The Pit geronimo [m]

Random Event: Auburn, the other animals around you are growing hostile to your presence.
Content Warning: death.

With @Flair and their father's blessing, the duo had set out for the Cove. This path was becoming familiar to Auburn now, and he pictured himself continuing to travel it time and again. This new family of his was split, but that didn't mean he couldn't care for them both all the same. Spring would always be the worst of the balancing act, the fruition of new life apparently a lot riskier than his limited experience allowed him to believe. They were timing this right though, he felt it in his gut. One last check-in on the cousins before his siblings were any further along.

Honestly, though, he could have done without Marigold's presence. Aub had known she wouldn't take to the situation kindly, and he'd been correct. He loathed being around her moods, constantly awaiting a scolding that was surely coming for his part in allowing it all to happen. Even if that cloud wasn't over their heads, she still exerted pressure whether she meant to or not. He strayed from the paths she took, finding different ones to give himself space. Auburn had grown accustomed to moving at his own pace, and was reluctant to give up that freedom.

(This post was last modified: Apr 08, 2023, 09:10 PM by Auburn.)

Mar, on the other paw, was quite pleased to be with her brother again, and even more so to have an excuse to get away from their estranged father and the woman he'd impregnated. Her good mood must have been perplexing to Auburn, as he noticeably kept a distance, even more reluctant to interact with her than ever before. Did he think she blamed him for Chan's choices? All she wanted was to commiserate, to for once be on the same page. Even if they couldn't, though, they could still get along, couldn't they?

She watched him from above, her path many meters higher. When they'd begun climbing she had attempted to stay at her sibling's side, but by now had caught on to the deliberateness of his drifting away. Involuntarily, she gave him the space he clearly wanted, but her gaze rarely left him. Despite being age-mates, she'd always felt a sense of older-sister-ness, a drive to guide and protect her more delicate brother. It would seem that, for now, she would just have to do so at a distance.

He didn't notice, letting his mind wander and fully take in the beauty of the mountains around him. Enjoying the journey. Most of the colors around were variations of blue, slate and white. As his legs took him forward and chased the horizon further and further ahead, a deep black rolled into view and stole Auburn's focus. He slowed to a stop, tail wagging and ears high while beryl eyes tried to make out what exactly this feature was.

A thrush whizzed by, pulling at the fur at his nape and then gone in a blink. Auburn shook the lingering feeling of its tiny talons off, and silently wished the bird well for the nest it was surely building, before descending toward that gaping darkness.

It was a detour, but his curiosity burned. He reached its rim quickly, and stared down into an unfathomable depth of shadows. Never before had he seen such pitch darkness, nor something that appeared so bottomless.

"Mari, check this out!"

Marigold frowned when she saw him start to climb ever lower, away from their course. What if he couldn't get back up and they had to spend a day finding each other again? With a sigh, she started to seek her way to him, long before he would call for her. She picked her steps carefully, very much aware of the danger this terrain presented, especially now that the spring melt had begun. Bright eyes meticulously analyzed each option before undertaking it, and then she would glance up again to check on Auburn before finding her next stride.

She'd gotten about halfway there when he called, but when she looked to him this time, he wasn't alone. A great, shaggy ram stood level with Auburn, the dangerous glint in its squared eyes evident even from Mar's height. It scuffed at the ground and braced itself to charge, while her voice rose up out of her throat like a whirlwind, panicked and thundering.

"Auburn!"

Auburn's paws pushed against the very edge of the incredible tunnel's ridge, neck craning low to look. It was clear he'd come at it from the wrong side, for lower down and opposite the earth sloped down into that darkness rather than ending abruptly. He picked up his head to find Mar's pale form against the snow and ice, and decided he would wait for her to catch up a bit more before climbing any further. That she would be so cautious was anticipated, and he turned his back once more to stare down at that which was fascinating him.

Then her scream cut through the air like lightning, and his whole body jolted. He whirled round, but not toward that which had alarmed her. Auburn looked to his sister, utterly complexed and certainly a bit frightened, but most of all, oblivious to the ungulate that was about to decide his fate. The muffled sound of its hooves drew his attention, but it was the connection of its large horns against his ribs that caused realization to finally dawn. It was too late. He was already over the edge, dropping through the air, and then-

Auburn simply ceased to be, the moment his body found that unfathomable bottom and his skull shattered upon it.

Marigold abandoned her caution when she saw the intent in the other animal's demeanor, but still she was not quick enough. The reckless descent would leave her bruised and aching, but it was nothing compared to watch her brother's demise befall him. She'd tried to yell out, but clearly her voice hadn't been loud enough or articulated enough because he never moved, he just stared at her until-

"AUBURN!"

He was gone, as easy as the blink of her eyes. The ram startled at the raw emotion and volume with which her horror rent the air, bleating loudly and begrudgingly before gracefully taking off. It disappeared amongst a flurry of snowflakes, and left silence in its wake. Marigold could hear nothing but herself as she reached the edge and dared to look over, hoping that something had caught Auburn. That she would see him, smarting but safe, and instead she was met with that depthless bowl of shadows he'd been so taken by. Her gut twisted and clenched, telling her this was not something he could survive.

Still she tried. Marigold would do everything she could to try and safely get to wherever her brother had gone, repeatedly calling to him with no response, but there was nothing that could be done short of throwing herself into the pit. There was only one hope. With a sob, she tore herself away and raced toward the Cove.