cashewlater | ic inbox @ hotel caelum;

[ hehe... do your best cyno. ]

Hmmm, I don't think that will be necessary. We'll see.

[ granted, cyno could probably just carry tighnari by the scruff of his neck if he wanted really. still, if he follows close behind cyno, it should be fine. though some of the heavier growth does push him back a little, trying to press paws through to try and squeeze himself along. ]

[ cyno is certainly better able to navigate the grasses, pushing them aside with his larger body for tighnari to follow quite literally in his footsteps. he keeps his head lifted, scenting the air, his ears swiveling as they grow closer to the treeline. ]

Still doing okay back there? We've nearly reached the forest.

[ he calls over his shoulder, looking back to make sure he hasn't lost tighnari to a thicket of grass. it's beginning to thin out now that they're reaching the edge of the treeline.

it's a thick forest, but not unwelcoming. birds call, and sunlight slants through the canopy, a hundred insects humming in the underbrush. he won't go in without tighnari, though. ]

[ it's expected of cyno to take in their surroundings, taking advantage of his size while tighnari's own view is more lower leveled... but that's fine. because he can take in more of the flora and plants.

which is precisely why when cyno calls back to him, there's only a muffled "Mmmffph" sound from tighnari. the small fox pushes through the thicket, taking in everything as they reach the edge with... a mushroom held in his muzzle. he sets it down at his own paws and gives a quick shake of his fur to rid of any clinging grass. ]

There are actually some interesting things in here.

[ the temptation to bite the shroom is strong... ]

[ little fox where did you find that mushroom!! of course he found a mushroom. of course he wants to bite it. cyno turns around to face tighnari more fully, the forest at his back. ]

You really want to eat that, don't you?

[ he knows you, tighnari!! ]

Why don't you take it back with you when we leave, so you can go to the infirmary if you need to?

[ it's reasonable, but he also knows tighnari, knows full well that he might not have the patience to wait until their exploration is finished before he bites into it.. anyway, poof! a basket appears! how convenient. ]

[ from the thicket of underbush and many plant specimens! and of course cyno knows tighnari so well, who is wagging as he carefully turns the shroom around with a paw to examine it more closely. he sniffs at it for a bit and lowers himself to the ground to take it in. ]

I would like to. But it's a bit harder to research properly like this. Especially since I don't have my journal with me..

[ the cons of a full transformation. but hey, a basket is quite convenient! he huffs at the infirmary mention. tighnari may be quite willing to eat new mushrooms for sake of research but he's mostly smart about it! he picks it up and plops it inside the basket with a slow wag of his tail. ]

I have plenty of things in my room to help prepare me if needed.

[ look, cyno very much trusts that tighnari knows what he's doing, but accidents happen, and if this mushroom turns out to be one of the rare ultra toxic ones, he wants his fox to be safe!! just please.. for his peace of mind..

when tighnari drops the mushroom into the basket, cyno nods his head. this is a good compromise, he thinks. ]

Okay, in your room, then.

[ and cyno ducks his head through the loop of the basket to carry it around his neck, before turning back toward the forest. he smells water.. ]

[ sorry cyno, you know how he is! at least he has no intentions of doing it alone, nodding in return when cyno agrees with him. he can accompany him with his research and be there in case it really does end up bad. hopefully he can find some more specimens to take back...

his tail lifts as cyno takes the basket upon himself, padding after him quickly enough to catch up and brush his side against cyno's own in gratitude. ]

I wonder what else we'll see.

[ into the forest they go! which tighnari takes in curiously, ears twitching as they take in the sounds of insects and birds alike chirping in the background. otherwise, he's fine to follow cyno's lead still. ]

[ it's fine, it's fine, he's happy with this compromise! he just didn't want something weird or dangerous happening out here in the middle of nowhere when he doesn't even have proper hands. besides, this way tighnari can easily collect more samples of different kinds!

because this forest absolutely has mushrooms. as the scent of the water grows stronger, the plant life grows thicker, and soon enough they're entering an area full of mushrooms. some grow on the trees, some are as big as the trees, and at the center of the mushroom grove is a pool of clear, cool water. crystals sparkle at the bottom.

even cyno can recognize that it's quite beautiful. stepping forward, he paws at the water's surface, creating luminescent ripples. ]

[ mushrooms galore.... there's a skip in his step as he bounds forward, inspecting some shrooms, pawing at newer specimens, plucking others from where they're growing on the trees (that he can reach, anyways) and ground to gather them together. his tail almost a blur as it wags side to side, excited at the potential research he'll be able to do later.

of course he can't do much about the much larger ones. not his size, and even how he is regularly would at most maybe be able to snip a piece at most but. he's drawn back to cyno, watching as the water sparkles and reflects back beautifully with cyno's white fur.

he'll walk on over, peering into the water after with that same curiosity. ]

See something?

[ mushrooms everywhere! and flowers, too. once tighnari approached him, cyno turned to look at him, then lowered his head to drop the basket so that tighnari might fill it up with all of his gathered samples. ]

Crystals.

[ he touches the water's surface again, disturbing its glassy sheen, and the crystals shine beneath the slanting sunlight that filters through the clearing. they're mostly clear, but with a rainbow iridescent shimmer to their surfaces. ]

They're pretty. I wonder if they're safe.

[ cyno plunges right into the water with a splash! ]

[ good boy. tighnari will help himself to filling said basket up, careful as he does and taking in how many he's gathered so far. ]

Hmmm...

[ he ponders the thought, wondering if crystals found in the depths of a lake really is safe... annnd there cyno goes! well. ]

...Guess we're about to find out if they're not.

[ he sits down, staying where he is at the edge instead of jumping right on in after. mostly observing his companion to see. ]

[ he's sure in the water!! cyno swims his way down to the bottom of the little pond, and retrieves a few of the larger crystals in his mouth.

doggy paddling his way back up, he deposits them onto the ground, then climbs out of the pond and.. shakes water vigorously everywhere!! ]

The water is nice and warm.

I'll take your word for it.

[ a quiet huff, said moments before he's sprayed with water that was previously clinging to cyno's fluffy white fur. he yelps in surprise and jumps at the jackal with two paws ready to smack (gently.) ]

That wasn't an invitation to get me wet as well!

Heh. Sorry.

[ he's not that sorry, though.. especially considering he's now pushing his big wet head against tighnari, rubbing it along his fur! ]

You big oaf.

[ said with obvious tease, especially when the ends of that fluffy tail is wagging just a little, but his ears do pin back at that dampness how dare you. he'll try and give one of cyno's ears the lightest of nips in retaliation. hmph. ]

[ that ear nip has him shaking his shaggy head, before he pushes down into the grass and begins rolling against it to get the wet off. ]

I could get used to this shape, you know. [ he says, tail thumping. ] Though the lack of thumbs is a shame.

With how quickly you adapt, I'm sure.

[ he reaches to lick a little at part of his own fur that was ruffled by that big 'ole wet head. tighnari moves to sit afterwards, his tail sweeping over side to side. ] There's only so much you can do with your teeth after all. Granted, staying like this would prove more troublesome than it's worth.

[ cyno sighs softly, the sunlight warm above him, already beginning to dry his fur. he rolls close to tighnari, snuffling into his fur. ]

Mm, probably. But I'm sure I could be faster than usual. Maybe even stronger, even if I can't use a weapon like this.

[ the other receives a gentle whack of the fox's fluffy tail before the fox leans over right after and flops onto his side atop the jackal. his head tilts up, taking in the sunlight with a softer huff. ]

Probably but I prefer you the way you are naturally.

[ even if a jackal cyno is quite fluffy and cute. ]

[ tighnari's little furry body flops right across him, and cyno would smile if he were capable of it, like this. it feels nice to have tighnari close like this, warm up against him, smelling good and familiar..

with a soft hum, cyno curls his body around him. maybe he'll allow himself to enjoy this, for a little while. ]

Well.. I'm glad you feel that way. Cute as you are like this, I feel the same way.

[ for a moment, tighnari hesitates, to feel cyno curl around him but eventually his body relaxes and he curls up against him - slotting them together like perfect puzzle pieces. gingerly, he buries his face a little into white fur, ears flicking back. ]

Keep calling me cute and I'll bite you.

[ which is said with a roll of his eyes, tail thumping against him. ]

I'm sure Collei wouldn't mind us looking like this.

[ cyno hums his satisfaction. it's been awhile since he last felt so.. relaxed, so at ease and comfortable. it's rare that his guard is ever down, even on vacation, but tighnari's presence always makes him feel safe, and secure. ]

Oh, she'd have a field day.

[ a chuckle rumbles in his chest, cyno's ruby eyes half-closed, the tip of his tail twitching back and forth. and hey, it's not his fault you're so cute!! ]

I'm sure she would want a hundred pictures.

Without question.

[ they know collei very well. while she would of course likely fret and be concerned, once she's sure they aren't in danger - she would certainly have a field day. ]

Oh dear. Imagine if word got out? Photo proof of the intimidating General Mahamatra as a raggedy canine...

[ an airy tease as he props his chin on cyno's back, nuzzling his cheek against fur. nari refuses to think he's cute tyvm! ]

Raggedy?

[ cyno's deadpan voice has about 3% more force behind it than is usually does. lifting his head, his eyes narrow. ]

What do you mean raggedy?

It means exactly what it means.

[ shoves a paw into white fur to try and ruffle it. look! ]

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