An Unlikely Brotherhood [Luna =D ]

The day had passed quickly under the sweat for foraging berries and medical plants then shooting down large animals for scrumptious stores of meat and fat. The entire process was energy-draining but not a cycle done just today. The sun was lulling behind the far-off mountains, peaks high to scrape the knees of a heavenly being. Nature's heat diminishing to a peaceful coolness was much appreciated.

Seeing the vibrant green starting to fade to a murky black, a neutral expression crossed the face of a man having seen years of primal fury. With the humidity ever increasing, sips of water from a skin refreshed his parching throat, sighing relief after long pleasant gulps. A rough hand would brush away limbs and bushes, beads of sweat tearing down his face, halting only at the obstruction of a stubble.

Crunching grass with no underbrush present under the mighty guardians of every forest, green eyes played with the ideas formulating as the visual information of red-painted clovers and a plethora of colored flowers entered his registry. A chuckle escaped his lips.

Surprise as a figure in front of him was making way in a weird fashion, slow compared to the average person. The older man could see the shape as stocky, not curvaceous. Frowning, he spoke up, "Hey, what'cha doing there? You strollin' in a place like this?" One hand grabbed at the older man's hip, a head tilted sideways.

"Me?" The older man smirked, scratching the line of his mandible. "Can't an old man be walkin' in the forest as well? Well, if ya gotta know, I'm gathering things in these sacks, like meat and medical stuff." His hands pat the bulging bags, smiling.

"But I don't see what reason you do, especially with you meandering along and all." A brow rose. "Since you say, 'Nothing in particular,' it may sound like a stroll. May even be you don't my nose in your business, which is fine." He refastened the straps, shifting his shoulders.

The older man smirked and chuckled at the compliment and response. He tipped his hat in playfulness. "The name's Hidgero. And thanks. It sure took a while to fill these babies."

Hidgero shifted his eyes around, not knowing what to say. Shrug. "Nice weather, eh? Not too cold or hot, in my opinion." He let out one chuckle under some embarrassment.

"Too hot? Shouldn't you be home if you think this is hot?" Hidgero folded his arms, nothing on his face. He tilted his head. "Need water or somethin'?"

His throat was getting parched, sweat rolling down his face only a little. The last time the older man remembered drinking from a waterskin was before hunting for some plants: about three hours ago. Hidgero dug out a canteen from one sack and swallowed enough to refresh his mouth. Smirk. "I got another skin if you need some. It's gonna be river warm, though, but I guarantee it's pure."

"Demonstration?" Hidgero only expressed nervousness in his chuckle. "I guess I could watch; just don't kill yourself, kiddo."

Who wants to 'demonstrate' their respiratory problems? Sounds quite dangerous, if ya ask me.

Shrug. "Eh, suite yourself." Hidgero put the waterskin back into his sack. He eyed Theodore with some interest represented with a twinkle in his eyes.

Hidgero begun the spectating of the event. The kid, Theodore, was watched as he walked to a rock medium in size and brought it back over to the older man's location. Hidgero rose a brow, producing a hmm sound.

Theodore had begun striking a dead tree for no other reason than for the demonstration. Hidgero pressed his lips tight, tensed in the face. The boy repeated the process for less than five minutes before showing significant signs of fatigue and complications in the lungs. The plopping of a rock, the motion of a hand to the throat, and the drop to the knees, Hidgero rushed over.

"What do you think you're doing?! I said not to kill yourself! Stupid kid!" Hidgero was trying push Theodore to a sitting position. "Sit, for your father's sake! Sit your butt down!"

Hidgero shook his head, scowling. "Kid, that ain't something I see normally, and the next thing I want to see is you doing snow-running. No. Jeez." He sat cross-legged, frowning.

The older man brought a fairly weak bonk to Theodore's head. "Why are you out here? Sounds like your lungs are a ticking bomb in bad weather, which happens often, ya know. Dang kids getting hurt everywhere..." He started to mumble off.