Alone

[PandaLover]

(Just stick to the basic rules of the forum, I guess. I'm hoping to maybe find a friend for Tsuki, but something else might happen.)

As the black kiin stepped to the edge of her den, she took in a wiff of the fresh air, crisp air. It was a great, sunny day, with the clouds hovering around the sun. Tsuki looked down at the ground and spread her little wings, drifting to the ground, using them somewhat as a parachute. She folded her wings back in, and began walking slowely around the Valley in search of somewhere to get water.

Having just come into the main part of the Valley, she wasn't really sure of where everything was. She didn't know anyone besides her two brothers, and her mother and father, either. This place she had been brought to, with her brothers, was a mystery. Something like a stranger, opening it's arms to welcome her.

Though she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to be here. Her old home, in the corner of the Valley, was where she and her brothers had grown from gemfruit to kiin, always together. They had most of their memories there, and that was where she longed to go back to someday.

Not that she blamed anyone for her being here now. She was grateful that Haku and Khairi had brought Nakama and Hoshi and her to the part of the Valley where she and her brothers were united with their parents. The parents they hadn't even known they had until the day Kaenene had come to their part of the Valley, and told them about mommys and daddys and uncles.

She never wanted to lose her brothers. She wanted it to be just them and their parents. But Nakama had a new friend now. A friend outside the family. She felt like it was only Hoshi and her now. But sometimes all Hoshi wanted to do was sleep. And her parents... she hadn't grown close to her parents at all. She felt alone in her family of five.

Tsuki sighed, and kept padding ahead as she thought about these things. She noticed up ahead of her a river, and walked toward it, keeping up her slow pace. When she reached it, she lowered her head to take a long drink. A few moments later, she came up, and continued her walk, staring down at the ground while she thought. She half-hoped that she would stay alone for today while she thought, but more so hoped that someone would come along, so that she could talk, and spill out how she was feeling to someone, since her brothers, for once, didn't seem like the right ones to tell.

[Saiki]

Devedin had been quietly standing in the river, nearly up to his chin in the water. He had been watching little silvery fish dart around his paws. There something close to awe on his face. They were so tiny! And there were so many of them!

As Devedin heard footfalls, he lifted his head, ears perked and alert for anyone who was coming. However, he didn't see anyone, but he could hear them. Curiousity getting the better of him, he padded out of the water and followed whoever it was.

Finally, he saw whoever it was up ahead. He paused to shake the excess water off of his coat before trotting forward to meet the rather pretty 'Kiin. He had never seen markings like hers on any other Pykiin; he thought that they were amazing.

"Hi!" he said softly.

[PandaLover]

Tsuki raised her head toward the black and blue kiin. "Hiya," she returned his greeting, incredibly glad someone was there. This Pykiin was the first she'd met outside her family, and what better way to meet someone for the first time than when you need someone to talk to?

She smiled, a little hesitantly, and took a few steps toward him. "I'm Tsuki," she said with a slight nod of her head. From a closer view, she could see the little spots that covered his fur, as well as the tips of his toes, and his fur. She tilted her head, almost unnoticably, in awe. "Who're you?" She asked in a calm, soft voice, not wanting the question to sound rude.

Seeing the kiin made her want to cry, almost. Maybe he would let her tell him all her worries. Of course she wouldn't say anything right away, or anything like that. But maybe if they became friends, they could talk a little. Really, though, she was just happy to be able to see someone, who brought her mind off of her family and home.

[Saiki]

"I'm Devedin. Or Deve," he replied. He really didn't like his name; it was too long and sounded silly. So he usually introduced himself with his nickname. Though it wasn't like he'd had the chance to introduce himself to many others. His slightly posessive mother had done all of the introducing and life arranging for him.

"It's nice to meet you, Tsuki. But are you okay?" Devedin asked. He wasn't postive that this was the case, but Tsuki looked awful unhappy. He knew that prying into her life and feelings was not polite. But if something was wrong, she didn't have to tell him, of course. That thought made him feel a little bit better about asking.

[PandaLover]

Tsuki smiled, "Ok, Deve." She was happy that introductions were over. Maybe it was just the fact that he was the first Pykiin she'd met, but as far as she was concerned, they were friends now. Perhaps that wasn't the case, but the simple fact that she knew his name made her happy.

Her smile faded a little, but it was still a smile. "I'm ok, I guess." She shook her head a little, then sighed. She wanted to tell someone what was going on, and how she felt. And Deve had just asked if she was ok. Now was probably a fairly good time to say something. "Um, well, kinda," she ammended her previos words. "Do you have a minute? It's kinda a long story..." she said, biting the inside of her lip, hoping he wouldn't mind listening to her pity herself. It would just be nice to get how she felt out, one way or the next.

[Saiki]

Devedin nodded, saying, "I have plenty of time. There's nothing much to do, so I'd be happy to listen."

He was telling the truth. He had no friends outside of the pounce, he didn't know where his sister was, and the few 'Kiin actually in his pounce had no time to spend playing with him or eachother. And he had no other arrangements with anyone. He knew once he was older he would be expected to do this and that, but for now he was allowed to do as he pleased.

He didn't understand what could be bothering her, though, so he was thankful that she would be explaining. As a young 'Kiin himself, he couldn't think of very many problems that a 'Kiin could face, at least until they got a little older.

[PandaLover]

Tsuki smiled gratefully, "Thanks," she said, sitting down and looking at the ground for a moment, before returning her eyes to Deve. "W'll, I guess it starts when me and my brothers were still gemfruits... somehow we got to a corner of the Valley, and we raised ourselves there 'till we were kiin. Then this girl came along. Kaenene. She told me and my brothers about parents and uncles. Then my brothers and I went exploring, and Kaenene tagged along."

"It made me kinda mad, because Kaenene was taking Nakama's attention away. Nakama is my brother," she explained. "Then Hoshi, my other brother, ran off, and I followed him. We found two big Pykiin, Haku and Khairi. They told us they were going to take us back to the Valley, since they knew our parents. So Nakama and Kaenene came along. Kaenene only came though, I think, because Nakama was coming, and because Khairi was her uncle."

"We rode on the big Pykiins' backs until we got to the big Dryad, then this Pykiin named Yue came along, and Haku and Khairi convinced him that he was our daddy. But he didn't think so. That made me kinda mad. I mean, he had the same markings and colors as all three of us!" She took a breath, ready to cry, but held the tears in. "Then this other Pykiin named Solar came along, and told Yue that they were our parents, then they took us home."

"I woke up this morning in our den, but... It's kinda lonely. I don't like Daddy. He didn't even know he had kits... and Mommy wants me to get along with Daddy, but doesn't tell me anything except for 'he's a good Pykiin', or whatever. And now Nakama has a friend, so it's only me and Hoshi... but Hoshi sleeps practically all the time, so... I feel kinda alone..." she said, murmering the last sentance.

"I didn't want my brothers to go away, or their attention to go to someone else... they are..." she trailed off, then finished, "were my best friends... my only friends.... But now they have our parents and Kaenene, but I don't get along with any of them."

"And in the corner of the Valley was our old home, the home where we grew up in... our home.... I really miss it. That's where all of our memories are, and I don't even know if I'll see that place again. I mean, I'm happy that Haku and Khairi brought us here, since we now know that we have parents, but... but I just kinda wish I hadn't wanted to go exploring that day... this is all my fault," she said, her eyes welling up in tears. She whipped them away quickly, hoping that Deve hadn't seen.

She picked up her shoulders, realizing they were kinda slumped. "I'm sorry, I'm just complaining, really... but thanks for listening," she told Deve with a thankful smile. She was a little surprised, now that she thought about it, that she had shared all of her past, and her feelings. She was glad Deve had listened; that she was able to have told someone. She almost felt lighter, since all of her feelings and thoughts had been spilled out.

[Saiki]

Deve's first reaction was awe. She and her brothers had all raised themselves from hatching? Though as he listened, many other things ran through his head. Mainly, how could someone dislike their father? At first it was difficult for him to comprehend; after all, Deve was very close to his father and was nearly his father's clone.

When she was done, he tried to think of what to say. Something at least somewhat intelligent, and maybe something that would make her feel better. Deve saw her wipe a few tears away but didn't say anything, guessing that she didn't want him to see.

Finally, he said, "Maybe you should talk to Nakama... He might not realize how you feel. And Kaenene probably doesn't, either. They probably both think that they just found new friends and that it isn't affecting or hurting anybody."

Deve wasn't sure that the next things that he was saying were right, but he said them anyway. "And your father... He could of been scared of being a father and messing up. Maybe he spoke before he thought."

He wanted to go pat her on the shoulder or something, but they were new friends and he didn't want to act wrongly. So he simply continued, "It's not your fault! It probably would of happened one day, anyway. And just because you don't live at your old house doesn't mean you can't visit it. Maybe at some point, like when you're an adult, your parents will let you move back there if you still want to."

[PandaLover]

Tsuki looked at the ground for a moment, smiling with a slight nod, "You're right, I guess," she admitted, with a slight laugh at herself for not realizing any of this. It was almost plane logic, what Deve was saying. Though she'd never thought of any of this. Though when he had said it was not her fault, she didn't entirly agree; maybe they would have found their parent's one day. But had she not even suggested the word 'explore', Kaenene wouldn't have shown up perhaps, and not told them about parents or any of that.

"I hope you're right," she said thoughtfully. "Mommy said that we could show them our old den some day, but I hope it's sooner than when we're adults," she said with a smile, nodding up at Deve. "That seems so long away...."

She gave another small laugh, "I'm sorry," she said, realizing that they'd talked about her the whole time. "So... how's your family?" She asked, simply asking for the first question that came to her head. Maybe it wasn't the right question? What if he didn't have a family? Oops.

Looking at his markings again, completely amazed by them, and how the print covered his whole body! It was amazing. She realized she was sort of staring at his paws, looking at how the prints turned into tipped paws, "I-I'm sorry. You're markings are really amazing," she murmered, explaining why she was staring, or at least trying to, in case he noticed; she didn't want him thinking she was just some weird kiin who liked staring at others....

[Saiki]

Devedin shrugged. "My family is nothing too exciting. My parents, their bondeds, my sister, and I all live in this cave-like place in this clearing by a beach... I'm not quite sure how they found it, since it's pretty much concealed all around."

He continued with, "Our parents are both air elementals, so it's constantly windy there. They like practicing a lot. I stay with our mother's pounce sometimes, but my sister stays with our father's. I'm not quite sure why... I'd like to meet my father's 'family' one day."

He frowned. "My mother's bonded, Gauine, doesn't like us and hates my father and his bonded. I don't know why... But she's always cranky and rude and often ignores us. It's okay, though. She's always been that way."

After a pause, Deve laughed. "Thank you! Your markings are really amazing too, though. Does all of your family have markings like yours?"

[PandaLover]

Tsuki frowned slightly, but then smiled, "Your family sounds great. Both your parents're Air Elementals? That's amazing!" She said, wondering if she'd ever become an Elemental. "It must get pretty cold, though. I like to fly, but I don't like to get cold..." Tsuki said, shivering slightly.

"Gauine doesn't sound very nice..." she murmered, scrunching up her nose, then relaxing it. "Even if she doesn't like your dad, why should she take it out on you?" She shook her head, not liking the sound of this bonded being upset with Deve and his siblings just because she didn't like who her bonded chose for a soulmate....

But then again, it's not like it was really fair for her to say anything. It's one thing to hear something, and another to experience it. Maybe this 'Gauine' wasn't so bad. Perhaps there were good times, but maybe they were scarce? None the less, Tsuki wasn't very fond of this bonded.

She smiled and picked up her paw, looking at it. "I guess. My mom has a bunch of stars, and my dad has some swirles and the moon," she said with a smile. "Your spots are really awesome... I've never seen anything like them," she said. Granit, she'd never seen anyone's markings except for Khairi, Kaenene and her own family's markings. She gazed at Deve's face, looking at the beautiful spots that covered his fur.

[Saiki]

"Well, actually, Gauine can be okay... Sometimes..." amended Devedin. "She's just really protective of my mother--as if she can't protect herself--because of something about not getting hurt. But I don't understand... If you're close to someone, they wouldn't attack you... How could you get hurt?"

Devedin looked utterly confused, and he hoped that perhaps Tsuki could share some wisdom. He had never been able to grasp that concept when his mother had explained it to him. He didn't seem to understand that some wounds weren't physical.

He shuffled his feet, a little embarassed as she stared at him. "Thank you," he mumbled.

[PandaLover]

Tsuki shook her head, trying to understand why Gauine would have problems with who Deve's mother chose for a soulmate. True, it was possible for whoever Deve's mother was soulmated to to hurt Deve's mother, but he certainly wouldn't do it on purpose, would he? After all, if they were soulmated, then that meant they were in love, right?

"Maybe..." Tsuki began, still somewhat confused. "Maybe Gauine just doesn't understand how much they love each other, and that your mom's soulmate'd never hurt your mom...?" She wondered, knowing that Deve had probably already known that much.

She smiled at him, "You're welcome. They match your coloring really well, the spots. Did you get them from your mom or dad?" She asked curiously.

[Saiki]

"I think you're right," said Devedin. "And maybe Gauine keeps thinking of Aralyth as a little 'Kiin." After all, Gauine had become Aralyth's bonded when Aralyth was still rather young and naive. The Remiel had become the Pykiin's guardian of a sort.

"I got them from my dad, so I look just like him," replied Deve. "My mother doesn't have any markings."

He had always found this odd, but Devedin was obviously Sewave's son, while he didn't look like Aralyth's son hardly at all. His sister resembled his mother a bit more, but there were still the leopard spots.

"Do you come out here a lot?" asked Deve, randomly changing the subject. "Or do you wander around everywhere?"

[PandaLover]

Tsuki smiled, sort of a kind smile, sort of happy. She looked at the markings again, "Even the tips? That's a lot of markings for one Pykiin... they look great on you," she said, still in awe. All of the spots... they were somewhat simple, almost, but yet amazing, no matter how you looked at them.

Tsuki's parents both had a lot of markings, yes. And he'd been sort of the result of them all being thrown together. Her brothers had the markings, too, but she had gotten all but the stars, for some reason. It always amazed her, and scared her, somewhat, when she looked in the water. She saw a little of her parents. The parent's she always seemed to be trying to get away from.

She smiled at her new friend, "I just... wander, I guess. Looking for a friend, seeing if I can meet someone to talk to," she said. "Both my brothers're busy with our parent's, or, in Nakama's case, Kaenene. So it's not like I've got anything better to do," she said, laughing as she realized she'd gotten off-topic. "But no, I guess. I've never been here before. So I guess it's just wandering. Do you come here a lot, Deve?" She asked, wondering why he was here, too.