Welcome to Gaia! ::

Branna let out a soft sigh, his fingers reaching up to tuck back a stray strand of his navy blue hair. “Must you make a mess of my room?” He asked as he glanced over at Ziya. It was still strange to see the other teen in their home, his resemblance to Aunt Talisia making the boy look more like her son than a cousin. Personality wise he was most definitely Zyphire’s child and the nephew of his own father who shared similar habits and even a trademark smirk, slightly crooked to the left and full of confidence. Branna was mostly his mother’s child with only his father’s hair and gemstones but his sass was on a much quieter level with the boy also having his father’s aptitude for music. He was currently practicing the zephyr, the long stringed instrument sitting in the edge of his room in the manor. While a lot of the family traveled, Branna enjoyed staying at the animal sanctuary on occasion so that he could have a stable place to practice his music. It was hard to lug so many instruments across the main continent and usually for trips he could only pack a lute or violin, not the zephyr and large ornate harp he adored. His aunt had found several instruments nestled back in storage and they had brought them out for Branna whenever he expressed interest. His room was spacious to accommodate the instruments, the platform in front of the large bay window on the first floor a perfect place for him to set up the harp and zephyr. His bed was pushed against the far side and the fireplace was near it where Ziya had decided to set up his fort of pillows in between the two things. Branna was just thankful that his cousin hadn’t somehow set the place on fire yet with the massive amount of pillows and blankets he had stolen from the guest rooms and….was that Azreal’s favorite blanket? Branna let out a faint chuckle before reaching back up to strum a few strings. “It’s hard to play whenever I’m worried about a fire breaking out.” He teased his cousin, chastising him more for the mess than for stealing pillows and blankets from everyone.

[Branna 1]

“It’s not worth the effort. You eventually leave without me having to force you out.” Branna responded quietly, amusement brightening his expression as he watched Ziya rearrange the pillows before flopping back into them. He was like one of the raptrix at times. Playful but with a habit of being a lazy mess. Branna shook his head before returning to his instrument and plucking a few strings. Soon enough he started playing a faint melody, a classic from Zena that told the story of the great firebird that flew to their mountains from Sauti. It was light and playful all at once and something that reminded him of his cousin. There was power though behind the notes and even Branna knew not to underestimate a playful thing, especially considering how much he had seen in his own family. They had quirks but each and every one of them could hold their own in various situations. Ziya was like that as well because beneath the playful exterior was an experienced hunter who had proven himself time and time again whenever there was danger nearby.

Eventually Branna finished playing the piece and leaned back to study his cousin. “What do you think?”

[Branna 2]

A soft laugh left Branna’s lips. “Who knows? Our family is full of surprises.” He admitted as he crossed his hands on his lap, his fingers twisting together thoughtfully. He knew that he adored music and at times it did feel as if he was the musician that his father had always wanted to be before getting consumed by magic. “Apparently grandfather was a musician…so that would have been your great-uncle?” Ziya’s grandmother had been the sister of his grandfather so that was how they were connected. It was strange to think that somehow their shifter relatives had moved to Zena to live here as if they were natives instead of thriving back in Jahaur. Branna could not even imagine Ziya or Yngvara in the jungles though…they seemed far too at home in the cold of Zena. “Music can be in your blood as well. Have you tried any instruments? Not that I’m encouraging the use for manipulating others but you know.”

[Branna 3]

“Mmhmm.” Branna nodded before shifting so that he could strum some of the strings once more. “Our family has a rich history full of mysteries.” He mused quietly. “Mother has her tragedy and father definitely has something tragic hidden in his scars.” There was surely some reason that they didn’t have grandparents after all. Branna would love the inspiration to write a good play or song for his family’s adventures but even he understood that certain subjects shouldn’t be touched…well at least for a little bit longer. “Your mother had some tragedies as well.” The teen tilted his head thoughtfully as he glanced towards his cousin again, his gaze dark in thought. “I wonder what that means for us?” Would they only have some growth after loss or would fate spare them from such strife? Would that even be fair? Perhaps it would be too boring as well. One could take inspiration from others but it was much more thrilling to experience certain things directly.

[Branna 4]

Branna pursed his lips. “My apologies.” The teen gave a slight shrug as he plucked a few more strings before finally standing. “I tend to get a bit distracted.” He smiled softly towards Ziya before walking towards the harp. “Didn’t you want to learn how to play something?” His midnight blue gaze studied the other hybrid before he looked back at the larger instrument that was standing in the corner. “I suppose we could also talk about food but whatever Zyphire makes will be delicious. That’s nothing unusual for him.” His father had bemoaned the loss of Zyphire whenever he moved to live with Sylvirah since their schedules rarely matched now that Kian traveled more with Rhonnan. They still had a few weeks together a year but even then it was nothing compared to the years spent together before they picked up traveling again.

[Branna 5]

Branna raised an amused brow. “Probably.” He agreed without hesitation as he reached up to touch the harp, his fingers curling protectively over the base. The large instrument was expensive and he knew that his family was fortunate to have it. Despite everything he was at least thankful that his grandmother’s influence had given them a good place to live with Aunt Talisia whenever they weren’t traveling through other countries. His father hadn’t really seen much reason to build a house of his own and they shared the sanctuary with Aunt Talisia for the most part, the stone manor having nearly ten bedrooms for family and guests. Branna had seen a little cottage towards the edge of the sanctuary and he wondered if his father would ever claim that building whenever their travels calmed down. But for now though he was at the sanctuary and with Ziya who was currently watching him as he played a few notes. “Maybe an ocarina? That’s easy enough to learn and you can carry one with you.”

[Branna 6]

“It’s an instrument.” Replied Branna evenly as he left his harp to go browse through the shelves tucked in the corner. “Children like the simpler ones but it can be much more than that.” Eventually he found what he was looking for and the teen returned with an ebony ocarina with multiple holes that was almost crescent moon shaped save for the little piece jutting out towards the end. He held it up for Ziya to inspect. “See?” The ones that his cousin referenced were popular during festivals, little round pieces of clay baked with just three or four holes for children to play with, but this one had more options and was slightly bulkier. Not too big that it was a hindrance but big enough for Branna to prefer it.

[Branna 7]