( winter bounty / bee hive )

[Grimm]

[div style="margin: auto; max-width: 475px; padding: 5%; min-height: 20px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 17px;"]An ill tempered beast peered at within peripheral vision, the warmth once imbued striped back, taken in absence began on the whim of split second decision. Heavy and grating the contours, epithet clinging to unresponsive tongue, held there for nothing may permit it release. A place to linger, one he may rest when the ache of exhaustion grew too much, a rest stop. Yet, as he had then, before does he stand.

Permitted time to drag an unkind hand along weathered timber, secluded the rather small cabin where vegetation may fester and grow close, a thick wreath covering it from view. Know the contents, him alone the inhabitant, likely adorned with a layering of dust to denounce his time gone. Teeth ground, pulled at lower lip, sought a break he received. Copper against tongue, flowing as eyes flutter in startled blinks, confused for a moment. He had thought to enter, attempt once more to make lodgings suitable, but he was halted, distance between a gulf he could not traverse.

Heavy the sigh falling from parting mouth, away turning, a coward or a fool, the haunted house once his own left once more to rot alone. Familiar still the path, overgrown as it had become, simple dirt track overladen with bowed flora, roots and vines seeking his fall. Avoided all hazard with an ease well practiced, his movement only halting with a quiet sound. Remote this deep portion of the jungle, enough so teeming it with life unfit for existence elsewhere with the touch of the healthy population apparent. Upwards vision turning, trailing along the branches laden still with green, the tropical climate not subject to such things.

Built into a fork between branches the hive was well protected, the heavy covering of leaves about obscuring, tell-tale the sound of the insects housed within, however. Closer did Emil step, neck cranked to look upon the construction. Rather small as of yet it seemed a new colony, comb built up within a shallow divot in the trunk, slow moving the few bees present outside. High the risk that came with making any attempt upon the colony, little that promised with chance production of honey had not begun or just was, tantalising the notion all the same, driving force that pushed him to approach the tree.

Forgotten for now may be his troubles with the archipelago and the residence who bore faint recollection of who he was, the strain of rather infrequently used movement enough to chase his doubts away for the moment. Beneath his claws the bark split and fell away in a fine shower, slow the progress of lifting his sizable bulk up the trunk, his destination the lowest branches. Such he was more than capable of, though expended too much in even this, heavy each breath as he situated himself upon the limb, supported by the trunk at his back. The hitch in his plan was not rather noticeable, annoyance apparent across his countenance, downward drawn his lips as he pondered the best course.

Abandonment seemed the most profitable, brought nothing that may assist in transport of any comb he might collect, the effort of drawing himself to this portion of the tree making his odds of achieving his end goal slim. Back gaze turning, peeking through the wooden structure, renewed the notion of entrance. Away it brushed, selfish the intent behind desire, peered at the hive, weighed the little options left open to him now.

"Hilfe!" Put voice ringing, a call straining until it cracked and broke, harsh the cough that beset him in its wake. Fool was he, caught here between memories he wished not to awaken and a want born from others, always living in the past as he waited possible response to his call.

[michael t.]

The harsh and sudden call from someone off in the distance caused Michael's head to snap up, a look of confusion flashing across the dealer's face. He didn't understand the word that Emil had uttered, the only languages that the thief knew being English and faint bits of Spanish and French, thanks to his sister and husband respectively. At first, he considered that perhaps the call had been someone's name, and he even wondered if he should ignore it. However, hilfe sounded close enough to help, and the bear's tone seemed so frantic – or as frantic as Emil could sound, anyways – that Michael wrote that idea off. Instead, he moved from his position on the sands, heading out towards Emil's old home. It seemed the most logical place for the other to be, considering his call had come from the same direction. He made sure to pick up the pace a bit, not wanting Emil to get seriously injured just because the bobcat's short legs weren't enough to get to him in time.

When Michael did arrive to where Emil was precariously sitting, he couldn't help but freeze, his mismatched gaze widening in surprise at the scene before him. He had known that bears were able to climb trees, in the back of his mind, but he had never actually seen one do so. If the other hadn't called for help, Michael probably would've found the entire situation quite hilarious – even now, the sight of a bear stuffed up into the branches of a tree was difficult not to giggle at. Once he regained his composure, the dealer took a few more steps forward, questioning curiously as he remained on the ground, "Emil...? Wow, wasn't expecting to see you up... somewhere like there. Do you need help getting down?" That seemed like the most reasonable conclusion to be drawn. As he waited for an answer, the thief's gaze began to slowly move around, looking for anything that would allow him to help Emil down. He supposed that technically he could use his earth elementals to make some sort of platform for the other to step onto. Unfortunately, that probably wouldn't turn out too well for Michael, considering how much strain his elementals put on him. With how much he had been using them lately, he wasn't sure he'd even be able to stand if he went through the effort of raising a load of earth up a few inches.

As the male's gaze wandered, he paused when he caught sight of what Emil had been going after – the bee hive. Immediately, Michael's body tensed, his fur spiking up and a low hiss of displeasure leaving him, "Shit... shit... bees. Hate those fuckinf things, and their stupid stingers..." As if worried about being stung already, the bobcat took a small step back, grumbling beneath his breath. However, as another moment passed, he glanced back up at Emil, his voice low as he questioned, "Wait... you did call for someone to help you get down, right? Cause if you called to have someone help you get honey, there is no fucking way I'm doing that. Bees are little demons disguised as bugs." Michael's ears were pinned back as he spoke, nose wrinkling slightly. He didn't even particularly like the taste of honey, so going so near to a nest full of bees wasn't appealing to him in the slightest. No amount of sweet taste was worth him having to go limping to Roan and Rosemary so that they could treat his bee stings.