Thorax let Pharynx lead the way this time, as he was still a bit nervous in the woods. Pharynx was holding the arrow in his hoof as they walked. It suddenly spun and pointed left. Pharynx looked after it, Thorax coming up behind him.
“What’s the matter Phar?” Thorax asked, neither brother noticing the eyes reappear behind them.
“There’s some kind of creature there... I can tell… and the arrow wants us to go towards it.”
Pharynx opened his mouth to taste the air, hoping to find a distinct scent that might tell him what the creature was. The eyes vanished, and the leaves on a nearby tree rustled as a creature left its hiding place, and the brothers along with it.
"It... it might be him..." Pharynx murmured
“But… you said he would have moved on long before…”
“Yeah, well, maybe I was wrong. It happens every once in a while, you know.” Pharynx said calmly.
“Every once in a-hey! You’ve been wrong plenty of times Pharynx!” Thorax exclaimed
“Yeah, well, what’re you gonna do about it?” Pharynx grinned cheekily.
“I’m warning you Pharynx…”
“Whatcha gonna do? Make me talk about my feewings?” Pharynx teased
“Ooh, you change that tone right now mister.” Thorax said sternly.
“That’s General, to you, your majesty.”
“Stop it, you know I don’t like you guys to call me that!”
“Aww, did I hurt poor Thowax’s feewings? Why don’t you go back to your wittle feewings circles?” Pharynx asked, smirking.
“It’s a Feelings Forum!” Thorax lunged at Pharynx, who stepped aside and made him crash into a tree. Thorax straightened up and dropped into a crouch. He growled and glared at Pharynx, whose eyes widened slightly.
“Wow, Thorax, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you growl before.”
“Get over here!” Thorax tackled Pharynx, who slipped out from under him and kicked him in the back with his hind leg, sending Thorax crashing into another tree. “Ow!”
“You started it Thor, you get what you ask for.” Pharynx said, dusting off his chest.
Thorax groaned and rolled onto his back, propping himself up against the tree trunk. Pharynx hesitated, then stepped over and offered his hoof. Thorax took it and Pharynx pulled him back onto his hooves.
“Heh... sorry Thorax, I guess I got a bit carried away... just instincts, y’know? You okay?” Pharynx asked
“It's okay, I’m fine.”
Thorax nuzzled him gently. Pharynx swatted at him with a hoof. Thorax grinned, then charged, tackling Pharynx to the ground and successfully pinning him. Thorax smiled as he sat on his brother's chest, similar to how Pharynx had sat on his chest earlier.
“Hah! Who’s bigger now?” Thorax teased
“Bigger does not mean older, you know that. And besides, I gave you that one.” Pharynx said, struggling.
“Oh, really?” Thorax settled on top of Pharynx, tracing a hoof along his stomach teasingly. "Then how come you haven't escaped yet?"
“Ngh… Th-Thorax, g-get off...” Pharynx groaned, and Thorax grinned.
“What’s wrong Pharynx? Can’t get free?” he continued running his hoof along Pharynx’s exposed belly.
“Th-Thorax... l-let go... ngh…” Pharynx groaned.
Pharynx pushed his forehooves against Thorax’s chest, trying to shove him off. However, he was unable to put much force into it, as he was still suppressing giggles.
“Mm... nah. I don't think I'll get off just yet…”
"I-I'm serious, get off!"
"Why should I...?" Thorax then leaned down and spoke directly into his brother's ear. “Gigglebug.” Before trailing his hoof along Pharynx’s stomach.
“Nohohoho! Thohohohorax! I-I’m sohohohorry okahahahay? Just sthohohohop!!” Pharynx cried, squirming and laughing as Thorax ran a hoof down his sensitive stomach.
“In a minute…” Thorax replied, then sent Pharynx into fresh peals of laughter with another attack to his stomach.
"Nohoho, get ohohohoff!" Pharynx cried through his laughter.
"Not just yet..." Thorax chuckled, squeezing Pharynx's sides.
"Eek! Th-Thorax!" Pharynx cried.
"Aww, Pharynx, you sounded like a little schoolfilly!" Thorax teased, running a hoof down his older brother's stomach.
“Th-Thorax!! G-Gehehet ohohoff!"
"But I don't want to! Come on, you're enjoying this, admit it!"
Pharynx struggled, laughing. He had to admit, he was enjoying it a bit. But he also wanted to get this adventure over with. He planted his hooves on Thorax's chest and shoved him hard, trying to push him off.
"Off! Now!” Pharynx yelled, and Thorax jumped up.
“I-um... I'm sorry Pharynx…”
Pharynx sighed as he caught his breath. “Don’t apologize, it's fine... let’s just be serious... we’re out here for a reason, you know.”
“I know, Pharynx... now, where’d the paper go?” Thorax looked around for it.
“It’s over here.” Pharynx stood up and trotted to the arrow, lifting it in his magic. “Strange... it’s still pointing this way…”
“Well, only thing to do is follow it. Let’s go.” Thorax said
Thorax looped a foreleg over Pharynx’s shoulders, giving him a light squeeze of reassurance before dropping his foreleg. Pharynx smiled slightly, grateful Thorax hadn't forced him to have to shake him off. The two brothers continued walking.
“So… about you and Tempest…”
“One word Thorax, and I’ll start bugging you about all those trips you take to Ember’s land…” Pharynx retorted
“Sh-shut up!” Thorax protest, blushing.
“Yeah, right back at you.”
“I... fine…” Thorax sighed
"Well, at least you're not scared of the forest anymore." Pharynx sighed, keeping his eyes on the arrow.
"I-I wasn't scared! I was just nervous!"
"Sure you weren't..." Pharynx teased, grinning.
"Well... okay, maybe I was a little. But yeah, that did help calm me down." Thorax admitted, smiling.
"At least it was useful for something." Pharynx sighed
Thorax smiled and wrapped a hoof around Pharynx, hugging him. Pharynx pulled away and swatted at Thorax, grunting in annoyance. The arrow suddenly swerved and pointed directly to the side. Pharynx looked at Thorax, who took a deep, steadying breath, then trotted into the undergrowth., Pharynx close behind.
“It’s…” Thorax reached and pushed away some brambles with a hoof, and Pharynx looked out from beside him. Thorax blinked as he saw what it was. “A... clearing?”