(Untitled)

[wutaiheart]

Anyone on the beach that afternoon would have seen something fairly unusual, even for the island of Tabula Rasa. Two giant birds, one a sweet and mellow yellow, the other a glistening black, milled around in the sand, pecking for bits of creatures buried there. On a rock nearby sat a young female ninja, arms and legs crossed

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[colbert_bump]

Perhaps Stephen should have realized he shouldn't go any further once Chloe had spotted them and run back in apparent terror. He should have turned right around and followed her back to the Compound.

However, he just scoffed at the dog's fear, not noticing anything weird, and kept walking. Until he did notice, and froze.

"What the hell are those?!"

[wutaiheart]

"Well, they're not your 'nads," Yuffie told him, languishing in her inability to breed chocobos. Dammit, was it Cloud's fault? Or she could blame Cid. He was always good for that.

She rolled onto her stomach to stare at the guy.

[colbert_bump]

At first, Stephen thought one of the creatures was talking. It took a little longer than he'd admit to realize that the voice was coming from elsewhere.

He did a double-take when he saw the girl, just sprawled around on the ground with no concerns. Didn't she care that she was in danger from the terrifying whatever they were?!

Glancing between her and the creatures, Stephen finally spoke again. "What are they?" He didn't add and who the hell are you?! like he wanted.

[wutaiheart]

Yuffie watched him a bit lazily, though she prepared herself to pounce if he dared raise a hand to one of the birds. "They're chocobos. We use 'em for travel and stuff back at home. I'm trying to breed them and get a baby."

[blessed_by_god]

"Biiiirdies!" Hera squealed, running up to the giant things like they were her own.

Sharon might have cursed as she grabbed Hera's shirt, pulling the two year old swiftly into her arms in a practiced move even with the belly.

"Oh no you don't, that thing looks like it'll eat you for lunch."

[wutaiheart]

Yuffie sat up, indignant. "Hey! Those birds are kind and gentle and noble!" And impotent, maybe. "They'd never hurt anyone!"

Unless you accidentally attacked them.

[blessed_by_god]

Sharon's eyebrows went up. "Their heads are the size of my daughter's body," she said, a wry twist to her mouth. "You can't blame me for being cautious."

She didn't put Hera down just then, eyeing the creatures with a fair bit of suspicion.

[wutaiheart]

The black one warked happily, as if agreeing. Yuffie shot it a roll of her eyes. "These two are people's birds. Born and raised on a farm, used for travel and racing. They couldn't be more gentle."

[backup_hero]

"Maybe they just don't like one another," said Neville finally. It didn't seem, to him, to be a completely unreasonable conclusion. "There are loads of people I would never want to shag, even if someone wanted me to."

[wutaiheart]

"Chocobos are never this picky!" Yuffie whined. "At home, you give 'em the nut, I've waved around, and they just... go. It better not be some kind of magic thing, I'm gonna be pissed."

She crossed her arms at them.

[backup_hero]

"You give them the what?" said Neville. "I don't know if that's really how it works. Maybe they just need more time to get to know one another."

[wutaiheart]

She fished the Zeio Nut out of her pocket. "This is what you give them at home, to ensure a good breeding. But they're not even interested in it."

But the rest made her frown more. "What, do I have to let them date or something?"

[midgar_flowers]

She offered a small smile as she made her way up to where Yuffie sat and the Chocobos explored. Perhaps all Chocobo breeders went through Yuffie's frustrations. Perhaps they were both simply shy.

Either way, she sat down on a nearby rock, and planted Kyokyo on her lap. "Maybe they're being shy."

[wutaiheart]

"How'd you get Cloud to open up?" Yuffie demanded. "I seem to remember you making a lot of googly eyes his way early on. And he didn't run away or anything, so you must have some skills."

Yuffie would obtain those skills.

[midgar_flowers]

Aeris glanced over at Yuffie curiously. Cloud was never shy so much as he was quiet. "It was a team effort. We all chipped in to build his trust and tell him it was okay to be himself."

She tilted her head a fraction of an inch. "Why do you ask?"

[wutaiheart]

"Well, can't you work your relationship magic on the birds? Is it a Cetra thing?" Oooh, it would be, too. Maybe they'd all been this touchy-feely and that's why they'd died off.

She'd never ever say such a thing, of course.

[1000_cranes]

Still no ring on her finger, but Charlie had just about managed to stop grinning like an idiot every damn minute of the day. In her swimsuit, with a sarong tied around her hips, she shaded her eyes and watched Yuffie and her big birds.

"Whatcha doin', honey?"

[wutaiheart]

"Tryin' to make my birds get busy," sighed Yuffie. "They're not into it." She rearranged herself on the rock to better stare sadly at Charlie. "Have any experience breeding critters?"

[1000_cranes]

Somehow, and she had no idea how she did it, Charlie kept her face straight.

"No, honey. I ain't one of those Texans."

[wutaiheart]

"Are your people known for breeding livestock?" Yuffie inquired. Because other Texans could be obtained on an island of this size and diversity.