Snippet #2488102

((Our group is getting really big, I had to tag 6 characters wow))
Vyjallen:
It's Beetlestealer! I remember her, she's the one who rescued me from slavery. She's joined our group to help us take down the pronghorns. That seems very noble of her, but also very risky. She's the leader of the peacock army and I can tell she's used to being the leader in fighting situations. I don't know who's actually the better fighter, Zoozoo-um or Arrianonna, but I can tell they will start to clash, since our group now has two leaders.
Being the youngest, it's fallen on my shoulders to take care of Tezecan, the young croc boy that Zoozoo-um rescued from the tunnels, and teach him how to fight. I'm obviously not the best fighter in the group, but since Arrianonna and Zoozoo-um are busy discussing strategy, Sina and Vyjaxmen have been assigned to scout duty and collecting firewood (thankfully there's at least one job Vyjaxmen can do that doesn't involve alcohol) and the rest of the group, like Xue, Minty, Ah-quaz, and Ah-de are busy doing something. I don't know, but they certainly don't have any interest in taking care of a croc child.
His enthusiasm is contagious. I find myself cheering when he brings back a small rabbit that be caught with one of his blunted stone practice arrows. He's not very accurate, but he learns quickly and doesn't complain.
He jumps up and down in excitement as I tell him that we can eat the rabbit with our evening meal. "Really?" He squeals. "You're going to eat my rabbit?" He does a little happy dance. "They're going to eat my ra-bbit, they're going to eat my ra-bbit," he sings.
"Well, you certainly are excited." I hold his hand. "Tonight you're going to help Zoozoo-um set up camp," I say, like it's a big deal. "Do you think you can help her with that?" His reptilian eyes go wide. "Really? I get to help set up camp?" I nod. "Just don't break anything!" I call after him as he scampers away, his croc tail waving.
I climb a tree and wait with a spear in hand, determined to do some hunting. I've been hunting my butt off since we started on this journey. I'm trying to prove that I'm not useless just because I'm younger than all of them.
I give a start at that last thought, but bar whatever it is from my mind, straining to hear sounds of footsteps through the leaves. Eventually, a small doe wanders out under the tree, sniffing cautiously. I hold by breath, raising the spear silently as the doe bends her head to eat some grass.
Whishhhh! I let the spear fly. It rushes to the ground, narrowly missing the doe and scaring her off into the bushes. "Darn it," I think, swinging myself down from the tree, landing gracefully on the forest floor without making a sound before loosing by balance and crashing into a tree root. I'll have to practice that.
Now I can let myself think about whatever it is that I remembered while in the tree. Today's my 13th birthday! I wondered if any of the others remebered, then realize no one else knows but Vyjaxmen, and I don't expect him to remember.
I guess my opinions of Vyjaxmen were wrong. (Well, some of them. He's still a drunken fool most of the time.) As I walk into the camp, no one is there, and for a second I think they've all moved on. But suddenly everyone jumps out from under bushes and from inside their tents. "SURPRISE!" They yell, rushing forward to hang a dyed leather cape over my shoulders and place a small metal necklace around my neck. "Do you like it?" Sina asks, beaming. "I made the necklace." Of course! It's really beautiful, the evening sun dances off the entertwined wires and gives them a golden glow. "Thank you! I love it!" I exclaim. They lead me into the camp where they have made a lovely flower garland. I share a glance with Vyjaxmen, who beams at me. "Yes, I remebered, 'Len. Sorry I'm not always the older brother you want to have." Tezecan rushes forward and grabs my ankle. "Come play tag with meeeeeee!" He begs.
((So yeah, Vyjaxmen just had a Mia moment, though he's usually Kristoph. I'll do a post as Stripedneck later))