Welcome to Gaia! ::

[reception]

"Well, everything seems in order Miss Millner." A gray-suited official shuffled a few papers before looking up. "May I say you seem rather young for a teacher of your caliber? Excellent references from your past appointment... why did you leave?"

Raven brushed a wayward strand of hair back into its bun. "You've already said it," she remarked dryly. "As for my reasons, they are personal. There's something I'm looking for in Gaia, that's all you need to know."

The man was a bit taken aback, but showed no signs of it. "Yes, well, shall we be off to the laboratory?"

"I have already been on a tour of the facilities. Getting around should not be a problem." Taking the folder that was handed to her, Raven prepared to leave.

"But you have yet to recieve custody of your child, am I correct?"

For the first time in weeks, she faltered. "I beg your pardon?" She was to teach children, that much she knew, but taking care of one was beyond the job description she had been given. Besides which, she hated it.

"Many of the teachers have been asked to foster the first children born here, so that they will have constant supervision on the premises. It was part of your contract."

It was just like a big corporation to sneak in a stipulation like that. She should have been more careful, should have read through the contract, preferably with her lawyer. Sord had warned her about these people. But there was no backing out now, it was obvious that if she refused she would lose the job, and it was too sweet a deal. A little drop of lemon wouldn't hurt that much. Even if it was a whiny kid.

"Very well, show me."

The two made their way through the labrynth of hallways towards the large laboratory. There were tanks all over, but the man led her to one off to the side. "This one has been assigned to you. Ibex DNA. It might need some watching with those horns, but otherwise it should be simple for you."

Two technicians, both female, were monitoring the tank. Inside was the nearly complete form of a child, covered with brown fur, two curled horns protruding from his head.

At least it wasn't a bird, or a cat, or something she'd have to chase all over. A mountain goat she could deal with. Goats were supposed to be obedient, weren't they?

Well, this one would be.

"Alert me when I'm needed," Raven said coolly to the technicians.

One of them stood, the other merely glanced up and returned to her work. "Do you have a name, miss? It's a boy." The standing one patted the tank lightly.

Frowning, the woman turned. "You can take care of all that. Just let me know when I have to watch it. And it's Professor Millner, please"

Before either technician could argue the new professor had left.

-Assessment Log-

Day One

As part of my newly assigned duties as instructor, I was assigned the task of caring for and observing one of the laboratory's specimens. The child is male, with ibex genes. He has been given the designation Anoki Kenelm by the laboratory staff.

Anoki Kenelm exhibits no obvious physical mutations, apart from what is expected from the hybridization. His genetics give him a mostly humanoid appearance, however his body is covered with slick brown fur, marked with white patches. He sports a small tail, as well as a pair of large curled horns. There are no observable traits of injury or illness.

In mannerisms he is unremarkable, showing signs of neither brilliance nor retardation. He is an entirely normal toddler, aside from his uncommon appearance. This may change as he matures, but for now there is nothing special about the one called Anoki Kenelm.

-Raven Millner

[Mandatory Socialization Time (Jenner and Indigo) can be found here.]

"Now Anoki, sweetie, just give me the scissors."

There was a clatter, and then the sound of Anoki wailing. A few moments later he came into Raven's view, borne by Mahou. His face was wet, cries still coming from his mouth, and he held one of his arms tightly, almost as though he was afraid if he let go someone would take it away from him.

"He accidentally cut himself with the scissors," Mahou explained apologetically. "I was just in the kitchen to check on the soup, I don't know how it happened!"

"He often gets into such scrapes." Off the top of her head Raven could think of several. When left alone he had colored the walls pink, glued his own hands together, gotten his finger stuck in a clock gear, and somehow knocked over the table she kept her books on, getting trapped underneath until she pulled him out. And despite all this he was still curious, still happy, still excited about what the world had in store for him.

In that one way he was remarkable. Nothing else was special about him, but that one trait amazed Raven constantly.

"It doesn't do any good to baby him, Mahou. He will make trouble again. Just fix him up and tell him not to do that again." Usually he stayed away from an offending object, giving it the respect it was due. In that way he was learning, so if he wasn't threatening himself too much she saw no reason to stop him.

"I- yes, Raven."



And what? Did she want his help? Did she view Anoki as a child? Her child? Not particularly. Other "parents" did, but then most of them had sought out the opportunity. She had it thrust upon her. She didn't even know what the boy thought of her, and didn't particularly care.

"M-mama Ray?"

Anoki held his hand out. Just above his wrist was a neatly tied white bandage, as normal bandaids didn't stick to his fur, and his injury was a bit large for one anyway. Thankfully it wasn't deep, and the ibex child quickly recovered, as was evident by his smile.

"B-b-better."

What was she to do? Awkwardly, she patted his head, steering clear of the horns. "That is good. Make sure not to do it again. And remember, complete sentences- 'I am better,' for instance, or 'I feel better.'"

Squinting his eyes, Anoki concentrated. "I-I am b-better."

"Well done. Now, go find Mahou."

As if he didn't hear, Anoki sat on the floor and leaned against the legs of Raven's chair.

[relief]

"Anoki Kenelm!"

For once, Raven was shocked. She expected children to get into trouble. After all, making mistakes was the way they learned at this early stage in life. But this was actually dangerous.

"Anoki Kenelm, get down this instant!"

He wanted to. He really, really wanted to. But as Anoki looked down, he found himself trembling. Climbing to the top of the bookcase had been fun. Even on the top of it, he wasn't too scared of the height. It gave him a good view of the whole room, and even out the window! It was the wavering that just started, the slight unbalance that he could feel underneath him, that frightened the ibex child.

Realizing her mistake, Raven rushed forward. "Stay put! Do not move!"

Anoki let out a low whine and reached as the woman hurried closer to him. This, unfortunately, unbalanced him enough to topple over, and he pitched towards the ground. Terrified, he shut his eyes, put his hands in front of him, and landed on one of them. Hard.

It was impossible for Raven not to cover her ears at the sound of Anoki's screams. Where the boy had gotten such lungpower from was unknown. He was usually so quiet, and even when he hurt himself he simply cried for a few minutes and was done. This was something else all together.

Collecting her nerves, she knelt down and placed one hand on his head. At that he looked up, allowing her a better view of the damage. Raven winced. He had landed on his wrist, and it was already beginning to swell.

"We'd best go see the doctor.

It was horrible. He was hurting all over, and his mama still dragged him halfway around the building. At least, Anoki thought when it was over, she carried him, which had been nice. The doctor, who was someone who made people feel better, gave him a lollipop and took some funny pictures of his wrist. And then he got a hard thing put around it so that he couldn't move it at all. That part wasn't fun, but he got a sticker to put on it, so that made it a little better.

Raven looked over at Anoki in between forms. "You were lucky to get out with a sprain, Anoki Kenelm." She doubted that he knew what she was talking about, but she continued anyway. "It could have been a fracture, or worse. You really need to stop doing things that are so hazardous."

"I'm sure he's sorry, aren't you, 'Noki?" Mahou had joined them a few minutes ago, and pulled out a small plastic bag. "I know that must have been very scary for you. And I'm sure it hurt a lot too."

Sniffling, Anoki nodded. "H-hurts."

Poor kid. "Well, this should help a little." Grinning, the elf pulled a large black plushie out of the bag. It was black, with golden eyes and a long tail.

Blinking, Raven's voice became somewhat higher in pitch. "Where did you get that?"

He knew what that was! "Dragon!" Anoki exclaimed clearly.

"That's right!" Kid was cleverer than they gave him credit for. "But not just any dragon- that looks like your mama's dragon."

Anoki's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. "M-mama Ray D-dragon?"

"I wish you hadn't done that." Raven sighed. "Now he'll be asking me where I hide one."

"W-where?"

Looking at Mahou pointedly, Raven raised her eyebrows.

"You'll see. But until you get your own dragon, this one will be your friend."

Anoki liked the sound of that. He had a couple friends, but if he could always have one with him, like his blanket, then that would be the best thing ever! Yawning, he hugged the plushie with his good arm. "Dagon f-friend."

[form-fitting]

Raven had grown accustomed to recieving notices from those above her at D-Corp. The latest, however, was the first to actually request a reply. And it gave interesting information no less. If they sent her more good news, perhaps she would forgive them for constantly bombarding her with form letters.

So, Anoki Kenelm was finally ready to recieve his dragon egg. She was starting to wonder when that would happen. A few children had already gotten theirs. How they were more advanced than he was she couldn't tell, but now the point was moot.

"Mam-m-ma R-ray?" The child had snuck up on her, carrying a book in his good arm. His dragon plushie was draped over the arm that was still in a sling, contrived from his favorite blanket knotted over his shoulder. "R-read?"

Well, the sooner they got this done the better. "Not now, Anoki Kenelm. Now I am going to ask you some questions. I believe that you are supposed to write the answers, but since you cannot, I will write them for you."

Looking at his arm, Anoki nodded. "R-read lat-t-ter?"

"Perhaps. Sit down."

Carefully putting his book down on the floor, the ibex did as asked, levering himself up onto the couch with his good arm.

"First." Raven had plucked a pen from a nearby table and sat poised, ready to write. "What is your name?"

Oh, this had to be a test! Sometimes his mama gave him tests, to make sure he was listening. But this one was easy. "Ano-k-ki Kenelm."

"Very good. And how old are you?"

That question took a little thought. Looking at his free hand, Anoki made a fist, then extended two fingers. After another moment he extended a third, then bent it again, then straightened it once more.

"T-t-two or three-ee?"

That was a good question, one Raven wasn't sure of the answer to. "Let's say you're somewhere between two or three," she decided, writing that on the form. "Next, what is your favorite color?"

Another easy one. Maybe she thought he couldn't do the hard ones. Determined to make his mother proud, Anoki took a deep breath. "Blue!"

"Blue?" She had been expecting something like brown or black, colors that were abundant both on his body and in the apartment.

Anoki nodded and pointed to his sling. "B-blue."

"Ah. Sky blue?" Upon confirmation by nod, Raven wrote once more, then looked up for the final question. "And who is your best friend?"

Good, she gave him a tough one again! He had a few friends, like Mahou, and Indi and Earako, but Mahou was really his mama's friend, and he'd only seen the others once. Who was a friend who he got to spend lots of time with?

The answer was on his arm.

"D-drag-g-gon!" Anoki exclaimed, shaking the arm in the sling a little, which made the stuffed animal dance.

It was an answer only a child could give. Still, Raven accepted it. "Very good. Now go find Mahou and tell her I said she could give you a cookie. When you've finished, I will read to you.

Cookies! Mouth watering, Anoki hopped off the chair and all but ran to the kitchen, plushie bouncing.

[lucky break]

Mahou looked under the dining table. Nothing. She checked in the bathtub. Nothing. Nor was there anything out of the ordinary under the beds, or in the kitchen cabinets. Or anywhere she could think of, for that matter.

"Anoki, where are you?"

Somewhere he didn't want to be, Anoki thought nervously. He was in the living room, standing one one edge of the couch and trying very hard to reach the top of the nearest bookcase with his one free arm. Much as he would have preferred to avoid that bookcase for the next several months, he could see what he was looking for, sitting just out of reach.

Why did Mama Ray have to put his plushie THERE? And then go off on some trip and not give it back?

He stood on tiptoe, tilting off to one side a little, fingers stretched as high as they could possibly go. The tail of his black dragon plushie dangled tantalizingly, just inches above his hand. He HAD to rescue his dragon.

Taking a deep breath, Anoki put one foot on the next-highest shelf of the bookcase. Then the other. He clung to the side for dear life with his good arm. But he would have to let go to get his dragon... slowly, carefully, he released the shelf and put his hand up. He was so close! He went on his toes again, overbalanced, teetered dangerously and...

"OOWWWWWW!"


"Really, Anoki." They were sitting in the doctor's office again, and Anoki's tearstained face made Mahou want to cry as well. "You were almost better! Just another week or so and you would have been fine."

Anoki nodded. He knew that. But he couldn't just leave his dragon all alone on top of the tall tower!

"A hairline fracture this time. You're lucky it wasn't more serious, especially since your arm was hurt already."

In spite of being upset and scared, Anoki was actually soothed by Mahou's words. She was starting to sound like Mama Ray. That, however, only reminded him that she wasn't there, and fresh tears welled in his eyes.

"What were you trying to do, anyway?"

"D-d-dragon." Anoki sniffled. He didn't manage to get his plushie down either. "A-alone, up t-there."

Was that all? "Anoki, you silly boy. Next time you need something you can't reach, ask. I would have been happy to get him for you."

"N-n-no! H-had to g-get d-dragon 'lone. MY d-d-dragon."

Mahou's expression changed to one of puzzlement. She shifted in her seat, to look Anoki in the eyes. "What do you mean? Why would you have to get your toy by yourself?"

"Not t-toy. D-d-dragon. I h-h-had to h-help."

That still didn't make any sense. Unless... "You mean you wanted to help your real dragon? Like practice?"

Sniffling again, Anoki nodded. But he hadn't done it. All he did was fail again.

"That was... well, still incredubly silly."

The ibex flinched. Was she going to yell? He liked it when Mahou sounded like his mama, but hoped they could do without the yelling part.

"But also very brave. I'm proud of you."

Eyes widening, Anoki froze. He stopped fidgeting in his seat, and kicking his legs under his chair. "Proud?"

Mahou grinned. "Proud," she repeated, rubbing Anoki's always messy hair. "That said, you are expressly forbidden from doing any more climbing or exploring or rescue missions until your mama gets home. Call it grounded."

"P-proud." That one word alone, was worth being grounded. And if his Mama Ray said that too, when she got home, it might even be worth all the hurt. He could always hope.

[Swinging in the Rain (Anoki and Paxton) can be found here.]