Newton's Sloth [Bob Barton]

[Itt]

4th of Fall, 512 A.V.
Wildlands
OOCI know my font might be hard to read so if you can't read it just tell me. I'll change it.
Long claws clung to the tree branches as the small kelvic looked around for a leaf to grab and to eat. His brown eyes scanned the reachable leaves till he found one that looked exceptionally delectable. He slowly, very slowly, made his way (a few hands distance) to the leaf. He reached to his side and pulled it off, pulling it to his mouth and munching on it. It was delicious. Was there another one like it? He looked around for another one that looked equally appetizing.

As he was doing so, a small Robin perched itself on his same branch. Itt starred in surprise at the small bird as it's head moved around with quick jerks.

Birds flew. A Robin was a bird. Maybe it could teach him how to fly. He'd need to get it first though. He'd have to get it and become friends with it. Yes, this was a good plan. Become friends with the bird and then he will be flying in no time. It was so simple. Why didn't he think of this before? What could possibly go wrong?

Itt then went on his way to slowly go over to the bird to catch it. His torpid pace helped prevent himself from being noticeable till he was about arms length. When he raised his arm to touch the bird, the Robin flew to the end of the branch. But Itt didn't give up. He went back to inching his way towards the bird he had hoped to be friends with. The closer he got to the end, the more the branch began to bend.

The branch started to bend too much for the bird to be comfortable, so it flew to a branch above. That particular branch however, was relatively close and it just happened to drop down enough to be within the sloth's reach. He just needed to go a little further down the branch. So, he did so.

He made it way towards the upper branch to crawl up to the bird but he hesitated when he heard a crack. Itt was just about to turn around and just go up the trunk when the tip of the branch broke under his weight.

He and the branch fell down and down. It felt like forever to Itt but he was trying to enjoy it actually. Falling was like flying when you thought about it. Instead of flying forward, you're just flying down...And you can't control it... Okay, it wasn't much like it but it was close to him. It was probably the closest he was going to get.

He plummeted through twigs and leaves of the branch below. (only being two branches up) While doing so, a few sloth cries came out of his throat, sounding like a mixture of a babies cry and a kitten's meow. He broke through the leaves to fall the rest of the way down and landed on something hard. It wasn't the ground though. The feeling of hair rubbed against his own as he started to slip off the head of the man he landed. He tried to cling to his head and hair like he would a branch but it didn't help and slipped off and onto his shoulder, which was much easier to hold onto.

Phew. He was alive...

[Bob Barton]

Like so many others taking this journey Bob was riding. However unlike the others, he was small and so was his horse. Had he been riding in the middle of the group, he will feel suffocated by all the people around him. Not only by the uninteresting conversations most of them had but also their smells. The worst part was being in the middle he would barely be able to see anything going on around him. If anything happened suddenly he would be swept along by the chaos that will follow by all the other people. That would not be too good. Unlike the knights he was with Bob preferred to make his own judgments than just blindly follow orders, which was why he decided to ride to the side. The trees might be making it hard to keep his pony moving straight along the rest but they were at least a lot less imposing.

It happened when Bob riding, Bobo needing the utmost attention from him unless he wanted to get lost again. For no reason whatsoever Bob kept finding Bobo moving towards the other riders getting him bumped into and unhappily yelled at a few times. He quickly brought back on the right route however, at the side of the path in between the trees and the group but what happened after that? Bobo did it again going towards the people. It was a endless cycle of Bobo straying to the side and Bob reigning the pony in to the right way that could have continued if not for one strange incident that caught the pair by surprise. Bob, if he had paid more attention to the road instead of his horse and trying his best to control it would have saw the signs of some leaves dropping. A warning that they were not alone even if he was away from the others.

If he had that warning he could have expected the furry mass of icky wildlands coming right to his face. Instead he looked up towards the falling leaves, and the sounds of crackling branches together with some vicious birdcall? What sort of a bir...it was on him! "Get it off!" he yelled in a panic but none of the other people would be able to when Bob got to the source himself, releasing his horse to try and get his attacker off. Even if he was successful when the creature shifted to his shoulder, Bob felt he did not do it fast enough. Of course it will never be fast enough when the strange tasting mixture of dirt, bugs, fur and whatever else this wild creature may have was actually able to stick to him until he had the time to wash it out. Until then, he would have to suffer through it but that would only apply if he was able to live.

Yes living was the problem here because the horse was out of control. "Help!"

[Itt]

Itt was scared when all the sudden movement and events. With the man's cries and the horse jerking them around, Itt scrambled as fast as he could to cling to something to prevent from falling again. With his slow pace, he was just able to reached for Bob's neck and hold onto him for dear life before being flung off because of the horses movements.

It didn't seem like the two weren't happy to see him. Not surprising since he did fall on them from out of no where. But did they have to act so aggressive? He wasn't attacking them., it was just an accident. He didn't mean to fall out of a tree.

The sloth let out another odd cry of fear, his arms barely able to reach fully around his neck, and his short, stubby legs trying to grab onto something as well, but failed to find anything.

He just wanted a bird...

[Bob Barton]

Yes, it was very apparent that Bob needed "help!" now. Not only was the pony trying to kill him with its wild run but whatever creature that was behind him as well. There it was with its strange attack cry while it tried to strangle him with its furry hands and scratch him with its...other hands? "Gods!" just what sort of a monster was attacking him? Bob's head fumbled through the stories that he had heard and some of the other stranger things he has seen feeding his wild imagination to the point that he even felt the creature's malicious grimace on him. Why did none of the others on the trip come to help him? One thing Bob knew, he had to help himself or at least get him out of the grasp of this creature. To do that first, he had to get Bobo back in control. That was the important thing. Without the reins, the only way he had to control it was with his legs but then he nearly fell off trying it, twice! Probably a trick to try when hes better.

Getting back his wits as soon as he could, Bob grabbed the reins of the horse to support himself so that he would not fall off. After he was sure he was safe, he held firmer on the reins and gave it a quick jerk. Unfortunately it did nothing but make the horse move faster. Bob was running out of ideas but If the creature choking him was effective enough to make him want to stop, it should be the same with the pony he was on. Bob pulled hard and held strong, and gradually the pony begun to slow down only it was now winding along its route erratically. Seeing its actions Bob did his best to steer so that they would not crash into the other riders and the trees. He moved the reins here and there like he did before this unpleasant surprise when he was blissfully riding along only now he wanted to "stop!" A great yell verbally expressing what he wanted the pony to do and try to shock it into obedience. The pony then slowed down slowly moving forward while Bob kept it moving straight until it eventually stop.

He could still feel it, the creature that got to him that did not fall off after all that. Bob quickly dismounted leaving Bobo alone while he tried to see what it was. A bird? A monster? Or something else entirely. Scrambling his arms behind him Bob finally found it was...it was..."what the shyke are you?" Despite everything he has seen, freaky, creepy or terrifying he had seen nothing like this. It looked stupid. Cute, but stupid especially with that strange cry. Bob would have maybe sold it as a pet or food but he just sighed while he held it. "Let's just put you back where you belong" or maybe even further away from that point just in case it fell on another person and caused another accident. At least from what he knew working with animals, this thing would not be dangerous. Its teeth did not look like it was meant for meat and as long as he was careful with the claws, Bob probably would get no extra pain. "Don't do anything stupid or I'll drop you" Bob told it as if it would understand but it was a developed habit for him by taking care of his dog.

If there was no more surprises like a sudden attack which he was wary about, Bob would fold an arm over the animal at his chest while making sure that the claws would be under it so that it would not be used before mounting on his pony again so that he can put it back on the tree it fell from.

[Itt]

The small Kelvic gave several more odd kitten like calls as the horse ran, almost letting go of Bob's neck several times, but the young sloth managed to hang on by some miracle. Bob dismounted and scrambled to get him off his neck, the sloth not able to move fast enough to get out of the way of his hands. He was pulled off his neck and held in front of the man to observe him. The dirty sloth looked up at Bob oddly, being curious to what he was going to do with him. He sighed and said he would put him back. He was pulled to his chest, being held against him by his arm.

The man saved him from possible major injuries, if not his life. He could have landed wrong or landed on a rock or root and and break something, possibly even hitting his head and resulting in death. With his small, nine inch size, falling from a simple tree was extremely dangerous and lethal too. Even though it was an accident that the man happened to be there when he fell, he still deserved a thank you. It was the least he could do. But he couldn't do that now. If he shifted now it would hurt one or both of them some way. He could break Bob's arm off or something and that wouldn't be a very good way to say thank you. He decided he would wait till he was set down to shift and give him his thanks.

Itt tilted his head to the side to rub his cheek on the man's chest, his almost nonexistent hands trying to hold on to his arms, even if Bob had a firm hold on him.

[Bob Barton]

Things went easy enough as Bob tried to get back on the pony. Bobo did not even try to stop him possibly being tired after going wild like that but "its not time for you to rest" he told it before placing his free hand on its saddle so that he could...so that he could...growl upon finding out that one hand was not enough to get him on top. Not without a lot of effort by him. But he was not going to let the creature go in case it might attack him or worse, the pony that it will run away and Bob would have to walk to Sunberth all on his own. He held the saddle firmly, hopping to see how high he could go if he put enough strength into it before making a big leap and using his hand to direct him on the horse. Success was how a person looked at it and Bob would say he was partially successful since at least one leg was on top of it even if the rest of his body was just hanging loose.

Now it was the hard part since if he made a mistake he would end up squishing the creature but "please don't worry" he asked because he would not want to be riding on a bewildered pony again in this position. Bob used all his strength on that one leg of his and the arm that was on the pony, using it to straighten himself so that half his body will be lying on it while the other half will be hanging on the air. An experience that the bird loving creature might have enjoyed again even if it was brief. Again "don't do anything stupid..." Another pull and he got his whole body on the pony, the creature pointed towards the sky. This was a very tiring task that probably made Bob ignore anything that the creature might have done and he will never want to climb on the pony again this way. Giving a grunt, Bob tried his best to push himself up so that he can be seated upright before grabbing hold of the pony's reins. "See? No problems at all" just as he hoped.

It was then he noticed that the creature was trying to attack him? Or was it trying to grab a hold of the reins? Bob could not be sure but the way that it was moving his hands against his arm was worrying. As he seated himself properly on his pony, Bob started to collect some djed. Something that he has used on other animals before as well and found it successful. It reached his mouth and while the creature probably would not understand his words, it should be able to understand what Bob wanted from it. As he gently told it to "relax, you'll get home soon" the djed followed reaching into it so that its emotions that Bob needed a response from will begin to feel more calm and rested. "Thats it...relax..." he repeated until he pulled back the reins and turned the horse back round. He saw plenty of the other people, the ones that did not even bother to help looking indifferent. Not that Bob would actually care about them now, or ever.

He clicked his feet on the pony's side so that it can move on and used the reins to keep it straight but Bobo knew. Ohhhh, it knew. It knew that Bob was troubled by that one little creature and will have trouble controlling it with one hand and gave him problems as if it was on purpose. It took longer now. Longer for the pony to respond to Bob when he used the reins and a lot more strength to try and do it. More unhappy yells came from Bob, mixed with commands, orders and eventually towards the end vulgarities. Of course towards the end Bob's voice also became less tense and more gentle when he realized that each time he was loud the pony became more difficult. Reaching the spot where he thought that the creature fell off, Bob slowly pulled back the pony's reins as he gently told it "whoaaaaa" until it eventually stopped before going through the trouble of dismounting again thanks to his little package.

Saving the equally pathetic version of Bob getting off the horse, its easier to say that he was at the base of a tree holding the creature in the front of him as he told it to "climb" the same way he would with Jinsen before holding it up and down along the tree to give it the idea. While it is physically impossible for Jinsen to do it, it would still try after getting the basic idea. Bob did not want to climb the tree so he left the creature at its base after he was done telling it to "climb" before showing it himself by holding on to it with his hands and trying to boost himself up with his legs. All while keeping an eye on the creature if it would do the same.

[Itt]

Itt watched silently as Bob awkwardly got up on his horse. He would probably be giggling or chuckling if he was in Human form, since he often found things like this funny. Not that he actually encounter many people like he had with Bob, but he did see people pass by, and some did make him want to laugh.

After bringing him and his horse to the tree his had originally fell out of, Bob set him on the ground and told him to climb, giving gestures and nudges to encourage him to climb back up.

He wasn't going to climb yet, he needed to thank him first. With that, the small sloth exspanded to a young boy, only five inches shorter then Bob was. His brown hair messy on the top of his head, and still having the same big brown eyes. His tan skin didn't have any clothes on but the Kelvic didn't care. He just wanted to thank Bob.

Standing up from his crouch, and turning towards the man, Itt lets his smile spread from ear to ear as he grabbed his leg to hug it, since the man was attempting to climb the tree.Why he was, he didn't know. If Bob didn't try to kick him away or do anything, Itt would say,"Thaaaaaaaaank yooooooooooou.", rubbing his cheek affectionately on his leg.

An odd thank you but a thanks nonetheless.

[Bob Barton]

One step up, and Bob's foot skidded down back to the ground. Another did the same. It was going to be futile to try and grab a proper hold on the tree but Bob had no intention to go up. All he was doing is giving the creature the idea. After that Bob tried to show the motions with his hands which grabbed up the tree to try and pull him off the ground until the bark gave way, breaking off and making him fall on his two feet. All the while Bob was watching attentively if the animal would understand even during the telltale flash of light that blinded him for a moment. To him it was "great..." since it meant it was another one of those damned kelvics. Did it mean that another animal was going to attack him now? No, not really because it was even weirder than that. There was no way that Bob would expect the kelvic to get attached to his leg.

Maybe it was so Bob would carry him up to the tree but now he was heavier than ever. Not the animal that was on his shoulder. After overcoming his shock Bob shook the kelvic off his leg responding with an "ooookkkkk..." equally long and draggy as the kelvic's. A thank you is nice but not the scene of a naked boy showing affection to his leg. Bob could feel a few of other people that were passing through laughing to themselves even if they knew what was actually going on. In order to prevent the chance of anyone else finding out and the thing spreading further, he quickly took out his coat and tossed it on the boy telling him to "put it on or" better yet "turn back into...what are you anyway?" At least from the way he acted Bob knew that the kelvic was not the dangerous type unless it is just that he did not have a chance to learn how to be dangerous yet? Unlikely since he was a kid who was already surviving the woods alone.

Unless his parent's did their job besides teaching him how to survive. Yeah that is the question to ask, "where are your parents? Owner?" in case that was the kelvic's caretaker. Bob will hand this kid over to them and be done with this. His conscience will be clear after that especially if he gives them a warning to take care of their kid well when there are so many people out in the wildlands now. Even if there were knights, there was also the cruel mercenaries and ex-cons they recruited, not to forget the mad professors from Zeltiva. Actually, there was no promise that the kid's kelvic parents would be as docile and nonthreatening as he was and the better thing was to ask "where do you live. I'll just put you there" hopefully not getting eaten and continue with his journey. With all the questions he should be able to get a rough idea about this kelvic and what to do next.

[Itt]

Itt blinked when he was started to be shaken off and decided to let go. He obviously didn't want hugs. Though, he supposed hugging his leg probably wasn't the best spot...Itt thought for a moment before he was thrown a coat and told to put it on. The boy blinked at it briefly before slipping it on, having a brief moment of trouble with the arm. He hadn't worn anything in a while and it started to slip his simple minded head on how to put it on. But he did remember and pulled it tightly around him. It was warm.With Fall coming it was starting to get colder, which was bad for Sloth's. They had to stay warmer climates to survive and with Itt staying in his Sloth form a good eighty to ninety percent of the time, it wasn't going to be very good for him. Plus, it was just cold in general and he didn't have anything to keep him warm.

Itt hesitated to answer his question on what he was, filling that time to put on the jacket. He wanted to know what he was? Well, okay. As long as he ask he could make an exception to his rule.

"Peeeopllllle caaaaaallllll meeeee Iiiiitt."He told him. He didn't think Bob would know what a Sloth was even if he told him (like most people) so he just stuck with the name of what people saw him as.

Then the traveler moved on to ask where his parents had gone. A enormous smile spread across his face, going from ear too ear. "Theeeeey aaarrrre goooonnnnne. leeeefffffft." He told him.

For Itt, it was extremely exciting. It was like moving out for him. Except he was young and still ignorant to how harsh the Wildlands can be. He only new minor survival skills from his parents and wasn't well trained in self defense. He mainly focused on collecting leaves and berries and how to get water out of trees and leaves. He knew some small tips on how to catch prey but that wouldn't do him any good since he wouldn't be able to catch a snail even if he tried. But none of this ever came to the simpleton, that being because he thought that he was taught everything he needed to know from his mother and father. That and the dozen days he spent on his own was spent in trees, preventing himself from the danger of hazardous travelers and other ground animals. Not that that was the only danger in the Wildlands. He just hadn't encountered any other yet. Besides falling out of trees.

Another question was added to the list, that being where he lived. Itt simply and slowly pointed up, keeping his over-sized smile on his face.

[Bob Barton]

The kelvic was very, very, very, was it mentioned that Bob thought that it was very-very slow? He seemed impatient when he tapped his foot waiting for the kid to answer his questions and also put on the coat. Something which was so simple that the reason why Itt took so long to put it on was lost to Bob. In fact, "what is an Itt?" There can be no such animal called that can there? The name was so close to it that it can be almost degrading to something with some sentience like...a kelvic? Trying to confirm what the boy was and was not Bob asked again "is your name Itt or are you an Itt?" because "I've never heard of an Itt before" and he even worked in one of the animal places at the place he was headed to now. Since he found the boy close to Sunberth he should have heard about Itts there as food if not some dangerous animal. Hopefully the Itt will answer Bob's question or he would have to find out from some other sources.

And if Bob really was interested and bothered to find out more he would have to do it in Sunberth especially since the kelvic's parents are gone. He did not know what to make of the kelvic's smile since it made him think that the boy was either happy that his parent's were dead or that he was abandoned. Either was just as confusing as the other. Not wanting to hint at death since he knows how it feels he asked "so...they just left you here..." pointing up as the boy did "...which means that you can take care of yourself right?" If his parents were that confident about his survivability Bob would not have to worry about leaving the kid, even if he was a kelvic, in the wildlands and be on his way. However to be on the safe side with so many people in the wildlands now, some being knights and some hinted at being knight enemies "it might be better if you go back to your parents for now. We don't want anything bad to happen to you do we?" Hopefully the kid was not as innocent and oblivious as he seemed to be aware of Bob hinting at the possible dangers.

Exhaling Bob asked the kid what he wanted to do. "Do you want to go back home?" which he saw was not really much when he made a glance up "or should we look for your parents?" He would not mind making a quick trip away and asking his parents about how the wildlands or Sunberth has been. If he was lucky maybe he would get some information to present to the knights and the Zeltivans he was with. Nothing spelled rewards better than knowing something useful that other people did not.