Songjewel
Song led the eager new parents down the trail back toward the main entrance. The trees began to open up, and eventually gave way to the grassy field of the Quad. Song walked purposefully to the fountain in the center of the field. Around the fountain were many different flowers and plants, all growing together in a tangle.
As she reached the fountain, Song stopped and turned to the new parents.
"Well, here's our first stop! Japi, this is where your plant, Catnip, is growing."
She bent down and indicated the abundant runners of catnip bushing out around one side of the fountain.
Japi
Japi knelt down next to the fragile plant and looked at it with curious eyes. She'd never taken care of a non-responsive anything before, and wasn't quite sure how to greet it. She looked back up at Song questioningly.
Songjewel
"Hey, are you my new mom?Song grinned and nodded toward the plant. A tiny blue girl stood on the top of one of the plant's stalks, looking up eagerly at Japi. The plant swayed slightly in the wind, but the blue girl seemed to take it all in stride, a sailor on her boat of green.
Japi
"Yup," Japi smiled and nodded.
The little blue girl smiled back. "We're gonna have a lot of fun together!" she said, bouncing up and down. "You wanna play a game?" she asked.
"Sure," said Japi. "What kind of game?"
"Ummm. I dunno. You pick!" the little girl suggested. "You're the new mommy! I want to learn about what you like!"
"Okay," Japi said. She didn't bother to tell her that she wanted to do the same. But first, she turned back to the others. "I guess I'll see you all later," she said and waved. "I may be here a while," She turned back to the little blue cat-girl who was still beaming up at her.
"So. What're we gonna play then?"
"How about I-spy?" Japi suggested.
"How do ya play that?"
....................................to be cont.Japi
Japi vaugely felt the presence of the rest of the group moving on. Her attention was far too focused in on explaining the rules of I-spy to her brand new little friend.
"OH!" Catnip cried out! "I get it!" She went on to announce what she "spied" with a glint in her eye. "I spy something... GREEN!"
Japi giggled as she looked around. The garden was filled with green and there was no way she could figure it out on the first try... so she resolved to simply naming things around her.
"That tree," she pointed to the nearest tree.
"Nope," Catnip grinned.
"Is it that bush?"
"Nope!"
"Is it.... the grass?" Japi gestured all around her.
"Nope! It's not grass!"
Around twenty or so guesses later...
"Can you give me a hint?" Japi asked, at a loss for anything more to guess.
"It's not alive," Catnip responded promptly.
Japi was a bit startled by this revelation and looked around her for anyting, a green fence, a green fountain, a green pot, a green rock. Anything. But she found nothing green that wasn't living.
Japi returned her gaze to the little plant-creature, expression showing just how completely at a loss she was.
"I think I give up," she said, laughing a little bit. "And I thought I was so good at this game too."
"Silly mommy," Catnip giggled. "It's your kimono!" she pointed right at Japi.
Japi blushed and Catnip grinned. "Your turn!"
....................................to be cont.Their game ended late in the evening, when Japi guessed that Catnip had spied the moon.
"That's it!" Catnip said excitedly.
Japi smiled as she looked up at the moon. It was nearly full. Or maybe it was just beginning to wane. Either way, it was getting late.
Catnip yawned widely. "I'm not sleepy!" she said when she saw that Japi had seen it.
"I think you are," said Japi. "And so am I."
Catnip puffed out her lower lip.
"Don't worry," Japi laughed. "I'll be back tomorrow."
Japi got up and dusted off her kimono. (There were little bits of dirt and grass clinging to it.)
"I love you, mommy," said Catnip in a sweet voice.
"I love you too, dear," Japi replied.
Japi poured a little bit of water from the fountain onto the ground near Catnip's base, careful not to hit her. She still wasn't sure if Catnip disliked water as much as cats did. It was another thing she would have to check on in that research folder.
"Goodnight," she whispered, wiping her hand off on her obi, but Catnip was already asleep.
Japi smiled to herself as she left the Arboretum that night.
