Chalda
Jayoku
Pales
Jayoku tugged on Pales arm literally dragging him along through the forest at about a trotting speed. Chera was watching Toki to make sure the little puff didn't fall from the sky. "Now you have to be patient with her. . " she explained to Pales about the little girl whom she expected had issues with adults. "She has problems trusting adults, and considers us them. So just try and be...relaxed?" she said as she nodded her head and blew a piece of hair out of her eyes. "Mama!" Chera called from ahead of them. "Do you think her eggu hatched yet?" Jay shook her head. "No idea hun."
Pales sort of stumbled after blinking a bit, "Y...Yes ma'am. Will try my best." He was a little shocked when Jayoku appeared at his door step and pretty much told him they were going somewhere. He had Lieneke and Xai watched by a friend who he hoped wouldn't teach them anything bad. Toki just seemed unaware of what was going on other than being told to come along by Chera.
Chalda sat in her tree as usual just wasting time until her parents had gone to sleep. She was telling her egg a story about a prince and a princess that she had heard from her mom. The beautiful princess got locked away in a tower but the noble prince went to rescue her and they fell in love. She sighed as she thought about the story. No chance any noble prince would ever come to rescue her even when she grew up. She wasn't pretty or anything so it just wasn't going to happen.
Jay stopped suddenly and then looked to Pales. "You got all that?" She asked placed her hands on her hips and waited for Pales to respond. They were really close now, she knew it by the fact she could see pink blossoms spotting the ground here and there. Chera had swooped and picked up some blossoms and let them drift over Toki's head as she giggled.
Pales blinked staring at Jay a little wide eyed but nodded, "Got it. Promise. I won't do anything to upset her? Try not to anyhow? You know I don't meaningly make anyone upset?" Pales was getting nervous about just how to act, though he was trying not to show that. He took a deep breath and wore his best smile. Toki chyuued and let out a giggling sound of her own as the petals drifted about "Preeteee..." Toki chirped.
"Preeteee..." Chalda heard as she sat in her tree dreaming of the prince she was sure would never come. Intrigued by the noise she peeked out of her tree trying to find out where it came from. Didn't sound like your average bird.
Jayoku nodded her head and smiled. Placing a hand on Pales shoulder and squeezed it in a comforting way. "Just be yourself. I know you won't do anything to upset her on purpose." she said with a wave of her finger. She then winked and moved towards the tree. "Hello!" she called out as she waved towards the tree. Chera zoomed ahead and squeaked her own hello as well.
Well not one to be left alone, Toki tried to zoom along but it ended up being more of a putter. Staying just behind Chera by a good few inches. Pales nodded, keeping his smile, "Right." He stayed slightly behind Jayoku and just waited to be introduced. Should he treat her as an adult or treat her as a child...Probably more of an adult or would that be misread?
Seeing Chera fly towards her Chalda got read to surprise her. As she got close Chalda pounced. "Boo!" She yelled as she jumped out from behind the tree and showered Chera with petals. But to her surprise there was another little creature behind Chera. It looked less human though and more of a puff. What was it?
Chera let out a diminutive screech as she was covered in petals, as she was able to see again shook the petals out of her hair. "Heeeey!" she said as she tossed the very last petal to the ground. Jay smiled and waved to Chalda. "Hello again."
At first Toki almost ran away after Chalada pounced out, all wide eyed with fear. Though when the puff turned and saw Pales Toki kind of relaxed and seemed to become brave and turned to float toward Chalada and Chera, "Chyuusa?"
Jay looked to her watch and cried out in shock. "Drat! I forgot something in the car! I'll be right back!" she said as she turned and hurriedly rushed back through the forest. Chera seeing her mother fleeing the scene zoomed after her as well.
Chalda watched Jayoku run off and looked and the man she was left with. He was very attractive but now that she was alone with him she was pretty uncomfortable. She looked at the puff flying around him. "Is it yours?" She asked shyly.
Pales kind of nodded as he approached a bit though not too close so as to make her uncomfortable, "Hai. My name is Pales, and uhh..The puff is Toki." He kept his friendly smile and tried to stay relaxed. He was being himself, right?
"Hi I'm Chalda." She said a bit nicer. "Toki is very cute! What kind of wethkin is it?"
He nodded cautiously, "Nice to meet you Chalada. Toki is a Falling Petals wethkin?"
"Really?" She looked excited. "Did you find Toki in a tree like this one?" She gestured towards the large cherry tree.
He took a good look at the tree and then nodded, "Hai. I was listening to an old coot lecture me? Then I looked up and saw something sparkle and shine...Well?It attracted me and I had to see what it was...I uhh?Like sparkly and shiny things." He said with a small chuckle. Toki chirped, "Spahhklee.."
"Eek that's cute!" She poked her finger towards Toki. "Then I think that my Wethkin might be a Falling Petals too. I saw her egg glowing at night and it was all the way up at the very top of the tree. Would you like to see it? I found a little bag the other bag with some very sparkly dust in it and when I put it on the egg it started to sparkle even more. The bag disappeared though. I don't know what happened to it.
He seemed more relaxed and nodded, "I'd love to see it." He replied. He was expecting her to kick his shin or something.
Chalda ducked into the tree and gently picked up her egg in the flower petal nest she had created for it. After sweeping up some of the spilled sparkles she took it back out and showed it to the man.
He looked at it and smiled, "That is how Toki looked before Toki hatched." Pales commented. Toki peered at it too, "Chyuu?" Pales nodded a bit at Toki, "Yep. Only you were more of a pink color." Toki blinked "Peeenk..." She murbled.
"Wow really? So this will hatch into one like that?" She looked up at him with wide eyes. There was something really special about him. He was older of course but she was sure he wasn't too old for her... Her eyes began to sparkle as she stared up at him.
He seemed almost oblivious to the way she looked at him, that or he was totally innocent of that sort of thing, "Yep. I'm sure your little one'll be pretty too." He said cheerfully.
"I certainly hope so" She responded never taking her eyes off his face. And then as if pulled back into reality she stepped back. "I wanted to ask Jayoku but she ran off so fast. I don't need anything special to care for it do I? Special food? Something to help it hatch? I mean before Jayoku showed up I had no idea even what this was. Now I have to care of it and I have no idea how to do a good job. Maybe I should just give it to you now so that I don't mess up it's life." Her eyes started to fill with tears.
He shook his head, "No no. Keep it. You won't mess it up. Just keep the egg in a cool-warm place?Which outside it's been spring weather so your egg should be fine?When it hatches it eats pretty much normally?Mine prefers sugary things...They all seem to have their own preference."
"Oh" She said softly as she tried to stop her tears. "Well ok then. So yours will change into one like Jayoku's when it gets older? Is that how it works?"
"I think so." He nodded a bit, and smiled at her. "No worries, right? I am sure you'll be a wonderful guardian and teach it well." He was attempting to instill her with confidence.
"I hope so. My mom was really great but she isn't around anymore. I hope I can be a mom just like her to this little one." She said with a bit more of a smile on her face. She couldn't help but smile when he looked at her and smiled too. She pinched at bit of the sparkles that had collected around the base of her egg and sprinkled them over Toki.
Toki shimmered a bit and gave a giggle, "Chyuu. Spahkleee!" Pales gave a chuckle, "Very pretty." He grinned boyishly. "See? It doesn't take a whole lot to keep a little one happy."
Chalda made a small sigh as she saw him laugh and grin. Maybe this was her prince charming; he had come to rescue her from her terrible life! Finally her fairy tale was about to come true. She just stood and stared up at him. Despite the fact that she hadn't known him for very long any friend of Jayoku's must be a nice person. Suddenly a stray thought crossed her mind that made her insides twist a little. What if he and Jayoku were together? She was closer to his age and much prettier then her so obviously that would be what was going on. "Umm... you and Jayoku aren't... umm... well... umm... are you?" She said nervously.
He sort of blinked at. "Aren't what?" He pondered a moment. Toki blinked a bit. "Yo?You mean dating? N?No...We are just friends." he went deep red at that.
"Good!" She blurted out quickly and then turned red at her forwardness. "I mean Oh..." She looked back up at him again. He was so wonderful and he wasn't with Jayoku! This was probably the best day of her life... She continued to stare and almost dropped her egg while she did.
He was still blushing and he looked toward her egg, "Careful Chalada." He said nodding his head to the egg.
"Oops! How could I be so careless?" She ducked back into her tree and set the little egg safely on the shelf. "So tell me everything about Toki." She said staring up at him again. His voice was so musical. Every word was a symphony to her ears.
Toki perched upon his head and peered down at Chalada. Pales chuckled a bit, "Well what I learned about Toki so far is that Toki likes pretty things and loves to learn new things...Toki loves to explore and is very curious." He felt the puff perch upon his head and he didn't seem to mind, "Toki is kind of afraid of spiders and most other bugs though."
"Really? That's great. I'm a bit afraid of bugs too. What was it like when you found Toki? Or when Toki hatched?"
He thought about it, "When I found Toki it was like...I felt this love for the egg when I laid eyes on it...Like when a father sees his baby for the first time..."
Wow, she thought, He's sensitive to! She sighed "Please continue..."
"It was kinda like love at first sight...I have two adopted daughters back home too? Xai and Lieneke." He smiled when mentioning his children, "They both love Toki and help me with the care."
"Really? You have daughters?" Well this was something she didn't expect to here. At least they weren't really his children though. Just adopted. "Tell me more about them?" She questioned.
"Well Xai is a shy girl. Blue hair, aquatic-fin looking ears?She is very self conscious about them...Lieneke is very bright and outgoing. Cheerful all the time. Always finds joy and happiness in little things, I guess you could say she's vibrant."
"They sound really nice. How old are they?"
Pales thought a moment, "Xai is about 6 or 7 by the looks of it and Lee is about 8 or 9. They age different than humans do." He explained before he got questioned about the age. "They are both beautiful girls. Very smart too?Xai is learning how to read."
"Oh..." She said in a slightly mystified way. "Differently then humans? They aren't human?"
He shook his head, "Xai is a Xi-wang, came from a different world all together. Lee is a joy incarnate...Kuatalmot. He shrugged a bit, "I love them no matter what though."
A slightly stunned look formed on her face. "I didn't even know there were other worlds. I didn't even know there really was magic until I found this little Wethkin egg." Her head was spinning from this new information. "Didn't Jayoku say she forgot something in the car?" She blurted out "She's been gone and awful long time..."
He shrugged, "I am sure she'll be back soon." He nodded a bit.
"Yeah you are probably right." She started to dig her toe into the ground and tried to think of something else to ask.
Toki quietly bounced a bit on his head. Pales looked thoughtful, "What do you do for fun?"
Chalda thought quietly for a moment. "Well usually I just play here in my tree. Some times for a few days. There isn't really much else to do here."
There was a crashing sound and a few swear words that could be heard as Jayoku stumbled her way back towards the Cherry tree. She was holding a picnic basket in her arms and Chera was sitting on top of the basket holding on for dear life.
"Hi Jayoku!" Chalda fidgeted and looked a bit uncomfortable.
Jay waved with one hand as she scurried back over lugging the giant basket in her hands. "I forgot about the snacks." she said with a laugh and Chera clapped her hands together. "Cookies! Lots of cookies!" she exclaimed gleefully.
Pales blinked, though Toki seemed excited, "Cooookees!" Pales chuckled a bit, "Need help Jayoku?" He offered after her.
"That's ok Pales! I don't mind doing it!" Chalda snatched the basket away.
"No no. I am fine." she said with smile though the basket was taken from her Chera tipped over and fell out of the basket. "Eep!" she squeaked as she floated up quickly to avoid being crushed by feet. "Haha well then I have a helper." Jay said as she moved to sit beside Pales. "Why don't you serve the snacks?" she inquired Chalda.
"Sure!" Chalda was eager to please and prove how adult she was. She opened up the basket and tried to serve everything as eloquently as she could.
Pales smiles a bit and glanced at Jayoku, by proxy Toki looked at Jayoku as well, "She's a very nice hostess." He commented.
Chera took a cookie that was sitting on the top and hurried over to Toki. Perhaps the little wethkin would like cookies like she did. "Here." she said as she broke off a piece of chocolate chip cookie and offered it to Toki. "Try some it is really good." Jayoku shook her head. "You certainly have a sweet tooth. . ." she said with an almost exasperated sigh. "Well Chalda why don't you hand out the cupcakes while I serve the hot chocolate?"
"Alright!" Chalda jumped up and managed to knock over the thermos of hot chocolate as she did. "Oh my!! I'm so sorry!!" She ran into the tree and got a towel to clean things up. "I can't believe I did that. I've ruined the whole thing!" She babbled as her eyes began to fill with tears again.
Jayoku went to help Chalda and patted her on the back. "Accidents happen. It isn't the end of the world. Good things I packed some juice to drink as well." she said with a smile and went to fetch the juice.
Chalda sobbed quietly as she mopped up as much of the hot chocolate as she could. "I'm sorry Jayoku!" She said and looked at her again. "Would you like me to leave you too alone?"
Jayoku stopped pouring the juice and looked at Chalda strangely. "Why would we want to be alone? I brought Pales here to meet you silly." She said with a soft giggle as she watched Chera munch on her cookie like a little piggly.
"Oh right." Chalda said quietly as she stood and took the towel over to the base of the tree. She had once again proved how young and foolish she was. At this rate she would never get Pales to notice that she was really a woman. She decided to get her egg out again to show off her motherly skills. She walked back to the blanket and tried to entice Toki over to her with another bit of cookie.
Pales blinked and watched the commotion for some reason his mind was momentarily elsewhere. No matter. Toki chirped and ate part of the cookie Chera gave and then peered at the other being enticingly offered. Not one to turn a cookie down after the first taste Toki floated over, "Chryuu?"
Chalda smiled "Do you know 'please'?"
Toki blinked faintly, "Puhh-leese?"
"Aww! Alright little one!" Chalda handed over the piece of cookie. "So cute!"
Chera was munching on a cookie and watched Toki with a careful eye. She turned her head when she heard her mother speak. "Chere hun could you cool the juice down for me? it got too warm." Chera felt proud as she floated over to the glass and clapped her hands together and closed her eyes. There was a splat and Jay found snow balls had landed in the lemonade. She giggled softly. "Okay then who wants a lemonade slushie?"
Toki nabbed the piece gently and was pretty much nibbling on it much like a squirrel or hamster, "Cooohhkeeeees!" Pales gave a chuckle, "It seems I have a cookie lover on my hands." Toki blinked, "Luuuffferrr..." Pales nodded to Jayoku, "Slushie is fine." He gave a small laugh, "It seems quite ideal really."
"Yeah Jayoku. Slushie is just perfect for me too! So if Chera can do that can Toki do anything special or magical?" She directed the question at both of them.
Chera was slurping up some lemon ice on the corner of her mother's cup and she looked up. Wiping off her mouth she smiled. "Sure! I am not sure but I know that other weather wethkin have powers!" Jay shushed her little child as she wanted Pales to answer.
He blinked and shrugged a bit, "Toki is a couple of days old, and hasn't done anything just yet that I know of. Though that doesn't make Toki any less special." Toki blinked, "Pow...erz?"
"Ahh ok. I was just curious. I wonder if my little egg is going to do anything special. Of course she is special all by herself." Chalda looked at Toki and imagined her little one looking like that.
Chera puffed up a big and crossed her arms over he chest. "Well Chera wasn't able to do very much at first, but she learned slowly about her powers." she said with a bit of a laugh remembering the flooded bathroom a couple months before. "I am sure that your wethkin will have special powers too."
Pales nodded, "I am sure Toki'll do something wonderful?" Toki sort of bobbed in the air as if about to fall. Toki quickly floated onto Chalada's shoulder as Chalada was closer. "Phewww..." Toki chirped softly.
"Aww you are so cute little one!" Chalda rubbed the top of her head and gave her another chip of cookie. "How old is she now?"
Toki ate upon the chip once offered and sort of chirped at random, Pales took a moment, "2-3 days about. I called Jayoku as soon as it happened."
Jay nodded her head remembering the day. "She is adorable. So light and fluffy. She reminds me of Chera when she was a puff. Of course Chera wasn't warm as these two are." she said with a bit of a laugh. Chera squinted her face and stuck out her tongue. "I can't help it...' she retorted and then landed on Jay's head and snuggled into her hair.
Chalda let out a small laugh seeing Chera react that way. "You're a cuttie too Chera. I can't wait until I can really talk to my Mai and have her as a friend. I look forward to having some company."
Jay nodded her head and reached a hand up to stroke the side of Chera's cool face. She felt little arms wrap around her finger in a hug. She could only smile more. "How long have you had the egg?"
"It's been 8 days now. I never know if I should expect it to hatch or not because I don't know how long they are supposed to stay in there."
He shrugs, "It varies for a lot of the eggs." He nodded slightly.
Jay giggled some as her fingers started to feel chilled. "You just have to be careful with taking care of them. I can't take Chera out in the sun took long or she over heats." Chera nodded her head, her purple hair bouncing along the sides of her face. "I don't like the sun very much."
"Alright Jayoku. I will remember that. Thank you!" Chalda hugged her egg gently. "I'm glad you guys came to day. It's been pretty lonely here without anyone to talk to."
Pales smiled a bit, "It was an honor to meet you." Toki blinked a bit and tried to mimic her guardian, "On-ur to meeeet you."
Jay smiled and nodded her head, "well I did give you my card. You are more than welcome to call anytime if you ware lonely." She took a sip of her slushies and then offered more to her little child. Chera sucked on some ice thankful. It was already getting too warm for her.
Chalda smiled. "I know but then I would have to use the phone at home and that's kind of hard to do..."
"I also have my address there if you ever wanted to come visit." With a yawn Jayoku covered her mouth, Chera slid into the glass blissfully snuggling against the cold. Jayoku was startled to find her wethkin there. "You ok?" Chera looked up and nodded her head.
Toki got up to float over and peer at Chera, "Ohh..Kay 'Erra..?" Pales blinked over at Chera, but glanced at Chalda, "If you want my address you may also come over at any time."
"Thank you guys but I probably wouldn't have any way to get there. I really do appreciate it though." Chalda turned her head away from them a bit to hide her embarrassment.
He smiled a bit, "None sense. I always love company. You can ask Jayoku." He said cheerfully, glancing concernedly at Chera.
Jay laughed and nodded her head. "Well if you have no way to get here then we will just have to come visit you more often." she said with a nod as she tickled Chera's hair with the tip of her finger.
"That sounds great! I hope my little egg hatches soon so that Chera and Toki can meet my little puff." She reached over and dropped a flower petal on Chera's head.
Taking the petal she then suck on the edge of it while Jay's glass seemed to be freezing solid slowly. Jay put the glass down because it was too cold for her to hold anymore. "We would definitely like to meet him or her." she said with a nod.
He nods, "That would definitely be lots of fun to come back." He smiled happily. Toki chirped a bit, "Com back?" Pales nodded at Toki, "Come back." Toki let out a happy chirp, "Toki liiiiks 'alda."
Chalda let out an "Aww!" And scooped up Toki and snuggled her to her face. "And Chalda like Toki very very much."
Jayoku yawned, lately it seemed trying to find a job was wearing her out. "Dear lord I need a nap." she said as she tried to suppress a yawn again.
Pales chuckled softly, "Any luck yet, Jayoku?" Toki nuzzled against Chalda at the hug, "'Alada Frieeeeend... 'Era..Frieeend... Everyone frieennnd." Pales smiled a bit hearing Toki.
"You really are adorable Toki. And if you like Jayoku you could take a nap in the tree. I've got a bed in there that is pretty comfy." Chalda was glad that she finally had something to offer.
Jay waved a hand at Chalda. "If I go to sleep now I won't be sleeping tonight." she said with a bit of a laugh and then she shook her head at Pales. "I may get a web designing job. But I am waiting for them to confirm first." She said with a bit of a sigh. Chera took a piece of slush and then sucked on it.
Pales nodded, "Good luck with that then Jayoku." Toki chirped, "Guud Lucks."
Jayoku laughed. "Yah well I certainly hope it works out. I will get to work from home if it does." she tilted her head as she watched Chera take a piece of slush and seem to be aiming towards Chalda. Putting a hand in front of her Chera made a sound like pfft and then settled back down in the glass.
Chalda giggled. "Well I wouldn't mind. It's getting pretty hot out here. Wanna hit me with a snowball little one?"
Chera seemed to light up and looked to her mother for confirmation that she was indeed allowed to do this. Jay shrugged. "She gave you permission." She said with a sigh. Chera clapped her hands together gleefully and then floated out of her half frozen slush cup. Moving closer to Chalda she then focused and a medium sized snow ball seemed to appear above Chalda's head. it then plopped down.
Chalda laughed out loud as the slush dripped down her hair and down the back of her neck. She scooped up one of the larger chucks and flicked it back at Chera. "Take that little imp!"
Chera meeped and dodged she then created another snow ball. A bit bigger than before. Plop. The sound was wet and caused jay to shiver. Chera laughed as she blew a kiss as the young girl.
"You really are a little scamp aren't you?" Chalda exclaimed as the second snowball dropped on her. "Ooo that is cold on the spine!"
Toki floated and perched on Pales' shoulder. Pales sort of watched with a small blink, but remained quiet.
Chalda scooped up a large chunk of slush and flipped it towards Pales. She made sure to avoid Toki. She didn't want to hurt her after all.
He got pelted on the forehead. He gave a small dazed blink, then looked at Toki, "She got me?" He mock-whimpered. "It's too late for me?save...yourself..." Toki's eyes got wide, "Chya?!" Pales chuckled and wiped it off, flicking some toward Chalda and Jay, "No worries Toki. I am fine."
Jayoku stuck out her tongue as the slush hit her. "Dear me, now look what you've done Chera. You've made a slush fight!" Jayoku took a scoopful of slushed snow and threw a handful at Pales and Chalda. Chera was having a blast creating one snow ball after another.
Chalda dug into the forming slush pile and dished it out to both of her friends laughing out loud.
Pales got hit twice once by Chalda and once by Jayoku. "Eep. I am out numbered." Toki chirped and seemed to giggle. Toki seemed to feel quite safe.
Jayoku raised an arm up as a shield feeling the slush soak into his clothing it chilled her skin. Sitting back she watched as Chera had stopped making snow balls and seemed to be focusing really hard. A sudden plummet of snow that you only ever see happen in cartoons happened. Sitting now covered in about two inches of snow Jayoku sat stunned.
Chalda laughed again as the deluge hit. Slowly she stood and began to ring out her hair while she shook her head at Chera. "You certainly are enjoying yourself aren't you hun!" She snatched up the little puff and tossed her into the whole in the snow that had been left by her body. "Have a taste of your own medicine!"
Pales blinked a bit. Toki hid under Pales' jacket where it was loosest. "Uhh... Wow..."
Chera got back up stiffly, she of course wasn't fazed by the snow, it was her element. But floated up and then landed in a clear area and made a snow angel. Jayoku giggled.
Chalda giggled as well. She used her fingers to try to make a matching one and then made a nice happy face for it.
Pales dusted off some of the snow from his head and smirked, "That was certainly powerful..." Toki peeked out from the coat. "Chyuu?"
Jay nodded her head. "Yah...she never was able to pull off that much snow at once before." She shook her head to get rid of the snow that had piled on her hair and then watched as Chalda and Chera made snow angels together.
Chalda poked Chera in the tummy. "Looks like you are getting more powerful aren't you hun. Either that or it's just practice right?" She shivered a little. She was soaking wet and the breeze was cooler that way. She lay down in the sun a bit away from the snow where she tried to dry out a bit.
Jay got up to join her. While Chera seemed quite comfortable with where she was playing in the snow.
He just sat still and offered his hand to Toki, who happily hopped on it, "Chyu?" Pales smirked a bit, "It's snow. It's very cold."
Chalda sat up and smiled. "Come sit in the sun little one! It's much warmer over here." Chalda lay back down on her back and basked in the warm sun.
Jayoku yawned again. The sun always made her feel dozy. Chera was making a snow many in the snow. Rolling little balls around until they are about as big as herself.
Toki cautiously floated out and blinked, "Snooo..." She murmured. She was somewhat fascinated with it. Pales chuckled, "Careful little one..."
To be continued...
