Her mother had suggested that if they would prefer the archipelago, perhaps they should find space in the old palace. Resentful that she had been called home at all, Deluge had hauled ass to the furthest island she could possibly take up residence on instead. Ibon was closer to Gambit Briar than the Shrine and that suited her just fine. It was mostly inhabited by birds and small rodents, but that wouldn't put her off, she didn't mind swimming across the reef or fishing for her dinner if it meant she'd have enough notice of her mother arriving to set out for the mainland before she made it. "There's gotta be somethin' close ter a den around 'ere somewhere..."

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While Dread wouldn't make things harder on Deluge by sulking, he was... disappointed. Disappointed that she had been called home. They'd been so close he could damn near taste freedom on his tongue. All of that, and he'd still ended up a Raider in the end. It wasn't the Raiders he was complaining about-- Dread would have been disappointed to be called back anywhere when they'd damn near made it on their own. Still, it's important. He was going to show up for her.

The pair crashed through the undergrowth, Dread's gaze keen on the land around them. Curious as it cut through the undergrowth, and they bushwhacked their way through. "Worse comes to worse, pick a spot and I'll clear it and build whatever you want." It was a day too warm to argue with. Like he'd argue with Deluge anyway, accidentally trailing a clump of vines as they explored. "As long as it's on high ground, I can make anything else work." The false confidence of a man who probably has no idea what he's getting into.

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His offer brings a smile to her face. "Don' get too invested, we won' be stickin' around any longer'n we have ter," she commented bitterly, clearly upset that Scald had dragged her back in the first place, though it was good to be with her siblings again, perhaps it would give her time to work on Flurry and Rexx and try to talk them into coming with her when she left next time. She would have to get a message to Ichor and Viscera, to let them know plans had been delayed, when they were so damn close too.

She stepped closer to Dread, leaning a little into his side as she looked up at the giant rainforest trees that towered overhead, raining birdsong down from the canopy on high. "I'll help yer build it o'course but what do yer think it'd take ter make a treehouse?" Ambitious, especially for temporary accommodation, but it'd get them away from the inevitable spiders and scorpions that probably made their home in the underbrush. Not to say anything for the other predators that might come out here looking for prey that didn't actually exist.

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The bitterness in her tone brings Dread in, leaning over to press a kiss to her forehead. A light sigh, a little twitch of his tail. "All these siblings and you think we won't be back for birthdays, nieces and nephews, and who knows what else?" It's a gentle ribbing, a little wink. Though things weren't necessarily ideal, he could try to drag her spirits up... kicking and screaming as they may be.

At the thought of a treehouse, he considers for a moment. That was certainly a thought. "Saves the hassle of clearing underbrush, which is my least favorite part," Dread's tone was thoughtful. "Protects from any potential flooding, too. I like it." He grinned softly, happy to just be near her. Maybe not great for his tough guy image, but he maintains that displays of affection are punk rock.

"Ideally it'll take four good trees that do a lot of the work for us. We don't want to waste time building extra support beams." Dread thinks back to the treehouse that he'd spent so much time playing beneath in the Armada, and the others they'd hastily lashed together to play in. It felt like a long time ago now, but the skills... they're still here. He's still the same boy, playing beneath the shade cast by Hazel's treehouse between lessons with Halo. Yes. Dread is happy to advise on all treehouse related matters.

Already excitedly on his feet, Dread wouldn't go without her on their search for good trees.

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Deluge leaned into the kiss, a brow arching at his threat of visits yet to come. "An' yer don' think we'll be too weighed down under a mountain o' our own brats ter make th' trip?" she teased with a half-lidded smirk. They'd only just made things official, no need to go scaring the guy off with talks of kids and marriage but the way they were going something was bound to happen one way or another. "I suppose, if there're enough other reasonably sized trees nearby, we can always add extensions..." she conceded with a sigh. They wouldn't want to make it too appealing though, or someone else would move in as soon as they cleared out.

The problem with rainforest trees, was that the canopy crowded out new growth, there were trees that were behemoths in size, but the understory was all spindly, weedy, bendy things. She had an idea though, away from the centre of the forest and closer to a small waterfall pool. Someone had even planted bamboo nearby once upon a time she was sure (how else would it have gotten here from the Shrine?). She moved with purpose, following the sound of running water. Hell, they could probably even build out a deck by the pond and move some of the pretty koi fish from one of the other islands, or had they already been moved here? The water was pretty clear, cool in comparison to the tropical atmosphere, and fresh. The break in the canopy allowed few more decent sized trees to grow closer together. "How abou; somewhere 'round 'ere?"

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Dread's chuckle takes on a smokier, deeper quality as she speaks. The man reached out to slip his touch down her side, feeling the svelte muscle teasingly. "With so many? I'm sure the band will appreciate the break." Deluge was playing a dangerous game, more dangerous than she knew. Hell, maybe she did know, and that's why she played it. There was no just kidding haha... unless? when it came to Dread. He's never had a non-serious thought in his life. Oops.

Already having a source of fresh, running water certainly gave them a leg up. Dread chased after the flashes of pink in the lush growth, fighting his way through the lush plants and more narrow gaps. Bright eyed as they broke through into the cleared area, he's struck by how beautiful it is. Though he still pined for the north, their freedom, their solitude... this would do for now. This would more than do for now. An appreciative hum in his throat, Dread's muzzle skims across her shoulder as he brushes past, quick to set to work. "Room with a view? You spoil me."

Gazing up into the trees, Dread moves slowly. Three trees growing as one, with a nice spot to start their platform. Taking the small knife from his bracers, Dread marks this as his starting point with a small x. Stepping back, he's quick to connect the dots to a second tree, just as stately, with a solid base that would be easy to build a gradual ladder upon. "These two would make good corners," Dread marked the second tree with another light x in the bark. "We want sturdy trees, but not the tallest. Something that has thick branches that split off that will help support the platform if we're lucky," he explained.

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Deluge simply could not help herself, when he commented on a room with a view she wiggled her behind, "Surely yer'd 'ave a view whether there was a waterfall or not, no?" She couldn't keep the stupid grin off her face as he set to work. As he explained what he was looking for, Deluge scanned the other trees nearby. It wasn't so much a smaller tree, but the branch that broke off from it and reached towards the two he had marked was thicker around its limb than she was. It wasn't ideal. Another tree by it looked better and she gestured with a tip of her head, "If we use tha' the branch from tha' one might come up through th' floor, but it could be a bit more support?" She had plenty of experience climbing trees, but treehouses were entirely out of her realm of expertise. "An' maybe this one?" She braced her paws against a younger tree than the rest, but it was getting plenty of sunlight and it seemed to have quite sturdy roots. She would let Dread make the final assessment on it though.

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Dread's grin is rakish, brilliant. He tosses his head. Stretches, flexes his muscles in the sun, maybe he's showing off a little. Reaching out to chomp playfully in the direction of her hip as he passed her in search of new perspective. The real brilliance of the boy shows through in moments like this, the wheels in his head turning rapidly. All of him is curious. Gaze flickering from one branch to the next, tracing out just where they'd start building the platform.

Gaze landing on the branch that would grow up through the floor... wait a second. Brow knitting together, Dread took a step back. Then another. Taking a look at the branch in its entirety, he can't seem to wipe the stupid grin from his lips. It seemed like it would lend itself well to a second story, set up and back, easy to climb and-- right. Getting ahead of himself. "I can work around the branch, might even be helpful later." He had to turn his head to mark the tree, else he risk looking too excited.

Coming to Deluge's side, he looks at the last tree. Younger than the rest, but it seemed she had an eye for these things. The man gives a nod, smiling softly. "I like it. We can make sure most of the load is on the other three." A little glimmer in his dark eyes, he pauses for a moment with his knife. Thinking for a moment, he beckons Deluge close, takes her hand over hand-- guiding her as they carve their initials into the bark of the tree. Reverent.

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