A snow-filled forest wasn't what Diddy expected once he stepped out of the ruins, but he was just happy to see something other than stone for a change.

Carefully he walked the path between the trees, becoming alert when a second noise that sounded like the crunching of snow beneath feet. It didn't really alarm him too much-this was a form of society after all, wasn't it?-until he heard a snapping sound. He turned around to see a stick he had stepped over was broken into pieces. He was on guard now, prepared to flee or dodge the moment anything tried to pounce.

Slowly he continued on. It wasn't until he came across a bridge and heard the footsteps get closer before stopping that he realized he was royally fucked. He could hear the sound of breathing behind him, and felt himself shaking.

"Tail," a dark voice breathed. "Don't you know how to greet a new friend? Turn around and shake my hand."

Diddy squeezed his eyes shut and turned around, immediately finding the hand offered to him. He felt a shock go through his arm and he recoiled. Light giggles filled his hearing and he opened his eyes to find a female Kong around his height with a blonde ponytail holding her stomach and raising the hand he had shaken. She couldn't have produced that voice, could she?

"The old shock buzzer!" she snorted. "Oh come on, don't be a stick in the mud. I meant no harm. You're a Tail, though, right? The name's Dixie!"

"D-Dixie," Diddy murmured.

"Yep! I'm actually supposed to be at my station right now, but I wanted to go for a walk instead, you know? It gets boring, and I don't really care about capturing people." Dixie put the buzzer into her jacket pocket and grinned, slinging an arm around his shoulders and pulling him in closer. "But my sis, Tiny? She's a Tail hunting lunatic! Oh, that's actually her over there! Come with me!"

"Wha-hey!" Dixie was forcibly shoving him across the bridge and into a clearing.

"Quick, behind that convient chest!" She pointed to the object in question and Diddy scurried into place.

"Dixie! Are you slacking off again?!" a new voice made its presence known, and he briefly wondered if he had been spotted.

"Maybe. Why?" Dixie replied, earning her a growl from the other Kong.

"You slack off all the time! Even when there is nothing to slack off of!" The sound of a foot tapping impatiently echoed to him. "You're so lazy, Dixie! What are you even doing this time around?"

"I've just been checking out this chest. It's a really big one, isn't it?" Diddy felt his body tense up, silently hoping the other sister didn't come to have a looksee.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS, DIX?!"

"Nope, I'm just regular Dix." Tiny groaned very audibly.

"I don't have time for your shenaningans, dear sister!" she said, stomping her foot. "What happens if a Tail comes through here?! You know how much being the one to capture the next one means to me! It has to be me, Dixie. I can't let it be anyone else."

"I know, Tiny," Dixie replied. "You'll be popular, don't worry, and a Royal Guard to boot. Hey, maybe the chest will help you!"

"Really?! You're not being helpful! You get less and less helpful each day!"

"I guess you could say I'm a bag of Dix-ie!"

Tiny's groan was even louder this time, and Diddy didn't really blame her.

"I'M GETTING TIRED OF YOUR SHITTY JOKES!"

"You're smiling, though! You liked it!"

"I did, and I hate myself for it!" Diddy peeked out from behind the chest in time to see two blonde pigtails disappearing behind some trees. "I'm getting back to my obstacles. Try to get at least something done today, please, Dixie?"

A few moments passed before Dixie motioned the boy forward.

"That was... interesting," Diddy murmured.

"Yeah, that's my sis for ya," Dixie replied. "You should get going, kid. She might come back, and it probably won't be a pretty sight when she does."

"Is she that powerful?"

"Only when she gets tired of my jokes." Diddy rolled his eyes and began to walk away when she grabbed the color of his shirts. "Wait a moment, kid. I've... got something to ask of you. Ti's been pretty upset lately, so... could you maybe... show yourself to her? Just momentarily? She's mostly harmless, so it's no worry. She's just never seen someone with a tail before, so I know this would just tickle her to death."

"Ehrm... sure, Dixie." Diddy gave her a half-smile, unsure of the favor he was doing.

"Thanks, kid. It means a lot to both of us."