"Ah, th-that's not--I mean I dunno about strange--"
Citrine cut himself off when he realized Tourmaline was teasing him, and it took a bit more self-control than he would have liked--or ever admitted--not to stick his tongue out at the other kulshedra like he would if he was still a child.
Or if it had been Blue, maybe.
He glared, opening his mouth to snip something back, but before he could Tourmaline spoke again and his expression suddenly softened. "Hey, look, you're not a burden or anything--"
"Hey there!"
Citrine started violently as a flash of blue scales and a bright smile abruptly inserted himself between the two of them. "Fires, Blue!" he protested, lurching to the side in an effort not to be knocked off balance entirely by his younger brother. "What the hells are you so energetic about? Didn't you plan on sleeping until noon?"
Blue grinned at him, throwing an arm around his shoulders and conveniently ignoring his older brother's glare. Turning that bright grin on Tourmaline, he shrugged and said, "Eh, guess I wasn't as tired as I thought. Anyway though, you really planning on pitching in around camp?"
Citrine tensed. He had a bad feeling he knew where this was going. "Blue..."
"What?" Blue looked between the two of them, all wide-eyed innocence. "I mean, if he's gonna be here anyway. There ceremony is in less than three days, I bet he'd love to pitch in, see what it's about." He looked to Tourmaline again expectantly. "Right?"