Attack of the Rabbogs (Open Thread)

[Terrowin Guthrie]

The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon as Terrowin made his way onto the front lawn of the Hammel Institute, walking at a slow pace as the crisp leaves crunched under his feet. The air was still chilly, since the sun hadn't had the chance to warm the air yet, and the man shivered under his layers of shirts and jackets. Even though he had lived in Vermont for more than half of his life, he had never grown used to the freezing temperatures there. He had grown up in the baking heat of southern Australia, and sometimes missed the cloudless blue skies and endless deserts.

But nevertheless, it didn't stop him from planning an early morning trip into the nearby woods to indulge in his love for birds. He had spoken with a few other people he thought would be interested, telling them to meet him in the front yard around 7 AM. He had hardly bothered to brush out his hair, and so it stuck out in the imitation of a bird's nest as he unconsciously brushed a gloved hand through it. His scruff, as usual, was thick as well.

"Chloe better not be wearin' a skirt an' high heels," he muttered to himself absent-mindedly. Knowing her, even his plead for her to wear something warm and practical wouldn't keep her from dressing as usual. He wasn't sure who else was coming, but she at least would be fun and easy to be around. Even if he might have to keep her from tripping around tree roots numerous times... Ah well. She was sweet and could talk to birds, so that was all that mattered.

He squinted as he leaned back and stared at the cold azure sky, beginning to grow impatient. His foot tapped against the ground, but he knew his impatience was unnecessary. He hadn't been waiting that long, and it was only his normal high-speed life that made him so bad at waiting.

[Chloe Singleton]

It would be to Terrowin's chagrin that he would find the English teacher clad in a sweater dress, tights, and her favorite pair of Mary Janes. He might have told her to wear something practical, but in Chloe's mind, what she was wearing was perfectly warm enough (and cute enough) for a walk through the grounds.

She was humming happily to herself as she walked along the grounds, waving at some of the students that she passed, when she spotted Terro waiting for her. "Hiiiii!" She called out, practically skipping over to him. "Don't you look all rugged and handsome?" Without much thought, she straightened out the collar of his jacket and fixed him with a beaming smile.

"Aren't you excited? Hopefully we'll get to see all the migratory birds!" The blonde was practically bouncing, clapping her hands together in front of her in a childish fashion.

[Gabriel & Uriel Raines]

Uriel hated birds. A lot. He was practically terrified of them - and by practically, well.. he is. He tries to hide it, but they are the scariest possible thing to him, except maybe his and Gabriel's pregnant mother's rage. Which, mind you, was never directed at either of the boys, but was still a scary thing to witness.

Actually, she could be scary pregnant or not..

The boys, being students and thus very casual beings, were here, despite Uriel's intense phobia of birds. Gabriel had explained maybe this could help, this could help him get over if! Also, the phys ed teacher had told them about it, and they did have a fondness for.. well, most teachers, actually. But still.

Both boys were in very practical, though fairly nice, jeans. Gabriel wore a white t-shirt with a blue zip-up over it, and Uriel was in a light blue shirt with a green zip-up over it. They wore practical shoes, and had already been awake for two hours.

Well, when you feel a need to go running, you get up and run, right? So that's what they'd done. Even showered, too, though they figured if it got very warm out, they'd want another shower after this.

Or maybe they would mud wrestle after this, specifically to make another shower worthwhile. They liked being hygienically proper.

They - politely - ignored Chloe's affectionatefixing of Terrowin's collar, making themselves known after the fact as they continued walking towards the small party. "Morning Professors!" "Morning Professors!" They both called, in unison, Gabriel giving a little wave and a smile, where Uriel merely matched his twin's smile.

[Terrowin Guthrie]

Terrowin couldn't help but grin as Chloe made her way towards him, her enthusiasm contagious. "Hey there, lass," he replied. As she complimented him and straightened his collar, he beamed even more. It took a moment for him to realize she had done the exact opposite of what he had asked, and he groaned mentally. "Chloe, yer goin' tae trip all over the place," he chided, raising his eyebrows at her shoes. "Oi was hopin' tae take a stroll along the pond, an' ye know the ground can be really uneven around those trees..." He trailed off, knowing it was no use. "Just don't complain when Oi have tae keep ye from trippin' into the pond, aye?" He winked. He wasn't mad, just amused at her lack of proper attire. She did look cute, he had to admit. And her bubbly attitude was too infectious to ignore. "Oh, Oi'm excited alright. Hopefully we'll see some grebes an' egrets as well. Last trip Oi took, all Oi saw were a bunch o' wood ducks."

He was distracted as Gabriel and Uriel made their appearance, and he waved a greeting. "Oi was hopin' ye would come!" he told them as they got closer. He had many favorite students, and the twins were two of them - their joviality and humor reminded him of himself when he was younger. Actually.... They reminded himself as he was now. "Ready tae find some wild animals?" He was aware of Uriel's fear of birds, which he found quite humorous, but of course he wouldn't tell the boy that.

He began to tap his foot again, glancing around at the students beginning to mill around them. "Oi don't think anyone else is comin'," he commented. "Ready tae head off?" He hefted up his pack that he had laid on the ground, filled with bird books, binoculars, and food. He was prepared for anything.

[Chloe Singleton]

Chloe's head tilted to the side much like a puppy as Terrowin teased her about her choice of footwear, but her smile never faltered. "Silly man!" She patted his cheek. "I've been walking in heels since before you could grow that scruff!" Okay, so maybe that was an exaggeration. She didn't really care to know how long he'd been capable of growing facial hair. And we all know that now matter how good Chloe might think she is in heels, she's bound to stumble over tree roots.

"Me? Complain? Why, I'd never!" She giggled, turning around when she heard voices from behind her. Returning Gabriel's wave, she chirped a, "Good morning, Gabriel and Uriel!" in response. The twins were always good students and the kind that she never had to worry about. (Unlike that Rixon kid, who she was always terrified would set the textbooks on fire.) She was actually quite glad to see the pair of them had come to join their happy little birdwalk.

Luckily for the group of them that Terro was actually the type to prepare before going out on a wild adventure. Chloe really didn't think these things through. "I'm really hoping to see a hawk! I've been practicing with them, I think it would be nice to meet a wild one." Yes, Chloe often refers to birds as if they were other human beings. She says they deserve the same amount of respect.

"I hope you boys are ready to go!" The blonde threw a smile over her shoulder at the twins, then proudly started off along the side of the pond, rather unwisely keeping her eyes to the sky.

[Gabriel & Uriel Raines]

The boys made it up to there the rest of their little group was, and rose their eyebrows at Terro as he insisted it was time to go and this was all that would show up. "Yeah, sure, or you're just too antsy.." "..Too antsy to go, speed demon." They said, doing that thing where one started, they both spoke in the middle, and then the other finished the sentence.

Always a little weird to hear.

"Of course we're ready to go!" Gabriel chimed in Chloe as she began marching off, and both boys cocked their heads to one sides like confused puppies. "Is she really wearing those heels..?" Uriel asked, Gabriel chuckling. "Goodness gracious. We'll have to surround her and support her. One on each side." Gabriel joked, as he marched off after her, Uriel following closely behind.

"Coming, Slowpoke?" "Coming, Slowpoke?" They both knew he'd catch up fast, and although Gabriel and Uriel - when together - were faster than your average human, they still couldn't outrun someone's who meta was pure speed. It was just fun to tease him, as he was the last to leave their little meeting spot.

[Terrowin Guthrie]

Terrowin snorted at Chloe's optimism. "Oi don't doubt yer ability tae walk... On flat surfaces." He flashed another grin, nudging her gently. "Just keep an eye out fer tree roots, songbird. An' boys wantin' tae get a thrill out o' embarrassing a teacher." He glanced at the twins at this point, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "Present company not included, o' course." Nevertheless, he knew he had planted the idea in their mind, and he would keep an eye on the mischievous boys... Just in case.

He laughed at them a moment later. "Ye know me too well, boys. The impatient one, that's me." He had been a little freaked out by their ability to finish each other's sentences when he had first met them, but they did it so often that he was used to it now. How weird though, to know someone so well that your own thoughts were the same... Sometimes he was glad to be an only child.

"A hawk, eh? Oi'm sure he'd love tae meet ye too!" He had also grown used to Chloe's personalization of birds, she could speak to them after all... Which he found amazing and more than a little amusing.

All of a sudden, he found himself behind - behind! - as the three took off without him. Not one to lag for anything, he caught up a millisecond later. He purposefully placed himself directly to Chloe's left side, to act as a barrier between her and the water once they reached the pond. "The slowpoke is willin' tae race ye anytime, boys," he chirped. Soon, the pond came into view, and he was glad to see that it was empty except for a few lone students.

[Chloe Singleton]

Only a few steps ahead, she heard the question that Uriel posed to his brother and she smiled to herself. Everyone seemed to be doubting her ability to maneuver in her super-cute shoes, so that just meant that she had to prove them all wrong. "Aren't I just surrounded by such proper gentlemen?" She paused and looked thoughtful. "And Terrie too!"

Even though she might have been looking upwards, she was determined to prove to those silly boys that she was more than capable of walking on any surface in her heels. So she was planting each foot firmly, her back straight and chin up. "Of course he'd love to meet me! And I've been working on my birds of prey calls!" She nodded, looking to her left as Terro came up beside her. "And if you behave, I'll try to convince him that there aren't any small mammals hiding in there!" She poked his chin to make her point.

It was then that she heard a faint calling from the wooded area and she gasped, dashing ahead without thinking. When it came to power, she was easily one of the slowest ones there, but when it came to enthusiasm she was definitely head of the pack. "You're all slowpokes as far as I'm concerned!" She teased playfully, practically skipping into even more uneven territory, hoping to find the source of the sound.

[Gabriel & Uriel Raines]

As Terro caught up and he and Chloe exchanged some playful chit-chat, the boys glanced at each other, rolling their eyes. Sometimes, it was excellent to have a twin - especially when you're one half of a person, one person in two bodies..

Or something. But either way, silent communication was the easiest thing for them. Ever.

But as the sun finally emerged from it's haze of sunrise, and they rounded to the pond, Gabriel and Uriel noticed - there weren't a lot of students out and about. Of course.. it was, now, just past sunrise, and on a weekend to boot. They were the oddballs out, not everyone else, who was still in bed.

As they heard the noise, and Chloe scurried off, Uriel merely groaned, stopping and staring after her. Gabriel waggled his eyebrows teasingly at Terro, grinning. "Better run off and prepare to be a knight in shining armor! Cause if she goes down.. well." It didn't need to be said - she was going down if she was going down. Heels weren't forgiving, they didn't allow you to stumble.

Or so their mother said.

But - because this was why they were out here - Gabriel jogged off after Chloe, Uriel grumbling as he jogged close behind Gabriel, eyes darting around nervously.

[Terrowin Guthrie]

"Oy, Oi'm not a gentleman?" Terrowin complained, his mouth twitching into a smile. "No, Oi suppose Oi'm not.... But neither are those two rascals." Looking up at the sky innocently, he quickly lashed out his foot in front of Gabriel, a movement so quick that it could hardly be seen, but intended to make the young man stumble. So, it wasn't very mature of him to pick on a student.... But he was just a regular person on the weekends, not a teacher, and he would do as he pleased. And that included embarrassing the twins.

Oh, how he loved Hammel sometimes.

He didn't have another moment to ponder, though, before Chloe poked him in the chin. "Bloody 'ell!" he groaned sarcastically. "Oi'm not sure Oi could outrun a hawk if'n ye tell it that...." He didn't doubt she would, though - she seemed to get a sick pleasure out of making him uncomfortable. Fortunately, he didn't mind, and was capable of escaping such situations... Most of the time.

But now, she was running off into the woods without a thought for her own safety. He knew she was capable in most situations with those stupid shoes, but in the tangled mess of roots of the forest, even someone wearing hiking boots could easily trip. "Yer gonna...!" he began to yell after her, but realized it was useless and turned to the boys. "C'mon lads, it looks like we're headin' into the furnace." He waggled his eyebrows at Uriel as another bird cry came from the woods. Then he turned and sped off after Chloe, hoping she hadn't already faceplanted.

[Chloe Singleton]

Chloe's hands found her hips when Terrowin tried to trip Gabriel, shaking her head in a disapproving manner. "No, you're definitely not a gentleman." She swatted him playfully on the arm, but laughed none the less. "And Gabriel, I fully expect you to get him back later." Was she encouraging less than appropriate behavior from the boys? Why yes, I believe she was. Guess Ter's not the only one who doesn't like to think of himself as a teacher on the weekends.

But she was quickly distracted, hurrying off into the woods without a second thought. And she was still bound and determined to prove to them that she would not stumble or fall, so as she marched, she did so with dignity and grace. And she kept her ankles straight.

Err... for the most part, that is.

She did trip over a particularly well disguised tree root, but thankfully she was able to brace herself against the trunk to prevent herself from falling. A quick look behind her told Chloe that no one had seen, and she proudly continued on. Eventually she located the source of the calling, a blue jay perched high up on a tree branch. She spoke to it softly to calm it so that it wouldn't fly away when the boys finally caught up.

[Gabriel & Uriel Raines]

If a noise could’ve been put to the noise Gabriel made as Tero tripped him, it would’ve been something along the lines of, “Auughhfhgfal!” or so. But, he did manage to catch himself – of course. Quick reflexes were a wonderful thing, and he glared at Tero – a glare that swore of revenge, and how it was a dish best served cold.

He didn’t need to be told by Chloe to get him back – it would happen no matter what. But then Chloe had hurried off, and Tero quick behind her – a fact that made both twins grin fiendishly. So soon they were after them, just keeping the jog of a normal speed – since Chloe was a normal speed, and Tero was a speed demon.. they thought they’d keep a nice, normal pace.

Then they reached Chloe – having conveniently not seen her stumble – and she was with a bird. ”Aww, lookit it!” Gabriel cooed, quietly, smiling. He loved animals. In fact, so did Uriel. Oh, except birds.

”Eugh.” was really all he had to say, frowning and not taking his eyes off the bird. Demonic fiendish beings, attack when you’re not even looking or able to defend against them.. demon birds.

[Terrowin Guthrie]

"Oi'm keepin' an eye on ye," Terrowin told Gabriel with a wink. It was usually hard to pull a prank on the speedster, but he silently vowed to let the student get him back if he tried - it was only fair. He continued to chase after Chloe until she stopped, not noticing her slight stumble moments before. He grumbled about her good luck under his breath as he gazed up at the canopy. It was, indeed, a blue jay, and Chloe was doing her strange bird-voice to talk to it. The boys were right behind them, and Terrowin had to stifle a chuckle at the grimace on Uriel's face.

"It ain't gonna eat ye," he snickered, looking back up at the blue creature. Another creature flitted by - a red-breasted sapsucker. Terrowin chased off after it to get a better look as it landed on a nearby tree. In his concentration, he hardly noticed the loud CROAK that had pierced the air as soon as he got closer to the edge of the pond.

"Hey guys, over here!" he called, motioning to them. "Just don't fall in the water." He didn't realize how close to the water they had gotten, and he wasn't planning on falling in, or letting anyone else take a plunge either...

[Chloe Singleton]

With a little effort, Chloe was able to coax the blue jay closer and eventually to perch on her hand. Gabriel's cooing made her giggle while Uriel's look of disgust made her shake her head. "Really, Uriel, he's harmless. I promise." Chloe ran her fingers gently over the bird's back, muffling a laugh at Terrowin's comment. "No, you're much too big for him to eat."

But as soon as he had spoke he was gone almost immediately, Chloe blinking at the spot where he'd been standing. "That man can't stand still for an instant, can he?" She merely smiled at the twins before letting the blue jay fly off, her attention caught by the loud croaking noise coming from the pond.

"Terrie? Did you just step on a poor little frog?" Chloe called after him, carefully making her way closer to the edge of the water, squeaking a little when her heel sunk into the mud. "Um... I think I'll just wait over here."

[Gabriel & Uriel Raines]

Uriel scowled a little at Chloe's calming efforts. Well, not at her per se, of course not at her. But just a general scowl. "Too big to eat all of, but he could get a good nip out of me.." He grumbled, crossing his arms poutingly. Gabriel rolled his eyes, nudging Uriel.

"Don't worry, I'm sure they won't hurt us." He said, grinning. Suddenly, Terrowin had darted off, and they next thing he knew, there was a croak and he was a little worried that Terro had made the noise, and then Gabriel was pretty sure they'd have to carry him out on their backs or something.

Yeah.. or something..

The boys darted off after Terro, staying with Chloe as well. To make sure she stayed safe, and because - really, what prick would leave a lady alone? Precisely.

"A frog? Or did you make that noise Terro?" "I like frogs better than birds. How about turtles, can there be some nice turtles..?" Uriel asked, approaching the frogs warily. He didn't mind frogs - they just jumped, and some of them could jump hard and it would kind of give your heart a bit of a start.

True story.