HOME | DD

Description

“Oh dear, I think I am lost...again…” Udina murmured to herself as she looked around, her hands clasped together.

Her tan-colored ears were furled back as the dark arching trees of the swamp were closing in on her. Dark colored water rose up past the tan sections of her legs and were already licking at her snow-white fur. It was evident the dove was indeed lost by the way her body curled inward, as if shrinking in on itself and by the way she looked at everything with uncertainty.

“Not again…” She breathed out as she took a heavy step forward, the sludge that clung to her slowed her legs.

A dark bubble rose to the surface of the water before popping with a sickening ‘plorp’. Udina closed her mouth, teeth clenching as she frowned at the noise. How was she ever going to make it out of this dreaded swamp. There was nothing colorful, nothing beautiful, not even a small speck of light. Everything was dark, and a shade of muted green, grey or brown. She stuck out like a sore thumb due to her white coat.
She took another step forward, her eyes set on a small bank not to far ahead. While it was just as gross looking as everything else, she rather take that then being in this filthy water, especially because she swore she felt something move close to her legs. Hurrying as best as she could through the thick sludge, each step was followed by a 'plop plop' from the suction of the vicous liquid. What had started as a simple mission to get something for her mate at home had ended up as a nightmare.

"Aie!" She shouted out as she felt something move by her leg again, this time it felt as if it brushed up against her leg.

Several more quick loud 'plops' were heard as she practically dragged herself out of the swampy water and onto the bank. Her white fur clung to her legs, making them look skinnier than they were. Udina's white body shook as she stared at the water, a pair of dark eyes peering at her from the surface. Never again was she coming here. Never again.
All of a sudden, the sound of something rattling grabbed her attention. It was coming from ahead. Her ears perked up as she turned her head towards the noise. She couldn't see anything through the thick fog but a dark shape soon started to become visible. She curled her lips back, ready to fight if the stranger proved to be hostile but before she could call out a warning, another kukuri stepped out of the fog. A rook. Udina blinked, her nose wrinkling at the sight of them. Their face looked as if they were covered in boils but as she peered at them, it turned out they were just markings. Not her taste however.

"Hello there." The voice called out warmly as his expression was one of concern "Are you lost?" He asked as he tilted his head at her and his eyes glanced at her muddied legs.

Udina debated asking help from such an...odd looking stranger but she wanted to get out of the nightmare of a swamp so she nodded.

"Do you know a way out?" She questioned as the rook shook his head.

"Yes, I do. In matter of fact, I know this swamp like the end of my own tail." He chuckled out as Udina's ears moved back.

"Mind helping a girl out of here then?"

"Of course." He replied as he beckoned for her to follow.

Udina hurried after him as the rook began to walk at a leisurely place as Udina shook the muck out of her legs.

"Stupid swamp and its creepy atmosphere." She complained under breath.

"I do not find it creepy, nor should you. Superficial appearances can be decieving." The rook explained, not looking at Udina. "You probably find me just as odd as this swamp. I do not blame you but it is not the appearance of a thing that matters. But what is on the inside."

Udina squinted at him, letting out a sigh along with a shake of her head.

"I know. It is the thing everyone says but it's not so easy to put into practice. I'm trying however with the help of loved ones." The dove replied as the rook gave an easygoing laugh.

"That is good. The effort is there and that is what counts." He acknowledged before he gave a shake of his head. "Apologies for my lack of manners...it has been a while since I have had any visitors. My name is Riki, Dr. Riki. I am the healer of this area."

Udina blinked, a healer? Well he certainly didn't look like one but the words he spoke had a wisdom to them that she could not deny. She let out a sigh with a small nod.

"Effort and trying is all I can give, no one is perfect." She let out, exhaustion suddenly taking a hold of her as it felt the ends of her legs had stone ballaces in them. "Udina is my name if we're giving out introductions."

"Pleasure to meet you miss Udina, we are almost to my home so you can rest a bit before we continue. You surely must be exhausted from walking through the bog. It is a miracle the alligators did not get you." Riki let out, his voice giving away his concern as he notioned to a small thatched over area where there was a grove of willow trees.

"You must have read my mind." She sighed out with a small smile before the fur along her back bristled and she gave him a panicked look. "Alligators?" She practically cried out.

Rikki turned to her, motioning with his hands for her to calm down.

"Yes, alligators but seeing you are well and fine, they must have surely felt guilty about injurying a beautiful dove such as yourself." He reassured gently as Udina frowned.

Riki must have noticed this as he looked away and continued on.

"Apologies if I stepped any bounds, I am just rather awkward with others. Being alone for a long time and all." He let out, voice apologetic.

"It's fine." She replied, placing her tail on his "Just work on it, it's the effort that counts, right?" She repeated his words with a small smile. "I can help be your conversation partner for the rest of the day as nightfall is quickly approaching. I'm sure my loved ones wouldn't want me to get hurt and wouldn't mind me spending time with someone who needs it."

Riki's eyes widened as he stared at her.

"I would not want to-"

"It's fine." Udina insisted with chuckle "Afterall, a doctor sometimes needs someone to look after him right?"

Description

“Oh dear, I think I am lost...again…” Udina murmured to herself as she looked around, her hands clasped together.

Her tan-colored ears were furled back as the dark arching trees of the swamp were closing in on her. Dark colored water rose up past the tan sections of her legs and were already licking at her snow-white fur. It was evident the dove was indeed lost by the way her body curled inward, as if shrinking in on itself and by the way she looked at everything with uncertainty.

“Not again…” She breathed out as she took a heavy step forward, the sludge that clung to her slowed her legs.

A dark bubble rose to the surface of the water before popping with a sickening ‘plorp’. Udina closed her mouth, teeth clenching as she frowned at the noise. How was she ever going to make it out of this dreaded swamp. There was nothing colorful, nothing beautiful, not even a small speck of light. Everything was dark, and a shade of muted green, grey or brown. She stuck out like a sore thumb due to her white coat.
She took another step forward, her eyes set on a small bank not to far ahead. While it was just as gross looking as everything else, she rather take that then being in this filthy water, especially because she swore she felt something move close to her legs. Hurrying as best as she could through the thick sludge, each step was followed by a 'plop plop' from the suction of the vicous liquid. What had started as a simple mission to get something for her mate at home had ended up as a nightmare.

"Aie!" She shouted out as she felt something move by her leg again, this time it felt as if it brushed up against her leg.

Several more quick loud 'plops' were heard as she practically dragged herself out of the swampy water and onto the bank. Her white fur clung to her legs, making them look skinnier than they were. Udina's white body shook as she stared at the water, a pair of dark eyes peering at her from the surface. Never again was she coming here. Never again.
All of a sudden, the sound of something rattling grabbed her attention. It was coming from ahead. Her ears perked up as she turned her head towards the noise. She couldn't see anything through the thick fog but a dark shape soon started to become visible. She curled her lips back, ready to fight if the stranger proved to be hostile but before she could call out a warning, another kukuri stepped out of the fog. A rook. Udina blinked, her nose wrinkling at the sight of them. Their face looked as if they were covered in boils but as she peered at them, it turned out they were just markings. Not her taste however.

"Hello there." The voice called out warmly as his expression was one of concern "Are you lost?" He asked as he tilted his head at her and his eyes glanced at her muddied legs.

Udina debated asking help from such an...odd looking stranger but she wanted to get out of the nightmare of a swamp so she nodded.

"Do you know a way out?" She questioned as the rook shook his head.

"Yes, I do. In matter of fact, I know this swamp like the end of my own tail." He chuckled out as Udina's ears moved back.

"Mind helping a girl out of here then?"

"Of course." He replied as he beckoned for her to follow.

Udina hurried after him as the rook began to walk at a leisurely place as Udina shook the muck out of her legs.

"Stupid swamp and its creepy atmosphere." She complained under breath.

"I do not find it creepy, nor should you. Superficial appearances can be decieving." The rook explained, not looking at Udina. "You probably find me just as odd as this swamp. I do not blame you but it is not the appearance of a thing that matters. But what is on the inside."

Udina squinted at him, letting out a sigh along with a shake of her head.

"I know. It is the thing everyone says but it's not so easy to put into practice. I'm trying however with the help of loved ones." The dove replied as the rook gave an easygoing laugh.

"That is good. The effort is there and that is what counts." He acknowledged before he gave a shake of his head. "Apologies for my lack of manners...it has been a while since I have had any visitors. My name is Riki, Dr. Riki. I am the healer of this area."

Udina blinked, a healer? Well he certainly didn't look like one but the words he spoke had a wisdom to them that she could not deny. She let out a sigh with a small nod.

"Effort and trying is all I can give, no one is perfect." She let out, exhaustion suddenly taking a hold of her as it felt the ends of her legs had stone ballaces in them. "Udina is my name if we're giving out introductions."

"Pleasure to meet you miss Udina, we are almost to my home so you can rest a bit before we continue. You surely must be exhausted from walking through the bog. It is a miracle the alligators did not get you." Riki let out, his voice giving away his concern as he notioned to a small thatched over area where there was a grove of willow trees.

"You must have read my mind." She sighed out with a small smile before the fur along her back bristled and she gave him a panicked look. "Alligators?" She practically cried out.

Rikki turned to her, motioning with his hands for her to calm down.

"Yes, alligators but seeing you are well and fine, they must have surely felt guilty about injurying a beautiful dove such as yourself." He reassured gently as Udina frowned.

Riki must have noticed this as he looked away and continued on.

"Apologies if I stepped any bounds, I am just rather awkward with others. Being alone for a long time and all." He let out, voice apologetic.

"It's fine." She replied, placing her tail on his "Just work on it, it's the effort that counts, right?" She repeated his words with a small smile. "I can help be your conversation partner for the rest of the day as nightfall is quickly approaching. I'm sure my loved ones wouldn't want me to get hurt and wouldn't mind me spending time with someone who needs it."

Riki's eyes widened as he stared at her.

"I would not want to-"

"It's fine." Udina insisted with chuckle "Afterall, a doctor sometimes needs someone to look after him right?"