[PRP Jauhar] Community Clubhouse [Ezrah/Kel]

[Fluffesu]

Painted Moose

Not all adventures had to be new adventures. Occasionally it was nice to bask in the comfort and familiarity of things already experienced, and as much as Mahikel enjoyed a healthy dose of danger and excitement, he enjoyed the camaraderie of those he didn't want wrapped up in such unscrupulous activities just as much. Despite the passing years and steady aging, Kel still wasn't terribly fond of the idea of introducing his little brother to less-than-safe situations...

There were other ways to spend their time.

Mahikel and Ezrah weren't the only children in their village, nor were they they only ones who strayed from the immediacy of the warm glow of civilization and out to the outskirts were the dark, wild jungle took stronger root. It wasn't so far away from their homes that parents would worry too desperately over their older offspring, but still far enough away that the youngest of their ranks wouldn't be allowed.

Along the forest floor, after shimmying through a ditch and beneath a tangle of brambles, there was something like a little pocket of enclosed space that nearly everyone knew about and all those of Kel's and Ezrah's age would make use of. For some it was a 'fort' to defend against incoming enemies, for some it was a make-believe home to practice 'cooking' mud and rocks. Mahikel liked it because of the seclusion, because of the quiet and ambiance. To be surrounded by his forest and in its depths and undaunted by whatever lay outside.

He'd spent the morning collecting glowbugs in a jar so that they may have some source of light that wasn't a fungus. They could bring snacks, blankets, and books and be entertained for at least a full day, Kel was sure.

All that was left was to collect the supplies. He crouched in their kitchen, rummaging through the bottom shelf for maybe a loaf of bread or some dried meat or some fruit that wasn't too mushy or some type of sustenance that would do them good through the day. They couldn't take too long or the little clubhouse would be occupied already, and the whole day would be ruined. "Ez!" He shouted. "Are you packing the bag? Pap said not to use the good blankets."  

[Painted Moose]

Fluffesu

Ever since his little incident in the woods Ezrah had become a rather scrappy boy. He was still infinitely smaller than most of his friends, though the little hybrid kept telling them he was going to get bigger, but he'd learned to be a little more independent. After all, it had become obvious that his big brother wasn't going to be there all the time, and he wasn't keen on waiting around for him to show up when it was 'safe enough' for Ez to follow. There were days in which Ezrah left the house without his brother or anyone else to keep him company; and while it had been pretty daunting at first, even lonely, he was starting to adjust. The boy found his skills growing each and every day, which served as a source of pride for him. Any time his parents asked him for help with something, or when he could impress his siblings, Ezrah would beam as if they'd given him pure gold.

He was strong enough. He was smart enough. And finally, he was starting to realize that he was good enough for his family to rely on.

Of course in the beginning he told Kel everything; every little adventure, right down to the boring details, but when his older brother showed signs of 'dad like' traits, like worrying and lecturing, Ezrah started to fib. A little white lie wouldn't hurt, right? He just smiled, said he wouldn't do it, and as soon as he was able to, Ezrah would promptly do whatever the hell he wanted. It seemed like an unspoken family rule at this point; do what you wanted so long as you aren't hurt and you're not caught.'

However, despite his new found independence, Ezrah still preferred the days he got to spend with Kel. The days where Ezrah had to call off his adventures in an immediate halt just because his older brother might notice him packing away extra supplies. It was easier to slip away when Kel was already gone, but when he didn't have to sneak out alone...those always seemed to be the best sort of day.

He'd spent the better part of the morning packing what he called 'essentials'; clean trousers, in case they got dirty, some herbs for when one of them would inevitably get cut, his favorite toys (one was definitely a soldier, not a doll, he would fight someone if they said anything different), and a few 'good' books. None of that boring crap that Mama tried to push. Ezrah had no interest in numbers at all, and stuff about 'history' was just aggravating. He knew all about history from her and papa; what else was there to know?

Now all that was left was to pack up the picnic blankets....Ezrah stood in the middle of the hallway, craning his head this way and that with a furrow in his brow. Where did Pap put them...? Hearing his brother's shout, Ezrah turned, a mild panic in his eyes. "Yeah! I'm almost done!" Don't pack the good blankets.

In a hurry, Ezrah left the bag in the hallway and dashed into his sisters' room. With a flourish he grabbed the top blanket off both Ani and Ade's beds, hastily wadded them up into a big ball, and shoved it all into the bag. So long as they got back before his sisters then they wouldn't be in trouble, right? Adenah will hang you up by your toes.

She'll have to catch me first.

"I'm all set! Come on, Kel, we're gonna be late!"
 

[Fluffesu]

Painted Moose

With a jut of his lip and a narrow-eyed squint tossed over his shoulder, Kel muttered stiffly under his breath, "You're telling me to hurry up...?" Ridiculous. He scoffed and returned his attention to the cupboard. Mahikel understood the need for stealth and speed and certainty, but he also considered himself a practical, unhasty boy. He would take no more or less time readying their preparations than exactly what needed to be taken, and they could hardly go anywhere without sustenance, besides.

But Pap was apparently failing in his fatherly duties of food acquisition and management, leaving Kel with few options for on-the-go snacking. Letting out a muted groan of distaste, he reached for a little sack of nuts, then griped a few ripened fruits from the countertop. When he and his brother returned from their excursion, Mahikel would be sure to make his dissatisfaction known with their family’s higher-ups.

For now, they should probably get a move on.

He strode to Ezrah’s side and tucked his findings into their bag, careful to note the ‘not good’ blanket his little brother had chosen for the day. Should he comment and cause delay…? It wasn’t really in his agenda to deal with displeased older sisters… But no, he decided. There wasn’t time for any of that, and so long as Ezrah was fine with the decision, they’d make do. Mahikel did, however, cast his sibling a quirked brow as though to ask ’Really…?’ But other than that, it seemed as though their best bet was to set off now and hope that no one else had gotten to the little hovel first.

“Alright, so snacks, blankets, glowbugs, and…” He rummaged through Ezrah’s bag. “Entertainment too, it looks like. Good. So that should be enough for at least a couple hours, I bet…” He hoped. “Let’s head out, then!”

Before they could make it from the house, Mahikel caught the strap of Ezrah’s bag between his fingers and slung it over his own shoulder. Ezrah was still smaller than him, and though the trip wasn’t long or difficult, it didn’t seem like the best course of action to make the younger boy carry all their fort-junk. Big blankets and thick books could turn heavy pretty quickly when maneuvering about in the trees, and they were still in something of a rush.

Too much a rush to risk being slowed down by a bagfull of simple items, anyway.

Mahikel set out from their home at a brisk walk. They traveled along the branches at first, finding easy footholds in the bark thick and broad enough to build houses on, and natural ‘steps’ downward as all the branches from individual trees mingled together to make various pathways for two relatively small boys to descend through without much difficulty. But the forest floor was before them before they knew it, and as Kel leaped from above, he landed in a dull ’splut’ of a sound as his bare feet connected with overly moistened peat.

That was not likely to bode well for Adenah’s blanket… But before the thought could even fully materialize in his mind, there was something else.

Voices.

Mahikel’s attention swiveled about for the source of them, but with tree trunks, leaves, and brambles blocking his view on nearly every side, and darkness hanging heavy around them regardless, there was little to go off. He didn’t recognize who they belonged to specifically, but they were loud, laughing, boy voices for sure. Others, he assumed immediately. Likely off to the same place as he and Ez. And even if they weren’t, it felt strongly as though they could be children determined to take away his enjoyment. Most felt like that.

“Ez,” Kel hissed, swiveling where he stood to snatch up his brother’s arm. “We gotta run if we want to get there before anyone else. Can you make it?”  

[Painted Moose]

Fluffesu

Ezrah waited, almost tempting his brother to say something about the blanket, but when Kel let it go the boy came out all the more pleased for it. Raised eyebrow or not, Ez stood by his decision, one apparently that his elder brother didn't' find particularly disagreeable. Besides, in his eyes it was payback. If his elder sisters didn't eat all of the good snacks then they wouldn't be stuck scrounging up whatever sad nuts Kel had tossed in.

He smirked and hiked the satchel up over his shoulder, adjusting it ever so before making any sort of attempt to carry it. That is, before Kel just snatched it up! Ezrah's surprise gave way to a flurry of irritated pouting. His brother was already moving away from him, which meant there wasn't much room for him to argue the point, but that didn't mean he couldn't mutter about how he could have carried it or how Kel wasn't the only tough one. Didn't he see the little changes? Ezrah wasn't as soft anymore! His arms were skinny, sure, but they weren't chubby like a little kids anymore! Surely that was something!

And, and, and he could keep up! Ezrah had no trouble following after his brother now, though for the most part he still slipped up from time to time. At least now he didn't cry about it; instead, he picked himself up, and kept going. His feet found easy purchase among the branches, and just to prove his 'equal' standing with his brother, Ezrah took his own path down to the forest floor. It paralleled his brother, and though at times it took him a little off course, he always found his way back, with a little color to his cheeks.

Ezrah was still in the branches when he heard them. By the time the younger, lighter, hybrid dropped with a resounding 'squealch!' his brother had already locked onto the source. He stayed like that, crouched next to the damp earth, before finally standing and moving closer to Kel once he'd figured it out too.

"Yeah, sure I can." He groused indignantly. "Can you? I can carry the bag if you can't."
 

[Fluffesu]

Painted Moose

When Mahikel asked questions like, 'Do you need help?' or 'Can you make it?' it was never with the thought that his younger brother wasn't capable. Nor was it intended that he come off as though he thought himself more capable than Ezrah. He didn't, of course... Though Mahikel did consider himself adept at what he wanted to be adept at, regardless of whether he was or not or if anyone else thought so. The point remained that on some level, Mahikel did expect that his younger sibling could probably take care of himself.

But why should he have to?

They were still young enough and the world still inhospitable enough that if extra care could be taken toward defensive measures, it probably should be. Mahikel didn't like danger, no matter how undaunted he was of it himself. He certainly didn't like it where Ezrah was concerned...

And it would likely never not be his duty to see to the safety and well-being of his younger brother, no matter where they went or how old they grew... It was practically his destiny. There was no hope for it. So at his brother's indignant tone, Kel turned his silver gaze onto the other boy and hummed thoughtfully.

"I suppose we'll see, won't we?" Kel retorted. It was a bag with a blanket, a doll, and a book in it. How hard could it really be? "Come on. Hurry up."

There was no time to lose. He wasn't about to fall behind a group of turds trying to get to the good spot first! He had plans. They'd packed a whole bag! To be fair, it wasn't even so much about wanting the 'spot' as it was about making sure everyone else didn't have the spot. It was for him. Him and Ezrah. Hefting the bag's strap against his shoulder and giving a brief scan of the nearby terrain that lay ahead, Mahikel pelted off.

The earth was wet and sticky, not great for running, but the climb back into the tree branches would take too long, and he sort of imagined the other group was on the ground too. They had to be, he reasoned. The spot was on the ground, after all. There was no getting to it from above.

It wasn't long before Mahikel spotted them through the thinner branches of the forest floor: a little cluster of three boys hardly older than Ez and Kel, and a fourth party member. A girl of all things. Mahikel hardly would've expected as much. The lead boy carried a stick and whapped it through mud and leaves and against tree trunks as them moved. The opposing party moved more at an amble than the run Mahikel and Ezrah had just been in. They must not yet realize the area was contested.  

[Painted Moose]

Fluffesu

It was harder to run on the moist terrain than it was to maneuver among the trees. For one there were plenty of hidden obstacles, like little stones that cropped up without warning, to step on, and Ezrah had to flat out run through a puddle of what he hoped was water just to make it. He couldn't fall behind! They had a whole bag packed and everything! His braided mane slapped against his shoulders with each twist and turn, occasionally causing the boy to grunt with aggravation and push it to the side. Right now was one of the times he wished he'd let Adenah cut it off; she'd been trying to for a while, and now, he thought, without the added weight he might be a little faster....

She's in a dress! What kind of explorer wears a dress?! Ezrah could make out just enough to see the shape of a cute little yellow sundress; something a pretty little girl would have gotten from her parents to wear to parties and such. Ezrah instantly hated it; it was a stupid color, something not fit for playing in, and that just made her all the more unworthy of their spot.

Not to mention the fact that one of the boys with her was a known bully. He was big for his age so in his eyes that made him better; more so than a pair of hybrids, anyway. Ezrah kept his head down, hoping against hope that his pale form would be hidden by the foliage. At times like these he wished he was as dark as his brother Kel. Ezrah did far better in the canopy, where he could blend with the moon and stars, instead of on the darkened forest floor where he stood out so much. He looked like some kind of kinfa fl-

Pausing, Ezrah slowed his pace just enough to take a little detour. He didn't have time to call out to Kel, at least, not in a low enough tone to keep hidden. Instead he crept closer to the group and cupped his hands around his mouth. Using a technique his auntie's taught him, Ezrah threw his voice. He was going for a kinfa, but as he couldn't quite remember the precise sound he went for terrifying screech instead. The young hybrid didn't focus on any one particular area; instead, he passed it around as much as he could, given his limited range, before skulking back off after Kel.

It may not stop them but it might slow them down.
 

[Fluffesu]

Painted Moose

Mahikel watched the opposing party as he moved, and as he drew nearer, he could even make out the sounds of indistinct chatter, though nothing more specific than that. Chatter, bouts of laughter, and the sound of the lead boy's stick thwaking against any obstacle in its path. The cluster of four was on a more direct path to the little hovel of a den, while Kel thought it a good idea to skirt around them until they could manage to get ahead. The longer the could remain unnoticed and the more distance they could cover in that time, the better... He and Ezrah weren't slow by any means, but their number was less and they weren't exactly the largest or oldest of children-

Maybe it wasn’t actually too great an idea to contest the others at all… It wouldn’t be much of a challenge for four older kids (even if they weren’t that much older) to drag Kel and Ez from the niche and keep them out, or rather, it’d be much easier for them than it would be for the two younger hybrids to try and do the same. Even if they got there first, it was still putting a lot of faith in the other children’s sense of decency to let Mahikel and Ezrah hang out unhindered, which…

Granting tham any faith was already too much.

But he and his little brother had already come this far. Mahikel couldn’t turn around now! Especially not with Ezrah there, not when, as an older brother, he was supposed to be a pillar of pride and determination and steadfastness. Surrendering so easily just wasn’t an option, regardless of what Kel expected might happen should they ‘win’ this little impromptu contest. Though he was starting to expect that it might be unpleasant regardless.

“Ezrah?” He slowed his pace as the caterwauls of birds reached him, and Kel cast a quick glance back for his little brother, briefly losing focus on the other group. When the younger boy caught back up to him, Kel set forward again at a trot. “What were you doing?”

When he turned his focus forward again, it was to see that the group had gone from chatting and ambling to scuttling forward more fearfully at the sound of Ezrah's unfamiliar and beastly-sounding calls. No one had ever said the forest was safe for any of them, and none of them could say with certainty what all secrets and creatures it held. The others seemed to understand that and had begun to move forward with more purpose.  

[Painted Moose]

Fluffesu

For a fraction of a second Ezrah had been so stupidly proud of himself that he almost thought himself Godlike. His aunts had been working so hard to teach him little tricks to get what he wanted; how to throw his voice, maneuvering through crowds, manipulating those closest to him...And in a moment of hubris he'd come to think that maybe some of it was rubbing off in a way that would actually benefit them.

"Trying to help," the boy groused. Why did you even try? You knew it wouldn't work; just follow Kel and listen to him. Now they really had to shuffle or they wouldn't stand a chance of getting there before the other group! The whole thing, the wasted effort and the now burst of speed, effectively killed a part of his spirit. They were stupid kids who were supposed to investigate the sound, not run away from it! If they were brave enough to wack a stick at any little thing then why couldn't they check out a few noises?!

The closer they got the more Ezrah knew in his gut that he'd screwed this over for them. The opposing party was simply too close now, and even without seeing the little hideout he knew they had to already be there, no doubt setting claim to their spot and it made him sick.