02.26.09 - Rushing Water

Location: A rickety old bridge

Characters Involved: Darcy, Harper, Magramba, Crow

They're on the move again. With no sign of Crow's parent they've opted to take the kitten along, and it's Darcy's turn to carry him. It's more grassy now, with a few scattered trees. They're definitely headed west. It's a better day than yesterday, the sky cloudy, a breeze rustling over the landscape. Somewhere not far off is the sound of rushing water.

Magramba is in the rear of the group, keeping a weather eye on the surrounding land and the sky. The squirrel pulls the deformed, massive pack up higher on his back, producing a lovely rattle from the cookset inside. "D'ya hear water?" He cocks an ear, one paw cupping around the base of it.

For this arrangement to work, the toddler has to be strapped to Darcy's back like supplies - since she would be able to take his growing weight more easily in this manner than if she were to carry him in her arms. For a little bit Crow had been tearing up again, taken further from his home, but by this point he is tired, eyes half closed and nearly dozing with his cheek on her shoulder blade.

"Yeah," Darcy affirms, giving a backward glance over at Magramba. "We're heading toward it I think. Harp? River or something?" Because she knows absolutely nothing about geography.

"It's just ahead," Harper answers Darcy. He's trekking along at the head of the group, looking for the familiar signs as they move along.

Magramba glances up at the sky once more, then back to the front. "So... We're near the ford, right?"

"I'd love to know what 'it' is before we get there," Darcy mutters, glancing off to the side of their path briefly. Everything is soggy still from the thunderstorm. "I am not fond of the surprises on this trip, thanks."

"River," Harper answers promptly.

Magramba glances up at the sky once more, then back to the front. "So... We're near the ford, right?"

"Aye, we are," Harper gets around to answering Mag. Once he repeats. "Pretty close."

Darcy's ear twitches at the question. Not like /she/ would know. But she nods in reaction, to sort of go along with Harper. Yeah, I knew that, shhh. "Don't tell me we have to wade across. Please."

Magramba raises an eyebrow. "If we're wading, you'll be swimming."

Darcy shoots the squirrel a look. "I'll be riding on /your/ shoulders is what I'll be doing," she retorts with a smirk.

Magramba stares her straight in the eye. "Don't know if they'll take the load." Must... keep... straight face...

Darcy's eyes immediately narrow. "... you are an arse," she informs Mag. "I am /tiny/. Harp! Tell him how little I weight!" Indignant, juuust a bit.

When the voices begin to raise Crow's ears twitch upward curiously before his eyes open a little bit more. He gives a lazy, curious mew before huffing and then going to close those eyes again. If they don't do much more, he'll probably just doze right back off.

Harper stops, glancing back around. He comes up behind Darcy, putting an arm around her waist comfortingly. "She's /tiny/," Harper confirms. But behind Darcy's back he makes a gesture and mouths, 'Sooooo heavy.' He's totally joking, of course.

Magramba flicks an ear. Gotcha, Harp. He knows the man-code. The squirrel adjusts the top-heavy pack once more. "Ok, fine. I apologize."

"I /am/ tiny!" Darcy insists. She glances over her shoulder - and she SEES you Harper! "Hrk! /Arse/! Don't touch me." She whacks at his hand and scowls.

Jostle. This first comes from Harper suddenly pushing in close up behind Darcy and then her spin to whack the buck in the hand. The toddler grips at the back of the doe's shirt, lifting his head more and looking somewhat startled.

Harper laughs, all innocence and hurt. "What!" He backs away from the doe, arms up in surrender.

Magramba closes his eyes, shrugs apologetically, and strides quickly to the head of the group. Over his shoulder, in an effort to rescue his friend, he calls, "So how far from the ford are we?"

"I /saw/ you, you git! Mmpf. He's up." Her ears perk up and she glances over her shoulder at Crow, and smiles, her righteous fury or whatever it is abating. "Hey little guy." One hand reaches up and back over her shoulder, fingertips brushing one of Crow's ears.

Harper just turns around, starting to walk again. He catches up with Mag, smirking to the side at him. He nods ahead, then. Ahem! "Not far. Not far."

"Git," the doe mutters again.

Crow's muzzle twists in something of a disapproval at being jostled around in this manner when he was so settled in, especially since there was shrieking involved in this disturbance. His ears twitch as he is petted, then he kicks his legs a little. "Down." The kitten states. "Wan' down."

Magramba returns the smirk with glinting eyes. "That-" he states, "was close."

"Alright, babe, down you come," Darcy says, and shifts the sling Crow is in more to the side - then lifts him out. She sets the kitten down on his feet and crouches. "You want to walk with me for a while, Crow?" she offers the toddler.

Harper grins. "I like t'live dangerously." Aaaand, well. There it is. Ahead of them. And Harper stops. Stares. "... Uh." Why is he stopping? Why does he sound shocked? Because the bridge? The bridge he knows. It is. Not the way he remembers it. It's a rope bridge, /of course/, and many of the wooden slats are missing or look like they soon will be. Below that... is the river. With its currents.

Crow puts his hands out to allow Darcy to pick him up with a grasp under his arms, lifting free of the sling easily and then settling onto the ground. He leans into the doe a little while taking a more level look around at this opportunity. Hmm. The toddler goes to bobble off, not seeming to care what else is happening around him, especially since he happens to have noticed an interesting line of berry bushes not far away.

Darcy smirks, and straightens. She ends up wandering off the path a little to keep close to the toddler. "Hey, hey you. Careful, those look thorny." She glances at Harper, ears up. "What? You sound ... concerned." From her position she doesn't have a clear view of the bridge, and her attention is on Crow.

Harper just. Points.

"Behrs!" Crow informs the girl while going to reach into the foliage for a grab at a nice clump of dark berries that hang low enough for him to pluck. "Behrs." He nods as he pulls this towards his muzzle and snuffles at it a little, juice already on his palm from the slightly tight hold he used to get the little fruit off of the twig. Oblivious.

Good thing they're edible berries. And not very prickly at all. Darcy reaches for a twig, breaks it off. "Yes, berries. Good job finding them," she says to Crow, and moves a little toward Harper. Her brows lift. "... oh. /Oh/."

"... Yeah," Harper grunts. Glances over at Crow, distractedly. "What do you want to do?"

Darcy's ears are laid back. Her eyes direct back at Crow. He is moving and unpredictable, the bridge is stationary. Her expression is scowly. "Uh. What are our options..?" A glance down at the water. It's ... /rushing/.

"... Um. Wait for... someone... to... rebuild it?" Harper runs a paw through his headfur, sighing.

Darcy's eyes squeeze shut. "There are no other crossings?"

The little tabby has decided that the berry is edible, so this is popped into his mouth and he chews it thoughtfully - ears twisting as he lifts his chin to watch the adults with a curious expression. Well he's sure /some/thing is going on. What it happens to be though, the brunette is not sure. He licks his lips.

"Not for... It would put us back a whole day," Harper sighs.

Darcy shakes her head, offering out the sprig with the berries on it to Harper absent-mindedly. "The world doesn't want us to get there. Ever. ... guess we're crossing."

Pleasant chewing of berries. Crow has found him another plump little cluster and this is popped into his mouth as well before he goes to delve a little bit further into the bush. He seems to be doing well enough until he goes to pop an unripened one into his muzzle. The tiny tom twitches and cringes, lips pursing and head shaking about rapidly. Hrk. Rrk.

Harper shakes his head to the berry offer, glancing down at Crow next. "What about him? Maybe we should just go around..."

Darcy plucks one of the berries off with her teeth, chewing it. Not bad. "You okay babe?" she aims at Crow - oh no, he just ate a bad berry. "Not the green ones, Crow, they'll taste icky. Harp .. let's just try it. It can't be as bad as it looks right?"

Nope! It could be worse. Harper grimaces. "Pass Crow to Mag. He's a squirrel - he's got the best chance," Harper reasons.

Darcy shakes her head. "I'm lightest, I should carry him."

The babe continues to give little noises of disapproval as he shakes his head about before finally having the state of mind to pull the mangled berry from his mouth. ".. tha's bad.." He states with a twisted, disapproving look on his face - seeming concerned for the seriousness of the horrible taste while gazing up at the doe he informs of this. Crow's little fist is still occupied with berry and saliva.

Harper looks from Mag to Darcy once, twice. "Are you /sure/, Darce?"

Darcy nods. "I'm sure. I'm like half your size, Harp. I could probably carry the packs across after I get Crow over." She moves to the kitten. "Hey, come here? .. oh ick you're all berrified, aren't you." She uses her sleeve to wipe his face and hand.

When the doe goes about wiping his hand he drops the berry - which takes her having to uncurl his fingers from a fist to manage. He leans into the cleaning motions, rough tongue scraping against her sleeve to try to get the taste from his mouth while grimacing, eyes closed tightly and ears back.

Darcy digs into her satchel and brings out a piece of dried strawberry. "Chew this, is tastes better," she tells the kitten, and lifts him again. "Ready to go back in the sling for a little while? Just a little while, I need to carry you.."

Crow takes the dried strawberry from her hand trustingly with his mouth, hands still spread away from his body as if naturally trying to keep the berry juice away from his clothing. Then he occupies himself suckling at the fruit while going to lift his arms to be picked up off the ground. If he must...

Harper looks down at the pair, still looking unconvinced. But with a sigh, he decides what will be will be. "... Okay, you two first? Or... me?" He looks like he can't decide which would be better. Risk weakening the ladder with his weight or them out on it untested?

"Us. Put him back in the sling?" Darcy holds the toddler out to Harper.

Harper takes the toddler, helping him into the sling with a nod. He locks eyes with Darcy. "Be /careful/... really."

Once Crow is secure in the sling, against her back, Darcy lifts her gaze to his face. It's narrowed and thoughtful. "Yeah, you too." She turns, heading to the start of the bridge. Here goes. She sets one foot on the first plank and eases her weight onto it. It holds.

When he is passed towards the buck, the brunette instinctively puts out his hands to Harper. Aw. Then he is settled in the sling and goes to shift in more comfortably even while Darcy makes her way for the bridge. He seems pleasantly calm, up to the point where he finally notes the rushing water below them as she step out onto that first plank. The kitten clings to her back and gets an anxious expression on his face, ears jerking forward rigidly and fur prickling up along his nape. Claws are revealed and his whiskers shift forward, pupils narrowing into slits. "..nn." He starts, then his tail bristles thickly. "Nnno. Down! Down!" He clutches at her while squeaking this desperately at the doe, not squirming too much though.

"It's okay, buddy! It's okay, Crow!" Harper calls out desperately, moving to the edge of the bridge but not stepping on. Just to be closer. "You're okay! Just be still, little guy."

Darcy stops a few steps out. Her ears angle back. "Crow? I need you to stay still, okay?" she says gently. "Just. Hold onto me really tight, and close your eyes. Okay?"

Oh /what/ are these crazy people doing now? It's not enough for him to be away from his mother, now they are carrying him over scary, scary, rushing water. He squeals out unhappily and his claws sink into the doe's clothing while he gives his protests. How reassuring can they be, anyway? Both ears twist backward at the sound of Harper's voice and naturally his eyes tightly close anyway. "No. No!"

At least he's not squirming. "Harp? Sing to him," Darcy says to the buck without looking backward. She takes another step, testing the next plank. It gives a little but holds.

Harper sings the /very/ first thing that strikes him, resting one paw on the bridge post closest him. "Hush little baby, don't say a word, Papa's gonna show you a hummingbird... If that hummingbird should fly, Papa's gonna show you the evening sky. When the nighttime shadows fall, we're gonna hear those crickets call... While their songs drift from afar, Papa's gonna show you a shooting star..."

It's probably certain that those hooked, claw-daggers are not just stopping at Darcy's clothing. His eyes are closed and his ears are twisted flat to his skull before he fluffs out further and yowls his protest. Both eyes open again and he looks to either side of them. Ah. Ahhgggooddd. He begins to mewl out desperately, like he thinks his life depends on it. That is until the singing reaches him, he huffs out unhappily and then yowls directly towards Harper. Help. Me.

Ow. Ow. That's her shoulderblades, Crow. Darce cringes and one ear flicks a little to Harper's singing. He is such a good daddy-type, he should be the one doing this. Her hands on the frayed rope railing, she moves one step at a time, careful where and how she places her weight. A plank sags under her weight and crackles a little. She stops and stiffens.

Could you be killing him anymore, small fluff thing? Harper just. Keeps on singing, looking a little desperate. "When that star has dropped from view, Papa's gonna read a book with you. When that storybook's been read, Papa's gonna bring you a warm bedspread. If that quilt begins to wear, Papa's gonna find you a teddy bear..." Come on, come on, come on, Darcy.

Crow's eyes are as large as saucers - green and intense - and his large triangular ears are fully up with fear. He is keeping his focus on Harper now though.. while clawing at the doe helplessly. "Mawwwrr.." The little tabby hollers back. Poor baby.

Gingerly, that foot lifts. Darcy sets it on the next plank, and steps onto there. It holds. Another step, another, and another. Her foot connects with the plank and the shift of some weight onto it makes it suddenly just. Break in half, falling out from under her. She jerks, gripping the rope, managing somehow to get both feet back on something stable. Adrenaline rush.

All sounds cut off in Crow's throat as if he has just had something tighten around his neck - choking it off suddenly. At the jolt he has latched onto Darcy like a spiky demon. A weak, sickened 'myuurr' escapes him after a second.

Harper's voice goes up an octave for the first few notes as he continues singing. "If that teddy bear won't hug, Papa's gonna catch you a lightning bug. If that lightning bug won't glow, Papa's gonna play on his old banjo..."

Darcy just keeps walking. Her eyes are on where her feet go, the rushing water visible through the space between the boards. A few more threaten to break and she steps over them, hands tight on the rope. Finally, finally, the doe makes it to the other side. She immediately gets Crow out of the sling and curls him in her arms, hugging him close to her. Her heart's going kind of fast. "We're okay!" she calls to Harper. Because clearly he needs to be reassured.

This is quite possibly one of those never ending songs. Crow doesn't seem to notice much though. He is to the point where he is too afraid to move or even make a sound. He has stiffened up and is squeezing desperately at Darcy while breathing more rapidly and heavily near to her ear, staring straight out ahead of him unblinking. That sudden, split-second feeling of dropping into oblivion? Yeah. That wasn't fun for him. This is how he is for the rest of the trip across and it doesn't really clear up when she pulls him free of the sling for the warm embrace. The toddler is stressed, fists tightening into her sleeves and legs curling in.

Harper nearly sinks to the ground out of sheer relief once the other's touch down on solid ground. As it is, he breathes out a ragged breath. "... Okay. Okay. Good. That's good." And he takes a moment to collect himself. "You guys first," and he directs Siv and Mag to go ahead of him. Which they do - Siv first, and then Magramba. Magramba makes it look. Disgusting. Easy. Harper hates him a little.

"Shh, shh," Darcy croons to the toddler meanwhile, not meant to hush him - since he's quiet - but as a reflexive soothing noise. She cradles him, swaying back and forth, head ducked with her muzzle near to the kitten's head, whispering. She even /hums/.

Once they've all made it across, that just leaves Harper. Harper Harper Harper. He steps to the edge of solid earth, reaching out to catch hold of the rope on either side of him. And makes the mistake of looking down at the river. Under his breath as he steps out onto the first board, "If... that... banjo's out of tune..." Hey, sometimes he needs a distraction too.

"Come on Harp.." Darcy's voice is strained, eyes fixed on him even as she rocks Crow back and forth.

The kitten clings unhappily to Darcy while he is rocked, beginning to stir out of his frozen state enough to look around with a concerned, distressed expression on his face. He watches as Harper begins across, since the other two have made it over well enough. His whiskers flutter and he huffs.

"Papa's gonna... show you..." Each pause is another step, the wood creaking beneath him. The rope bridge has picked up a distinct sway at this point, after the others' crossings. "The harvest... moon." A particularly loud creak. He freezes, looking pained. Sweat pops out on his brow. He takes another step. "And as the moon drifts from the sky..." They won't be able to hear him - just see his lips moving. He eeeases forward another step.

Darcy's lips move, her whole form a little rigid as she watches Harper come across. Oh, her nerves, her poor nerves. Crow is held snugly to her chest, as comfort for him and as something for the doe to grip onto, scut stiff and prickled. "Come on..."

The toddler seems concerned for Harper as well. Perhaps it is the doe's tension seeping out into his little body, but his eyes remain locked on the older hare as he clutches at the one that holds him. Crow seems to be near tears at this point in his upset.

"Papa's gonna... sing you..." Craaaaaaaaack. Harper's eyes shoot downward. There's a spreading split in the board beneath his feet. Like a prayer, the last two words spill out from his lips as he takes a big step forward, clearing not one but three boards, as if getting further away from that offending board will help. "... A lullaby." He breathes a sigh of relief, looks back up with a smile. "I think it's going to be okay. I think it's going to be-" And the ropes holding the bridge, frayed over the seasons, give way. The bridge disintegrates beneath him, crumbling apart all in a moment. And he falls.

"/HARPER/!!" The name rips out of Darcy in a shriek. The doe lunges forward, to the start of the bridge on this side - but there /is/ no bridge anymore. With Crow curled in one arm she grasps one of the wooden posts that was supporting the bridge. "Harper! /Haaar/-per!!"

Oh, there is /shrieking/ again. This time Crow is unhappy already and watching the hare suddenly just disappear, into what would seem to be oblivion, does not help with any of this. Plus, they are right back near to the rushing water again. He starts to wail while turning his head away from the river, shaking violently at this point.

The fall is quick and doesn't really give Harper any time to process it beyond 'oh, this is not-' *SPLASH* Luckily he misses the large and painful-looking boulders to either side of him. Not so luckily, he disappears beneath the white water, swallowed up in an instant by the current.

"NononoNONO! NO! /Harper/.." Darcy clings to the post. Her chest clenches, she takes a ragged breath. She steps back, arms around Crow, shuddering and staring at the spot where he just. Vanished. "... Harp."

Crow is a babe and he is .. wailing. Which is what babe's are good at. He can't really verbalize his upset like an adult could. Instead it is wordless and screaming, with tears streaming down his face and muzzle scrunched up with agony. He also doesn't consider the fact that Harper might be dead because he can't exactly work this out in his young mind, just that he feels the upset in his bones and in the air.

There is no reappearance of a spluttering Harper, none at all. The water rushes on, seeming to have swallowed Harper up. /Unless/... they have the presence of mind to look downriver. There's a mess of rocks and tree limbs blocked up in the middle of the river. Is that... what is that? Is there something else caught up there?

"Why why why why why whywhywhy WHY. Can /nothing/ go right on this /stupid,/ /ill-advised,/ /cursed,/ /blasted,/ bloody /death-march/!" Throughout his rant, Magramba is shedding gear, first the weighty pack, then the duster, then his sword. The squirrel steps to the edge, peeeering down over it. Where.... "There. Down the river. Something's moving and generally looking pitiful."

Darcy is bristled up with anxiety, rocking the toddler in her arms back and forth to try to soothe him. This is hard to do when the surrogate parent is as severely /freaked/ as Darcy is right now. She steps near the edge, not /too/ close, and looks. "... please please. Is that him? Mag go /get/ /him/!"

"I'm /going,/ Darce." Magramba trots down the edge a short way, even with the pile of rubble and snags. 'Hmmm'ing to himself, the squirrel paces back and forth, trying to decide how to get down. Then, he sits down on the edge, lets his feet dangle, and removes his boots.

Darcy moves down along the edge of the cliff until she's standing over the cluster of rocks and branches that Harper's been caught up in, looking down at what she can see of him while worrying her lip. Crow is rocked side to side as he holds onto her, one hand rubbing the kitten's back.

Magramba scoots off the edge, holding on with his paws, and spins about, so that he faces the wall. "Oh this is different from trees." The squirrel puts his foot on something protruding, and lowers himself a bit, angling towards a narrow, vertical crevice in the rock.

Darcy's lips move a little, and she squeezes her eyes shut, muzzle ducking down toward the top of the toddler's head. She sits, hugging Crow, getting as much comfort as she gives. "Come on.."

Magramba makes it to the crevice. The squirrel slips his paws inside, jamming one foot in. With a grimace, he slides down as far as it can go, using his foot as a wedge and pressing on the sides to control his speed. He's close to the bottom now. Mag has the presence of mind to make sure Harper's really in there. Yep, caught on a branch protruding from a log.

"Mag?" Darcy calls from where she sits, leaning a little, staring down. It's a long drop. "Is he okay..?"

"Don't know, yet, do we?" The call echoes up. "I just don't want to be joining him, so I need to focus, ok?" Magramba drops down onto one of the boulders, scrabbling to stay atop it. He eyes the pile of snags, selects a log to jump to. "Ok ok ok..." And... jumps.

Their view of Harper will not be very encouraging. His tunic has snagged on the branch and one arm is draped over it, but he isn't really moving. And his face may or may not be submerged - it's hard to tell.

Darcy quiets. Her eyes are half-shut, on the scene below her. Robotically she continues to pet and soothe the kitten.

Magramba manages to latch on. The spray has drenched him by now, and everything's slick and wet. The squirrel skitters to the end of the log, wraps his legs about it. Harper's within arm's reach. And so reach he does, but he's off-balance. Magramba splutters as his attempt sends him dipping into the river.

Darcy stiffens a little as she sees this. She squeezes her eyes shut. The doe is helpless right now and watching it just making it worse - so she decides to just. Not.

Magramba lets go of the log and pulls himself up beside Harper. The squirrel grabs him by the tunic and starts dragging him back towards the bank-ish area, clinging to whatever for leverage.

Harper has lost /more/ tunics this trip... Harper's tunic frees itself with a riiiiiiip. Harper is a dead weight.

Once they are back up, Harper is dropped onto the ground. He is unconscious and unmoving. He is /soaked/. His tunic is ripped open at the front.

Darcy is already standing up, lowering Crow. He sort of clings on her once she's down on her knees at Harper's side, and the doe snaps at the others to get back. Her hand goes to neck to find a pulse, head lowering, long ear pressed to the buck's chest.

Harper's pulse is weak and he's barely breathing. But he /is/, which is a good sign.

Darcy lifts her head and takes a breath. She's clung onto by Crow but he's not in the way, so she doesn't pay much attention. "Harp. Harp wake up," she says, leaning over him. Both hands drop to his chest, and she shakes him a little. "/Wake/ /up/ you stupid /git/!"

Maybe it's the insult. Maybe it was just time. Whichever it is, Harper's brow furrows.

Darcy shoves at him. She then stops herself, takes a breath, and moves her hand to his face, lightly tapping. "Harper. Harper. Harperharper.."

Harper's brow knits a fraction more and his head turns away from the insistent tapping. "Mrmfh."

"Harp. /Harp/." Darcy's hand stills, resting on his arm, as she leans over him with an anxious expression. "Just.. say something. You can hear me can't you..?"

"... No," he mutters. Harper grimaces.

Darcy frowns tensely. She slips her satchel off, digs through it. Out comes her healing kit and she sets this beside her, then peels off her jacket. It's folded, bunched up, and she holds it in one hand while slipping her other one under the back of his head. She lifts it, gently, to ease the jacket under as a makeshift pillow. "Wake up, mister.."

"... What?" Harper grunts, a pained sound. His paw comes up, sluggishly, to touch the back of his head. What a /familiar/ gesture.

"I said. Wake up." Darcy takes his hand, pulls it away. "You're concussed I'm pretty sure. So you need to either sit up or roll over, okay?"

Harper does as ordered. He rolls over onto his side, almost all the way over, so that he can rest his face against the solid earth. It is not water.

Darcy snorts. She gave him the pillow for a /reason/. The doe shakes her head, and sits near his head, one hand on his neck, the other feeling through his wet hair to find the spot of collision.

There's a distinct goose egg rising behind his ear. There's no blood, however.

Darcy makes a face, fingers pressing, gently, feeling how large it is. "Congratulations, mister," she says, "you get to be kept awake all night. I'll be back." Like he'd get up and go somewhere? She rises, moves off to find some snow, if there even is any to be had now.

It's a fair size. Boulders'll do that for you! "... Nnh," is all he manages to say. "The bridge. I hate. The bridge." Of course he's kind of saying that to himself.

Aha! /Snow/! It's a bit of a dirty lump, ice that hasn't thawed yet, and she wraps this in a cloth while going back to Harper. She sits again and presses this lightly to the lump on his skull. "At least you're not.. you know. Dead."

"... Feels like it," he groans. His head gives a little jerk. /Ow/, Darcy.

"Well I could always chuck you back in," the doe mutters. She lifts the ice, then sets it down, more gently, holding it so the cold can seep in with a minimum of pressure. "... Harp." Her voice is soft. "Sorry."

"... No," Harper mutters. "I'm okay." And then, with a little cough, "... For what?"

Darcy says, "For saying we should cross the bridge."

"... Would've put us back a day," Harper protests.

"And now you're .. concussed," Darcy points out. "You could've died.." It is not usual for her to sound this way. Frail and .. guilty.

When the doe sets the young, upset kitten down he ends up hurrying towards Harper instead of the one that happened to carry him across the bridge of death. Fat tear drops roll down his cheeks as he pouts, moving to grasp a hold of the buck - wet or not - his little arms not coming close to encircling the adult but instead his fingers fisting into the ripped shirt as he scowls unhappily as if angry at the world, face basically ending up hidden against the other's chest though.

Harper's arm comes around to gently embrace the small kitten. He manages a small smile, his eyes upturning to Darcy. "... Not your fault, love."

Darcy shakes her head, taking away the cloth-wrapped ice and just sitting there, on her knees, shoulders hunched and glaring at the dirt. All your fault, dirt. A glance goes at Crow, then at Harper's face. "... I really. Don't want you to die. Okay?" Her voice is thick and low.

The tom doesn't let go now, ears back and his tears beginning to ebb away to just snuffling sounds as he squeezes at the wet fabric in his grasp, tail prickled out.

"I'm okay, Crow. I'm okay..." Harper shifts up on one elbow, paw reaching out for Darcy's. "Really, Darce. I'm okay."

Darcy's fingers knit through his. "I know you /are/. But you could've not been." Her brows are furrowed. "So before anything /else/ happens. Just. I don't want you dying."

"As annoying as your ability to get into impossible situations is, we prefer you in your not-dead form." Magramba starts back towards his things, left on the edge of the cliff.

"... It's okay, Mag, I know. You're overcome. It's okay to cry." Harper is apparently not so out of it that he can't make a jibe at the other male. He smiles faintly, looking from Crow to Darcy. "I'll see what I can do about the not-dying thing."

Darcy mutters a little grumpy sound, and leans, kissing Harper lightly on the mouth. "Good. ... good." Definitely grumpy - but satisfied.

Crow doesn't really want Harper to not die - it's not to say that he wants the opposite, just that it happens that he can't really think that deeply. Instead he wants the comfort. For now the buck is doing his job enough at this point.

"You're right, of course," the squirrel says, gathering his effects. "It was dreadfully heart-rending climbing down that cliff, flopping about on some rubble, and then hauling you up the side. It all gets me /right/ /here./" Magramba thumps on his chest for emphasis.

Harper's muzzle twitches in a smirk. Mag. "Yeah. Thanks." He scruffs at the back of Crow's neck, comfortingly. And returns the kiss. The love! He feels it.

The kitten gets no kisses. He glances at them when this affection is given, then he just goes to push away from Harper finally, releasing him to slide more into a comfortable position right up against the buck's side.

Hah, now he does! Darcy leans away, and over, to smooch Crow on the top of the head. "How're you doing, little guy?" she asks softly, then says to Harper, "You can't sleep tonight, by the way."

Magramba drags the pack over, and flops down on the contained cushion, watching with a disturbed eye as his muscles give little spasms. "So, how 'bout... next time we find a ford instead of the Rickety Old Bridge built ten thousand seasons ago?"

".. Probably would be a good idea." His paw settles comfortably around the kitten. He sits up. Glances to Darcy. "I know.