1/3 Buckwheat 2026/04/10(Fri)22:03 No. 1125039 ID: ac2578
File 177585863765.png - (4.48KB , 800x600 , 82.png )

Kaari: “Not easy to keep calm right now, but yeah. Fine I can try to lay off a bit.”

Her voice gets a bit shaky, almost trembling a bit.
Lana: “Kaari, please. I…I don’t think I can manage to run any more tonight. I don’t even know if I’m going to have any fight in me if they find us.”

>Then quietly head deeper in.
>Pickford let her go once after patching her up so you can be fairly sure that hes not on side with whoever is chasing her.
>walk and talk, or whisper.
Kaari: “Let’s head in deeper and try to find Pickford. He was pretty nice to us. Maybe if we show up with Dente, he’ll be more willing to help. Or at least until Judith shows up.

Lana: “That’s a solid plan. Now keep that thinking cap on and stay focused.”

2/3 Buckwheat 2026/04/10(Fri)22:04 No. 1125040 ID: ac2578
File 177585868572.png - (4.69KB , 400x400 , 83.png )

Lana leads the way and keeps up with the questions,
>Why does Dente think the park rangers might be involved, and how?
Lana: “Okay, what would make you think the rangers are involved?”

Dente: “I can’t remember if some of them were using ranger uniforms as a disguise or if they really were rangers. They had park looking uniforms on.”

Lana: “Ah, shit. Alright I’m pretty sure we don’t have to worry about Judith, but that’s could cause issues if we run into any other park rangers. I need you to try and keep thinking on that, Dente.”

>More broadly, how much do the people hunting Dente know about her and/or us?
Kaari: “Maybe you could tell us more about this group? What do they even know or want from you? ”

Dente: “They know about me and…uh, that other group. They’re using that to blackmail me into helping them. O-otherwise they’re going to give away I’m here.”

Lana: “Fuck! I-alright. Do they know about us, do they know me and Kaari are here?”

Dente: “Maybe, they know some panther and rabbit chased off some asshole today.”

Dente: “Uh, thanks for that by the way. That chaos you caused helped me slip away.

Lana: “So wait, they know the group that was at the bar? Two of them are dead and the other’s sitting in prison. Are there more of them?”

She squints at Lana and acts like that’s a ridiculous question,
Dente: “They’re part of a whole cartel, what do you think? Yes! This is part of why I need to slip out of here quietly.”

She grabs Dente by the neck,
Lana: “Act like that again, and I will drag you outside by the tail, throw you at the closest object in sight, and yell for the rangers. Got it?”

Her head quickly bobs up and down.

Lana: “Good. I got more questions, but I think I see Pickford’s campsite ahead.”

3/3 Buckwheat 2026/04/10(Fri)22:05 No. 1125041 ID: ac2578
File 177585871813.png - (7.10KB , 800x600 , 84.png )

We walk in, but no-one’s here!
Kaari: “Pickford? Pickford are you-”

Lana: “Keep your voice lowered. Last thing we need is an echo giving us away.”

Kaari: “Oh, right. Hey you don’t think he left for the day. Do you?”

Lana: “That would be our luck.”

Dente: “Maybe the poachers got him?”

Lana: “Doubtful, unless they have guns. I don’t think even two of me could take that guy down.”
Lana looks over at me,
Lana: “What do you think Kaari? Do you think we should stick around and see if Pickford comes back, or go look around for him?”

Kaari: “What if we get lost?”

Dente: “What if we get found?

Lana: “Not making this any easier of a choice, are you?”

Is that a medkit in the background ? Should probably open it up and see what's inside if that's the case

>>1125041
Take stock of what's in the room. I don't want to steal from him, but this is a bit of an emergency so we might have to borrow without permission if there's something essential.

Find a hiding place for Dente here, so that anyone who comes won’t immediately spot her, and it’ll just be two tourists hanging out in the mines

>>1125054
that, and won't it be dark soon? Sneaking through the woods off the path is a little dangerous but the likeliest way to get away scott free.

But back up, she said this second group wants her to do something for them so they're blackmailing her? Why doesn't she just do it then?

>>1125054
This is a sound plan. If rangers who arent judith burst in, act like theyre legit.
Just tell them you wanted to say bye to pickford and thank him again for earlier.

Theyll lijely think their cover is working and be less likely to turn the room over and break that cover.

Also, the med kit, if it indeed is one, worth checking.

1/3 Buckwheat 2026/05/05(Tue)22:52 No. 1126402 ID: ac2578
File 177802153978.png - (7.10KB , 800x600 , 85.png )

>Is that a medkit in the background?
>I don't want to steal from him, but this is a bit of an emergency so we might have to borrow without permission if there's something essential.
>Also, the med kit, if it indeed is one, worth checking.
We still have our own first-aid kit. No need to take from his, yet. Hopefully…

>back up, she said this second group wants her to do something for them so they're blackmailing her? Why doesn't she just do it then?
Kaari: “Wait, so the poachers are the ones blackmailing you, right?”

Dente: “Right.”

Kaari: “To do…what?”

Dente: “Make sap.”

Kaari: “Why don’t you just make sap for them then?”

Dente: “Because… I don’t want to? Not to mention the other things they’re doing!”

Kaari: “Well, like what? Mention them.”

Dente: “No! Quit asking about what they’ve done to me.”

Lana “Okay, alright. Just, drop it. Let’s just focus on a plan.”

>Find a hiding place for Dente here, so that anyone who comes won’t immediately spot her, and it’ll just be two tourists hanging out in the mines.
>This is a sound plan. If rangers who aren’t Judith burst in, act like they’re legit.
>Just tell them you wanted to say bye to Pickford and thank him again for earlier.
Kaari: “Okay, what if we just hide Dente? Then if any other rangers show up, we just act like we’re tourists. Tell them we’re looking to say goodbye to Pickford.”

Lana: “Not the worst idea, not a lot of places to hide her though.”

Kaari: “What about the dynamite crates? Think if we sit her down on the bottom one, we could flip over the top one.”

Dente: “You’re going to cage me up in some wood crates?”

Lana: “You got any better ideas?”

Dente: “We-we run further into the cave.”

Kaari: “And get lost?”

Lana: “I vote with Kaari, majority rules. In the crate you go.”

2/3 Buckwheat 2026/05/05(Tue)22:52 No. 1126403 ID: ac2578
File 177802157161.png - (6.60KB , 800x600 , 86.png )

We then proceed to stuff her in between two crates.

Dente: “Feels like I got shoved into a locker-”

Lana: “Quiet, someone’s coming.”

3/3 Buckwheat 2026/05/05(Tue)22:54 No. 1126404 ID: ac2578
File 177802164605.png - (7.25KB , 800x600 , 87.png )

We cautiously wait as boots quickly clunk around the cave.
A bear with a sun hat stomps into the room with us. She’s got quite the grizzly look on her face when she sees us.

Bear: “Stay where you are. What are you two hooligans sneaking around here for?”

Kaari: “Sneaking around? We were just looking to say goodbye to Pickford.”

Bear: “Hellos, goodbyes, doesn’t matter. You’re well off the public trail for the mine tours. I want the two of you out of here with me, now.”

Lana: “Even if we were given permission to be back here? We happen be pretty good friends of Pickford. Who are you anyway?”

Rosary: “Chief Ranger Rosary.”

She flashes a shiny badge at us. I try to read it, but it shines in my eyes too much to see anything.

Rosary: “Friends or not, I don’t really care. I got reports that a dangerous group has been causing issues here in the mines. Now, you can either follow me back to the station for some questions or I can detain you here and let the authorities deal with you.”

>>1126404
>flashes shiny badge, no chance to read it
Ask to see it again, slower. It could easily be fake. If she refuses then you're gonna have to prepare for a fight, and she's pretty big so I think to prepare for that fight you're gonna want to use what's around you to help.

Ask if she has a radio on her.

If she claims she does, then tell her she should have known that you were told by Judith to meet with Pitchford here for Lana’s injury as we wait for Judith to ride you out of here. If she was a chief ranger and it was a problem, she as chief ranger should have responded to the radio call saying we shouldn’t do that, and we wouldn’t be in this situation to begin with.

If she doesn’t have a radio, ask why not?


Regardless of how she responds, tell her you’d rather wait for Judith or Pitchford to get you out.

The budget must be super thin if even the chief ranger has to provide her own hat. How about letting us see that badge at a legible pace?

It's just that there's dangerous criminals around and we'd like a little reassurance.

>>1126404
"Can i see that badge again?
Im going to need your number for when i call my representative."
Channel your inner Karen.

Buckwheat 2026/05/07(Thu)23:03 No. 1126478 ID: ac2578
File 177819502039.png - (7.25KB , 800x600 , 88.png )

>Ask to see it again, slower. It could easily be fake.
>Can i see that badge again?
>How about letting us see that badge at a legible pace?
Kaari: “Okay, instead of shining your badge in my face. Can you just let me read it?”

She pulls it out again, and holds it steady. Still shines in my face a bit, but at least I can make it out.

Kaari: “H.P.N.T: Chief Ranger.”

I have no idea how to tell if her badge is real or not. If I get the chance, I can radio that in to Judith to verify.

>Ask if she has a radio on her.
Kaari: “Do you have a radio on you, Chief Ranger Rosary?”

Rosary: “Yes. Why do you ask?”

Kaari: “Just a few moments ago, we had radioed in for Ranger Judith to come help us here. Lana-”

Rosary: “Now hold up, you radioed for another ranger? Where did you get a park radio to do that?”

Kaari: “She lent it to us. You can go radio her to verify that if you want.”

Rosary: “Yeah, let me just leave two suspicious individuals hanging around an un-permitted area, unsupervised. If I’m walking out of here, the two of you are coming with me.”

Lana: “Shouldn’t you have heard our emergency call to her yourself?”

Rosary: “There have been no alerts in the last hour to switch over to the emergency frequency on the radios. If you contacted her on her personal frequency, no one else would have heard. If that was the case though, she should have put out a request to tune into the emergency frequency.”

She looks the two of us over some more.
Rosary: “Don’t see any blood here, both of you are standing just fine. Please do tell me what your emergency was?”

This pushy attitude of hers is wearing a bit thin on me. She… she sounds like she knows the radio system pretty well though. Ugh, I don’t think I can tell if she’s faking it or just a jerk.

>she's pretty big so I think to prepare for that fight you're gonna want to use what's around you to help.
>Regardless of how she responds, tell her you’d rather wait for Judith or Pitchford to get you out.
If we end up having to fight, I don’t think I should tell her about Lana’s leg injury. Shifting my eyes around the room, I could probably flip the poker table over for cover. There’s a rusty pick-ax hanging up and a hard hat as well.
We could try stalling her for time instead. Keep trying to wait it out for Judith or Pickford to show up.

>>1126478
Show her the injury. Should be blood visible on the bandages.

Going to the entrance to call Judith to confirm your story should be ok, tbh.

OBJECTION!

>Kaari: “Just a few moments ago, we had radioed in for Ranger Judith to come help us here. Lana-”

>Lana: “Shouldn’t you have heard our emergency call to her yourself?”

>Rosary: “There have been no alerts in the last hour to switch over to the emergency frequency on the radios. If you contacted her on her personal frequency, no one else would have heard. If that was the case though, she should have put out a request to tune into the emergency frequency.”

>She looks the two of us over some more.
>Rosary: “Don’t see any blood here, both of you are standing just fine.”

I caught her lying, because Not once did we ever say anything about the emergency being an injury to her. We were about to before she interrupted. And yet she specifically said there was no blood, and that we were standing just fine. If she didn’t hear our conversation with Judith, then how could she have known!? She was specific about blood and us standing too. The only explanation is if she was listening in on our radio conversation. So why didn’t she say anything in our radio chat?! At this point, I’m confident the ranger chief as very untrustworthy, if she even is a chief.

(Just to point out, just because she is a chief doesn’t mean she isn’t working for the bad guys)

>>1126485
Yes! This!

Just want to add, don’t show off Lana’s injury in case we are forced to fight. It’s better for her to believe we are lying about Lana’s injury so she isnt confident to come closer. It is irrelevant because we know she is lying right now about not hearing our conversations with Judith. That is what we need to focus on. We can show the injury as proof when Judith gets here.

>>1126485
Oooh.
Good spotting.
Theres a chance its a mistake on her part but... i dont think so.
Even if it was, a good objection like this will buy the time we need to delay.

1/2 Buckwheat 2026/05/14(Thu)00:12 No. 1126782 ID: ac2578
File 177871756825.png - (7.37KB , 800x600 , 89.png )

>I caught her lying, because Not once did we ever say anything about the emergency being an injury to her.
>she specifically said there was no blood, and that we were standing just fine. If she didn’t hear our conversation with Judith, then how could she have known!?
Think I’ve got a great way to put that theory to the test.
Kaari: “That’s it, I’m putting out a call on Judith’s signal.”

Lana: “Kaari, the mine’s interfering with sending anything out.”

Rosary: “Exactly, return that radio to me now.”

I push down on the button and start speaking.
Kaari: “Who said I was trying to reach Judith?”

Rosary’s Radio: “Who said I was trying to reach Judith?”

Kaari: “You lied to us about not hearing our call to Judith, you’re tuned into her frequency. You heard we called for help with Lana’s leg. Why else would you have pointed out seeing us still standing-”

2/2 Buckwheat 2026/05/14(Thu)00:14 No. 1126784 ID: ac2578
File 177871764458.png - (7.31KB , 800x600 , 90.png )

She pulls out a small axe from the back of her belt.
Rosary: “Alright game’s over then you smartass rabbit. Either of you move and this axe is going through your skulls.”

Lana: “Alright, what do you want from us then?”

Rosary: “First, you’re going to call off the rangers, then you’re going to tell me where that damn fox is hiding. If I like your answer, you get to sit tight in our hideout. If I don’t, one of you gets to be target practice.”

Okay…this is. We’re not dead, and still have a chance to turn this around. Question is, how?
We could try to stall some more for Judith or even Pickford to show up.

I-I could probably swing the table at her, or use it as protection from the axe. There’s a pick on the wall I could grab, and Lana’s got that knife she found.

There’s…there’s Dente as well. Not sure if we can call out for her to do anything but it seems like the bear doesn't realize she's here.

Stall or fight, I’m going to need a solid plan to get out of this.

She doesn't know about the knife. A sneak attack is on the table.

Anyway, tell her there's no way she can kill you here and get away with it, so that means her axe is useless unless she wants to spend the rest of her life behind bars.
She'll probably respond to this by attacking you non-lethally, and well, the knife will even the scales.

...or you could just fucking scream for Pickford. He's gotta be nearby at least, right? Sound should carry pretty well through the mines.

How are you supposed to call off the rangers? You aren't their boss so what are you supposed to say, that you're being kidnapped? Won't that just get the police involved?

as for the fox tell her you came in the mines to ditch her, she's a trouble magnet you'd rather avoid.

>>1126784
Ok.
Im goingbto suggest using a jedi mind trick to get an advantage on what were doing.
Lock eyes with her.
Be light on your feet like youre ready to fight or dodge.
You hold that stare.
Then, you glance to her left quickly and then back to her eyes.
She is alone.
In a escalating fight situation.
There are at least three additional threats she does not know the location of.
The possibility you glanced at someone sneaking to hit her is high.
Shes alert.
Ready to react.
She'll react to the imagined threat.
At that point, you have a mijiscule advantage on whatever it is youre going to do.

Grabbing knife? Running away?
Hurling tools at the scary bear?
I dont know which.
But try the eye thing and it might give you an extra second of action when it all starts.

Lana is a skilled fighter as a former bouncer. You're more skilled in diplomacy thanks to experience dealing with drunk angry unruly customers at the bar.

Take out your phone, and have Lana take out hers and pretend you are recording this. Yes, we're aware the phone doesn't actually record videos, but she doesn't know that. The key here is bluff.

Let her know that if she attacks, it'll be on camera. If she attacks one of us, the other will take that opportunity to escape with evidence, and then she'll have both the rangers, And the police to worry about. Not to mention she'll by that point have blood on her hands with the rangers still on their way. Suggest that right now, it will be for her best interest to cut her losses, and just leave while she still can, let us two enjoy the rest of the date, and we can all forget this ever happened.

1/2 Buckwheat 2026/06/04(Thu)01:08 No. 1127608 ID: ac2578
File 178053528619.png - (5.78KB , 800x600 , 91.png )

>How are you supposed to call off the rangers?
Kaari: “How do you expect us to call off the rangers? The cave blocks the radio signals. You plan on holding us hostage, threaten me with your axe to call Judith. You realize if she’s out there and sees us, you’re done for.”

She gives me a nasty look.

>just leave while she still can, let us two enjoy the rest of the date, and we can all forget this ever happened.
>as for the fox tell her you came in the mines to ditch her, she's a trouble magnet you'd rather avoid.
Kaari: “Look, we ran into the mine to ditch the fox. She’s been nothing but trouble for us tonight and we just want to enjoy the rest of our date. Is that too much to ask for?”

She raises her axe,
Rosary “Then where is she?!”

>Lock eyes with her. Be light on your feet like youre ready to fight or dodge. You hold that stare. Then, you glance to her left quickly and then back to her eyes.
>There are at least three additional threats she does not know the location of. The possibility you glanced at someone sneaking to hit her is high.
I lock eyes with her and prepare to dodge.

2/2 Buckwheat 2026/06/04(Thu)01:08 No. 1127609 ID: ac2578
File 178053530378.png - (5.62KB , 800x600 , 92.png )

Then I glance over her and look surprised. The bear falls for it and looks behind her.

I flip the poker table over and take cover. I hear the loud splintering of wood and look up-

Kaari: “Lana! I wanna go home now!”

The bear is snarling, Lana’s pulling out her knife.

I can’t stop nervously thumping my paw! What in the world do I do?

Push table! Call Lana to help. bear can't pull out the axe if she's dealing with that. And Lana can, I guess, stab her in the face. more psychological trauma but she can deal with that later.

Grab the chair, help Lana pin the fucker in. Remember, you don't have to somehow beat this guy in a fight, all you need to do is make it not worth it to keep trying to attack you and the best way to do that is to make trying to fight you miserable. Close call, but he doesn't have the axe anymore. You have a chair, lana's knife, and potentially that pickaxe above you if things get REALLY awful somehow and you still need another weapon.

>>1127610
Yeah. I like it.
Pull push or slide the table with the axe in it.
Disarm bear or at least make retrieval difficult.

Youve gotta be mad too.
This was a date.
Somewhere calming to get over trauma, and it was.
Then these ASSholes...
So, loud angry noises
Fill the air with profanity, yelling and insults about that bears parentage.

And hope the noise brings in help.

1/4 Buckwheat 2026/06/11(Thu)02:12 No. 1127926 ID: ac2578
File 178114392411.png - (7.50KB , 800x600 , 93.png )

>Push table!
>Grab the chair, help Lana pin the fucker in.
>Call Lana to help.

Kaari: “Lana! Help!”

I get up and charge at the bear with the table.
I feel the impact, and hear the heavy thud. Snarls of pain and anger reach their way into my ears. She’s pissed and so am I!

>This was a date. Somewhere calming to get over trauma, and it was.
>So, loud angry noises. Fill the air with profanity.

Kaari: “This was supposed to be a nice relaxing date for us you rotten shit head sap poacher! Fuck you for making me re-live through everything I’ve been trying to get over!”

Claws scrape against the table and I hear the axe being tugged on.

Kaari: “Lana! She’s grabbing the axe! Do something!”

2/4 (CW: Blood) Buckwheat 2026/06/11(Thu)02:12 No. 1127927 ID: ac2578
File 178114397162.png - (8.38KB , 800x800 , 94.png )

Knife towards the bear, Lana hisses as she charges in to strike. I peek over the table and watch as the knife goes deep into the poacher’s arm. Another loud roar of pain booms through the mine. Lana tugs and tries to pull out the knife, but she’s struggling.

3/4 (CW:Blood) Buckwheat 2026/06/11(Thu)02:13 No. 1127928 ID: ac2578
File 178114400376.png - (6.92KB , 800x800 , 95.png )

A fist retaliates and sends Lana crashing down. There’s… blood on the ground.

Something’s in my paw. Then…

4/4 (CW: Blood) Buckwheat 2026/06/11(Thu)02:53 No. 1127932 ID: ac2578
File 178114641127.png - (10.20KB , 800x800 , 96b.png )

Now it’s her blood on the ground…

Don't think about it. tear it out
She won't have time to think when she's staring at the kind of injury no one expects to get.
don't think about it. hit her again

>>1127934
Yeah
Swing low.
Take her knee.
Youre short, perfe t height.
Resist urge to yell timber

don’t want to kill, it’ll complicate things.
I think at this moment, she understands, or will understand the life threatening situation she is in now.
Let her know that right now, the knife and pickaxe is acting as a plug to keep her blood in, and you suggest she doesn’t pull this out, sit down and wait for the ranger to get here to get her to a hospital to treat her internal injuries.

Rapid foot thumping to show how serious you are.

Welp
Dig the pickaxe into her ribcage and pull it off like a crowbar until she surrenders.

1/3 (CW: Blood) Buckwheat 2026/06/27(Sat)04:11 No. 1128630 ID: ac2578
File 178253347392.png - (6.74KB , 800x600 , 97.png )

>don't think about it. hit her again
>Take her knee. You’re short, perfect height.
I AM NOT SHORT! I pull out the pick and-

>don’t want to kill, it’ll complicate things.
-slam the blunt end into her knee and knock her down.

Kaari: “Get back up and I’ll dig into your legs next!”

I…try not to look at her, there’s too much blood for me to stomach. I feel... queasy.

2/3 (CW:Blood) Buckwheat 2026/06/27(Sat)04:11 No. 1128632 ID: ac2578
File 178253350869.png - (4.52KB , 800x600 , 98.png )

I rush over to Lana’s side
Kaari: “Are you okay? Here, let me help you up.”

She doesn’t answer, only groaning in pain. I grab her by the arms and struggle to lift her.

Kaari: “Come on Laaaanaaa, you need to get up! Help me out here.”

Ugh! She’s not saying or doing anything! I try shouting for help again,

Kaari: “Judith! Pickford! Come on we need some help here!”

3/3 Buckwheat 2026/06/27(Sat)04:12 No. 1128633 ID: ac2578
File 178253354392.png - (6.53KB , 800x800 , 99.png )

The clunking and smashing of footsteps echo. A tall figure stands in the entryway of the room. Eyes darting across the scene, then focusing on me.

Pickford: “Thought I told you’s to stay safe and stick to the trails.”

His gaze shifts over to the snarly, bleeding bear. Then back at me.

Pickford: “Gotta a lot of questions for you missy, lets focus on the most pressin one for now. How we going to haul an injured bear out of my mine.”

>>1128633
Tell him it's probably a bad idea to do that anyway. Someone call EMS, they can take her out on a stretcher or something. Right now we need to stop the bleeding. Get that medkit. If there's any sedatives in there, we can use them to knock her out, which will allow you to smuggle Dente out without the poachers knowing for sure that you did it.

It will take a while for EMS to get here, after she's stable. In that time Lana will probably wake up and then we can go find somewhere to hide. Pickford's advice will help there. If Pickford insists on taking Rosary out of the caves, then... maybe he can put her on the table and drag her out on that.

>"How we going to haul an injured bear out of my mine.”

Tell him that Judith is already on her way with a wheelchair, but it seems we might need a second one....

Her friends are no doubt watching the entrance. Going out doesn't seem like a good idea.

and while we're at it maybe Pickford could explain why he told us to "stay safe" and not "the forest is infested with vermin. You need to leave."

Buckwheat 2026/06/28(Sun)16:37 No. 1128682 ID: ac2578
File 178266463579.png - (7.32KB , 800x600 , 100.png )

>maybe Pickford could explain why he told us to "stay safe" and not "the forest is infested with vermin. You need to leave."
Kaari: “Why didn’t you warn us it’d be a good idea to leave instead of just, stay safe."

Pickford: “Didn’t know things were this bad ‘round here. Bum rangers…

>Right now we need to stop the bleeding. Get that medkit.
>Her friends are no doubt watching the entrance. Going out doesn't seem like a good idea.
Kaari: “Ugh, moving her probably isn’t a good idea. She’s probably got others watching the entrance to the mine. Anything useful in the medkit hanging up there? Should try to wrap her up and get her stable.”

He rushes over and pulls a roll of gauze out from the kit.
Pickford: “Don’t make me regret showing ya some mercy now.”

She snarls out in pain, but allows him to dress up the wound.

>Tell him that Judith is already on her way with a wheelchair, but it seems we might need a second one...
Kaari: “Judith’s suppose to be heading our way with a wheelchair for Lana, we might need a second one now.”

He points at the bear,
Pickford: “Probably crush the darn thing putting her into one. Gonna need a stretcher… maybe even a forklift to haul this one out.”

Rosary: “I AM NOT THAT FUCKING HEAVY!”

Pickford: “Mmm, maybe fer a bear you ain’t. Now pipe down ‘fore I get tempted to leave ya to bleed out here.”

>Someone call EMS
Kaari: “We’ll have to get emergency services in here.”

Pickford: “All’s I got is my radio, don’t work so good in here though. Have to head out and radio in fer it.”

Kaari: “I have is my cell phone, but if she’s got others watching the entrance to this place I’m not taking any chances.”

Pickford: “I’ll make the call then, if you don’t mind letting me borrow it.”

He looks over at the bear,
Pickford: “Course, that leaves you alone with her… Shoot.”

>>1128682
I don't think Rosary's moving around like that. You have the pickaxe and the axe, too. I guess if needed you could tie her up a bit.
Lana, though, is she coming around?

Leave something heavy on her legs, like that box of dynamite. It won't exacerbate her injuries since her legs are fine, and if she tries to move it, Kaari can stab her before she has time to get loose.

>Pickford: “Course, that leaves you alone with her… Shoot.”
We can probably use a minecart to wheel her out of here with him. Is there one nearby? Meanwhile you'll stay with Lana and wait for the wheelchair, you'd rather not have to sit with that scary bear after what she put you through.

This will give us time to get that jinx of a fox out of the crates without the donkey knowing.

>>1128735
Mine cart. Maybe a wheel barrow.

1/2 Buckwheat 2026/07/18(Sat)13:56 No. 1129456 ID: ac2578
File 178438300835.png - (7.08KB , 800x600 , 101.png )

>Mine cart. Maybe a wheel barrow.
Kaari: “Think we could hold her down with a mine cart?”

Pickford: “No. Take too long to run an grab one. Might crush’er even.”

>Leave something heavy on her legs, like that box of dynamite.
We’re using those boxes to hide Dente. We could flip the table over and put that on her though.

>I don't think Rosary's moving around like that. You have the pickaxe and the axe, too.
You know what, yeah screw it! I can chop her down again.
Kaari: “Okay, I’ll stand watch and you can radio in for more help then Pickford.”

Pickford: “Okay.”

He turns to the bear on his way out,
Pickford: “Mess with’em two anymore. Make you wish you bled out.”

> Lana, though, is she coming around?
I glance back over at Lana, she’s still on the ground. I can hear her groaning a bit.

2/2 Buckwheat 2026/07/18(Sat)13:58 No. 1129457 ID: ac2578
File 178438311140.png - (8.65KB , 800x800 , 102.png )

It gets tense waiting for him to come back. Stupid bear goes and breaks the silence.

Rosary: “Hope I gave your girlfriend a concussion.”

Kaari: “Hope you get life without parole for what you did.”

She groans out in pain,
Rosary: “I-I’ve…got cash and resources to bail and run, rabbit. Wh-what do you have?”

Kaari: “I have my loving girlfriend Lana, and she’s all I’ll ever need!”
Rosary: “Enough to-”

She starts breaking out into a coughing fit.
Rosary: “-protect you from what’s next? Word gets out you did this to me. It’s rabbit season.”

There’s a long pause of silence, broken up by her shallow breathing.
Rosary: “You want to go through that? You…do you want her to go through that?”

I clench onto the pickax.
Kaari: “No. I’m not going to let that happen either.”

Rosary: “Wh-what do you plan on doing about that then?”

My mind starts racing all over the place.
I could finish her right here, right now. Maybe get Pickford and Judith to tell a cover up story for things, throw Dente under the bus even. Could say she did it. Yeah!

Ugh, maybe that’s jumping the gun though. Could try bargaining with her. Could I even trust her word though?

I need to think of something, I am not letting myself dragged into this mess any further!

Okay, what benefit does she get from telling us this? The fact that she is saying these things to you means she fears prison more than death for some reason and wants you to finish her off... if she's not the gang leader, could the actual leader be scary enough to punish her in prison and make her suffer a fate worse than death? I can't think of any other reason why she would want us to kill her other than not wanting to talk in trial.

In any case, I don't think this is a petty enough crime for her to simply help her bail out of prison. And if for some reason it is, there's always witness protection services, which would suck, but it is what it is. She is just trying to scare you into acting.

For now, just ask why in the world she would even be telling you this stuff, other than to scare you into murdering her? What does she have to gain? What's she scared about?

>>1129457
Shes trying to get you to finish her.
Dont buy it.

Everything she said reinforces a position that her surviving this is bad for you.
If she wanted to survive she wouldnt share any of this.
Therefore;
Shes either trying to get you close enough so she can try to overpower you.
Or
She actually fears the consequences of being taken alive.

its gotta be bait. She's important, she's got connections. yeah? Whys she down in a hole then? Nobody lower down the totem pole you could have sent to intimidate two nobodies? You bluff as well as you threaten.

1/2 Buckwheat 2026/08/12(Wed)22:35 No. 1130903 ID: ac2578
File 178657413599.png - (7.96KB , 800x800 , 103.png )

>Everything she said reinforces a position that her surviving this is bad for you. If she wanted to survive she wouldn’t share any of this.
>Shes either trying to get you close enough so she can try to overpower you. Or, she actually fears the consequences of being taken alive.
Kaari: “I’m not playing these games or falling for your tricks. Whatever happens…

>there's always witness protection services, which would suck, but it is what it is. She is just trying to scare you into acting.
Kaari: “We have resources of our own stay safe.”

Rosary: “A nobody fleabag who can’t even handle bartending has resources?”

How does she know I bartend, or about my fleas even?

Rosary: “You’re out in open fields rabbit. When we-”

I snap and cut here off!

Kaari: “Would you just shut up! I don’t care what care happens to you, or what your stupid sap poachers or drug dealer friends want to do! At this point, I’m more worried about what’s going to happen to Lana!”

2/2 Buckwheat 2026/08/12(Wed)22:35 No. 1130904 ID: ac2578
File 178657414930.png - (5.10KB , 800x600 , 104.png )

I turn back over to Lana, she’s still on the ground.
Kaari: “Lana, please get up. You’ve got me worried sick here.”
She’s still out of it, making the occasional groan. I almost debate lifting her head up to check for blood, but help finally rushes into the cave.

Judith: “Get the panther on the stretcher and move her to the back of the ranger! Pickford, work with first responders to keep that bear stable till the ambulance arrives. Kaari, follow along and fill me in!”
I start following but look back at the crates where Dente’s hiding. Should I…say anything about her?

hmmm, yeah she might be running out of air. But not here, once you're out of earshot of the bear let Judith know there's someone hiding from the poachers in the box.

The only other person who knew about your fleas is Luanne. You only really told Lana about it, but she showed up at Lana’s place when you were there with fleas. If anyone told her about you, it’s probably Luanne.

Oh yeah, you have to let her know when the bear is out of earshot. tell her to stop/slowdown and let her know now.

A few things stick put about the criminals.
- The weird gargling water noise from the sink coincided with that happening to Lana's sink. In the bar the water was suspicious. In Lana's house, the water bubbled and she passed out - was there gas or poison in it?

- Kaari had her water turned off and it lead to her flea troubles.

Do the criminals have access to the water piping somehow?

- SOMEONE at the bar spiked the champaigne, either the whole bottle or the drinks. Not to mention sabotaged the bar in general, probably to get the band to quit early or something.

While Luanne does know about the fleas issue and her bartending, its not a stretch that Kaari was watched by the criminals at some point.

Dente wouldn't know about the fleas unless he heard it from the talk with Judith. And Judith seems too legit in general. Luanne seems to know both but why would she help Lana then?

I think the bear bugged Judiths office. That would let her keep tabs on the rangers to evade them. And would explain how she knows about bartending/fleas as it was talked about with Judith.

Another note with the criminals, they were entirely too willing to get civvies to kill them or finish them. Either they're spiteful enough to get civvies in trouble for murder in non-self defense (implying a cop is in on this) or they fear getting caught and 'bailed out'.

When you get back home, probably best to double check your sink and check if there's any sign of intrusion or theft (or surveilance bugs).

First priority, tell Judith poachers are pretending to be Rangers, have badges, and were listening in on the frequency you were using.

The wolverine you chased away earlier also had a radio, so its clear the poachers were spying on the rangers or have someone on the inside who knows how things work. Make sure anyone using the radio can properly ID themselves as an actual ranger (ID number, full name, etc) or switches to another frequency.

And if you catch the Wolverine or other poachers, check their frequency, it might be the one used by their criminal group to spy on THEM.

First off, tell her that these aren't just random poachers that she's dealing with. This is an organized crime syndicate with ties to a drug cartel. They also know way too much about how the rangers operate; enough to impersonate them and spy on them at least, and possibly to infiltrate them at worst. Some of her coworkers might be compromised; they're clearly not above blackmail after all. This is probably something that is going to require a coordinated law enforcement response.

Before you say anything about Dente, pause for a moment. Mention that Rosary knew that you had fleas for seemingly no reason. Then bring up the fact that Judith also knew you had fleas without you having said anything to her about them, all the way back at the ranger station. Play it off as a fit of paranoia — "first the water pipes, now this" — but ask her how she knew.

>>1130907
Yeah. This.

1/2 Buckwheat 2026/09/17(Thu)23:42 No. 1132084 ID: ac2578
File 178968854632.png - (8.52KB , 800x800 , 105.png )

>once you're out of earshot of the bear let Judith know there's someone hiding from the poachers in the box.
Kaari: “I-I can talk once we’re out of the mine. Is th-that okay?”

She nods silently and wraps her arm over my shoulder, escorting me out.

>First priority, tell Judith poachers are pretending to be Rangers, have badges, and were listening in on the frequency you were using.
>This is an organized crime syndicate with ties to a drug cartel. They also know way too much about how the rangers operate; enough to impersonate them and spy on them at least

Kaari: “Judith, that bear had a ranger badge, she heard everything we talked about on your frequency. She… knew things about me and Lana. Things we didn’t even talk about!”

She’d pat my back as Lana is hauled out on the stretcher.
Judith: “That’s concerning…but it’s going to be okay. I’m here for you, and the other rangers are taking care of her while we wait for the ambulance. You’ll be fine.”

Kaari: “There was someone else with us in the mine; she’s hiding inside some hollow crates. Do not let the bear find her. Her poachers are after her.”

Judith: “Should I know why they’re looking for her?”

I bite my lip and hesitate.
Kaari: “Uh…I’ll leave it up to her if she wants to talk about it. She’s…it sounds like there’s a lot going on I think. Just be careful with this, I’m thinking these poachers are actually an organized crime group, not just some random band of sap suckers.”

Judith: “That bad huh?”

She pulls out her radio,
Judith: “This is Judith reporting, begin code red protocol. Over and out.”

Then, she dials to another channel and continues.

Judith: “This is Judith, second instructions. I want a list of names and badge numbers on my desk of every park ranger you run into. Full description of appearance. Radios are only for emergency communication until the situation is over. Over.”

Anturo: “Geez Judy, busting our balls a bit there? You know how much paper work that is. Who made you head ranger? Over.”

Judith: “Judith reporting, emergency situation, emergency communications only. Thanks for volunteering to keep eyes on the front gate for the ambulance. Over and out.”

She shakes her head,
Judith: “That should hopefully spook any eavesdroppers on the radios, or slow them down a bit.”

Kaari: “I-if you think so.”

With a firm pat on my back, she stands up.
Judith: “Come on, lets get you two up the front gate.”

2/2 Buckwheat 2026/09/17(Thu)23:43 No. 1132085 ID: ac2578
File 178968862792.png - (6.13KB , 800x600 , 106.png )

Everything feels like it just flashes by. First I’m in the jeep, then I’m getting in the car with Judith-

Babs: “Name of the patient PLEASE.”

Kaari: “Huh?”

Judith: “You okay there? You keep zoning out on me. We’re in the waiting room at the hospital.”

Kaari: “Waiting room?”

Babs: “Listen, if you want to visit someone I need to know the NAME OF THE PATIENT. You’re holding up the line.”

We look around and there’s no one else in the room.

Kaari: “Her name’s Lana, big purple panther that just got hauled in here.”

Babs: “Okay, one second here…”

She clacks away at the keyboard.

Babs: “YOUR name now please.”

Kaari: “Kaari-”

Babs: “Not on the visitation or emergency contact list. Are you immediate family and able to provide an ID to prove so?”

Kaari: “No.”

Babs: “NEXT IN LINE!”

Kaari: “She’s my girlfriend! Please, you have to let me see her!”

Babs: “No, actually I don’t. If you don’t need anything else I’m gonna have to ask you to leave the lobby.”

Kaari: “Can I at least wait out here until she’s okay?”

Babs: “No.”

Judith flashes her park badge,
Judith: “I’m a ranger over at the Hazel Pointe Nature Trail. The patient we’re looking for-”

Babs: “Are you law enforcement, yes or no?”

Judith: “No.”

Babs: “Then no, you’re not visiting her either. LEAVE before I have security escort you out.”

I start shaking, this is… this is really bad.
I have no idea how Lana’s doing, not to mention she has the house and car keys. I can’t drive home.
I’d have to go back to my flea filled apartment.
I don’t know if Lana’s okay.
She could be in there, dying alone without me.

What am I going to do? I’m going to be stranded outside in the cold!

Try to admit yourself as a patient. That bear did try to attack you, and maybe she hurt you without you realizing it, you can ask for a checkup there, and even if there is no physical pain, you are suffering from PTSD from what just happened, and from the bar. And if that doesn’t don’t work, you were suffering from fleas, you could check and see if you got diseased from that, though that is a long shot. Perhaps one of the doctors you get can show empathy and allow you to see Lana.

If all else fails, ask Judith if she has any place you could spend the night.

Immediate plan: move off to the side out of the way, stay in this lobby until they kick you out.

while waiting, ask Judith if she knows somewhere you could crash for a night. Or do you have anyone from the bar's number?

Call one of the band members number and see if they can let you spend the night, they owe you one.

That is an uncharacteristically hostile clerk. Either she's a very much a hardass by nature, pissed for work-related reasons, you somehow offended her, or she's preventing you visiting Lana on purpose / there's more to this.

Can we contact/know a member of Lana's family (or the 'emergency contact'), or ask for their number?

As for being kicked out of the lobby I doubt she can do that if you simply claim you are waiting for an unrelated friend (whos identity is 'none of your business') in the hospital to leave/chaffeur, and would rather not stand out in the cold when its clearly empty and not disturbing anyone.

The alternative is asking to be admitted as you might be undergoing some kind of shock/trauma/concussion, as you are literally zoning out and were with said patient during a violent altercation. Judith can prpbably play along.

Since Judith is a park ranger she might have outdoors supplies like a warm sleeping bag. You could ask to sleep in her car and be fairly warm and nearby.

As for getting around the clerk, you might be able to wait them out when their shift ends and someone less aggravating is present. Or ask if you can bring them a coffee or something to stay in the lobby at least.

And then there's the option of crashing out, crying and making her look really bad for kicking out a crying, distressed person out for very petty reasons.

And make a mental note to report her for her awful bedside manner.

Buckwheat 2026/09/22(Tue)02:28 No. 1132250 ID: ac2578
File 179004409586.png - (6.42KB , 800x600 , 107.png )

>Immediate plan: move off to the side out of the way, stay in this lobby until they kick you out.
I move off to the side with Judith.

Babs: “NEXT!”

>That is an uncharacteristically hostile clerk.
Almost starting to wonder if this lady is paying attention to anything? I- need to slow down and think. I can’t get kicked out.
>ask for a checkup
>asking to be admitted as you might be undergoing some kind of shock/trauma/concussion
This is the other bad thing about being unemployed now. No health insurance. I’ve already sunk a lot of my savings just trying to deal with fleas as it is. I can’t afford another hospital bill.

>ask Judith if she knows somewhere you could crash for a night.
>ask Judith if she has any place you could spend the night.
>ask to sleep in her car and be fairly warm and nearby.
Kaari: “H-hey Judith. Do you know anywhere I can stay for the night? I-I don’t really have anywhere to go since Lana’s got the house keys.”

Judith: “Uh, would offer one of the spare beds at the park if I felt things were safe. That and your uh…small friends would cause issues.”

Kaari: “Small friends- oh, right.”

Judith: “Same with my place, don’t want them getting into things either.”

I groan and snap back at her,
Kaari: “Okay, yeah! I get it.”

Judith: “Sorry. Bit of a tough arrangement to make. Just, let me think here.”

>Can we contact/know a member of Lana's family
Kaari: “While you think about that, I’m going to try and at least call Lana’s mom. Maybe if she’s here, they’ll let me visit Lana.”

Judith: “You do that. I’m going to try and come up with a plan b incase things don’t work out.”

I give her call and she picks up on the first ring.

Lana’s Mom: “I want answers, Kaari. What is going on at this park and why isn’t Lana answering her phone. Where are the two of you?”

Oooh…she sounds kinda angry! I don’t want to worry her too much here, feel like if she found out another date of ours turned out like this, she might even make Lana break up with me or something!

Lana’s Mom: “Kaari! Where are you and Lana! Can you even hear me? What is going on here!”

There’s quite a bit of background noise on the call.
I need to come up with something to tell her, and quick.

Lana's not going to let her mom blame you for this. now way no how

There's no reason to hide the truth. You were attacked by a gang hiding out in the park. No way you two could have known. Nothing you could have done to prevent it.

She should come as soon as she can though

>>1132252
Agreed. Truth will out.

Give the truth but avoid the whole 'criminal organization' stuff. Say you were at the park, that some bad people attacked the two of you, you fended them off together but Lana got hurt and got rushed to a clinic. And that a clerk is stonewalling you and a park ranger from knowing more.

You can give the phone to Judith to explain further in a more authorative manner.

Lanas mom might help you get past the clerk since she's family and can vouch for you or insist on knowing what Lanas status is.

You could also ask if she knows who Lanas emergency contact is, in case we can call them over immediately.

hmmm, is the father available? he might be more calm than Lana's mom.

>>1132257
If hes calmer then yeah.

1/2 Buckwheat 2026/09/23(Wed)00:38 No. 1132284 ID: ac2578
File 179012388476.png - (6.42KB , 800x600 , 108.png )

>Lana's not going to let her mom blame you for this. now way no how
>There's no reason to hide the truth
>Give the truth but avoid the whole 'criminal organization' stuff.
Kaari: “Uh-Sorry. Just, a lot went on. We got tangled up into some trouble and some jerks attacked us-”

Lana’s Mom: “Where are you!”

Kaari: “Uh-” I pull the phone away from me for a moment.
Kaari:“Judith! What hospital is this?”

Judith: “Rosewood Health and Trauma Center.”

Kaari: “We’re at the Rosewood Health and Trauma Center.”

I can hear a loud engine start up.

Lana’s Mom: “I better still have a daughter to see by the time I get there.”

The call ends, and I sigh with relief. Think her mom will chill out a bit once she's actually here.

2/2 Buckwheat 2026/09/23(Wed)00:38 No. 1132285 ID: ac2578
File 179012391875.png - (6.39KB , 800x600 , 109.png )

Babs: “Hey! Didn’t I tell the two of you to get out of my lobby? We’re very busy here tonight.”

Kaari: “We’re the only ones here in the lobby! Her mom is on the way, just give us some-”

A fanfare plays from her computer.

Babs: “Shit shit shit shit…”

Judith: “Are you seriously playing solitaire right now?”

A grin starts to curl up on me. Feels like she just passed me a free ticket to visit Lana. How should I press and call her out for it though?

Or… maybe I should just wait for Lana’s mom to get here as well. She might get even more worried if I’m not around to greet her. Maybe press the receptionist her for something else instead?

What should I do.

Apologize for being a bother and you'll get out of her lobby now. If she'll just give you the room number you'll be out of her hair immediately.

Politely imply you'll tell the patients mom, who is a 'Karen with cat claws', about her playing solitare while her daughter is in mortal danger.

That's potentially a 'lawsuit/fired' outcome and most certainly a terrifying large cat-woman in her face - much more unpleasant than you and Judith are.

...unless she straightens up her act/manners/professionalism and at the very least tells you what the medical status of Lana is and whether you OR the park ranger can visit her.

On the subject of visiting, you might want to avoid being too near her - she's in a sterile/hospital environment and your fleas are contagious / may lead to medical complications. Judith can do that for you, and she might be too out of it on drugs/unconscious/mid surgery to note your presence.

>>1132315
Yeah... careful you don't give her mom fleas.

"My girlfriend's mother is on her way here right now. She's a bit upset I couldn't tell her whether her daughter is still alive or not. When she gets here she's going to be asking questions. I understand you're a bit too "busy" to deal with her right now, but you know how worried mothers are. It could get a bit ugly. If you'll just tell me the room number, though -- and her status, and all the other things a worried mother will want to know -- then I'll take her back there and you won't have to deal with her at all. Sound good?"

1/2 Buckwheat 2026/09/27(Sun)06:38 No. 1132392 ID: da477c
File 179049112227.png - (6.41KB , 800x600 , 110.png )

>Apologize for being a bother and you'll get out of her lobby now. If she'll just give you the room number you'll be out of her hair immediately.
Kaari: “Sorry we interrupted your game of solitaire, but since you’re done now. Maybe you can let us visit my girlfriend!”

Babs: “I- I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m working here. I have to respect the patient’s privacy, if you’re not family or a contact you’ll have to wait in the lobby."

>Politely imply you'll tell the patients mom, who is a 'Karen with cat claws', about her playing solitaire while her daughter is in mortal danger.
>My girlfriend's mother is on her way here right now. She's a bit upset I couldn't tell her whether her daughter is still alive or not.
Kaari: “Oh, don’t worry then. Lana’s very upset mother with sharp, big cat claws is on her way. She’s pretty upset I don’t know if her daughter is alive or not. I bet she’d love to hear you’re playing video games on the computer instead of helping us out.”

The sheep tabs on the window.
Babs: “Bullet and Karen claws proof. Threaten me again and I really will have security escort you out. Now sit down and just be quiet.”

Ugh… at least she’s letting us wait in the lobby.

That stupid click clacking of her keyboard starts to get irritating. Then those stupid fleas start making my ears itch!

Judith: “Keep scratching at it like that and you’re going to end up making a mess. Try to just, sit tight.”

A phone rings and the stupid sheep answers it.

Babs: “Uh huh, yeah. Room One-oh-seven? Yeah, yeah. Oh, she’s asking for an ice pack? Have Bethany take care of it. I’m dealing with some park ranger pressing me for details. No, she hasn’t asked about the bear, she wants the cat. Yeah whatever no press, bye!”

She turns over to us and grins,

Babs: “That makes us even I hope.”

2/2 Buckwheat 2026/09/27(Sun)06:40 No. 1132393 ID: da477c
File 179049121613.png - (7.21KB , 800x600 , 111.png )

Then, the doors fly open and one angry momma cat comes stomping in.

Babs: “I take it you’re the mother then?”

Lana’s mom: “Yes, I’m here to check in and visit my daughter. Is that going to be a problem?”

Babs: “She’s being taken care of by one of nurses right now. It’ll be a moment before you can head in. Can I see your ID first ple-”

She chucks a card right at the window.

Lana’s Mom: “I expect to be the next one let in her room then. Understood?”

Babs: “Yes Misses uh, Joan-”

Joan: “Just, Joan is fine.”

She then turns to me and hisses out,
Joan: “Seriously?! The two of you can’t even walk in the park without ending up in the emergency room!”

Kaari: “Everything was going fine until-”

She snaps and cuts me off,
Joan: “Until yet again, my daughter is the one that ends up getting hurt!”

This argument isn't worth it, especially if she is just going to interrupt everything you'll say. Mother is just venting and emotional after her daughter got hurt, it's a reasonable crashout. Just tell Judith you need to sit down and have a mental break, and let Judith do the talking as you tune Joan out.

maaaaan you had to stab a bear with a pick today, you don't have to take this.
Tell her that if she thinks you owe Lana pain, then she can go ahead and claw you. Or what, are you supposed to feel guilty that by luck alone you weren't also hurt? Should you apologize that the axe didn't go an inch lower and split your skull open?

>>1132393
Dont argue.
Right now thats just standing between momma cat and what you both want.
Lana.

Maybe you need a valid crashout of your own, a catharsis. Cry. Cry that it's not your fault horrible things keep happening to you and your loved ones. That life insists on throwing shards of glass and trauma at your lives. That vile, uncaring people keep hurting you both.

>>1132393
Lana inherited her mothers protective nature. That nature saved you from being *waterboarded to death*. You wouldn't be ALIVE without her, and the torture still hurts. What mom is feeling now is what Lana feels for everyone she cares about.

Try to redirect her anger. Get angry yourself and say “I know, right??? It’s like this town is getting overrun by criminals these days, you can’t even go outside for a stroll anymore!”

1/2 Buckwheat 2026/09/28(Mon)02:48 No. 1132416 ID: da477c
File 179056370044.png - (7.23KB , 800x600 , 112.png )

>Maybe you need a valid crashout of your own, a catharsis.
>Lana inherited her mothers protective nature. That nature saved you from being *waterboarded to death*. You wouldn't be ALIVE without her, and the torture still hurts.
>maaaaan you had to stab a bear with a pick today, you don't have to take this. I feel my head explode!

Kaari: “I was water boarded in a bea- bar! I swung a pick ax into a bear’s gut! Don’t tell me I haven’t suffered!”

I start sobbing,
Kaari: “Neither of us would be alive right now without each other and you’re-you’re-”

>it's not your fault horrible things keep happening to you and your loved ones.
Kaari: “You’re acting like it’s MY FAULT! My fault that horrible things keeping happening to me and my girlfriend!”

I tune out whatever Judith is saying and continue,
>Tell her that if she thinks you owe Lana pain, then she can go ahead and claw you.
Kaari: “You think I need to feel pain too? Then go ahead, dig your claws into me like scratching post then! These fucking fleas are pissing me off!”

Joann: “Raking my claws into your skull isn’t going to make you a more responsible partner for my daughter!”

Kaari: “I’m irresponsible? I-!”

Joann: “Lost your drivers license getting in a drag race.”

Judith: “You lost your license doing what?”

Kaari: “Thanks for sharing that with my future employer! Now I’m probably going to stay jobless!”

Joann: “What do you mean jobless! You work at the bar with Lana!”

Kaari: “I QUIT THAT JOB!”

Joann: “Oh so you’re going to just leech off my daughter now and bum free rides then?”

Kaari: “You know what, you can suffer with me then!”

I rip out a tuft of fur and chuck it at her.
Kaari: “Enjoy the circus, the fleas are in town.”

The room goes silent, we all just stare at each other.

2/2 (Animated) Buckwheat 2026/09/28(Mon)02:49 No. 1132417 ID: da477c
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Kaari: “Okay…maybe that got a bit too heated.”

The receptionist stares at us and yells into her phone,
Babs: “Contamination in the lobby! We need pelt dusters and chemical baths, stat!”

Joann: “Are you serious RIGHT NOW! FLEAS! YOU HAVE FLEAS!”

Uh, anything I can possibly say to apologize or start making amends?

Just run away outside the hospital, as far as you can, and cry.

whoops, just another thing that goes wrong.
I guess, you can apologize that you don't know what to do.
Because you don't want to be a burden, and you're trying but outside factors keep happening.
you don't know how to get rid of fleas on no budget. You don't know how to push through trauma at your job site. You don't know how to stop psychos from attacking Lana.

What can you do but try?

Wow, fleas are that biohazardous that there is an alarm involved? Makes sense I suppose for a fur-filled society.

Not sure if they'll bill you for having fleas in a lobby (would be a really shitty thing to do, like billing someone bleeding to deatH on the floor for being bandaged). If they can't, might as well stay to get rid of the pests and be able to get some professional care.

Though you should make sure staff know you have extreme hydrophobia and make it a sponge bath rather than a full out bath.

Don't go outside in the cold though, you'll hurt your health even more...

>>1132420
Apologize for not being as strong, big, brave as Lana. You have your flaws and problems but... Lana still chose to be with you, help you through dire straits, helped you handle your hydrophobia, offered support despite all that. She didn't abandon you at your worst and you wouldn't do so either.

Apologize for not being as responsible as she wants you to be, or just... Making mistakes and bad decisions through these tragedies.

Apologize for needing help from others and making things worse around you. The last thing you want to be is a parasite like these stupid fleas or horrible criminals. You want to be a symbiote and get through this dark patch in your lives together rsther than alone.

You support each other. Both of you suffered from bad people and went through the worst days of their lives... Twice now. Both of you are coping with trauma the only way you know how, being together. Neither of you want to be alone.

Ask Lanas mom how to be responsible. You might indeed need help there. And you can't learn it in your current state alone. Can she teach you?

Apologize to Judith as well for... All the drama and inconvenience. And thank her for all the help provided so far. She got dragged into this family drama by accident, has been nothing but selfless, and got trouble for it. Virtue is its own punishment it seems.

Is it an arrestable offense to assault someone with fleas? You might want to plead with her not to press charges as you’ve already hit rock bottom.

>>1132417
Apologise for the flea fur fling.
But then
Tell her this
That twice in your life very bad shit was happening to you.
And it was happening to her daughter too.
And at no point during all of this crazy bullshit did you do the sane thing for someone half the size of the multiple scary aggressors involved and run away.
You are a deer that squared up to a fucking bear rather than leave her daughter to face it alone.
You may still be learning to be responsible, but that shows you will stand with her daughter to hell and back.

>>1132446
Is Kaari a rabbit, or a deer?

Either way, she certainly is braver than her stature suggests. Unarmed and weaker/smaller, she didn't hesitate to help Lana, nor shy away from doing the right thing of getting vile criminals to stop causing further harm, and without stooping to their level given the chance.

Being a ranger is a step in that direction, even. Being a police-woman or firefighter would be the next best thing.

But her body can only do so much, as can her financial situation and string of really bad luck / lofe events and traumas. She can barely walk right now and the world is demanding her to hop, skip and leap for her life right now.