GATHERING EXPEDITION: THE TATTIES (PART 2) (8/50)

Pantalaimon arrived at Quietphase Lake, with Neeps scurrying far in front of them with both of it's Puffle babies snuggling on their back as they flew just above Neeps. 

"Neeps!" Pantalaimon called to it. "Is this where you think my Charms are?"

Neeps slowed its scurry to a trot, struggling to lower what little of a neck it had to place it's triangular nose as close as it could to the ground to sniff for the missing Charms. 

Pantalaimon alighted to the ground, and lowered their back to let both of Neeps' babies trot beside it's parent. The first Tattie, seeing what Neeps was doing, tried to copy it's motions, though it was clear that it didn't quite understand why; the second Tattie waddled around aimlessly, and Pantalaimon had to nudge it towards it's family to get it to move closer to them.  

Pantalaimon looked around, frowning, and they sniffed the air too to see if if anything was amiss. Their sense of smell was extremely sharp for a xyn; but nothing could ever compare to an experienced Puffle at sleuthing out a trail. So far, it didn't seem as if anything was off...

The first Tattie's tail shot up like a hair standing on end, the pompom on it bobbing rapidly; and with a "MEEP!", it sprung off to the west. Neeps scurried off after it, leaving Pantalaimon and the second Tattie behind in the dust.

It didn't take long for Pantalaimon to see why; there were tracks of pawpads that led to the lakeshore itself. Oddly enough, the tracks seemed to sparkle with some faint, golden shimmer...

The second Tattie trundled behind to follow them at a much more leisurely pace. "Hey!" Pantalaimon said. They nudged the second Tattie with their nose. "Let's hurry and catch up with your family! We don't have all night, you know!"

The second Tattie just looked at them, and their faerie halo to usher it forward. Pantalaimon shook their head, smiling wryly, as they trotted behind at a slower place so the baby Puffle could follow them. Perhaps this one would need just a bit more time to get the hang of things.

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Neeps and the first Tattie arrived at their destination; it was a bush growing beside the lake. The first Tattie sniffed the ground, before raising it's tail and sounding it's call; and Neeps did the same. Both of their squeaks echoed through the - loud enough combined for anything to hear.

Pantalaimon and the second Tattie, following the sound of their "MEEP!"s caught up with the both of them this time. 

"Phew!" said Pantalaimon. "What is it now?"

The first Tattie quieted, turning to face the bush; but it didn't move in. Neither did Neeps, who motioned for the first Tattie to stay by it's side, watching the bush cautiously. The second Tattie still stayed, somewhat unaware, by Pantalaimon's paws, looking about aimlessly.

Pantalaimon quirked a brow. If the two Puffles weren't immediately entering the bush despite sounding their call, then they could sense that something other than a valuable was inside...

The second Tattie, unaware of their family's behavior, waddled inside the bush.

Pantalaimon inhaled sharply in shock. "HEY! Come back here-!" they shouted. 

They immediately dove into the bush; and the creature that tackled them from inside and bowled them out to pin them on the ground was a Starcaller Kitnix. It's fur flickered as if it was set on fire- Pantalaimon could feel the intense hear emanating from its chest and the paws it laid on their body, and yet they weren't scorched- for now.

Pantalaimon could only blink, stupefied, at the proud creature towering above them. They had only heard of Starcaller Kitnixes in fables and myths; it was unheard of to come across one outright in the wild. What was this one doing here? They struggled to wriggle free from underneath it's body, but it pinned them down again, harder, staring closely into their eyes.

The Starcaller Kitnix, agitated by their frantic motion, barked, and it opened it's mouth to reveal hot embers spiraling inside. Pantalaimon barked. "No! Please! I'm not here to hurt you! I-!" 

"MEEP!" Pantalaimon and the Starcaller Kitnix turned around, to see the second Tattie strutting out of the bush with two baby Kitnixes. Neeps and the first Tattie rushed over to the Kitnixes, sniffing them curiously. Both Kitnixes seemed unusually weary as they tottered outside- perhaps they were sick. One looked down at Neeps, exhausted, and Neeps nudged it encouragingly.

The Starcaller Kitnix barked, and rushed over to it's babies side, licking their heads as if to reassure them. It looked up at Pantalaimon- still wary, but no longer as closely on edge as it once was.

"Oh... So you were defending your babies." Pantalaimon mused. "I can take  back to Moonreach. But what was inside the bush, then?"

The second Tattie gave out a loud "MEEP!" before sprinting inside the bush; and emerged with several of Pantalaimon's missing Charms, piled on top of it's body and tail. The Starcaller Kitnix stared, warily, at them still. 

Pantalaimon furrowed their brows. Perhaps it was trying to find random things to help it's sick babies... Maybe they knew a way to earn it's trust to help...