Submission (#4505) Approved

Scout, for the record, thinks this is a stupid plan. Rat had put up a staunch protest, declaring the plan 'foolproof' and 'beyond your idiotic comprehension,' but the plan amounts to leaves, and time. 

Bumbling through the dense, autumn brush, Scout makes it to the patch of road the two of them had decided on. It's a well worn path that cuts through two fairly steep mountainsides, encased in white birch trees and dense brush on either side. The red and orange flicker of leaves winks moonlight at them on occasion. 

It's the perfect place to ambush Fahren at. 

Well traveled, the easiest route from the nearest freshwater creek to a somewhat secluded cache of Bell berries; a Bellmoril delicacy, and at the right time of year for ripe pickings. It's doubtless Fahren will swing by and pick them while the kittoms sleep and recover their paws. The stock would cover their general traveling expenses for a good bit of time to come. 

Scout sighs. His paws do hurt, and he quite wishes he was back at the camp, dreaming of food and beds and warmth. 

"It's a harmless prank," Rat nudges him, and Scout nudges him back. If he does it a little harder than necessary, and pushes Rat into a patch of yellow shrubs. "Hey! If you don't like my ideas, feel free to go back to camp!" 

Scout scowls. "We already left dummies under our blankets; it'd be even more trouble to take them apart while Fahren's there." 

"Whatever. Loser," Rat adds as an afterthought, but still brushes his cheek against Scouts when he walks past. There's still a couple leaves stuck in his hair, yellow fading to orange. It's almost endearing. Stupid bastard. 

Pulling at his pack, Scout tugs out the rope within. He'd acquired it in the last town by some… less than savory means, and it's pretty frayed at both ends, but it'll do. He tosses one end to Rat. 

Together, they string up a snare trap, looping the weighted end over one of the pale, white branches above them. It’s not much, but it should work. They quickly throw on their homemade capes, and step back to look at their handiwork.

“Isn’t this kinda mean?” Scout asks dubiously, observing their handiwork. Rat scoffs next to him. 

“It’s just a harmless prank, man—“ Rat starts, but stills at the sound of whistling from the pathway behind them. 

The other kittom abruptly pulls Scout to the side. As they settle behind a particularly thick trunk, peering around the peeling, ghastly bark, Fahren comes into view. She sparkles faintly in the moonlight, and her steps are even. 

Fahren looks tired. It makes Scout feel even worse. He turns and looks at Rat, and the toothy smile on his face as she gets closer is addictive. Scout weighs the guilt against the elation of making Rat happy; he knows he’s a piece of shit when the latter wins out. 

Scout turns back to look around the tree again just as Fahren comes into position. It’s quicker than he can even see, really, because one moment she’s walking, and the next her body is cinched up, leaving her upside down and panicking. 

As planned, Scout and Rat come out from behind the tree, donned in disguises made from brightly colored leaves and twigs, shouting, “Surprise!” 

Scout waves his leafy arm guards around, trying not to feel like an idiot as Fahren stops shouting. Rat is laughing beside him, and nudges at Scout in what is probably an attempt to get him to laugh, too. He tries; he really does, but he can’t quite make it happen. Fahren stops struggling, and the two kittoms cease their own movements.

Suddenly, Scout doesn’t want to be here anymore. Wants to hide under Fahren’s tail where it’s warm and safe and his actions don’t come back to bite him. 

Scout looks up. Fahren’s upside down, held up by her hind paw by the trip they’d set up. There’s still a glint of fatigue in her gaze, but now there’s disappointment, too. 

“I—“ Scout tries to say, but stops. Rat seems to sense his hesitation. Their paws brush against each other. It gives him a bit more strength to speak. “Sorry.”

 “It was my idea,” Rat pipes up. Fahren just sighs. “Thought it might cheer you up. You’ve been kind of a downer lately.”

Scout grimaces. “We’ll just… help you down.” 

So they do. 

And Fahren’s still as perfect as usual, because she pats both of them on the head, and forces them to be her lackeys for berry picking through the entire rest of the night.