*~ Zhane's Room ~*

[karma_k]

Dear Journal,

Well, we're almost done moving into the new place. We had to stop for awhile during the holidays cuz Dad wasn't around to help. His job had him go off to this fundraiser thingy the radio station he works at was hosting. Mom wasn't too crazy about having to put things on hold, but he's back now.

I think Aunt Karma kinda wants us out of here soon, though. That or she's just worried because Arkie's not home yet. Its hard to tell with her, but the house IS crowded.

OH! Kendall's showing me how to play this new Katamari game he got. I'm getting kinda good at it. At least it isn't as bad as when he tried to get me to play Clocktower with him. Mom told me it would give me nightmares...I still don't have the guts to tell her I had bad dreams about Scissorman for a week afterwards.

At least spring'll be here soon. I miss being able to go outside whenever I want without having to wear a sweatshirt and a coat. That and about this time of the year, the snow stops being pretty and it gets all gross and gray. Dad says as long as he doesn't have to shovel it, he doesn't care what color it turns or how long it sticks around.

Anyway, I gotta go. I'm supposed to be helping Phaerna get her toys in boxes and stuff. I just wanted to try out this journal thing. Still need a good place to hide it.

~Zhane  

[karma_k]

A Visit To Maban Mabwysiad

What had begun as a trip to the park, had quickly taken on a more ominous tone. Talon, Phaerna, and Zhane had been there no less than an hour before Talon's cel phone had buzzed in his jacket pocket. A deep rumbling voice had informed him that he or Yeande ought to come to Maban Mabwysiad at their earliest convenience and to bring Phaerna.

That it was part of their new "policy". Something about the man's voice had made Talon uneasy, but the number had checked out as matching the one he'd kept in his directory for MM, and so he'd told the strange voice that he'd be right over.

"Howcome we've gotta go HERE?" Zhane complained as his father pulled the car along the curb and put it in park.

"I don't know. They want to see your sister."

Phaerna looked up from playing with her mouse plushie inquisitively. Usually when 'sister' was mentioned in Zhane's presense, they were talking about her. The black-haired ijiou hesitated and then unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed out of the car, circling around back to unstrap Phae and pick her up.

"Maybe its her real parents and they want her back." Zhane suggested, making the bottom drop out of Talon's stomach.

"Don't say things like that." he growled.

"But what if it is??" Zhane pressed, not understanding that what he was saying could be taken as being very hurtful.

Talon's lips thinned to a bloodless white line as he looked at Phaerna and the little drow nymph gazed steadfastly back at him with green eyes that matched his own, despite not being a blood-relation. They wouldn't take her back, would they? Not now...not after all of this time.

Phae cracked a smile and he had to look away.

"Just...we'll see, okay? I'm sure its nothing." Talon assured his son as the three of them entered the MM building.

Unlike most days, when the building seemed to house such an eerie silence, the adoption agency was now filled with sound... Many sounds, actually. There were four small children seated in the middle of the floor playing with a pile of multi-colored wooden blocks. The one with thick, chestnut hair seemed to be in 'control' of the situation, directing who would put which block where. The girl who, from the looks of it, must have been Skye's daughter, was ignoring him completely... As were the two identical boys who were happily gnawing on blocks while black wings fluttered against their heads.

Seated on the floor not far from them was the dragoness who, upon hearing the door open, quickly scrambled to her feet. "Talon... Hello! I'm glad to see you." Her voice sounded quite cheerful despite the over-abundance of brattlings on her floor... And despite the rather large man in the black suit who stood not far behind her looking as intimidating as possible. "And Phae and Zhane as well... My, they've both grown."

"Hi Miss Skye!" Zhane waved and then quickly had his attention drawn to the children playing on the floor. It had been awhile since he'd played with any kids other than his sister...every time they went by the GMFC and looked in, the place seemed deserted these days. He stood, watching them, his tail twitching as they played with the blocks. Little kids were neat. They weren't all uppity about things like older kids and adults were.

Phaerna, as was her custom when dealing with anyone who was not her mom, dad, or brother, promptly buried her face in Talon's chest and tried to make herself as small as possible to hide.

"Nice to see you too." Talon nodded once respectfully, trying pointedly NOT to look at the hulking gorilla of a man that stood nearby. "I...got a call not too long ago from someone over here. They said they needed me to bring Phae..." He was inwardly praying that it was not The Human Wall that had summoned them.

The little boy who seemed to be 'in charge' turned at the sound of Zhane's voice, brow furrowing slightly. The soft feathers of his wings fluffed with a bit of distaste but a quick glare from his mother set him playing with the blocks peacefully once more.

The little girl with the fiery hair and the pretty blue eyes offered a sheepish smile to the Zhane while waving tiny fingers. "P'ay?" Her words were still a bit hard to come by and, sometimes, harder to understand... But it should have been understood easily enough when she held up a block. Maybe he could make something better than her brother could.

"Yes... A call..." She coughed, letting the toe of her slipper-like shoe dig into the carpet. "Actually, before we go any further, I'd like to apologize for that. It... Appears that, upon opening this adoption agency there were a few... Legal technicalities that we... Overlooked." Her eyes narrowed as a snort-like laugh came from the muscular man leaning against the wall. "It seem as if those who govern this section of Gaia saw it fit to have a social worker step in to oversee our work... See to it that everything is legit and that the children are being cared for." Her brow furrowed slightly, eyes drifting down as she continued. "It also seems as if a few of our adoptive parents have been improperly caring for their children..."

Talon's wings tensed a bit on his back, hoping it was not being implied that he wasn't properly taking care of Zhane and Phaerna. "I see..." he nodded, finally daring to look at the larger suited man. Now that he was here, there wasn't much to do except wait to see what they wanted to speak to him about.

Zhane lit up immediately at the invitation and approached the small group, dropping to his knees among them. "Okay!" he said brightly. "What're you building?" he asked whoever cared to try and answer.

Knowing well that she wasn't the best mother in the world, she herself wasn't completely comfortable woth the massive man standing not far off. Granted, she didn't trust many men as of late anyways... But this brute was supposed to work with children? If anything, Talon should have seen the fit she threw when the man first arrived.

"I think he just wants to ask a few questions. I've assured him that most of our parents are good, responsible people and, if they aren't, then their spouses or significant others are..." She laughed, trying to break a bit of the tension. "If you wouldn't mind just stepping into my office, we'll get this over and done with as quickly as possible..." Her voice dropped low as she leaned in towards Talon. "Between you and I, we became a great deal more picky when it came to applicants after the first batch... And it's that first batch that we had the issues with. I'm sure everything will go well and, if it doesn't, I'll bash him on the head while you run."

"Cass'le." The little girl spoke once more, letting a soft smile slip into place on rosie lips. Yes, she was definately her mother's daughter... There would be no question about that. "Li' s--st'ory." She nodded. A fairytale castle... Like the one in the story the big man who reminded her of the big guy in armor that they saw in town had told them.

The eldest of the three boys, her brother, ignored them both, trying to gather as many blocks as he could for his own building purposes. The twins, clad in tacky rainbow and cloud pajamas, continued their gnawing for the moment, content to chew... And drool.

"A castle, huh? Like the one in Sleeping Beauty? Or like the one in Rapunzel with the BIG tower?" He was accustomed to making small talk with kids by now and had hashed out the role of "big brother" pretty well for himself.

Talon's ears perked to catch all of what she'd said, but it was somewhat comforting to know that she didn't like this man either. At least it erased the idea that they were ganging up on him. And that he might lose Phaerna over it. "Sounds like a plan," he nodded, holding Phaerna just a little tighter. "Sorry you've been having issues, by the way. Were people really just..." his eyes wandered to the kids playing on the floor. "...leaving?"

"Rrrrora." She nodded, nose scrunching slightly as she struggled with her 'r' sounds. "N'ba'd fae'rrr'ies." No, no bad fairies. There was no need for a bad fairy of any sort when her brother was around. She liked the story the best at the end... With the good fairies... And the color changing dress.

The twins seemed to take intrest in the 'building' now, but only slightly, eyeing the larger boy with wide eyes. The wings on the sides of their head fell still as they watched on with great curiosity.

She paused their conversation for a moment as another man entered the room. This one, with soft waves of blonde hair and innocent blue eyes, was clearly not a threat. No, he would keep an eye on the little ones while they were having their 'meeting'. He was good with children and Skye trusted him with her twins so she saw no reason why she shouldn't trust him with someone elses as well.

Once she was certain that her children's 'guardian' was watching them she turned back to Talon with a nod. "Yes. According to Barty (short for Bartleby, my twins had a field-day with that), at least, who found those two on one of his first checks this morning..." She shook her head slowly and sighed, leading him towards her office with the large male bringing up the rear. "I really don't understand... People come here wanting children and..." It was too much for her to continue, at least without getting frustrated.

"No bad fairies, gotcha." Zhane smiled, reaching out to place a block on the castle and help them build it. It was actually pretty good, considering how young they were...probably wouldn't be in danger of toppling over until it got a bit higher. "You guys are all visiting at once, huh?" He didn't seem to notice as his father and sister were led off by Skye and the stranger in the suit as supervision was taken over by Barty.

"They see it in the movies, I guess...parents taking care of a rambunctious kid and they think its all sunshine and rainbows. It isn't." Talon tried to keep a tone of bitterness out of his voice as he reminded himself that he had NOT wanted children in the beginning and had been buffalloed every step of the way by his wife.

Zhane and Phae had grown on him, though, thankfully. He barely remembered what life was like without them these days. Phae dared to draw her eyes away from her daddy's shirt just enough to peer at the adults taking her into a strange room in this strange place. Her wings began to shake a bit on her shoulders, as she wondered what they planned on doing.

This wasn't another doctor's office, was it? She wasn't going to get a SHOT, was she??

"Mam broug't'us." The little boy with the darker hair and the feathered wings spoke up finally, reguarding the others with a cool, green gaze. Something about him seemed... Off. As if there was something more than just a sweet, innocent child sitting there.

The little girl who had been talking to Zhane simply nodded in agreement. "Mam broug'us... An'... Bar-tee-bee brough'tem." She gestured with tiny hands towards the other, younger set of twins. She didn't know their names... But Mam did. They were quiet... Didn't even talk yet.

The two boys in question blinked at the same time, lowering the blocks from their mouths. They couldn't remember ever being in this place before... But the blocks were good and the strange-lady and stranger-man seemed nice enough.

He snorted softly, shutting the door behind them after everyone entered the cozy office. It was unlike most offices, complete with a couch and a large, reclining chair... Right along with a desk and a refriderator as well as a microwave that seemed as if it had never been used before. "That's exactly what it is. Seen too many cases of it lately. Luckily, seems like most of the adoptive parents from this place check out... Most of them."

Skye rolled her eyes before taking a seat on her desk... Then, after recieving an over-the-sunglasses look from Barty, she hopped down, taking a seat behind the desk. "Make yourself comfortable, Talon. Anything I can get for you?" She glanced down to the little girl who was shaking like the leaves her coloration matched. "... Or for her? A lolipop or something?"

Zhane quirked a brow at this, not really understanding what they'd said, but he nodded regardless. Sounded like someone named Mam had brought them here. Did one lady really take care of all of them at once? That must've been a busy household... deciding to change the subject, he turned back to the subject of the castle being built "Too bad there's no little figures, huh? It would be cool to put a knight down here guarding the door and maybe a princess up in the tower there..."

Talon awkwardly took a seat on the edge of the couch, Phaerna clinging to his chest as though for dear life. There was no way she was getting handed off to one of the two strangers for shots or other doctor stuff. If they wanted her, they'd have to pry her off.

"I think we're okay..." he told her, looking down at his adopted daughter's clenched state. "Sorry, she gets like this around people she doesn't know very well. We tried leaving her and Zhane with a babysitter one night while we went out....never again." he sighed, recalling the babysitter's constant and frantic calls to his cel phone about how Phaerna would not come out from behind the couch until he and Yeande had given up on having a peaceful evening out and had come home to rectify matters.

"Mam sa's I'ma prin'sess." She nodded, smiling that odd, Skye-like smile... A smile that seemed to broaden as she heard the laughter from the blonde-haired male who was sitting nearby keeping an eye on the little playgroup. "Bu'... No k'nig'its. Draaaagons." She nodded once more, letting her wings fan out behind her as she did, fluttering them happily.

The fluttering of her wings caught the attention of the pale-haired twins whose head-wings began to flutter as an instant result. They giggled, clearly entertained.

"No, it's alright." The large man nodded as he pulled out a clip-board, flipping through the first few pages slowly. "Her mother was a nymph, right? Then it's a good thing she shows such trust in you as her parent. Those sort... Tricky." He nodded, marking a few things down on the paper. "Tell me a bit about yourself... The family at home, other children..."

She attempted to lean over her desk and peer at the paper, quite curious as to what his 'notes' said, if anything. Her nose scrunched when it was pulled out of her view.

"Really? I'm a dragon too! ...well...kinda..." Zhane said, fluttering his own purple-and-blue wings. It was nice to find something in common. "Mom and Dad don't really know what they are, but they look like dragons." That, actually, was something that annoyed him...that neither his mom nor dad knew what they were and that neither of them really seemed to care to find out, either. HE wanted to know...

Talon cleared his throat, feeling like a fly under a microscope as he straightened up a bit, his small wings flaring a bit as though trying unsuccessfully to give him an air of authority. "Well..." he began. "....I live with my wife, Yeande, Phaerna obviously, and you saw Zhane in the waiting room. I work on a radio show from about seven till ten every night with weekends off, Yeande is a stay-at-home mom and is a big fan of gardening..."

He was shooting in the dark, here, not really knowing what the man wanted to hear. "Zhane is our biological son...he and Phae are very close, actually. Ever since they were babies. Somewhere along the line, he had a growth spurt before she did, though..."

"Keif's'a d'agon too." She nodded happily while admiring his wings. Hers were like that... Alot like that, with bluish purple for the main part, almost black in some places. Of course, the webbing from her wings was a silvery blue in color. That seemed to match her far better than the dark wings. "Rrr'ian's'only haf." Yes, her twin was only 'part dragon'. He only had a tail... And fluffy wings.

He snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. As far as he was concerned, he was more of a dragon than his sister would ever be. She was too nice. Not at all like the big, mean dragons in stories... The stories that his mother had insisted that Doe'kitty wasn't allowed to read them, but had anyways.

... ... ...

"Biological kid, eh?" He nodded, almost as if in approval of some sort. "And they get along?" Repeat, repeat, repeat. "Good. Very good. We get alot of households that have biological kids that don't get along too well with the others. Makes 'em feel like their being replaced, so I've been told."

He glanced down at his sheet for a moment, letting his eyes drift towards the dragon-lady before they shifted back to the man and his daughter. "Seems like Ms. Starrfyre's actually done her job well with settling that wee one with you. A mother who loves gardening for a plant-life nymph."

It was her turn to snort now, eyes narrowing slightly. "Don't sound so suprised. Told you we made at least least a few good decisions."

"Lots of dragons, it seems like..." Zhane smiled at the little girl. Man, if these kids were here all of the time, he'd have to come back more often. He'd forgotten how much fun it was to simply sit and play as he placed another two blocks on the structure. "Did you ever see that movie The Reluctant Dragon?" he asked. He'd only seen it himself recently on Disney.

Talon's hold on Phaerna loosed just a bit when it began to sound as though they didn't intend on labelling him an unfit father. "Yeande adopted her when Zhane was still very small because of that very thing. The doctor said she couldn't have any more kids because of the strain it put on her body, so she looked into this place. She didn't exactly TELL me at the time, but...we worked things out."

"S'cuz of Mam." She nodded. Her Mam was a dragon... And that meant that her kids were dragons too. "Nope." She said that word quite clearly, almost as if it were one that she'd practiced saying before. "S'goo' moofee?"

Bored with their conversation, Rian stood up, towering over their castle. From the looks of things, he almost seemed as if he was going to kick it over... But he didn't. No, not yet, at least.

... ... ...

"Women." He shook his head, ignoring the look from Skye... The look that said if he spoke of 'women' in that way once more she'd toss him out of her office and out of her adoption agency, even if he was a good foot taller than she was (a good foot wider as well). "Well, from the sounds of things you're doing a fine job. Only one more thing you can expect from me before I'm out of your hair for a good while... Gonna have to set up a house visit."

"Well, *I* liked it..." Zhane began, his eye turning warily to Rian, waiting to see if he'd kick over the castle or not. "Aw c'mon, don't do that..." he urged the young boy. They could just rebuild it if he kicked it over, but it would probably upset the other kids to have it knocked down, regardless. And he wasn't very good with crying kids...at least there was an adult there to see what was going on, though so nobody could blame him if everybody suddenly burst into wailing.

... ... ...

Talon blinked forcibly. "A house visit." he repeated. "I....okay. I guess. I'll need to tell Yeande, though." It wasn't as though they lived in a slum...as far as he was concerned, they were actually doing okay for themselves all things considered, they'd just never actually had company over. He hadn't even invited Karma over to see the new house and didn't exactly intend to.

He glared down at the older boy for a good, long moment before storming off, crawling up onto the couch to sulk. He'd just ignore the rest of them... And get back at his sister for it later.

She scrunched her nose slightly, half tempted to stick his tongue out at her brother... But she didn't. "I'll ask Mam 'bou' it." She nodded at Zhane. If he liked it then it had to be pretty good. Afterall, he seemed.. What was that word? 'Cool' enough?

... ... ...

"You pick the date and time and I'll be there... No suprise visits. Don't think you need one of those." He nodded before looking to Skye. "Now... Some of these other parents..."

She stood up, moving towards the door in order to open it. "You leave my good parents alone... Go pick on someone your own size... Like the Jolly Green. Or Leon. Talon, you're free to go now." She smiled before mouthing 'Run, I'll hold him back.'

Talon did not need further prompting as he stood, adjusting his grip on Phaerna as he did so. "I'll call once we agree on a time. Thanks" he said, before gratefully leaving the office, happy to be able to -breathe- again. As nice as the office was, there was simply not enough room in it for two normal people and The Hulk.

That hadn't been so bad, he decided....well, 'not bad' meaning Phaerna hadn't been taken away and his head hadn't ended up squashed. For now, though, all he wanted was to go home as he strode out toward the waiting room.

"Zhane? C'mon, we're leaving." he called to his son.

"Aww, already?" he complained. He was having fun! Giving a sigh, he turned to the little girl. "I gotta go now, I'll try and come back sometime, though."

"Zhane..." Talon said, a tone of warning creeping into his voice.

"Com-ing!" he called back, hopping to his feet and racing off after his dad.  

[Zhane Breslin]

Dear Diary,

Dad explained this whole 'death' thing to me and Phae, I know, but I don't really get it. Or like it. Bonnie was A-OK last night. She was squeaking and jumping around in her cage like nobody's business and then today, boom. Just gone. Never coming back. It happened out of nowhere.

Dad says everything eventually dies. That means me, Phae, him, and mom too. He said some people can die if they get really sick like Bonnie did after she ate those seltzer tabs, or they can die if they have a bad accident, but most people just die after they get too old. I asked him how long we would all be around and he said he didn't know. He said humans end up living anywhere from seventy to eighty years and that its a really long time.

It doesn't seem very long to me, though. And we're not humans either. What if we don't even get to live that long? Dad says not to worry about it, but I can't help it. I don't think I want to die. It seems like such a waste to be fine one minute and then have to lay still forever. Its like a permanent time out except you never get to come out of the corner and go back to watching TV.

I wonder if there's a way not to die. I tried asking mom and dad, but they said they thought the topic was getting old for the night and that it was upsetting Phae. I think maybe it might have been upsetting THEM, though.

They said we could go get a new guinea pig if me and Phae really wanted one, but I don't think I do anymore...

-Zhane  

[karma_k]

Meeting Luna

"C'mon, Zhane, its a shot, not the end of the world..." Kendall sighed, holding the door open with one arm and flicking his tail impatiently as he waited for the younger boy to enter the GMFC.

"How come they call it a booster shot anyway?" Zhane grumped as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and reluctantly sidled into the clinic, his wings tensing a bit in the air-conditioned lobby.

"Because they inject it into you so hard that it boosts you straight up to the ceiling." Kendall replied non-chalantly, already grabbing Zhane's arm before he could bolt back out the door, snickering as he hauled him toward the sitting area. "Because it gives your immune system a boost so you don't get sick every time you go outside, that's all." he explained.

"But I DON'T get sick every time I go outside..." Zhane argued. Ordinarily he was pretty compliant, but the idea of sitting still while someone jabbed a needle in his arm didn't sit well with him.

"Yeah, not NOW, but then someday you'll get stung by a bee, and BAM! You're gonna spend the rest of your life in a plastic bubble wearing a nightgown." Kendall countered.

Zhane opened his mouth to retalliate, found he had no argument for this mental image, and shuddered slightly. The idea of never going outside again was enough to make him agreeable. For now. Keeping a wary eye on Kendall, he sat down and grabbed for a magazine.

Stupid booster shots....

Luna's head tilted as the pair entered the clinic. Two unfamiliar people... both upside-down. Well. Right-side-up, to be precise. It was she who was upside down.

Feet on the floor, back on the chair-back? Bah. It just wasn't as comfortable as having her head on the floor and her legs resting on the back of the chair, with her legs crossed at the ankles. Her skirt was frilly enough to cover everything her mother warned her to keep covered in public (Or even in the house), so it wasn't like she was doing anything wrong, anyway.

Shots, was it? Luna smiled faintly, holding out one arm. There was a roll of gauze pressed against her inner elbow, held by a bright pink band-aid. It couldn't be any worse than having blood drawn, and it didn't even hurt all that much.

Just like a mosquito bite.

Right? She punctuated her thoughts with that one projected word.

Zhane rifled through the magazine in pensive silence for a moment, the only sound passing between the two boys being the sound of paper shifting.

"Look, it wasn't MY idea, okay?" Kendall sighed. "Your mom called me this morning and asked if I'd mind bringing you here because she was going shopping with Dad and Envy."

More silence and three more pages turned.

"I'D rather be home playing Jaws, if I could have it my way. Its my day off." he continued before a flash of pink caught the corner of his eye and he turned his head, realizing they were not alone as he eyed the upside-down girl sitting by herself in one of the chairs.

"Hey," Kendall smiled, flexing his fingers at her in greeting. "Didn't see ya there."

Zhane looked up, blinking at Ken and then turned his head in the direction of whom he was addressing. Wow, somebody HIS age. That didn't happen very often these days. His reservations about the shot momentarily forgotten, Zhane likewise smiled at Luna.

Hello! Luna grinned widely and waved her arm awkwardly, her position making it difficult for her to fully wave hello.

You have to see the doctor too?

"Yeah..." Zhane sighed, his face going gloomy again. "I've gotta hold still and let him stick me with a needle."

"Booster shot, kiddo..." Kendall corrected him, catching him in a playful headlock and noogeying him, though he relented quickly when the younger boy didn't put up much of a struggle.

Not bothering to straighten his touseled hair, Zhane's eyes fell to the small bandage on Luna's arm and he winced.

"Aw man, they got you too?" he asked, trying to sound sympathetic though his eyes were suddenly aglow with curiousity as though he was asking a soldier how he lost his leg. "Was it bad? How big was the needle?"

Different! Luna shook her head from side to side, the smile not leaving her face. Different needle for different things. I got a rubber band around this arm and it SQUEEZED and that hurt more than the needle. Her feet kicked slightly as she considered the ordeal.

Not so bad. They had to take some blood for some tests. Your needle will be different. Just a little stick in the arm for a second.

"A rubber band?" Zhane questioned, and then turned to Kendall accusingly "You didn't say anything about a rubber band!"

"They're not going to use one, that's why. Now settle...you sound like your dad." Kendall muttered, having picked up a Highlights For Children to leaf through.

Deciding Luna was infinately more interesting company than Kendall at the moment, Zhane got up from his seat and relocated closer to the pink-and-purple young lady and plumped down a couple of seats away from her.

"What kind of tests?" he questioned, looking her over as his tail lashed slightly with intrigue. "Do they give it back afterward?" Obviously Zhane and doctor's offices weren't well-acquainted after he had grown beyond being an infant.

"My name's Zhane, by the way." he offered, realizing he hadn't yet. "Sorry, I'm just kinda out of it right now. Ken didn't tell me what we were coming here for till we got to the front door."

"Because it would've been that much harder to wrestle you out the door, that's why." Kendall put in, not looking up from his magazine.

It's different, Luna emphasized, biting her lip in thought. And I don't really know what they're for. Mama said the government needed to know some things about me that are in my blood.

Finally deciding the chair was getting a little TOO uncomfortable for her liking, Luna slowly slid downward until her legs were suddenly below her head, and she was holding onto the seat bottom to regain her sense of up and down.

My name's Luna Edae. It's nice to meet you, Zhane!

"Nice to meet you too, Luna!" Zhane grinned, deciding he'd asked enough questions about needles and blood. Somehow, it didn't feel polite, despite the fact nobody had told him to shush yet. "I hardly ever get to meet other kids...we live kinda far from here."

"Cuz your dad's a creepy hermit." came the peanut gallery of Kendall once more.

Zhane rolled his eyes and opted not to answer. "Do you come here a lot?"

Luna tilted her head to the side, studying Zhane intently. Well, he certainly LOOKED different, that was sure. She idly wondered if people with his kind of ears and tail licked each other hello, as well?

She opted not to risk it.

Kindasortamaybe. An emphatic nod. There are good puzzles here. Jo and I come here because I like the puzzles. She paused briefly. Jo's my guardian. He's on the roof right now. He has to stay close or else he gets really upset, but he didn't want to be TOO close when I had my blood taken. My hurt hurts him a little, and he probably would've been all like-- "RARRRRR!" The last part, she said aloud, bringing her hands upward and mimicking a monster's claws.

Zhane looked briefly at the ceiling as she explained, as though that might help him see this elusive Jo. All he saw was light fixtures, however. At her massive "RAR" he jolted a bit and then laughed.

"I live with my mom and dad....and my little sister." he explained. "Dad doesn't really like people so we only go out when we have to...it really sucks."

He swung his legs idly from the chair, his wings resituating themselves into a more comfortable position on his back. "That's why when I get old enough, I'm gonna be an explorer and see all kinds of places and people."

Another headtilt. You have a little sister too? I have a big little sister!

Luna giggled quietly, pacing in front of Zhane. Reeeeeeeeeally? Are you going to see other planets, too?

"We adopted my little sister." he nodded. "Her mom couldn't keep her or something...I dunno...I was too little to remember and Dad gets mad whenever I ask him about it and says it'll upset Phae."

At her question, Zhane's eyes seemed to sparkle. Other planets...? He hadn't even thought of that. Frankly, he would've been happy just to explore that thicket of trees that was just beyond the park...

"Wow, maybe!" he grinned. his wings vibrating with excitement. "That'd be awesome! What about you? What're you gonna do when you're older?"

Ohhhhh... Luna frowned slightly, clasping her hands behind her back. Perhaps it would be better to focus on the more fascinating topic at hand.

I don't know! She furrowed her brow. I never thought about it, really. Maybe I'll... "Hmmmm." Maybe I'll help people. Maybe I can teach! And... and maybe I can be an explorer, too! Someone who talks to new peoples and makes peace and friendship and... She paused as she struggled to come up with the word. A diplomat!

"Like the ones on TV!" Zhane put in, clearly enjoying this conversation. That actually sounded pretty cool too, but he was less about peacemaking and more about poking around in new places he knew nothing about. "You can talk to the people, and I'll explore the caves and the mountains and stuff!"

"Zhane Breslin?"

The mood of the happy conversation was shattered as a nurse appeared in the doorway of the waiting area, a clipboard hugged to her chest as she looked between the two boys there.

"That's your cue, kid." Kendall smiled over the top of his Highlights.

Zhane felt the bottom drop out of his stomach as he eyed the nurse warily.

"Um...yeah?"

"Follow me, please." she said with a winning smile, beckoning him closer. To Zhane, it looked like she was trying overly-hard NOT to look like she was going to jab him with a needle at the earliest opportunity.

He gave a deep-chested sigh and looked to Luna helplessly. "Guess I gotta go..." he groaned.

Luna giggled behind one hand, considering Zhane's offer. So that means I get to go with you when you explore? It's a deal!

Her attention snapped to the nurse as she called for Zhane, and then back to her new friend.

Be strong, okay? It's only a second, okay?

With that, she waved slowly. I'll see you another time, okay! Hopefully when we're not getting poked. With a reassuring nod, she retreated to a half-finished puzzle left in the corner of the clinic. I'll be right here. Good luck!

"Thanks," he said, offering her a half-smile before trudging off to meet his fate like a man about to go forth on death row.

"Don't worry," Kendall called after him. "I'll tell everybody you went out without a blindfold. You'll be a hero."

Had it not been for the presense of the nurse, Zhane might have reacted again like his father and presented Kendall with a one-fingered salute. Instead, he merely continued his trudge out of the room as the nurse swept the door closed after them.

Kendall quietly made note that from now one when Talon and/or Yeande called to ask him to drive Zhane anywhere near this place, he was going to conveniently be "on his way out the door to work".  

[karma_k]

I met Nani last night. I guess maybe mom might be right about me eventually getting lonely by spending so much time by myself in the woods, because its all I thought about all day.

I'm not going to say where we went or what we saw, because I promised her I wouldn't, and because I still don't entirely trust that somebody else isn't gonna get into this log and read things they shouldn't be reading.

I AM going to say that she wasn't what I was expecting her to be at all (and I don't mean that in a bad way, either). Hopefully she feels similar. I really can never tell if I'm making a good impression or not.

I spent the day at Aunt Karma's helping clean. Dad bitches that we have too much stuff in the attic, but he's apparently never seen hers before. It looked like Area 51 up there...boxes and boxes of stuff and she had no idea what half of it was.

It took all afternoon just to get it all downstairs and into the garage, and I guess tomorrow I'm going back over to help sort through it all and figure out what's getting thrown out and what's staying. She says she trusts me more than she trusts Kendall to do it because he'd just want to keep everything.

Sure....I've got nothing better to do than poke around through boxes of baby clothes and old magazines, I guess.

Bleh.



I've decided to keep the seashell here on my desk. I enjoy looking at it...

~Zhane