Welcome to Gaia! ::

LuLu noticed that some words were being exchanged in the inner circle of the crowd. A few hushed whispers were shared and a few hoarse cackles were given. Suddenly, the teens started to group around the two raevans. They were slowly coiling like a snake choking the life from its prey. The frei’s wings gave a defensive flutter as she floated closer to Xiu. Even with the sudden ruckus, LuLu’s cherished carrot cake was still held protectively between her arms as though it were a precious child.

As boys began to enclose around both of her flanks, LuLu seemed unsure of just how to protect her cake and herself. Blond bunny ears pressed against her head in distress. Lavender eyes darted around quickly as she sought some route of escape. However, the rabbit was surrounded by a solid mass of pubescent muscle and teenage hormones. One of the drunken pests reached out a clamped his clammy hands around LuLu’s arm with a vice-like grip. The frei gave a frightened squeak. She hugged her dessert even closer as if it was her only source of solace.

The boy howled in a wolfish tone, “Come on baby. Let’s have fuuuun.” His thick, course fingers brushed back her hair and move to clamp around her neck.

The rabbit reared forward and tried to pry herself from his grasp. Her thin arm thrashed fiercely at her side. She bleated out, “Do not touch me!” Unfortunately, even with her best efforts, the boy’s hold on her was solid and unyielding. The frei looked down at the cake she was holding. A look of remorse grew heavy in her eyes. As a last resort, she chucked her treasured cake in her attacker’s face.

LuLu watched with grief as the picture perfect desert sailed through the air with unaccounted beauty and grace only to splatter uncouthly in the twisted mug of a depraved teenager. Numerous large morsels flew further backwards to shower onto the young lad’s friends. The teens groaned as they were left to wipe sugary frosting and cake crumbs from their eyes. Coincidentally, the distraction was just enough for LuLu to be able to finish her escape from her assailant’s iron hold. The frei pulled away and took a place at Xiu’s side. The misery she felt at her lost cake was still apparent in her features.

LuLu was surprised to see that Xiu had suddenly achieved an upper hand on the situation. A thrill shot up her spine as the sigel tossed the husky boy’s hand to the side nonchalantly, as if he were just warming up on the lad. Her jaw hung slightly agape.

She had no idea that a sigel could possess such power. The frei had to admit that she was somewhat jealous of the fact. Having that kind of strength at her disposal would have been helpful in some of her previous fights. Nevertheless, LuLu let those thoughts fall to the back of her mind. She would mull over those things later. For now, she fluttered closer to her rescuer. The rabbit took refuge behind large, stony wings as the fight began to erupt.

LuLu felt a flash of anger strike her when Xiu was hit. Her chest tightened. It was like seeing her knight in shining armor take a blow. Xiu had grown on her quickly and she was not about to stand by idly and watch her new friend get bullied around. If the sigel was willing to protect her, LuLu would do the same for him. The rabbit’s bell-like voice tolled harshly with rage, “Do not touch Xiu either!" She gave her wings a strong pump and lunged forward to push over the boy who had hit Xiu.

Her assault did little more than stun the boy and caused him to trip over his feet. Yet, the girl felt proud of her accomplishment. She grinned as she watched him stumble.

The boy did not appreciate the attack. He shouted at the top of his lungs, “Screw the bunny b***h. Get both of them!”

The girl barely dodged a fist as it hurdled towards her chest.

LuLu let out a small gasp as Xiu followed her lead and sent another teen rolling on the ground. If it was not for the fact that she was fearing for her safety, the rabbit would have been highly amused at the situation. However, the fight was still reaching its grand pinnacle. New drama was being bred at each turn.

"Grab them.... sticks and stuff."

LuLu's ears shot up in panic. Now the kids would have weapons. They would be stronger. What would the two raevans do? The frei looked to her sigel companion for help.

It seemed that Xiu already had put a plan in motion. The female ravean held out her had hesitantly, her fingertips trembled. She was fairly sure that her new friend would not hurt her, but she was also wary about any scheme she did not know of. LuLu could see the boys beginning to return with their newfound weapons.

LuLu seemed confused as Xiu leaned his head down to her palm. Her eyelids fluttered wide open as the sigel pressed his lips to her skin delicately and unassumingly. A light blush tinted the girl’s cheeks. The frei was about to question the strange behavior when she felt a stinging pinch on the pad of her hand. She was about to protest, but then Xiu began to work her skin with his mouth. She could feel the heat of his breath on her flesh. It sent a shiver down her arm. LuLu’s light blush quickly deepened into a dark maroon. However, beyond the awkwardness, the female raevan could feel the flow of blood as it let her veins through the wound.

Xiu only fed for a few seconds. Yet, it felt like hours to the girl. Her other hand fidgeted slightly at her side. She then brought it up the hide her glowing complexion. Was she getting a bit lightheaded? LuLu hovered in place dumfounded when Xiu pulled away. With lavender eyes she sluggishly scanned her surroundings. She also took notice of the change in his features: intense red eyes accompanied by a rune blazing like scarlet like fire. LuLu would have been knocked to the ground in fear if it was not for the fact that she knew the sigel was on her side.

It was then that LuLu saw the boy’s resume their attack. One lunged at Xiu from behind. The rabbit yelled to her friend, “Watch ou-" LuLu flinched as the teen’s weapon shattered on the sigel’s wing. Shards of wood littered the ground around them. It was only a few moments before the rabbit heard the first scream.

LuLu’s senses went crazy as her ears picked up on the numerous groans and shrieks coming from the crowd of boys. If the youth was not incapacitated, he was fleeing for his life while screaming at the top of his lungs. The rabbit hugged her ears close to her head to drown out some of the offensive noise. She was feeling a bit dizzy again. Loud, cacophonous sounds, such as these, had a way of weighing heavily on her. Sometimes she cursed the floppy appendages on her head and just how good they were at their job. The frei was happy when the din finally died down.

The fierce color in Xiu’s rune bled out until it returned to its usual blue. LuLu was astonished. The fight appeared to be over even faster than it had started. The sigel returned to her side and LuLu shifted uneasily. She had a few questions to ask, but she was unsure what kinds of answers she would get. The rabbit seemed even more hesitant as she allowed Xiu to see her hand for a second time. Her nose crinkled when she examined the two pin-like pricks on her palm. LuLu was delighted at the theme of the Band-Aid Xiu had chosen to dress her wound with. Nevertheless, even with the injury covered, the incident was still fresh on the girl’s mind. LuLu gazed into Xiu’s eyes and asked flatly, “What was that?”

LuLu watched meekly as Xiu seemed to deflate in front of her. It was an astonishing transformation he had undergone. The sigel had regressed from hero to outcast in a matter of seconds. Her ears twitched as he floated off to reclaim his notebook. In the meantime, her gaze fell on the few boys still moaning in pain around them. LuLu floated off the ground and brushed her arms to remove any dust that may have landed on her during the scrape. She still felt a little woozy, but the rabbit was unsure if was from the earlier clamor or the bite.

She rejoined Xiu and gave his notebook a cursory glance. The girl’s face seemed rather stoic as she read as if she were weighing the words on the page. Xiu had wounded her, but he had done it in order to save her. LuLu’s mind tried desperately to grasp onto that fact. She should not think less of Xiu for this, should she? No, she was not hurt badly. This injury was nothing compared to what either Eiry or Vyn had done to her. As well, it was far from a malicious assault.

Blond ears bobbed when LuLu finally broke the silence to speak, “Lots of raevans have odd powers. Xiu should not be sad. You are more like a knight than a prince. Noble and fierce." LuLu smiled at the sigel. She was happy with her assessment. The girl leaned in and wrapped her arms around Xiu’s waist. She squeezed it in a tender display of affection. “Thank you.” She slumped a bit as another dizzy spell over took her. Perhaps sitting down again would be for the best. She nodded at Xiu’s latest proposal, “Yes please.”

LuLu leaned against the white clothed sigel as he led her back to their table. She released him with a small, wistful sigh as if she did not want to leave his side just yet. The frei hovered gracefully onto the picnic table’s seat, the one that she had occupied just a few minutes prior to their fight. She cupped her hand against her head in an ostentatious sweeping motion like an actress overplaying her part. LuLu’s other arm draped itself delicately across the edge of the table top. It was now unclear whether she was actually distressed, or if she was milking the situation and her role as the damsel in distress. Either way, Xiu had proven himself as a hero today in the young raevan's eyes.

The girl slipped out of her childish performance enough to examine Xiu’s offerings. She reached tentatively for the morsels. She was still much like a picky toddler in a few aspects. This was one of them. New foods never appealed to the girl. However, out of politeness, LuLu took the bun in her hand and brought it to her lips. She took a small bite as a mere taste test. One brow arched and she tried to hide a grimace. No, this dessert was indeed sweet but it was nothing compared to carrot cake. The rabbit set the bun back down on the table, most likely to be forgotten, and moved towards the cider. She handled the new beverage much like she had the food. She managed one sip before the drink was pushed to the side.

Most of the girl’s expectations for the evening had been snuffed out. That is, until Xiu spoke. You could practically see the thrill return to the rabbit’s eyes at the mention of TWO carrot cakes. Part of LuLu felt guilty about accepting the deal. That would clearly be exploiting her new friend. Ignoring the fact that it was in self defense, she was the one who threw the original cake. Nevertheless, she reminded herself that he was the one who had offered to begin with. LuLu gave her friend a nod of affirmation. The two carrot cakes would not go uneaten. LuLu smiled warmly at Xiu. She could not have asked for a better knight. The girl paused for a moment. Her fingers strummed against the table in idle thought. She suddenly asked, “Will Xiu be my knight?”

“I heard there was a fight!”

LuLu’s ears perked up. She saw Josh running towards her and Xiu. Her hand moved underneath the table to hide her Band-Aid. She merely smiled as he made his way over to them. The boy’s face was a bit red from the jog and his brows were knitted together in worry. He approached the two and looked around them with a scrupulous eye as if he was trying to find something out of place. It was almost endearing how he now assumed that all fights involved LuLu. He continued, “Are you two ok?”

Glee bloomed in the raevan’s expression like a delicate and vibrant flower, an excited flush rose to her cheeks. She practically glowed as she swooped down with Xiu to give him another brief curtsy. The deal was sealed. The female frei now had her first knight and she was certain that she could have never found a person of equal qualifications. She was delighted as Xiu played along with her games. The rabbit giggled as she spoke, “Thank you, Sir Xiu.” She dropped the new honorific in to test how it sounded. LuLu enjoyed the subtle ring it made on her lips. It fit the sigel well. She continued, “You will be the best knight.” The frei smiled warmly. She was certain in her prediction.

She then turned to address her guardian. The rabbit paused long enough to see Xiu’s response. Her lips twitched with a devious quirk. It seemed as though the two raevans did not think much differently. LuLu was glad that Xiu also wanted to hide their participation in the fight. He certainly was giving no confirmation of their involvement. The rabbit chimed in her sweet tenor, “We are ok.”

Josh still seemed on edge, but he soon let his uneasiness pass. He took no real notice of the boys groaning on the ground, or he did not put two and two together and realize that they were the same boys who had started the skirmish in question. Most likely, he blamed their condition on the beer cans littered around them. Josh mumbled something about “kids these days” despite the fact he was still very much a kid himself. Josh nodded at the raevans’ responses, “I hope you two had fun while I was away.”

“Oh!” The boy jumped a bit as he recalled the reason he had left the two to begin with. He quickly pulled out a keychain from his pocket and held it out for Xiu. It was a white braided rope that had a few different shades of blue blended into it. On the end, there was an elegant glass bead that glistened with an iridescent red hue. “Here, it is for watching over LuLu for me,” the boy seemed embarrassed as he continued, “It was the only thing I managed to win.” He gave a nervous chuckle.

LuLu returned Xiu's uncertain lip quirk with a dazzling smile of her own. She tilted her head to the side. Her ears bobbed with the motion. She glanced over the male raevan's shoulder curiously as he began to jot down notes to her guardian. Lavender eyes widened as the rabbit caught the last statement her new knight had written out.

... some hooligans gate crashed the picnic .

LuLu knew that Josh was not that dull. The boy would easily pick up on the fight that had occurred between them and the brats on the ground if he read that illuminating sentence. The teenager understood the female raevan's actions better than anyone else. It was a fact that if someone got involved with LuLu negatively they would not be leaving without some damage; especially, if they had harmed her favorite treat. The girl huffed softly beside Xiu. She was frustrated that he was going to give away their bluff so easily without even realizing it.

A slim arm deftly reached up and snatched the book away from Xiu. His pen soon succumbed to a similar fate. In a matter of seconds, it rested firmly in LuLu's grip. Their alibi was safe for now, as long as the frei was in control of Xiu's words.The girl was only mildly concerned with using such an underhanded form of manipulation. However, Xiu was a mute and the perfect subject for such tactics. The rabbit pouted and skimmed over the page. Her sweet tenor tolled gently to hide her true intentions, "Sir Xiuuu, you spelled this wrong. I will help."

With a flick of her wrist, she scribbled through the last line on the paper until it was indiscernible. Her hand worked quickly as she fought to save herself from a scolding. The girl held the book back up to Xiu once she was finished and let the sigel read her modifications:

In fact, I owe LuLu two carrot cakes. I told her I would get both of you one as a goodbye present.

The girl smiled at Xiu sweetly, but a serious fire glinted in her eyes. She chimed at her companion, "Doesn't that look better?"