XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXＨｏｍｅｃｏｍｉｎｇ
The boardwalk creaked and sighed underneath my feet and the water lapped around the docks, slapping good naturedly against the hulls of the many houseboats moored there. I was returning after two months of absence and the dry-docks felt more homely than ever. Despite the drizzle that misted across Mistwick, I was in high spirits and there was a spring in my step. I was glad to be back. Slung between the bows of the boats were wires from which painted lanterns hung. Some had been extinguished by the wind and damp, yet many still flickered and lit my path homewards, creating a warm atmosphere despite the weather. Someplace nearby a baby was crying, but it's mother was singing a lullaby to sooth it. Lamps glowed behind foggy port-hole windows and the smell of frying onions and spiced sausage wafted through the salty air and made my travel hungry stomach release a grumble. A dog barked anxiously as my footsteps passed its home but a disgruntled sleeper quickly yelped at it to shut up. All this human life, cramped up and piled on top of each other was a welcome change from the barren wilderness I had been living in.
Clinking along just behind me was Ichnaea. He was more deterred by the weather and his plated tail was fluffed out, revealing his displeasure. I gave him a toothy smile.
"Come on boy - not long left to go. A warm dry bed's just round the corner."
He shook himself with a clatter of shell against shell and trotted closer to me, rubbing his head against my grimy hand as if apologising for his slow pace. I could tell that he was not quite as glad to be back in the city - given the chance he would remain in the wilderness forever. But he was a construct of metal and shell, he didn't feel the cold nor the hunger of rough living. Nor did he experience the rather depressing reality of having tinned beans for every meal for the second week running. That didn't matter now though, I would be home soon and my findings had made the trip worthwhile.
We made it to my house in the next couple of minutes, just as the rain was beginning to fall a little heavier. My hair was clinging to my head and I could feel small rivulets running down my face, no doubt leaving small trails of clean skin - stark against the grunge I wore like a facemask. I crouched and ran a hand underneath the doormat, finding the key I stood back up and let myself in. It was amazing how trusting everyone was. Mum and Dad never even considered the possibility that hiding the spare key in such an obvious place could be problematic... But then again if I went to any other home in the area their keys would be just as easy to find. There was really neighbourly atmosphere of trust and looking out for one another.
"Hang on-" I put a hand out to prevent Ichnaea from trundling straight into the living room. We were both dripping wet and my mother was a house-proud kind of woman who wouldn't appreciate finding puddles of dirty water all over the place when she woke up. "Wait here, I'll get a towel." I whispered, slipping my filthy boots off, dumping my pack and tiptoeing in my sodden socks across the room and towards the bathroom.
The smell of my house - familiar, warm, lightly spiced - further extended the grin upon my face. After an absence everything felt so overtly comforting and homely again. I grabbed a clean towel and made my way back to Ichnaea, trying to make as little noise as possible as I towelled over his plates. However my efforts were apparently not enough as the pad of footsteps followed by the creak of the door signalled that somebody had been woken up.
"Micaaaa? Iccyyyyy?"
I swivelled to look at my sleepy brother, swaying groggily in the doorway with a toy - a stuffed version of Ichnaea I had given him to stop him from worrying whilst I was gone - gripped in his chubby little hands. My heart melted at the sight of him. I could've sworn that he had grown since I had last seen him, and as he slowly realised that it really was me returning his smile grew and revealed that he had lost his two front teeth; leaving him adorably gappy. Ichnaea had decided he was dry enough and lurched forwards towards him and nearly bowled him over as he cheerfully nuzzled up against him. "Hey Kris, why aren't you in bed?" I shrugged off my sodden coat and hung it next to the door before walking over to him and ruffling his downy hair.
"I was but then I heard the door and it was you and Iccy." He clasped Ichnaea's ear, curling all his fingers around it. "Did you have a good time..? I missed you, but soft Iccy kept me company." He waved the cuddly toy at me.
I lifted him up and perched him on top of Ichnaea's back, who proceeded to march back to Kristoph's room. I chuckled at the sight of my little brother riding my guardian. Ichnaea was so good with kids and Kristoph was giggling profusely as the metal anteater took him away. I followed on their heels and placed him, squirming, back into his bed. "I had a great time. We learnt lots about wild drakes - especially their breeding habits." Peeking out from beneath his covers Kris' large chocolate eyes blinked dumbly. "What does that mean?" I flushed, it was Mum and Dad's responsibility to explain the birds and the bees to him when he was ready. "Just how they make a family and how they lay eggs and stuff. In fact... I brought something back for you. I was going to give it to you tomorrow morning - but if you're a good boy and promise you'll go to sleep right away afterwards I will get it for you now."
"Oh I will! I promise Mica. Please, please, please!"
Smirking I slunk out of the room and back over to where I had ditched my stuff. Before long I was back in his room clutching an object the size of a melon wrapped in brown paper. "Now this is very delicate.." I began, sitting myself down at the end of his bed as I peeled a layer of paper away. Kris was holding his breath and his eyes bulged as more and more of his gift was revealed. What he could see was a peculiar elongated sphere, dark blue in colour and covered in an iridescent oily pattern. Near the top was a large crack that opened up into a sizeable hole - the inside of the object was sky blue and closely peppered with tiny dimples. "It's a drake's egg," I informed him, carefully placing the strangely beautiful item into his grasping little mitts.
Kris' mouth dropped open into a speechless 'o'. "You see those little dimples?" I ran a finger over the inside of the egg and motioned for him to do the same. "Those are tiny pores - which are like little holes - and we think that they're involved in getting air to the baby drake whilst they are still developing." He nodded silently, repeatedly running his finger over the inside of the egg. "I could sit here and tell you about drakes all night... But you need sleep little man." At this he shook his head profusely, clutching the egg to him defensive. "Don't go Mica! I wanna know more!" I sighed, this was a delaying tactic. He probably would like to know more, but like all kids, he was grasping at straws in order to avoid bed. Shaking my head I patted him on the head. Perhaps it had been a bad idea to give him his present now... "You promised me Krissy that you would go to bed right away. And don't raise your voice - Mummy and Daddy are sleeping. Don't spoil this now." He stuck out his lip petulantly, however Ichnaea defused the situation by barging me out of the way and clambering up onto the bed and curling up at his feet. He took up most of the bed but Kristoph didn't mind in the slightest.
"Is Iccy sleeping in my room tonight?" I sighed and patted the great big lump of cuddly metal. "Sure thing, now gimme that egg and I'll put it somewhere safe until the morning." He obliged - drake facts already forgotten - as he snuggled down with the guardian. I placed the egg on the other side of the room, so that he wouldn't step out of bed and crush it, and by the time I turned back around the child's eyes were already half closed and clouded with sleep. Fondly brushing a few stray wisps of hair from his forehead I hushed, "sweet dreams," kissing him gently on the head before leaving the room.
Part of me felt the need to jump into the shower and scrub all the dirt from my body... It would have run black with grime, and no doubt a few leaves or twigs would've found themselves clogging the plughole. But my bed's siren call lured me and after I had stripped off and slipped beneath the feather-soft covers, so welcoming and seductive compared to the cold wet ground of the wild, I was a goner. Sleep overtook me and I fell asleep with a smile on my face: it was good to be home.
Reply
