[SweetDisaster]

Tarsus

A darkly-colored Kuhna blinked at the intense sunlight, his teal and gold markings bathed in the light. It was so hot here! He shook his head, sighing slightly. The black coloring of his main coat wasn't helping either. Tarsus pushed the negative thoughts from his mind and trotted along. An empty, bright red bucket dangled from his jaws as he trotted along. Finally finding a place where the seawater didn't spray up as heavily as before, Tarsus made his way delicately down to it, his teeth closed tightly around the handle of the bucket.

If it got blown away, he'd never find a Palmie for his owner! Shaking his head at the thought, a quick negative jerk, he took a deep breath and winced as the foamy water wet his paws. Gah! A small choking noise escaped Tarsus's lips involuntarily as he leaned down, the water licking at his fur, and got a bucketful of the salty seawater.

GAH! It was wet, so wet, and cold, ugh! Tarsus jumped backwards, sloshing the water in the bucket. A few drops were spilled as the Kuhna made his way carefully a safe distance away, plunked down the bucket, and shook himself, uttering little sounds of distressed annoyance. The salty air and water made his fur annoyingly sticky, and he didn't like the feel of the shifting sands underfoot.

Where are you, Palmie? Tarsus asked of the surroundings. The mute Kuhna swung his head around, tails flicking idly as he grasped the handle of the bucket and moved along. Where would a Palmie be, anyway?

{11}

((OoC: I'd like only one other person to join this please. Someone LITERATE.))

[SweetDisaster]

A soft annoyed grunt exited Tarsus's jaws as he dawdled along the beachline, kicking at the sand underfoot. It shifted so easily; he never knew if he would be sent down, down, condemned below the sand, when he stepped, or if it would hold his weight until he could take the next step. The mute Kuhna sprang nervously, trying not to spill any more water than was needed. A few droplets sloshed over his paws and set his fur on end. Seriously, this was annoying and terrible and the sooner he got home and away from this mess, the better.

Setting his teeth, Tarsus roamed on. If I were a Palmie, where would I be? he thought to himself, glancing around as he carefully set the bucket of saltwater down to study his surroundings. Palm trees, the answer came swiftly. A huddle of the plants caught his eye. Tarsus narrowed his eyes shrewdly, calculating. Palmies weren't that big, were they? If he sprang on one unexpectedly, perhaps he could catch it? Overcome it?

He was instantly appalled at himself. No; he would befriend it and make it want to come home with him. Tarsus picked up the bucket, grimacing at the taste of the plastic handle, and carried it towards the palm trees. Palmies, he called, trying to find the mind of a Palmie. It was difficult, because it was possible there was one right next to him who simply couldn't hear thought-speech. I've got some delicious saltwater, come out, Palmie!

{12}

[SweetDisaster]

Tarsus sighed. The palm trees provided a very welcome place to sit for awhile, but the lack of Palmies was very dispiriting. Perhaps it would be better, he thought glumly, just to go home. Get away from this miserable place. Salt clung to his fur stubbornly, itching at his pelt. He ran his tongue over his lips again, wrinkling his nose at the salty taste, and spat, trying to relieve his mouth of the taste. Icky, icky... he mumbled to himself. How could Palmies drink salt? Ugh.

Then he sighed. Hey, well, if Sweet thought a plant come to life that drank salty water with a little wiggly tail was adorable and she wanted one, Tarsus would get one for her if it took fifty years. Hopefully, it wouldn't. With another deep and heartfelt sigh, Tarsus slipped without thinking into an anthro form. Great, now there was salt on his skin.

The small, dark young man made a face as he scratched at one elbow, peeling away a thick layer of salt. SALT. Was that all there WAS here? He grasped the bucket handle, lugged it over to a stone, and sat down, putting the bucket behind him. Come on, come on...he mentally begged a palm tree, which remained silent.

Tarsus sighed. Again. How could people seriously like the beach? Palmie? he queried tentatively.

{13}

[tullow]

Curl

Curl walked further along the beach, still searching for a Palmie. Since Dumisa and the others had left, she had decided to stay at the beach for another while, just in case she happened to find one.

She walked through the palm trees, looking everywhere to see if she could find a Palmie. Curl sighed. Still no luck....

She walked to the shore, and sat down just where the water touched the sand, watching the waters glittering movements, lit up by the sun. She sighed again, and looked around hopefully, but she knew one wouldn't be out in the open.

What if I don't get one....? she wondered.

[SweetDisaster]

Tarsus would have long given up had it been for himself. As it was, he was nearly there anyway. The Revelate kuhna rolled onto his back, letting his eyes slide shut once, twice, lulled by the soft sound of waves. Hey, even if the ocean did spew up five gallons of salt per second, it still made a nice soundtrack.

A sudden soft noise made his eyes fly open, brightening with hope. A Palmie? Tarsus looked instinctively to the bucket of salt water. Nothing. Well, perhaps it was somewhere nearby? He glanced around, and then something blue caught his eye. The Kuhna-anthro blinked warily, pushing black-and-gold hair out of his eyes as he moved cautiously towards the blue. It was on the shore, no longer in the palm trees. He hesitated at the edge of the shadows, head cocked to one side curiously.

Ah, what was it? A Hydrokuhna. A female, and a pretty one. Perhaps she could assist him on his search for the Palmies? Praying that she could hear thought-speech, for that was the only way he could communicate, Tarsus picked up the bucket of saltwater and moved silently, carefully, around the dunes of sand until a thin line of water touched his feet. His breath hissed out of his throat in annoyance as he sat down, beside and slightly behind the female Hydrokuhna in an attempt not to get wet.

'Scuse me, he said politely, trying to reach her mind, I'm looking for a Palmie; do you know where I might be able to find one?

{14}

[tullow]

Curl was watching a boat in the distance, when she nearly jumped in shock. She hadn't heard him approach, as her mind had been elsewhere. She turned around, and seeing it was another kuhna, quickly calmed down.

Hearing him, she replied, but not in thought speech. She still hadn't quite got the hang of it, so she decided to reply with words, not thoughts.

"You can find one along here, especially in quiet areas, or around groups of palm trees growing together." she replied with enthusiasm, "Or at least I think so, I still haven't seen any and I've been here a while now."

Curl looked at him inquisitively, wondering how long he had been here.

[SweetDisaster]

Tarsus smiled apologetically as the kuhna jumped. He hadn't meant to startle her, although it happened frequently. She seemed nice, eager to help. The anthro flicked his ears as she spoke, catching the note of enthusiasm as she replied. She was looking for a Palmie too? He broke free of his thoughts in time to catch the curious look on the Hydrokuhna's face.

Shifting into his quad form, Tarsus smiled at her. It's nice to know, he said, I've just been hanging around the palm trees with some salt water. No luck so far. He shook his head, giving a mental chuckle. I'm ready to stay out here for a week if that's what it takes, though. I assume you're searching for a Palmie as well? he queried.

As he spoke, he had sat down, his tails waving as they scuffed at the sand lightly, leaving featherlike markings. The bucket of saltwater had been put down next to him; he glanced askew at it. Doubtless, Tarsus thought, he must look like an idiot, gallumphing around with a bucket dangling from his jaws. Ah, well. Palmies were worth it, hopefully, if they ever showed up....

{15}

[tullow]

Curl listened, then replied. "Yes, I am also looking for a Palmie." she said brightly, smiling at him. "I've been here a few days now, but still haven't seen any....."

She drew lines in the sand with a paw, while her tails moved side to side, making their own shapes on the sand. Curl suddenly looked up. "Oh! I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Curl," she said politely, "And you are?"

She looked at him, still smiling, her tails now becoming wet with the tide, but she didn't mind, like most Hydrokuhnas. She flapped her tiny wings slightly, as they were becoming stiff.

[ajforpresident]

((Sorry I'm late! My computer started acting up.))

[center]Cake Kuhna

Cakey

A Cake Kuhna was walking by skipping happily. She had a rather big smile on her face and looking like she didn't have a care in the world. But the thing was she was actually older than she acted. "Well, I'm here at  the Dead Coast." said Cakey. "I hope I find a Palmie for Aj. She always thought those things were cute. And I kinda agree with her." She was coming through the area, when she happened to spot Tarsus and Curl talking to each other. "I wonder if they could tell me where to find a Palmie." She started to go over near them but then hid behind a palm tree. "No, I can't. *Sigh* I probably shouldn't bother them, but this is for Aj." She started to run over to them. "Hello! My name is Cakey! What's your name?" Once she finished her last sentence she tripped on a rock and tumbled all the way near them. She soon stopped rolling and hit the ground hard on her back. "Owwwww-that hurt..." Cakey started to stand up holding her paw to her head. "Sorry 'bout that. I'm such a klutz..."

[1]

[SweetDisaster]

Perhaps we could help each other, Tarsus suggested to Curl. I've only been here a short while; I'm sick of it already. He shook his fur out, sending a few bucketfuls of salt tumbling to the sand. Ugh... As she blurted out her name, Tarsus 's head shot up, too; he blinked in embarrassment. How could he have forgotten to introduce himself? Was he really that much of an idiot? I'm sorry, I should've told you earlier; my name's Tarsus, he apologized, dipping his head in the customary gesture of respect.

Which was when a voice called out to them. Tarsus turned his head, and saw nothing, because the owner of that voice was no longer where she was before; now she was quite near, apparently having tripped over a rock. Tarsus smiled, slightly amused. I hope you didn't hurt yourself, he said, a hint of laughter in his voice. You don't need to be sorry; it's not like you meant to trip. In answer to your question, Cakey, my name is Tarsus. He nodded at Curl. This is Curl. We're just looking for Palmies. You wouldn't happen to know where any are, would you?

{16}

[ajforpresident]

"Yeah, I guess you're right. But I'm always tripping over my own two feet." Cakey said with a sigh. "Nice to meet you Tarsus and Curl." said Cakey with a grin. "Do I know where a Palmie is?" said Cakey as she brushed her herself off. "I was just about to ask you the same question! Sorry. I don't know." Her eyes lit up. "But if you don't mind I can come with you to find one!" But the light in her eyes went out and she looked down. "But you probably don't want an annoying, klutzy kuhna around..."

[2]

[tullow]

"Yes, we might have a better chance then." Curl agreed happily. Curl giggled at him when he shook his fur, but not meanly. "I'm still not sick of it, I love water, epically the sea."

"Yup, I'm Curl! Nice to meet you." she said brightly to Cakey. Her tails were moving slowly side to side in the now rising tide. "Of course you can come!" Curl said with enthusiasm, "It might make it easier to find a Palmie."

[SweetDisaster]

Tarus smiled at Cakey reassuringly, although his mind was reeling as he tried to struggle with the fact that a Kuhna liked water. Those facts seemed to clash painfully as he tried to take ahold of the concept. The fact that she was, after all, a Hydrokuhna might have had something to do with it, but still. Kuhna + Water = Not good. That was how the formula ran in Tarsus's mind. Don't worry, he offered Cakey softly. I don't find you annoying. Of course you can come. Turning to include Curl, he added, So, should we go?

He glanced around, narrowing his eyes against the glint of the sun, seeking the palm trees. I was looking through the palm trees, he said, But I didn't see anything. I didn't search carefully, though. Do you want to start there, or somewhere else? I'm open to suggestions.

{17}

[tullow]

Curl smiled happily. "Yes, lets go." she answered.

Curl stood up, and shook the water from her tails. Then she cleaned a patch of ruffled fur. "C'mon!" she said with enthusiasm, already walking towards the trees.

She kept an eye on the sand, looking for any shapes a Palmie would have made. Curl sat down, half way there, and studied the trees. There was movement, but she thought it was just the wind, or so it seemed to her.

[ajforpresident]

"Thanks you too! I'm glad you let me come with you." said Cakey with a huge grin.

"I think I remember my owner telling me to look for palm trees that are smaller than the rest. " replied Cakey to Tarsus with a thoughtful look on her face. "And also to keep a bucket of salty, seawater with you which is what you have so, that's great! I'll take it for if you don't want to carry it." added Cakey.


"Oi! Wait up, Curl!" yelled Cakey as she ran over with Curl. When she caught up to her she stopped where Curl was sitting and asked, "Ya see anything?"

[3]