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Shino rocked young Locke back and forth in what appeared to be a hand-carved baby crib. Despite him actually getting older it actually appeared more as though he had reverted in age. But he was much healthier now which was wonderful. His bright blue eyes fluttered open as he brushed his snowy hair out of his face with his little hand. It was if he could sense something nearby, something familiar. He smiled and rolled over in the crib, gently folding his wings. He was growing more accustomed to them now, and they weren't as itchy and as bothersome as before though they still sometimes got in his way like when he tried to crawl under things. His eyes came to rest on Shino, whom he had decided was his new 'Mother' despite her being of young age herself. At least she was getting help from her family and her friends of course.

"Ooh he's awake now," Shino called with a happy flick of her mousey tail.

Pyper replied from the kitchen, "Good good, cause I think I sense guests!"

Eri was wandering still pacing around her room. Her fluffy, cat-like pets Lucian and Sakura had been playing with her hair ribbon and lost it. They sat on the bed watching the kitsune girl fling things around looking for the piece of fabric. Eri grumbled, "You guys could help me look for it ya know." But the little kittens just stared at her in amusement.

Pyper came out of the kitchen and headed for the main door leading outside. She gently slid it open to see who was on the other decide though she could venture a guess. She smiled and waved and her good friends.

Pyper grinned, waving the the girls and Kain over causeing the arm of her yukata to billow in the slight breeze. Eri and Shino were dressed much the same. Pyper in blue, Eri in red, and Shino in green. Even little Locke was wearing a blue yukata of his own. They had been tailored and given to the little mouse girl and her herald as a gift form Pyper and Eri since they visited the shrine so much.

Shino appeared behind the snowy-haired princess when she heard her friend slide open the front door. It meant her friends Tamuril and Bethan were there, and hopefully their herald friend Kain as well. Her ears and tail flicked happily as she balanced Locke in one arm and waved spastically with the other. She was so excited!

Eri darted through the hall, having given up on looking for her ribbon. When she zoomed by she noticed the others by the door. "Oh oh, they're here already?!" she asked, bouncing over, and giving a big wave hello as well. Though she could smell something in the kitchen, which caught her attention right away. "Oh my gosh, Pyper did you leave something cooking on the stove?!" And without even waiting for a response, she quickly darted off to the kitchen; her fluffy tail disappearing through another set of doors.

Shino handed Locke up for Pyper to hold while she skipped down to meet their guests half-way. She was very happy to see them. It felt like it had been forever, especially since she had seen Bethan. "Hi!" she beamed. "Welcome! Welcome!"

~~~~~~

Quite a ways away, somewhere deep in the surrounding forest, a man sat resting under the shade of a large tree. His dark black hair ran down, falling to rest on his muscular shoulders. His white shirt hung open slightly, revealing his bare chest, where one could see a few notable scars. His brilliant green eyes scanned his surroundings as he tried to decide where he would head next. Next to him was a small duffle bag, holding a few small belongings and changes of clothes. Ever since the accident he had beome a vagrant. Truthfully he didn't remember much. He had apparently been rescued, but was told he was suffering from amnesia. According to the men who had found him, his village had been attacked, and he was the only survivor. Taking the name Dune, the young man left and began a journey. He couldn't help the feeling that something was missing. If he had had a family, and they had truely died in the attack, then he was alone in the world. But he wished to remain optimistic. He just couldn't believe that information. He felt somewhere, somehow, at least part of his past was still alive. And with no memories of his own, he decided to go fort and make new ones, and hopefully fill the void he felt in his heart.

But it had been years since then. And with all his travels, he still had no leads. The mouse man was feeling at a loss when he felt somehow the hand of fate had guided him here to this place. But why? Only time would tell.

((sorry that took so long. I was trying to decide where I was going with this xD;; ))

((that's ok <3 ^^ sometimes my posts are short too xD;

and so... let's say, Locke's about toddler to small child-size right? xD I think so. Maaaybe still in his crib, but he can walk now, but he likes being held. I had to think about this. xD))

"Come in. Come in. Oh Eri. She's-" Pyper began, but was cut off by a voice from the inside, probably the kitchen.

"I'm heeere!" Eri announced, coming out of the kitchen with what appeared to be a sizzling oven mit on her hand. "S'ok. I managed to save it P-chan," she said. Apparently she was referring to Pyper and whatever she had been cooking. But the delicious smell in the air suggested it was cake. When she realized she was still waring it, she tossed the glove back into the kitchen.

"That's good. Sorry I forgot about it. I just got excited when I sensed our friends were here!" Pyper explained with a small bow of apology.

"S'ok," Eri replied cheerfully, moving over to greet her friends. "Hi everybody! It's so great to see you!"

"I know right?!" Shino grinned, taking Locke back from Pyper to set him down on the floor. The mouse girl still had that cute, child-like innocence about her. Despite her sometimes mature side, she seemed to flip-flop back and forth between the two on whim without realizing.

Instead of sitting on the floor, Locke stood right back up and walked over to Tamuril and Betah, and then to Kain, as if inspecting them. He vaguely remembered. Before he was reborn into this new, healthy body he had met the one girl and the other Herald before. He smiled up at all three with curiousity.

"Locke, say 'hello'," Shino ordered.

"Hi," he said with a little blush, shuffling his barefeet.

((i have the urge to draw these scenes xD oh and i figure they'll have a nice day hanging out before Dune shows up. Maybe Eri will haul out some sparklers or something. they can catch fireflys or something at night xD *thinks*))

Locke's smile grew little by little as he reached up to take Kain's hand. His eyes sparkled with curiousity as he gazed at the older Herald's beautiful wings. He wondered if his would grow to be that pretty.

"It's okay, we have shoes for him. I bet he'd like to go outside," Shino said, seeing the look of desperation on Bethan's face. She remembered back when she had mistook the woman for her 'momma', and grinned a little at the thought. Still it was nice having people like her around, and she even had a Herald too now.

Locke turned and nodded. He liked that idea. Outside was always nice.

"Sure thing! We could even have a little picnic outside!" Eri added, waltzing off and reappearing with a pair of small shoes. "Cake's already made, but I think we have the stuff to make sandwhiches!"

"Sounds good to me," Pyper replied, heading back to the kitchen to look for a basket and large blanket. She would get things ready. So apparently it was decided. Outside it was. "I'll be out there soon. You guys go ahead!" she called with a chuckle.

Almost as if reading the other heralds thoughts, Locke grabbed one of the small shoes Eri had brought along with a sock, and held it a moment-unsure of what to do with it because he didn't know how to put it on himself, he held it out for Kain. Apparently he liked watching Kain's movements, the beauty of his stained-glass window wings catching the light, was entrancing. His attention was focused on them until he heard the word 'butterflies' mentioned. And just as Shino was about to tell him that 'staring was rude' he was already looking in the other direction at Bethan before she took off. "Butterflies! Butterflies!" he repeated happily.

"So then we'll look for butterflies then!" Shino said happily, her ears twitching with excitement. "I think I saw nets in the closet with those pretty bird-cage thingies that Pyper keeps them in until she lets them loose. Apparently they had done this before. Though the butterflies they caught were lost souls that needed guidance to the afterlife. Shino went to the closet and brought out the strange birdcages. "Can we use these Pyper-san?"

"Of course," she replied with a grin, watching Eri motion for Tamuril to follow her into the kitchen.

>>>> KITCHEN
"You're right! Berry picking would be fun too!" She added, as she commenced a mini-tour of the kitchen as to show Tamuril where things were kept. There was a fridge of course, and rows of cabinets on the walls circling the room, with a counter in the center of it all. On the counter the cake was cooling.

>>>> OUTSIDE
Dune walked through the brush, following the different sights, sounds, and scents of the forest. Once scent in particular was what had really caught his attention; baking food, cakes perhaps? He was starving, maybe there were people out here after all. And so he kept walking in the direction he thought it was coming form. ((u can decide how close he's getting to the shrine xD he doesn't have to show up yet or Bethan can run into him xD whatever u want))

"Oh Locke'll eat just about anything," Eri chuckled. "He's not picky about food. As for Shino, I think she likes cheese too, and that sounds good to me. To tell ya the truth, I can sometimes be a picky eater," she blushed. It sounded a bit childish for someone her age, or at least she though. "Pyper's not picky though. She and Locke'll eat whatever's here, so it's not too hard to do grocery shopping. But there's still lots to choose from as we never know when we'll have guests," she added, gesturing towards the fridge. "Most of the sandwhich stuff is in here; different cheeses, lunch meats, and spread. And I think we have some chips. Are there any particular you like?" she asked, opening up a nearby cabinet.

~~

Shino chuckled as she watched Locke try to work on putting one shoe on as Kain helped with the other; though Locke was mostly trying to copy the older Herald as he had no clue how to put the shoes on. He fluttered his wings a little as he tried to concentrate, but he was still thinking about butterflies, and his eyes glittered as he turned to look outside, and then looked back at his semi-barefeet. (xD)

Pyper had picked up the nets and the birdcages and had moved to the door and stepped outside. She gazed around the yard until her sights landed on Bethan. She grinned, and started over.

~~~

After moving around awhile, Dune found himself tired again and stopped to take a rest. All this traveling was making him a weary soul, but until he found out more about his past he vowed to keep going.

Pyper smiled. The extra help with carrying things would make it much easier for her. "Thanks, that'd be great if you could hold onto these ones, and I'll get these..." She handed over one of the cages and anets while she swung around the other nets so she had a better grip on them. "Thanks."

Back in the kitchen, Erin was happy Tamuril didn't mind about her being a picky eater. That as good to hear. She was suprised though when Tam mentioned a sister. She hadn't mentioned family before, though neither had Pyper or Erin, so needless to say, the kitsune girl was a little curious. "Oh you have a sister?" she asked, raising a brow in interest as she helped get some ham out of the fridge.

Locke clapped his hands in excitement once his one shoe was on, almost as if he were applauding. After all, Kain had managed to do something he couldn't. He wondered if he would be able to put on his own shoes one day without help. That fact that the other herald didn't even have feet never crossed his mind. In Locke's mind they were still quite similar to each other, and he loved the other's company right off the bat.