03.04.09 - He's Gone

Location: Salamandastron Store Room

Characters Involved: Tameus, Micah

Tameus told Micah to meet him here. He has two bags, and has snuck into the store room to start filling them with food supplies.

Well, Micah isn't in a habit of doing what Tameus wants, but. What can he say? He's curious. The buck appears in the doorway, peering in. Brow-quirk. "Whatcha doin'?"

Tameus glances up and over at Micah. His expression is set, determined, ears pinned back. "Packin'. We're goin' on a 'venture, Mike."

"... What?" Micah's ear twitches back. He steps further into the room, idling over towards the other. "What're you /talkin'/ about?"

Tameus finishes with one pack, and ties it shut. They're leveret-sized bags. "M' da's captured an' no one's doin' much'a anythin' 'bout 't. So /we/ haft' go save 'im."

Micah doesn't say anything for a while.

Tameus works on the second pack, then looks up. "/Mike/. C'mon. We haft' go."

"... You dun' have any idea where they are," Micah eventually says.

Tameus shakes his head. "I know 't was a ship, so they're 't sea somewhere, righ'? So we're goin' there."

Micah is looking at Tam like he might be crazy. And he might be. "... What d'you mean we're goin' there?"

Tameus finishes the second pack, ties it shut, and stands up. He pushes this one into Mike's hold. "We're goin'a fin' th' pirates that took m' da'."

"That's stupid, Tam." For once, Micah isn't just being mean. He actually looks kind of wary. He shifts the pack in his arms.

Tameus scowls. "D' y' love anyone?" he demands in a little grumpy tone.

"... You're gonna get yerself lost, too." Micah goes to put the pack down that is offered to him. "That's not gonna help nobody."

Tameus growls a little. "They're not doin' /anythin'/ Mike! An' /someone/ hast'!"

Micah is looking clearly uncomfortable. "... It sometimes jus' happens, Tam. Beasts get taken. Little boy where I used t'live got snatched. Wasn't nothin' no one could do. Didn't know where t'look or nothin'..."

"Yeah, well! .. well 'e isn' come /kid/ on th' beach Mike. 'e's m' da'. 'e's.. 'e's m' /da'/..." Tam grips the second pack into his chest, shaking his head. "I need 'im. 'e can't be /gone/."

"D'ya think he'd want you gettin' hurt or lost or somethin'?" Micah takes a frowning step forward. He reaches for the pack Tam grips at.

Mike is able to grip it, but Tam doesn't let go. He shakes his head. "What if I ne'er see 'im 'gain..?"

And the steel that will more and more often show itself as Micah grows shines out. "... S'life. Either ya will or ya won't." He has the good sense not to add 'you'll get over it'.

Tameus stares at Micah, taken aback. His mouth opens, then shuts. He swings the bag over his shoulder and goes to push past Micah and leave the store room.

Micah bites back a sigh. His eyes roll ceilingward and he turns, going to grab Tam by the arm. "... Tam. Tam, ya can't just. Ya can't just go and /rescue/ him. Ya dun' know where t'go!" And after a few seconds have passed, "... I'm sorry. Sorry he's not comin' anymore. I know you were lookin' forward t'. T' seein' him." And so was he, if he's honest with himself.

Tameus jerks a little but doesn't pull free of Mike's grip, though he's stiff, hugging the pack in his arms. He shakes his head. "... I shouldn'a come 'ere. I.. I. I should'a stayed where 'e was. Taken care'a 'im. An' I didn' an' now 'e's gone an'.. an'." There are tears suddenly, his voice breaking. "I miss 'im /so/.. /much/..."

With a faint grimacing expression, Micah takes a step forward. His arms come around Tam from behind, in a rough hug. "... I know ya miss 'im," he kind of mumbles.

Tameus drops the bag and sags into the hug, arms curling across Mike's, head ducked as sudden, sharp little sobs work their way out of his chest. His fingers cinch in Mike's sleeves, clinging to his friend. "... 'e's gone," he mutters, "'e's gone.."

"Sh-sh-shh," Micah mumbles, kind of patting at Tam uncertain. "S'gonna be okay..."

Tameus doesn't say anything after this. He breaks down. The leveret sags onto his knees, curling over a little forward, form shaking a little with sharp heaving breaths and exhaling each one on a choked sob. His face is wet with tears, fingers clutching at Mike's arms.

Micah drops to his knees with Tameus, arms encircling a little more now. He supports the other leveret, though he is smaller. "S'gonna be okay... s'gonna be okay, I promise."

Tameus sobs and sobs and finally sinks back against Micah, breathless from crying, throat clogged and eyes still leaking tears down his cheeks. He doesn't say anything.

Micah starts to silently rock Tam, also not saying anything. His eyes are closed and there's a burning in his throat. There are no tears or upset present, though.

Tameus eases a little. He sniffs and turns his muzzle to the side, ears giving tiny twitches. He takes a breath, lets it out, weight against his friend, head low and knees tucked to one side, his grip on Micah not letting up. The rocking motion helps calm him, though.

That's Micah, just one big ole calming force. Aheh. He worries at his lower lip, eyes opening to stare at the wall opposite. "S'okay, s'okay..." He's almost crooning.

Tameus's crying is quieter now, shoulders hitching a little with each inhale and chest too knotted up for his lungs to really want to expand all the way. He just leans into his friend. "Nnh."

Micah doesn't say anything for a while. It's a good long moment, really. "... You okay now?" Quiet.

Tameus shakes his head a little. He's burnt himself out with crying but the grief is still fresh and raw. He sniffles and turns his face against Micah's arm.

"Kay," he murmurs. Micah rests his chin atop Tam's head and just stays like that for the time being.

Tameus's fingers brush his fingers against Micah's arm lightly. "... Mike?" His voice is gruff, still tearful.

"Yeah?" Mike answers.

Tameus takes a breath and mumbles, "I don'.. I don' wan' anythin' t' 'appen t' y', okay?"

"... S'not gonna," Mike promises. He hugs Tam a little tighter.

"'cause.. 'cause I lost 'im now," Tam whispers. He sounds so broken. "If.. if I lose y' too. That's 't. I won' 'ave nothin'..."

"Ya got... ya got yer gran'mum 'n' yer gran'da, aincha?" Tam has talked about them enough.

Tameus is quiet, looking off, then shrugs. ".. 's like. Da'? .. an' then y'," he explains in a little mumble.

... Huh. I mean. For Micah? It's kind of. Tam. And Tam. Because he doesn't have anyone else and the other buck has sort of inserted himself. Like a pest! A very loving pest. "... I hope yer Da' comes back," is all he says.

Tameus bites his lip, and mumbles, "Me too." His fingers tighten on Micah's sleeve. "I love y'. I need y' t' stay wit' me, okay?" he whispers.

Micah nods. He nods. And just continues to hold Tam. He can be a mean brat tomorrow. "Kay. I'll stay."

"A'ways?" Tam asks, in a tiny tiny fragile tiny little voice.

"Yeah," he confirms with a little nod.

Tameus is satisfied with this, and quiets again. His eyes shut, breath settling.