if you don't love me at my stinkiest...

And then she was scooped out of the air by the scruff of her neck and with a mighty haul her paws once again landed on the branch of the tree. She let out a long rush of air through her nose as her eyes fluttered open, only to snap wide at the sight of her brother. Whaaa? When did he get here? She'd been certain that the fall was a result of her own clumsiness but his apology suggested that she'd misread the situation, again. As always. The blankness of her expression vanished in the blink of an eye as a wide and beaming smile lit up her pretty, but muddy features. Oh so she was so very happy to see him! Any and all worries she had vanished as she twirled around to press her face into the fluff of his chest, her other older siblings tended to keep her at arms length but not Mortis. Never him.

Happy and safe beneath the comfort of his wing her head popped out to speak.

"I'm fine!" Even better now that he was here. "I'm climbing, gonna get to the top!" She puffed up her chest, as though that was a thing to be proud of, she hoped Mortis would think so at least. Seeing as he was up here too...well it only seemed natural to ask him to tag along, right? She bounced, the branch bobbing beneath their weight once again. "You'll come too, won't you?"