Rick and Dick were their names, and Tick was the surname they shared with nearly eighty-thousand family members, hardly knowing whom any of them were. Rick and Dick Tick needed only each other, and underneath the sunshine that glowed beautifully through their pale green leaf they found a fresh and exciting outlook on the future together.

Dick breathed out peacefully, and looked over to his brother Rick -- turning around on the leaf momentarily to do so, as he'd been facing a wonderful view of the morning forest for some time.

"Rick, you think we'll find our first friend today?" he asked with a juvenile air of innocence. 

Dick opened his eyes slowly and nodded to his brother.

"Of course, Rick. Mom said that it never takes long."

Rick and Dick Tick were considerably smaller than their mother, but knew that in no time they'd have their fill of blood. Growing to the size of an acorn (or larger). That was all a tick ever wanted, after all. They'd feel like kings! Of course, if you'd have asked the pair, they'd likely say this feeling was already there. 

Time passed slowly, and sleep soon came in the midday heat. As the birds settled back down from their morning hunt for grubs and worms -- the mosquitos from the wetlands nearby made a tasty snack too -- things grew to be rather quiet. The forest seemed to be unstirred, and even the mightiest hunter knew to save its energy for a later meal. 

Boom. Boom! The twigs and small branches of the young maple sapling shook with increasing might. BOOM! BOOM!

Rick awoke first, and quickly tapped Dick on the head.

"Dick! Wake up! Someone is coming," he whispered rather loudly, trying to keep a hushed voice, but failing to do so.

Dick yawned crankily for a second, before realising that, indeed, someone was headed their way. In fact, directly for their home!

"Oh, joy! We'll meet a new friend today," exclaimed Rick. "Just look at that big coat of fur! Why I've never seen anything so black and fluffy in my life!"

Dick looked over at Rick momentarily and said, "You're three days old, brother. That's not saying much."

The two shared a short chuckle, but maintained an intense focus on the fast approaching friend that was headed towards their home. In seconds he arrived, brushing right against the sapling, even stopping to relieve himself on it. Rick and Dick Tick climbed into his wonderfully soft fur and nestled in.

Between hundreds of strands of hair, the two ticks felt safe and warm on the friend's pale skin. They almost couldn't believe their luck, and looked forward to getting to know their new companion.

"Shall we introduce ourselves, Dick?" asked Rick of his anxious brother.

"It'd be rude if we didn't, Rick!" shouted Dick, holding on dearly as the dog began to charge through the forest in pursuit of some fleeting bit of joy. 

The two dug their adolescent incisors deep into the blissfully unaware canine and mumbled "Nicthe thoo meeth thyou" as the blood rushed into their mouths. The brothers felt their sacs fill slowly with what they knew to be the tastiest thing since... Ever. Complete and utter bliss.

Rick felt an unfamiliar tug on his back. Then another. Then his eyes became flooded with daylight suddenly as air whooshed around his body.

"Holy shit, Dick!" he screamed as his body was slammed down onto a table. Woozy, he stumbled around trying to get his bearings.

Dick felt a tug. Then another. Then a tearing pain in his hind end. Two of his legs were violently torn from his body, and his sac -- so full of a wonderful, shared meal -- tore slightly. He tried to scream, but couldn't, choking on blood in the process.

"RICK, OH MY GOD. PLE..." 

The incessant tearing and pulling stopped for a minute, and Dick wasn't sure if he'd live through it, but cried in agony while he drowned in his own dinner. He thought it was over, but as sure as the birds found their worms this morning, so too did the weapon return to deal a final blow.

Dick's body was ripped form his head and smeared across the pale skin of Calcutta. With his last moments of consciousness, Dick felt his head float away into a bloody river. It was almost peaceful.

Rick came to, looking around his unprotected and new environment. He saw the monstrous attacker murdering his brother with some foul utensil. He decided to act, falling from the wooden edge he'd been slammed onto and landing on the unsuspecting right hand of this violent murderer. 

Rick felt his body break as he slammed against the rough wall. Fainting, he dreamed of his dying brother and heard his screams as blood choked his throat and gagged him. The two were forever separated.

Rick swore revenge on this day.