[Gift] Coming Home with Coconuts

Some time had past since our trio of styracosaurus characters brought home coconuts to their family. By now they had all grown to young adults and were itching to branch out and find their own herd to mingle with. Custard and Moosetracks had already vowed to remain together. The two being entirely inseparable. Fudge, however, rivaling Custard, was determined to make his own herd of acceptable females. Only time would tell of what Fudge would do. 

For now this trio remained together, bound to help one another make a new home. Custard and Moosetracks hunted everywhere for their own spot in the Kela Highlands. Fudge had talked about settling somewhere else, perhaps on the beach where their coconuts had grown. Fudge helped the other two find a good suitable home. 

The current plan was for Fudge to help Custard and Moosetracks get settled in with their new home. Once their home was properly put together and set up, they would head down to where Fudge wanted to go and help him get settled. This would be their last gesture of friendship and companionship before splitting to go their separate ways and live out their separate lives as adult styracosaurus.

Towards the western slopes of the Highlands, there was an empty and dense cave. This cave seemed to serve a great location for potential egg nests. Custard and Fudge would gather up sticks while Moosetracks built each nest. The nests were surrounded by small round rocks. This was to help the nests retain their shape and help lock in heat. The two males even brought her soft straw and grasses to lay on top of each nest, creating a soft and warm environment for each egg clutch. 

Their next step was to help establish a perimeter and something safe for their egg clutches. Chunks of fallen wood and broken trees were used to make a barricade of sorts at the mouth of the cave. This could slow down any predators or egg thieves while also ensuring safety for future egg clutches between Custard and Moosetracks.

With this done, Custard and Moosetracks followed Fudge down the hill and moved further east. Here, Fudge wanted to establish his own home. The trio created nets and other rope-like materials to create a nice den for their half sibling. Custard and Fudge worked together to string up the makeshift hammock between a couple rock features and trees. This would serve for a comfortable bachelor bed for the dun brown, lone male. With his den now made and secured, it was time for them to say a final farewell. 

It was clear none of them were ready to say goodbye. They had grown up together and known each other their whole lives, now they were to separate and say farewell? It just felt so sad and so… depressing. That was when Fudge spoke up, “Perhaps before we go out separate ways, we could go coconut catching, one last time?”

Custard perked up a bit at the thought. This was his friend, his comrade, and now his new rival. That didn't mean they had to start being rivals that very day. He nodded, “Sure. One last coconut trip before we go our separate ways.” Moosetracks appeared to smile, even though her rimmed marking already made her look like she was smiling, and agreed with the idea. 

For old times’ sake, the trio of styracosaurus siblings headed down to the beach just north of where they were settling down. Each carried a net they had forged from the forest and each with a happy, yet sad gleam in their eye. The three of them each placed down a net at each tree they would find. This time, being adults and not juveniles, they had no need to circle up and take turns bashing the trees. They could each now bash their own trees and still collect their own batch of coconuts. 

. Each styracosaurus would end up collecting roughly six coconuts each. They would return together and circle up to compare coconuts and trade them around. Even now they were sharing the weight of the coconuts and not so much the number of coconuts. This way each of them had roughly the same amount of coconuts to feast on, once they returned back to their new homes they had built together. 

“Here,” Custard traded a couple small coconuts for a large one from Moosetracks. “Take these and give me that one. The smaller ones will be easier for you to eat.”

“Here, Custard,” Fudge grunted and rolled another large coconut his way. “This should help even out our food weight. I think if I took a small one we should all have a similar weight of a meal.”

Moose tracks rolled over one of her smaller coconuts and nodded in turn. “There, that should even us all out with similar weights. I suppose it is time we all head home and enjoy our meals.”

“This will be the first time we didn't eat together.” Fudge would recount, remorseful.

“That it would, brother, but it is time we all started our own lives. We can't remain together forever, and besides, who is to say we won't meet again?” Custard replied. 

Moosetracks nodded her head in agreement. “I'm sure we will all meet again, someday. Perhaps you will even see your nieces and nephews.” She said with a hopeful tone. 

The trio each tied up their nets with their green bounty of coconuts and made their ways back home. Fudge would separate first and return back to his strung up hammock. There he would wind down and relax to enjoy his meal in solitude. The star danced above him, a reminder that he was truly not alone and that tomorrow would bring new possibilities. Custard and Moosetracks made it to their new warm cave. Here they would lay together and feast together like nothing changed between them. Moosetracks was truly lucky to have Custard remain at her side after all these years growing up together in the Highlands. Tomorrow may bring them an unexpected surprise.