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The day had already started on a negative note.
Frost had only gotten four hours of sleep the night before, significantly affecting his performance during the day.
His spells felt clunky, even the ones he used regularly. Lights were too bright, sound was too loud, and everything felt like sandpaper against his skin, he had only been awake for a few hours, and he already felt frazzled.
He needs to meditate.
He had the perfect little spot, a small way into the trees. A grove of tall trees that stretched into the sky and sagged under their own weight. A large stump in the middle where he could sit quietly and bask in the sunlight.
He breathes in the fresh air, closes his eyes, and focuses his mind.
His calm lasted for all of ten seconds before the familiar sound of owlbear paws against the forest floor rapidly approached him.
He didn’t even have time to open his eyes, Hootsie was far quicker than his muddled reflexes today, and the large cub tackles him to the ground.
“Good morning Frosty!”
In most cases, Frost would fully indulge in Hootsie’s playful antics, but today was not most cases.
He gently pushes her to the side and stands up, stiffening as he feels dirt and leaves fall into the back of his robe.
Gricko stares at him for a moment and when he doesn’t respond, he quirks an eyebrow at Frost.
“You alright, Frosty?”
“Fine.”
He walks off without further conversation, he has to change his clothes immediately, and he doesn’t notice Gricko’s concerned mumblings.
After a change of clothes and a thorough brush down, Frost is not feeling any better than he did before.
He feels his stomach growl at him and remembers that he hasn’t eaten anything today. He reluctantly trudges to their meager food stores. He still doesn’t know how Kremy makes so much from so little.
A cup of tea would do him good.
He painstakingly heats the water over a small fire and steeps the leaves with care. He ensures that everything is completed with the utmost caution.
He pours his tea into his favorite mug, and he feels the tension seep from his shoulders.
He begins to walk away so he can find a comfortable spot to enjoy his tea when he trips suddenly.
His foot was caught in a hole, and while he did not fall, the sudden jerk in his movements effectively shot the mug from his paws and sent it careening toward the ground.
It lands with a loud clatter that stabs into his ears.
Heat and frustration bubble inside of him, making his eyes prickle and fur stand on end. He sinks to the floor with a garbled noise.
His whole body is ridged, and the pressure is only slightly relieved as he grips tightly at the fur on his head and pulls.
He knows his breathing is erratic, but he cannot find it within himself to correct it.
His eyes are screwed shut and he is less than focused so he does not notice the light footsteps approaching the head of Frost on the ground.
“Frost? Frost can you hear me?”
Gricko does not get any closer than he is, realizing that Frost needs space right now.
The tabaxi nods after a beat, eyes still closed.
“Stop pulling your hair Frost, you’ll hurt yourself.”
Frost says nothing, not wanting to let go of the relief it's bringing him.
“Frost.”
Slowly he releases his hold and moves his hands by his sides, now clawing into the floor beneath him.
“Pull up your hood Frosty.”
Frost does as he is told and feels minor relief wash over him as the thick material of his hood covers his sensitive ears.
“Now breathe.”
He can hear Gricko performing the breathing exercises with him. In for four, hold, out for four.
The tension seeps from his body and he slumps where he sits.
“Bad day?”
He nods.
“Too much, everything?”
Another nod.
“I figured. Follow me, okay?”
Frost stands shakily, still not entirely steady, and trails after Gricko looking very similar to a lost kitten.
Gricko leads him the short way toward his tent and holds the flap open for Frosty to walk in.
The tent is a touch too small for him, he has to hunch over to move about, but it doesn’t feel claustrophobic. It is dark and warm, practically every surface in the tent is covered by various furs and blankets.
There is no real bed, Gricko preferring to sleep on a pile of plush blankets and pillows effectively creating a nest in the center of the tent.
Frost registers the earthy scent, like fresh soil after a spring rain. It's familiar and comforting in the way only Gricko is.
Gricko jumps onto the mass of bedding and gestures for Frost to join him. He stoops carefully, trying not to invade Gricko’s space too much. Gricko only rolls his eyes and pulls Frost down with a poomph.
Frost sighs as he relaxes into the plush heap. He can feel the tension ebbing from his being and his muscles loosen.
He is gently brought back from his haze by gentle hands running through the fur on his cheeks. Gricko trails his blunt claws from his cheeks to his forehead then his ears and back down, slowly repeating the movements rubbing gentle circles as he goes.
Frost’s chest rumbles in appreciation for the action, Gricko never fails to turn him to jelly.
Frost leans closer to the goblin and plants a gentle kiss on his temple.
“Thank you.”
Frost says in a quiet and worn-out voice.
“A course Frosty. I know what it's like to melt down like that. S’ never fun.”
Frost hums in agreement.
“Can I give you a kiss?”
Frost asks hesitantly.
“C’mere”
Gricko says with a large grin plastered on his rosy cheeks.
Frost kissed the goblin once more on the cheek, then delicately kissed his slightly chapped lips. There was no heat to the kiss, only a gentle warmness that Frost had begun to associate with the goblin.
Gricko’s hands trail down to the tabaxi’s shoulders, and he pets the fur there.
They could not kiss for very long before familiar footsteps barreled towards the tent and a ball of fluff and feathers jumped into the pile with them.
“Hello Hootsie, I am sorry for pushing you away earlier.”
She does not seem that perturbed by Frost’s rudeness, instead, she hoots worriedly and nudges against the tabaxi’s shoulder.
“Oh no, no I’m ok now. Don’t be worried. Your dad took care of me.”
Gricko smiles wide and puffs up his chest.
“Yup, I sure did. It’s me specialty actually. I’m a Frost whisperer.”
Frost snorts and Gricko's smile turns stupid at the sound.
Hootsie ignores her father’s antics, opting instead to cuddle between the two figures and make herself comfortable.
They didn’t get anything done that day, but they couldn’t care less.