<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="https://i.imgur.com/cdBJRir.png"></a><a class="postlink" href="https://i.imgur.com/hdaHkeL.jpg">[ img ]</a><a class="postlink" href="https://static.zerochan.net/Tetsu420.full.1576579.jpg"></a><a class="postlink" href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e327/steusloffa/Junk/9b4c67d7-5e06-4750-8d35-191de0acc40c_zpsagryk5tp.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 200%; line-height: 116%;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #400000">ꃅ ꍟ ꌗ ꓄</span></span></span> /// <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #BF0000">I Z U</span></span></div></span><br/><br/>Hest wasn't exceedingly tall, maybe just a bit taller than Alida even with his legs fully extended, so she didn't have to reach very high to get a good scratch in behind his ear. The large fluffy thing drooped over her hand like a warm fuzzy mitten, tipped with elegant feathering. The creature was obviously enjoying the scratch, his head leaning a bit into her hand so she could really get in there.<span style="font-weight: bold">"Ohhh...you're so soft!!"</span>Alida exclaimed, then suddenly snatched the creature into her embrace, her face nuzzling into his without restraint,<span style="font-weight: bold">"and cuddly!!"</span>she added with a gleam in her eyes.<br/><br/>Hest had been enjoying himself for the most part until the girl jumped him. Alida had been smashing her cheek against Hest's for about thirty seconds before Izu chimed in with his jealous protests. His words were completely ignored by his mate, the girl becoming 100% absorbed in her cuddles. About ninety seconds into the intense cuddles, Hest's tail was going insane and his gaze was narrowing in on Alida.<span style="font-weight: bold">"Are you finished? Do you <span style="font-style: italic">know</span> how long I'm going to have to sit around now while your people fawn over the opportunity to brush me <span style="font-style: italic">again</span>? <span style="font-style: italic">Do you know how long that took last time?</span>"</span>Hest was obviously a bit bitter thinking of the experience. It seemed his words only sparked the unending fire that is Alida's love for all things cuddly, because she cuddled him some more before fawning over the idea of brushing his fur and such. And, while Hest did enjoy a good brushing every single night, it was only permitted for exactly 22 minuets. Not a single second more. Obviously, that rule hasn't been adhered too very well in the recent past.<br/><br/>Izu seemed to get some sort of comfort or sick kind of enjoyment in knowing that Hest was thoroughly not enjoying Alida's affection. So much in fact, that he no longer even felt jealous. Crossing his arms, Izu grinned a bit as he watched Hest struggle in vain against Alida's vice grip-like cuddles. Hest's tail was flicking back and forth rapidly now, the creature trying to wriggle free from Alida before giving up in a defeated groan, raising a hand before snapping and vanishing from Alida's grasp instantly.<br/><br/>Hest only appeared a few feet away from where Alida currently was, though he was completely out of sorts. He appeared upside down, three feet in the air with as much grace as a sky-diving moose. His body landed with a soft thud, wings unfolding every which-way, tail landing between his legs and over his face. Obviously, the creature's abilities were not...perfect. They did work though, in a pinch... Sort of. Okay, so Hest's abilities were sketchy at best without proper preparation, but he was cute to boot and exceedingly witty. The creature slowly corrected himself before attending to his distraught fur and feathers, attempting to brush himself off while glaring at Alida every few seconds.<br/><br/>Izu casually approached Hest, the Ent protesting slightly in the background as it shuffled around in what it considered a stealthy manner.<span style="font-weight: bold">"Well, <span style="font-style: italic">Hest</span>..."</span>Izu said the creature's name with a mocking bite to his tone,<span style="font-weight: bold">"Was there something you needed from us?"</span>Hest quickly corrected himself, crossing his legs and folding his wings behind him.<span style="font-weight: bold">"No."</span>Hest was blunt and straight to the point,<span style="font-weight: bold">"Not yet at least. Eventually I'll need something from this Marmalade that your mate is so fond of."</span>The creature shot venomous glares at Alida every now and then during his quick explanation.<span style="font-weight: bold">"I was out gathering Pearl-scape mushrooms, and then I needed some Scuttle-Fern leaves."</span>There was a slight pause before Hest chimed in again,<span style="font-weight: bold">"Oh, and like a handful of Blair-berries."</span><br/><br/>Izu nodded slightly,<span style="font-weight: bold">"Well obviously. How could you forget the Blair-berries?"</span><br/><br/>Hest was not amused, but bit back at Izu in the way he knew would hurt him most. He ignored the man entirely.