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It was strange, how life happened. Routine made life feel normal. However life had a way of creating unexpecting twist and turns. It freshened the day, brought highs and lows. Soquili, much like Bandit, took it for granted. Usually, it wasn't even thought about. But when he was clip clopping along with a gigantic beast by his side, it brought the question. How did he get here?

Wandering into dangerous terrain was nothing new to the usidia. As soon as his parents left him, it became natural to do by himself. Sure, he had casually joined others on his journeys but it always very brief, not for more than a week. It was clear to Bandit that traveling alone was far better than with another companion. It cut out a lot of the hassle. There wasn't anyone to argue with, no one to cater to, no limitations. He made his own rules.

Which is why, it was so strange that he was here, trotting along with another soquili that he had met a few weeks ago in comfortable silence. Really. How did he get here? The stallion had contemplated ditching the hulk of a male. It would be so easy to just slip out in the middle of the night. Go about his own way. But for whatever reason, there was some sort of pull. Some sort of reason why he continued to wind down for the night with the male, and wake up next to his side. It didn't make sense to him, when he thought about it. And the more he thought about it, the more it annoyed him.

Life really was strange.

He frowned to himself. Something had to change. Things were too serene. It gnawed on him like a tick. He needed chaos, he needed life's twists and turns.

Bandit smirked to himself. He knew just what to do. He had to create his own.

The usidia ran forward, clambering on top of a precarious rock formation. One small slip and there'd be a tumble. Fortunately, he was nimble enough to steady himself on the tip top. "Dare you to climb this high." He grinned down at Wakana, toes curling around the edge.

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Stupid Wakana and his stupid cute smile. It made Bandit's heart skip a beat. Just one, but enough to get his toes curling and his mind berating himself at the admiration. He wasn't that great. He was bound to leave him at any time. He couldn't have feelings. He shouldn't have feelings. There was no way he would be able to live with himself, shackled to somebody for more than a season. It was bad enough they were hanging out with one another. That he hadn't left him yet.

The stallion had it all wrong, obviously. The usidia quirked a brow at the male. "I do believe falling down the cliff from here, would be much more dangerous than a clump of rocks." His paw went towards the edge. "But I can make something more dangerous happen." Even though his self preservation told him that falling, either way, would not be the best idea. That maybe he shouldn't. Feelings and the challenge over powered and said otherwise.

What he didn't expect, was Wakana to follow him onto the precarious cliff. His eyes widened, shoulders tense. Why was he----? He frowned, moving to the edge to give the male plenty of room. "You're an idiot." Did he have a death wish? This was his stunt. Not Wakans. "This isn't big enough for---Hey! He snapped, his body standing in shock as the man started going foward. Forward. Forward. Wakana's screams ran through his bones, stark and ******** ******** ******** ******** was slow motion, watching him fall. He wanted to do something anything but it was like his feet were rooted to the ground. It was only until the stallion lay, stiff and unmoving eons away, that his body felt like it could move. "Wakana!" Bandit shouted with all of his might. No response. Bandit cursed, shuffling his paws. "Idiot, answer me!" But no answer came.

It would be a great time to leave him. To go on his way. The soquili may be as good as dead. Who knows what may be broken from that great of a fall. Bandit turned to go, he was determined to walk the other way. To ditch the dying stallion. He reached the edge of the cliff.....

Nope. Couldn't do it.

Bandit groaned, before turning around and scrambling down towards the other stallion. "Itold you not to." He frowned, lowering his head down to stare at his face. It wasn't like it was....marred in pain. His eyes were closed.

Didn't death involve open eyes? He held his breath, lowering his head down towards the male's chest, shoulder's sagging in relief at the sound of a slow heartbeat.

But there was still a problem. What was he going to do with Wakana's body? It wasn't like he could pick him up. Obviously, their size different didn't allow that. There was no one to help.

"Wake up." He frowned, nudging the big lug's head. "Before I drag you by your ears."

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A sound came from Wakana. It made Bandit feel an overwhelming amount of sensations. Fear of being too late, the relief of the stallion being alive, and anger so much anger for this ever happening in the first place.

Bandit chose to focus to show the latter. The easier emotion to expose. Blue eyes, that were once swirling with emotions hardened and narrowed. His brow furrowed. His shoulders were set straight as he lifted a heavy paw on the stallion's neck. "You idiot." The words were spat out as if he had eaten something rancid. "Of course it hurts." He was tempted to make it worse.

Especially when the male was aksing if he was okay. The usidia rolled his eyes, leaning down to n** at Wakana's ear. "Of course I'm okay, I know how to handle my own weight." He huffed, holding his head high. He should really be focusing on himself. And his own needs.

Not about winning the stupid dare. Bandit sputtered, throwing his head back. Was the stallion crazy? Of course he was. "You were the one who fell!" How did that constitute as winning the bet? "I won, because I wasn't the dummy who fell through the rocks." Did Wakana really think that he'd win, for losing? Because he was in a bad spot right now?

He didn't ******** think so.

What did he think he was doing?! "You need to lay back down! Bandit snapped at his ear again, both paws resting on his shoulder. "You're injured everywhere. " There was no thinking to it. "You don't have to state the obvious." His shoulders sagged, as hopelessness washed over him. There was no way that he'd be able to carry him to safety. There were no other soquili nearby. They were out in the wilderness. Any predator could come and swoop them up. His gaze traced along the male's body, trying to look for any apparent wounds. It was difficult with Wakana's dark coat. "Do you think there are any horse-eating rabbits nearby?"

He was about to continue lamenting about their past, but a stone caught his eye. The usidia frowned, before he brought a paw to the lump at the man's side. "There's something alright." Should he remove it? Health wasn't his thing. "Think your fur can grow around a rock?" He mused, gently pressing on the stone.

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Yep. That was too much. Whoops. Bandit immediately backed up a few steps, wincing at the sound of the stallion's agony. That's definately gotta hurt. "Are you going to die?" Probably not the best question to ask. It sure wasn't the right time. However; he couldn't help himself. Not when the worry was still fresh on his mind, settling into his bones and making his stomach clench and turn. "That sounded like a sound of death." Not that he knew what that sounded like. He never stayed around long enough around anyone to find out what that sound was like or what iot even looked like. He didn't want to stick around and find out.

And yet here Bandit was. Rooted to the spot. Even in death, he wouldn't be able to tear his eyes away from the other ********. He was in a world of trouble.

Usually, it would be no problem to promise to leave when things get bad. That's what he usually did. That was his schtick. That's why he never stayed around anyone for too long. His eyes widened, contemplating on what to say. A no, threatened to leave his lips. However; he couldn't exactly say that right now. It was too real, too raw. So instead, he decided not to say anything, choosing to stare at the rock that was embedded in Wakana's side. Bandit tried not to fixate on the blood pooling around the rock, staining it with a murky red. How there appeared to be a gash, deep into the males fur. But it was so hard to look away once he started staring at it. "You sure seem to be in a rock and a hard place, aren't you?" He cringed. Humor wasn't going to solve this. Just what was he doing?

Bandit didn't have more time to think about his actions or ponder his thoughts. Not when there were more rocks tumbling down. s**t. He huffed, his hackles on edge as some pebbles came raining down on them both. It would make sense to move. To hide somewhere and ditch Wakana's body. But it felt so wrong to do that. Now that he knew the stallion.

Never in his life should he have gotten to know the other male. Feelings were much too complicated.

Who...Who was that?

"Great, a horse eating raccoon." He tried saying it underneath his breath, giving Wakana a look. "You sure do know how to befriend the woodland creatures, don't you?" The stallion was nothing but trouble. He stared at the rope that was dangling down, and back up at the cliff. "You can't be serious." He stared at Wakana. "I will get up a different way, you go up the death rope."

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Why was he smiling? Now wasn't the time to smile. Obviously he was hurt, in pain. Smiling shouldn't be a part of this scenario. It was best not to make it complicated.

But this was Wakana they were talking about. Wakana always seemed to make things complicated. He was always the one to make his heart race.

It wasn't fair. Wakana had to be using some sort of magic on him. It was the only thing that made sense. Why else would his heart clench?

Bandit decided to stare at the much more appealing ground. His stomach twisted at the thought of strangers touching Wakana. They could be up to no good. They could be helpful. There was no way to tell right now. The thought was terrifying. The usidia liked to be in control.

What choice did they have though? "No thanks." He snorted. There was no way he'd be able to drag the oaf up the cliff. Not with their size difference. A rare con to who they were.

Bandit told himself not to look up. Not to stare at the stallion slowly trekking his way up the cliff to potentially another death. Yet his traitorous heart had other ideas. Baby blue eyes were dragged by fear towards the cliff, teeth clenched. That...that didn't look great. It was hard to breath, hard to think as he watched his companion moved up the rocky terrain. Instinctually, he placed his body right underneath. Not that it would help him catch the stallion's fall with how large he was.

Still, it was a thought.

It was achingly slow. The climb felt like it took a century when in reality, it was probably only a few ticks. Finally, the male's whispy tail disappeared over the edge. Hope mixed in with the fear. Maybe....just maybe, he was in good hands. Or they could be murderous ones.

Bandit grit his teeth. How could raccoons have death in mind? That would be plain silly. He was probably fine. Bandit could walk away right now. This would be a good time for them to part paths. Yet his legs, again, were rooted to the spot.

Feelings really sucked.

Bandit let out a groan before he started clambering up the hill. No matter how difficult it was, he absolutely refused to use that damned rope. Sure, it might have held Wakana's weight, but Wakana had a death wish. Bandit didn't. That was the difference between them both. Self-sacrifice wasn't in Bandit's repretoire. He preferred preservation.

Wakana was lucky that his body was currently being preserved. Relief flooded Bandit's vein's at the sight of the racoons hurriedly placing herbs and meticulously removing all of the pebbles and grime from the male's coat.

"Please, what?" He frowned down at the stallion, worry etched in the edges of his lips and the creases of his eyes. He sighed, settling down next to Wakana's head. "I know how to take care of myself. Worry about yourself." He nipped at the soquili's ear. What a baby.

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Bandit couldn't help but cluck his tongue at Wakana as relief flooded through him. Right. They'll be well. "I'll hand you off to them so you can pay off your debt." He raised with a brow, even as he settled around Wakana's head. "Catching fish doesn't sound like a fun time."

The usidia didn't know how to answer his last remark. In fact, he didn't want to. Having someone so close, so attached. It warmed him, but fear gripped at his heart, digging it's talons in. This was only temporary. It was just for convenience. He couldn't be tied down to someone. Look at what already happened. Wakana had already gotten himself nearly killed.

It was all too much.

Bandit frowned. "You're going to need a lot of rest if you're going to feed these raccoons." He furrowed his brow. "Shut up and sleep." For now, he'd deal with the male until he was healed. After, he'd leave.

He had to, before things got worse.

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