Shida smiled, a sense of levity taking over when Ivory launched herself forward. The hybrid bounced as mud came flying towards her, dirtying the tiny feathers above her hooves, but she paid it no mind. She bared her teeth again and let out a playful growl, patting at the ground with her hooves again before giving chase.

She watched Ivory slipping through the mud a few times and fell occasionally herself, the ground giving way under her hooves, no front claws available to grip at the slippery ground beneath her. She didn't really seem to mind the streaks of brown over her hide, nor did she care for the wet coldness that seeped into her skin as the moisture of the mud invaded her senses.

She didn't really seem to notice the cause of Ivory's sudden fear, barely paying the thunder any mind, instead picking up her own pace until she was able to lean forward, trying to poke at Ivory's skin with her muzzle. She immediately jumped back and hopped around her sister, obviously ready to jump right back into the forest.

@Ivory

The baring of teeth put Ivory a little on edge. She wasn't an adult, with a lot of experience, but some instinct in her knew that playful things didn't do that. It was a menacing gesture, somehow, but she shook the thought away. Shida was her sister; was family; and she meant nothing by it.

Ivory hoped.

When she was tapped, when Shida sprang away again into the leaves, Ivory shook herself with a snort. It took her a moment to understand that it was her turn, now, to chase--but chase she did, bounding in large and clumsy hops after her sister.

"Too fast," she protested, but it was good-natured, a compliment given with humor. With the same clumsy, childish stumblings she gave chase, dodging this way and that to try and cut off any escape, lumbering after Shida.

She managed the barest nudge when she briefly managed to draw close, aimed at her sister's flank--then turned, barreling off through the foliage with another snort of playfulness--head held high to see above the underbrush.

@Shida

Shida galloped through the forest, stumbling on roots and grass and, more often then not, just her own feet. She let out joyful sounds as Ivory gave chase to her and she was confident that she was winning! She was getting away! But then there was a tap at her side and she flinched, skidding to a halt, stumbling in the wet mud. She whirled around and saw Ivory's white body disappearing into the forest again.

She growled playfully and went leaping after her again. Her legs were already starting to feel tired but she wanted to keep playing and jumping around. This world was too much fun to rest just yet! She chased Ivory for some time more, never losing that childish, bright-eyed spirit during their playtime, even as the storm raged above, even as the mud eventually soaked into her skin and gave her chills. It was fine - she was having fun!

*exit?

@Ivory

Dancing. Bouncing. Chasing.

Well, dancing as best a large and clumsy rhinoceros-hybrid could, at least. More often than not she was stumbling, crashing into bushes with delighted grunts and squeaks, shaking herself free from tangles of twigs and leaves. The rain splattered over her, like diamonds glinting as they spilled from the ferns, but she didn't mind at all.

Twice she saw Shango lift his head, checking on the children but unconcerned; and she played.

Perhaps she'd never know this sort of blind, happy joy again: the giddiness, the excitement. Life was new; so was everything in it.

As far as first introductions to a new world went, it hadn't been a bad one.

exit Ivory