There was some small part of him that was bloody glad none of the ‘many others’ or herds mentioned had discovered he and Brisa there on the beach that evening - he considered it with a complacent smirk, dipping dry lips into the lapping, salty sea before it dissolved away into the sand. The water was sour to taste, provoking a small grimace through russet features, but it soon faded as his head again lifted. Quite contrary, it turned out she was rather sweet - quiet and shy at first it seemed, but a fun box underneath just waiting to be unwrapped!

They’d have a ball together if they just got a wriggle on and beat the sun to this secret grove; the enthusiastic buck was keen to see these tricks of hers too, especially seeing she was without any shock of feathers or face-spikes, anything that might betray a more unorthodox side. Not that he expected such a character as Brisa - or anyone else, to be boring, naturally. “Full of surprises eh?” he teased without trace of maliciousness. Banjo scoffed, goading that lovely smile to hold upon her dim ashen lips.  

“Rightyo then, lead the way girlie - before it gets too dark.” Slyly he added, “where I’m from, bunyips and drop-bears wake with the moon!” Scary thought if you were a child down under…

And by lead the way, he actually meant point the way.

The wacky jack lifted one roo-paw from the incoming surf and then the other - much like a kitten crossing his first frosty lawn, slipping and sliding a little as sodden sand turned quickly into soft and dry. He could only assume their destination lay not out there (he glanced away to sea one final time, noting the dark purple horizon), in the middle of the in that murky, hungry deathtrap. So Banjo humped his way from the shoreline to where the first of many tall palms swayed in the wind, ribbon leaves whipping and snapping loudly against the constant, dull roar.

As he merged beneath the skirting forest, he found still greater darkness and paused to check the progress of his friend - the well-meaning, considerate creature was hardly about to leap off into the boondocks without her. “Want to tell us more about these falls of yours?” The thought of walking in silence was about as unattractive as a dropped pie, and if she preferred to keep a lid on her private life, Banjo was more than happy to talk her ear off.

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Dress | cork hat on head, bandana around top of neck
@Brisa - Did you want to reply next in Secret Grove? Buaha