nods, "It triggers their vacuum reflexes."

Stardust clambers off of Kainudy's back, gracelessly landing on her rear.

Scorch hops off Andromeda a bit more smoothly.

Stardust gets up to her paws quickly and glances over towards Andromeda.

Kainudy says, "And that's dangerous?"

Andromeda blinks, "Oh no, it's good practice for them."

Scorch giggles, "Clumsy!"

Kainudy says, "So, you don't just swim for fun?"

Andromeda grins, "Oh, of course. But it's good training for the little ones too."

Stardust wrinkles her nosepad at Scorch.

Stardust grins. "That's Scorch, right? The little one?"

Scorch hmmfs, "I'm bigger than you at least!"

Kainudy chuckles at the cubs, and wades out into the water.

Stardust hrmphs. "Are not!"

Kainudy spashes water over the bickering kittens.

Stardust frumps. "And anyways, I'm smarter!"

The two fuzzballs growl and sputter at each other and Andromeda dunks Scorch under and holds him there for a minute, "And of course, mothers love to teach cubs how to swim cause it shuts them up for at least an hour. You take Startdust Kainudy. :)"

Kainudy nabs the kitten and pulls her into the water as well.

Andromeda pulls Scorch up and he'd pout, if he still had lips. His mouth and nose have totally sealed over.

Kainudy hesitates a bit at the idea of holding a child underwater, but dunks Stardust eventually.

Stardust's cry of protest is snapped off as her nose and mouth seal.

Stardust squirms a bit, struggling against Kainudy.

Kainudy says, "Are they pressurized?"

Kainudy tries to see if Stardust will sink or bob back to the surface.

Andromeda grins, "Well, they'll float if that's what you mean, yes. We'll just do some dog paddling first, then give them some weights to try walking around the bottom. But they need to get used to sealing over. And this way they can't drown if they wanted to. ;)"

It's an interesting afternoon. Kainudy has to be careful of the claws now and then, but after the twins get used to paddling on the surface, they all get weights (with tracking devices in them) and they swim underwater and walk about the bottom of the lake. The two twins are having so much fun, they don't even think to fight, though Scorch tests out the tracking device by wandering off several times. Finally, Andromeda flies both cubs home while their mouths are still sealed and then returns to Kainudy at the lake.

Andromeda purrs, "So, enjoying your vacation so far?"

Kainudy says, "Yup!"

Kainudy wrings out her mane. It's getting a bit bedraggled.

Andromeda shakes a bit too and hmmmmms, "I could go for a good grooming soon. How about yourself?"

Kainudy says, "You have people that do grooming?"

Kainudy says, "I definitely need some, especially after a month in hibernation."

Andromeda nods, "Oh of course, we all can do our own, but it's fun to go to a pro. Just realize they do a very thorough and personal job. ;)"

Kainudy says, "Can they do scale polishing?"

Andromeda hmms, "It's probably a bit like our nails. And as they do work on other races, I'm sure they can. Just realize they like to do a total job, and get hurt if you shoo them off. But they do good work, and you basically get a full body rub in the process. ;)"

Kainudy says, "That's about what I need. }:)"

Andromeda grins, "Then lets head home for dinner and tomorrow I'll schedule us both the works."

Andromeda leaps into the air and waits for Kainudy to follow.

Kainudy says, "Sounds good to me. }:)"

Andromeda and Kainudy head off for the night, sleeping in the Skygazer tower in the family pile up, which is still missing Copernicus and Melora.