Welcome to Gaia! ::

The smell of fresh paint was heavy in the air, breathing it, Lithle felt almost light headed and wished for a window. She wasn't the only one so miserable, Fen sulked by the balcony, his huge shaggy head resting on his paws. The brats seemed not to notice and she wasn't sure whether that was youth, or the persistance of enthusiasm.

Savius was relatively neat, his white t-shirt stained with gold and green, but his skin remained as it always had, and he's somehow managed to keep the paint out of his feathers. Jer'ain looked less presentable, her hands were green up to the wrists, and a long slash of gold paint coloured her cheek, while more added sparkle to her already strange hair. She was grinning, as she rarely did, bouncing in place while she spoke, her eyes shining.

"And if you'll just move the crib, we'll be done. It's too heavy." She explained, looking as if she was actually considering tugging on Lithle's sleeve. Luckily for her, she didn't, rocking in place from the effort of keeping still.

Pushing herself off the couch with a sigh, the redhead regarded the young girl without expression. "You might want to get started on dinner if you want to eat any of your fancy stuff."

The instruction was given without inflection, Lithle was personally content to eat out of the freezer. It was the girl who liked special food.

"But the crib?"

"Yeah, I'll move it." She wanted to see what they'd done to the room anyway.

As far as such things went, it wasn't that bad. The walls had been painted a brilliant emerald green, with gold paint on the bottom trim, and around the window. The curtains were a simular shade of green, with gold ropes tying them back, allowing the evening light to illuminate the room. They'd piled stuffed animals up in a basket in the corner, and pushed the changing table into the other, with the various necessities tucked away beneath it. The closet was open, showing that they'd remarkably taken the time to hang up every tiny outfit, something they'd never done with their own clothes.

The crib was brass, and it's been hell to put together. A mess of screws and strange bits of metal that she hadn't been able to imagine the use for. After the first few trys, she'd resorted to reading the instructions, and frankly, they hadn't been much clearer. Still, the whole thing had somehow come together, and without a single piece left over that wasn't marked as 'spare'. If she'd been the sort, she might have been proud of the accomplishment.

Unable to decide, the brats had put in a green blanket and a gold blanket, apparently sure of the fact that the baby would be able to decide it's favorite on its own. She looked to her shoulder, where the ghost floated, currently quiet.

"I hope to hell that your taste isn't nearly so bad as they think it is." She muttered, getting a twitter of sound for her comment. Whether that was supposed to be reassuring, she couldn't guess.

Grabbing hold of the crib, she pushed the horribly awkward thing into the corner of the room, ignoring the brats instructions that it should be 'more in that direction'. It was ******** fine, and if they wanted to move it, they could work out until they could.

"And hang the mobile!" Jer'ain demanded, handing her the thing, all green and gold with dangling stars and what she supposed were supposed to be animals.

"Fine." That one was easy, the thing apparently attached to the crib, meant to dangle their and entertain the baby so that she wouldn't have to. More to the point, so the brats wouldn't have to. This would not be her child. She would not allow herself to play mother. She had so many better things to do. If Jer'ain and Savius wanted to play mommy and daddy, that was there problem.

The walls, she noted, were almost bare, and that made the room seemed stark. It was a surprise to her, that they hadn't thought of that. They'd thought of almost everything else, decoration wise. She'd had to think of the practicalities.

"What, no pictures?" she asked them, standing by the window to escape the smell of paint. The room was infused with it.

"I'm gonna give him my gun to hang up," Savius answered. It was not the answer she expected. He treasured the damn thing, which she'd given him mostly to shut him up. It hung on the wall in his room, carefully polished.

She'd buy him a new one, she realized.

Strange.

Turning to the ghostly form that always, always hovered at her side, she ran her finger over the sticks surface, pulling the thing lightly over to the crib. Its home, it seemed, had been created. And if garish as all hell, it wasn't that bad.

"Settle in, brat." She spoke the words quietly, turning her back as she did so. "Don't want to look ungrateful."

A sound, like displaced air, so quiet she might have missed it if she hadn't been trained to listen. She heard Jer'ain's gasp, paired with Savius's bird like hiss coming from behind her. She knew what to expect before she turned. Knew what it had to be, what she'd somehow brought about in the very act of making a space.

The thing that needed the space in the first place.

She turned slowly, a controlled movement. There, in the crib, where she'd told the wandghost to settle. A child with dark skin and startling amber eyes. She saw the tuft of a white tail, peaking out between his legs, but there were no wings. She wondered if Savius was disappointed.

A baby. And no arguement that it was exactly that. No half grown child with a mind of its own but a helpless infant, fragile and confused, his wide eyes staring up at the mobile she'd so recently hung.

"He'll need a name," Jer'ain said, reaching down as a mother would, and taking the gurgling, seemingly happy child into her arms.

"Wings," said Savius, his eyes on the infant's back, where what looked like complex tattoos stood out against his dark skin. Wings, but only the mark of them, only the memory.

"Give him here." Lithle reached out, taking the boy from Jer'ain, surprised at how trusting he was, cuddling into her arms and making soft infant sounds.

"You shouldn't trust me." She whispered into his hair, thin and soft, with black tips stark against the white of it. "I'm a killer. And I don't love anymore."

Taylor meets Yashima

The noise, the crowds, the press of humanity around him. Savius didn't mind the mall, found it interesting in a way. Besides, he had needed new clothes. Taylor, however, who he'd brought along with him, minded the mall rather spectacularly much. As much as a small zombiebrat could. Which meant, in the end, that they had left, if only to get him to stop screaming. They had taken shelter only a little ways away, at an old fashioned soda fountain and burger joint, where Savius could have something to drink, and Taylor could relax in a less crowded environment.

Sitting at a corner booth, the infant in his arms, the kestrel looked at the menu without any real interest. It wasn't like he was going to eat cooked meat. But he liked sweets well enough, and they did have a dessert list.


"C'mon, Yashi!" The woodpecker couldn't be heard from outside, but he was trying to convince his snarly younger brother that he was, indeed, hungry. Yashi was ignoring the claims that he didn't 'know his own hunger' and had been trying to pull away from his insisting sibling. "I want ice cream, damnit! And you're coming with me! I'm your baby sitter!"

"I am not a baby!" Yashima snapped in response, stamping his wooden-shoe covered foot on the cement sidewalk. Iamel just snorted and finally gave up. He leaned over and grabbed Yashima by his waist, hauling him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. That was how they moved inside, Yashi snarling and Iamel lookig around for some place to sit.

That guy... Red eyes narrowed and Iamel moved over towards Savius' table slowly, ignoring Yashimas growlings against his back. It COULDN'T be. But who else COULD it be? He FELT like a Bird and he looked like.. "Savius?"


One could almost pretend a resemblance between Savius and Taylor as two pairs of eyes of simular amber colour looked up. There was a vague familiarity to the voice, but it was a distant thing, hard to pin down to the here and now. Until he saw him. Tall and attractive but the hair was the same and the feeling of kin was very strong. There was no mistaking it. Iamel.

"Hey Bro. You're bigger." So spoke the king of understatement as he scooted out of the booth and stood. Holding Taylor against his shoulder with one arm, he reached out to ruffle the other teen's hair. They were almost the same height now. Strange that. "C'mon, sit down with me."

His gaze moved to the child slung over his kindred's shoulder, a child he'd seen before, though they'd been of a height, then. "What's his problem?"

For his part, Taylor wiggled and whimpered a bit at the sudden change of positions, not entirely happy to be taken from Savius's comfortable lap. As his head was buried firmly against his brother's neck, he saw neither the bird nor the other Ghost, but he knew they were there. People. Scary.


Iamel grinned roughly when he realized he'd been right in his assumptions. The ruffle was returned with a brief tug on the others sleeve in greeting - dive tackling a person with a child in their arms was rude and dangerous. He had learned at least that much.

"Yeah. So're you! We're like... almost the same. It's creepy." Savius' voice was different too.. but it had the ring of ultimately being the kestrel. That comforted the woodpecker.. He didn't like the thought of being hte only one without different things. Yashima was plopped onto the floor - feet first - and Iamel slid into the opposite side of the booth, facing his friend and Taylor. "When'd you sprout? Did it hurt? Mine did. Who's the kid?"

"A ghost." Yashima answered his brothers reply, flopping next to him. Neither of them answered the question of what was 'wrong' with Yashi.. he was always this way. Always had been, since he'd grown. "The one who didn't like me. Hi?" He offered the baby.


Savius chucked at Iamel's comment about it being creepy, and it was almost surprising to hear a laugh from him. It wasn't something he did very often, but the surprise of finding his 'little bro' as grown as he was, apparently allowed for an unusual level of self expression. "Hurt like ********." He admitted, wincing at the memory of the experiance, so very much more traumatic than the time he'd died as a bird. Why the hell did it all have to be so... drastic for them? "I was showering. One minute I'm covered in soap, the next I'm bleeding from my wings and almost blacking out."

"Scared the hell out of Jer'ain." Indeed, the girl would probably be traumatized for awhile yet by the memory of rushing to find her naked, bleeding and unexpectedly tall brother huddled in the bath tub, whimpering. He'd just leave the part about the whimpering out, though. "This is Taylor. Our Zombie."

Plucking the gryphon boy off his shoulder, he set the child on the table, supporting him in a sitting position.

Tiny lion's tail lashing nervously, Taylor looked toward Yashi, trying to decide how threatened to feel. But the boy had sparkly's on his wrist, and if those amber eyes weren't trusting, they sure were interested as tiny fists made grabbing motions and attempted to reach toward the treasures.


"You bled from your wings?" His eyes widened at that and the woodpecker stood, leaning on the table to peer around, trying to get a glimpse of his friends wings now. "They're okay now, though? Right? You're not bleeding there anymore?" One hand reached out to touch Savius' shoulder, head tilting to make sure his back wasn't splattered in blood or anything. Once he was satisfied, Iamel sat back, nose wrinkling. "Poor Jer'ain. I freaked 'Keelah out. He was yelling at me and then I was on the ground, convulsing the next. But.. I didn't bleed. It only hurt for about an hour after."

Iamels nose wrinkled, blinking in at Taylor. "Hey, Zombie kid!" He was ungaurdedly good with most children, fingers wriggling at him with a grin. When Taylor reached for Yashi, though, he just laughed. "Hows your dad taking the 'being big' thing? Shiniee almost died, himself."

The fox glanced down at the kit reaching for him... oh. The little metal bracelets he'd bought earlier that week. White eyebrows arched and one of the metal things were pulled off, glinting in the dim shop lights. "Want this?" He offered, holding it out to the gryphon.


"I bled some, yeah. I think they ripped my back up while they were growing." He wasn't exactly sure on that account, he'd been a bit distracted by the overwhelming pain. And by the time he'd come completely back to himself, Jer'ain had him neatly bandaged up. She was a good sibling, for what that was worth. "But yeah. I'm fine. Got a sword out of the deal. A real one. Not sure where the ******** that came from, but how does anything work, with us?"

"Dad's ok. I'm taller than she is now." He smirked then, the same lazy expression he'd worn in his childhood. "I can yell at her to her face, now."

"Uussuuuu." Responded Taylor, eloquently. He allowed himself a seconds distraction to stare at Iamel, a lip shiny being almost as interesting as a wrist shiny. But then the bracelet was coming toward him, and Yashima had his full attention. Yes, that! That was what he wanted! Leaning forward against the restraining hands of his brother, he made a snatching attempt to grab the bracelet being held toward him.
SilkenMinion: "I got a lip ring and three feet of height." He laughed, shrugging and leaning back against his chair. "I'm glad your okay, though. I'd have t smack you if you were walking around still bleeding or something." So he blathered a little - the woodpecker sat up straight as another question struck him, lips peelin ginto a wide grin. "DId you try flying yet?"

He had. Almst DIED, mind you, but oh! It was NOT a bad experiance.

Yashi leaned in a little, delicate fingers holding the shiny on the tips of his fingers towards the baby. He wasn't going to taunt him with thoughts of shinie things... he GAVE them the shinies, if that's what they wanted. And it appeared the little fellow did. "Yes. Uusssuuu."


"Hmm? Nah, not yet. You think we could?" There was a surprising note of wistfulness in his voice as he asked. Flying was something he missed almost painfully, even now. Sure, the kestrel had died, but the Kestrel remained, with dream memories of swooping down on unsuspecting prey all power and grace. Still, now he could kill merely by wanting something to die, and there was something to be said for that as well.

Streaching his wings slightly in the narrow confines of the booth, he couldn't help but think them too small to support his considerable weight. Still, at least they weren't tiny anymore. Iamel were proportionately bigger, but Savius wasn't the sort to bother with jealousy. It took too much energy. Instead, he lifted a lazy hand to wave down the flirtatious young waitress that had been irritating him until Iamel showed up. After all, he'd come in for a reason.

Got it! With a loud squeal of delight followed by giggles of pleasure, Taylor took the shiny from Yashima, waving it enthusiastically in the air. And, being the age he was, he almost immediately stuck a considerable portion of it in his mouth, enjoying the cool feel of metal on his gums. Mmm... shiny flavored.

A high pitched giggle announced the arrival of the waitress, all breasts and too wide smiles. She batted dark eyelashes and tugged at her black curly hair as she looked back and forth between Savius and Iamel. "So, what can I do for you guys?"


"I tried jumpin' out of Diacyns window and... ehrm. I think some wind saved my a**, but I was elevated for a minute." He smiled sheepishly, tugging at his long, orange-red bangs a little bit. "I don't see why we couldn't practice, you know? Like the magic except... with our wings. Fly as soon as possible. I miss it. It was... I miss it."

Another smile and he glanced up at the waiteress, eyebrows moving slowly upwards. Hopefully, his sisters wouldn't end up like her.. Giggly and too squishy and... It was at that moment that Iamel decided he did Not Like squishy things on peoples chests. "I don't know about you, Savius, but I want me an ice cream sundae. Shiniee says my metabolism is crazy anyway."

The fox-kit grinned at Taylor, chin on the table to watch him. The little thing did not hate him!! He liked that. he didn't like the boys to watch him. It was cute. "Water," He mumbled, "No sugar."


"Idiot." Savius scolded promptly, shaking his head at Iamel. There it was, that brotherly instinct. Supporting Taylor with one hand, he reached over to swat the Woodpecker lightly upside the head. "We should practice, maybe, but not by jumpin' out of windows. Who do you think you are Death by Hitting the Ground Really Hard?"

Turning his attention to the waitress he offered her a lazy grin. There was nothing behind the smile, except perhaps amusement. Did she really think she had a chance with well, either of them? Humans. Meh. That hint of a superiority complex had not faded, and while he was more than ready to make exceptions for family and Guardians of friends, he still found himself impatient with strange mortals. None of them aware of how fragile they were. "I'll have what he's having, lots of hot fudge. And a soda. And nilla wafers for the zombie here." And a dead squirrel, but he wasn't even going to ask. He liked to kill his own food, anyway.

The girl licked her lips as she wrote down their orders and Savius almost laughed in her face. He settled for smirking at her retreating form and turning back to Iamel. "Well, that was new."

Giggling around the shiny in his mouth Taylor reached again for Yashi. This time, there was no demand in the gesture, he simply wanted to touch the nice boy who'd given him the bracelet. It was good to make friends with shiny holders. That way, you got more shinys. Clever baby he was.


"He goaded me into it. What was I gonna do? Look like a p***y? I'd NEVER live that down." He grinned, hand darting up to catch Savius' wrists with his fingers. "That would be an AWESOME death, by the way. Not death by falling, but Hitting the Ground Really Hard. Think we should suggest it to Shanuh?" The woodpecker laughed, watching as the woman interacted with his friend, eyebrows arching once more.

"Indeed. She was staring at you like YOU were the prey... not the other way around. What the hell was that?" And no. He saw nothing wrong about cursing around children. Raja would vouch for that.

Yashi blinked and then reached up to touch Taylors hand with his. He beamed at the other kid not hating him, tickling gently at his palm. "You don't hate anymore?" The lightly-accented voice quired, grinning a little. "Good."


"You care too much about what that jerk thinks." The comment was made with memories in mind, a hot headed Diacyn attacking him for reasons the Kestrel still didn't understand. Seriously. What the ********? But nevermind that, he just didn't want his friend pushed into danger by the Owl. "You think Shanuh makes those kinds of decisions?" A genuine question. Savius still didn't quite understand what Shanuh was, or any of the Birdcage people for that matter. Only that they felt... impressive. Like Kin, but much bigger.

"I dunno. Kinda wierd though. People treat you different when you're tall." A lesson that the kestrel was finding more and more true, and one he wasn't entirely certain how to deal with.

"Gee!" Agreed Taylor, grabbing one of Yashi's tickling fingers and clinging to it firmly, a babies determained grip. Now, now he'd won! He had the shiny giver. That could only mean the production of more shinys. At least, he thought that might be how it worked. Thoughtfully he tugged the finger he held, trying to bring it up to his mouth. He could probably fit the hand in, he thought, along side the shiny.


"Yes I do." Iamel agreed readily, shoulders rising into a shrug, "He's my friend just as much as you are. Did you two get into a fight or something? I thought you were on good terms... I mean..." He shrugged a little, nose crinkling up into a confused expression. Iamel knew Diacyn was jealous of the kestrel, judging by his remarks during the class, but he didn't think his two friends would actually FIGHT outside of casual sparring. "He's just rash sometimes. And Shanuh... I don't know.

The teen frowned a little, shrugging once more. "I don't know but ... he's strong. Stronger then us. He might, y'know? Anything's possible." Shoulders rolled, grinning, "Yeah. People do. Especially girls. They look at you weird. Maybe that's why all Birds are boys - that I've met anyway - so we won't be just THAT weird."

Yashi squeaked, giving a small grin to the other, letting him pull the finger with him. "Are you trying to eat me now?" For some reason, he thought babies could talk back to him. "I don't think I'll taste that good, kid."


"Relax Bro. Baldy might hate me, but that's his problem, okay? Not yours or mine." Savius quick to smooth over the confusion his remark had apparently caused, dismissing his earlier statement with a shrug and a smile. Nothing to worry about. As long as the owl didn't try to pick up the fight again the next time they ran into each other. Which made him wonder, "You think everyone else has grown too?"

"Yeah, Shanuh's different. He's something better than us, whatever that means." At Iamel's next statement, Savius managed a brief 'heh' of a laugh, grinning across the table. "Guess you're just too pretty. All the girls are jealous." He'd never really thought about the fact that all the birds were male, and thinking of it now he tapped the table thoughtfully. "That's kinda weird."

Almost reluctantly, Taylor pulled the shiny out of his mouth to make room for Yashima's finger. Leaning forward a tad, he licked the diget cautiously before actually bringing it into his mouth. The shiny boy tasted not as good as bracelets, but better than his brother. Pulling the drool covered finger out of his mouth, he stuck the shiny back in. "Geemmuu."


"I just thought he was jealous... not that he hated you." Iamel frowned a little and then shrugged, "Just don't kill him. I like him alive." The woodpecker paused, blinking up with a little grin. "You think they could've? Well... you have... and we've all been around for a while. Holy s**t, it'd be awesome if they did. You an' me an' Diacyn an' Xaxis and.. uhm." He pauses, "...Rascir, I guess? I haven't talked to him much so that's on a lesser scale of awesome but still kick a**. I haven't seen Calytae in a while, he might've too! But - but if the little group... thing..grew, that'd be so cool."

Savius comment on him being pretty made him blink a few times and - blush? s**t. What was that? Iamel made a face, laughing and tilting his head back. "I don't think I'm all that pretty, Savius. You're just really weird, you know that?" Kicking at his friend, gently, from under the table. "I don't mind the no-girls.. They can be annoying sometimes. More then average."

Yashi.... didn't know what to think. He grinned a little at the kid, wriggling his spit-covered digit at his Iamel and was rewarded with a napkin being wrapped around it. Ears went flat with a grumble. "Geemmuu to you too, kid."


"Nevermind him." Savius said firmly, not wanting to dwell on the bald boy and the bruises that had resulted from their last encounter. Better to think about Iamel and Taylor and the possibility that Xaxis and Rascir were big now. They, he thought, would be pretty when they grew. Certainly the songbird had such nice hair. And Xaxis just might grow into his wings. He smiled, the expression neither sarcastic nor amused but genuinely happy. "We should try and get together, all of us. See who's tall now."

Deftly avoiding the kicking with a short laugh, Savius tucked his feet up and grinned across the table at Iamel. "Maybe not pretty. You look good though, bro. I like the goatee." He was serious in that moment, measuring his friend with a thoughtful glance. "Depends on the girl, I guess. I've just got Dad and Jer'ain, so... they're both pretty cool, you know?"

"Geemuu." The child repeated firmly, his excitement making his tail lash around wildly. That was one limb he hadn't completely figured out to control yet. He wasn't even entirely convinced it was his. Releasing Yashi's finger, he turned to look at his brother, holding out the shiny, "Eee!"

"Nice, Zombie." Savius agreed absently. "Kid's a klepto." He added, his attention drawn away by the return of the waitress, and therefore, the arrival of icecream and cookies for Taylor.

"Thanks."


"He's just hard to get along with sometimes," Iamel stated about Diacyn before dropping the subject completely, grinning a little more at Savius' smile. He looked GOOD when he didn't smile with some lurking emotion in the back of his eyes - just smiled because he was happy. It was better that way. For a fleeting moment Iamel could see why the waitress would be so Looking at his friend, even though she had never seen him smile.

"We should!" The woodpecker grinned, nodding in agreement. "We should have a 'We're tall now, we kick a**' party and invite only the taller people! It'll be fun and - thank you." He cut himself off halfway through, hand moving to tug at the fuzz, a crooked grin on his lips. "You're not half bad yourself. I like the glasses." They reminded him of his Shiniee.

That was not a bad thing.

Yashima grinned at the child holding out his shiniee - now Taylors shiniee - and was so very excited! He liked making little kids happy. Boys, anyway. The girls kind of scared him. But that was not something he was going to advertise. ....anymore. "I don't mind. S'just a bracelet." He nodded, eyes flickering over to his brother, who was getting his own ice cream happily.


"How we gonna manage that one? Put a line on the door with a sign that says 'you must be this tall to enter the party'?" Savius took his icecream from the waitress without really glancing at her, setting it slightly to the side, where tiny fists couldn't reach it. Ruffling Taylor's hair affectionately, he put one of the pale round cookies in the baby's free hand, making sure he had a good grip on it before letting go. It was hard to get him interested in eating, Savius occasionally entertained the idea of painting all his food silver to keep his attention.

"You like 'em?" Reaching up, he touched the frame of his glasses, adjusting them a bit before letting his hand drop, "I found 'em laying around and thought they were sorta cool, you know? I need to show you my sword." A hint of excitement and energy there, even from the generally laid back bird. "It's ******** huge."

Picking up his spoon, he poked the icecream absently, getting a bite of fudge before even trying the cold stuff.

Taylor continued to shake the bracelet, watching in facination at the way the metal caught the light. The cookie in his other hand simply sat there, clutched firmly, but mostly forgotten. It didn't make the light dance. And even though he knew it would taste nice, even nicer than shiny, his interest was elsewhere for the moment.


"Hey, works for me." He laughs a little bit, watching the other take care of his sibling. It was cute... Iamel glanced at Yashima, eyebrows arching critically. But then again, HE Had been cute too, when he was that age. Clingy and beautiful and adorable... and then he had grown. Ugh. That little puke. His head shook a little, taking a scoop of his ice cream. "YEah, I like um. They accent somehow." His hand waved, laughing and tilting his head back.

"You got a sword?! Are you serious? How ******** huge are we talking here? Like.. arm huge? Whale huge?"

Yashi watched teh little kid toy with the bracelet but... no eats? His eyebrows arched, laughing quietly into his water. The fo slurped softly, eyebrows arching up. "Do you not like food, watage?"


"Thing's almost as tall as you are." The kestrel stated proudly, remembering the strangely familiar of its hilt in his hand, the way it had cut the air. "Not just a little wooden thing. Course, I could use some lessons in how to use the thing. But, hell, it can't be that hard."

Icecream. All melty and cold and somehow as he was eating he managed to get fudge on his nose. Not that he noticed, more concerned with his graceless, hurried way of eating. Savius was not the product of sit down, family dinners. Hell, he still insisted on killing his own meat, even if he'd try the stuff like icecream, that he knew he couldn't go out hunting for. He wasn't a tidy eater, not by a long shot.

If he didn't understand the boy, he at least liked him. Looking at Yashi curiously, the boy giggled happily. His amber gaze hit the two objects in his hands, cookie in one, shiny in the other. With a wide toothless smile he leaned forward, holding the cookie out toward Yashi. He could give presents too.


"Almost as tall as me? Holy s**t, Savius." The red eyes were wide, ice cream momentarily forgotten as he tried to contemplate how freaking HUGE smething would have to be in order to be...well, his size! "So this means you can pick me up too?" Iamel joked, still trying to wrap his mind around it with a soft laugh. "Wow. That's.... that is really ******** big.."

Savius was eating and that meant he could get back to it as well. Iamel, the child of a twitchy scientest, didn't much care for manners or movements that oozed grace. That's what Yashi was for. That's how Kian moved. Iamel just ate like any hungry teenage boy would, paying little mind to the children next to them.

A white eyebrow arched up,w atching as the gears moved within the others head. The kid was cute. And smart - smarter then he had been as a baby. The cookie was taken with delicate fingers and a bow of his head. The foxes voice was low, almost grinning, when he responded with, "Thank you, watage~"


Savius took the question seriously enough, sizing his friend up with a long glance, "Yeah, I could. But I don't know that you'd make a very good weapon. Unless you were using your explosion powers." Thoughts of the weapon were awarded the barest hint of an affectionate smile."I'll show it to you later. I don't have anything to carry it with, yet, so I left it at home. It'd be too hard to carry the Zombie and the sword. 'sides, he'd keep trying to grab it."

Sword plus shiny obsessed baby meant blood all over the place. And a very pissed sibling.

"Waaaa." The infant agreed, distracted as Savius pressed another cookie into his hand. This time, he brought it too his mouth, happily gumming it into an easily digestable soggy mess.


"He likes shiny things," The Bird agreed, grinning a little. Savius could carry him?? Really?? That was freaking amazing. "You have to show me the me-carrying-abilities after we get food. Fox-kit could hold your Zombie." He nodded firmly, laughing a little bit, leaning back against the chair as he licked at his spoon.

Mmm. Sugah.

Yashima munched down on his cookie happily, watching how the kid was immediately given a nother cookie. He grinned, reaching over with one hand to ruffle at the oddly-colored hair. So cute.


"Heh." One long arm streached across the table to once again ruffle the Woodpecker's hair, unconcious of the fact that he was mirroring Yashima. It was one of the few ways he showed real affection, those brief touches. He liked petting people, though he didn't like being petted himself. An odd side effect of growing up in a family that didn't do much of the physical affection thing. Or the mental and emotional affection, really. But that wasn't what he'd chosen his 'Dad' for. "I'll give you a piggy back ride."

Fast, almost militant eating habits meant that Savius's bowl was already nearly empty, only a melty pool of fudge and icecream left at the bottom of his bowl. Icecream soup. Considering it a moment, he lifted the bowl and drank the remaining contents.

It should be noted, in all honesty, that one of the less pleasent things to watch on Gaia was the mess created by a baby trying to eat a Nilla Wafer without teeth. The cookie had to be slowly slimed to death, its outside's slowly losing solidity and smearing across Taylor's face. Like his brother, the gryphon boy was apparently not overly concerned with neatness. Of course, he had the excuse of age.


Iamels face scrunched up despite his leaning into the others pettings. He liked reciving them even though his affection was outwardly displayed with grins and hugs and snuggles. He chose his Shiniee for the shiniees, for being different, and Savius chose his...well, that was his personal business. iamel didn't care why the other chose his Father to be a certian way - it wasn't his business.

"You will? Kick a**! I haven't gotten a piggy back since I was a bird." He grinned, fighting with his own 'soup' with the spoon. It would come out. IT WOULD. He would win against the ice cream!

Yashi just...stared. He hadn't been allowed things like that when he was a baby, from what he was tld, and now he could see why. His eyes were a ittle wide, blinking at the goopy-faced toddler, and he leaed in order to peer at Savius better. "....should I wipe his face or somehing?"


The waitress arrived again this time with the check. Savius made a point of not looking up, knowing full well that he'd bet met with an eyeful of breasts, and feeling he'd rather avoid that particular experiance. Digging into his wallet, he took out enough money to pay for the icecream with a reasonable tip, and set it on the table. Dad provided funds for the care and feeding of Zombies, and there was always enough for extras like this.

"Does it count as a piggy back ride if your a bird, do you think?"

At Yashima's question, Savius just shook his head. "Nah, he's not done eatin' it yet. He's just gonna make more of a mess until then."

Kishi and Taylor

Kishi gives Taylor sparklies. Jer'ain attempts to shop.

Glitter, sparkle and shine.

Toddler Quest

It would not have happened, if it hadn't been Michael. Indeed, even if it had been Michael, had it not been Jer'ain who was with him, everything would have been fine. Further still, were it not for the further company of Earako, all laughter and fluttering gestures, perhaps it would have been just another day.

But it was Michael. It was Michael, and Jer'ain, and Earako, the penultimate pushing little Taylor in his stroller. And because of this combination, they ended up in the jewelry store.

Earako, for her part, adored her cousins, both the tall and the tiny, so when she saw the way that both there eyes lingered on the bright bits of starlight hanging in the display window she was quick to drag the whole group through the closed doors, and never mind the dark looks from the jeweler. Earako never seemed to notice things like that, Michael thought. But Jer'ain, Jer'ain straightened, her expression hard.

And it was that contrast that threw him the most. Jer'ain was his near daughter, it was he who had taken her in, and then passed her to Lithle under the excuse of 'no time'. But he'd had time for Earako, when the batling came into his life, had made time for her. And now look. Earako, girlishly beautiful, still bright eyed and in love with life. Jer'ain, hard eyed and walled in, opening only in the closed circle of family. Would she be different, had he raised her? He thought so. Lithle was what she was. She was a wonderful fighter. But no mother.

But nevermind regrets. Earako was asking, all perfect, delicate manners, to see this piece and that piece, drapping them on herself, on Vimber, on Taylor and Jer'ain. She smiled and laughed as she did so, and Michael was surprised to see an echoing smile from Jer'ain. The girl rarely managed such expressions. He looked to the little one, who was laughing openly a diamond necklace sticking out of his mouth, and the sharp blade of knowledge cut deep. That one too, could go Jer'ain's route. He had no promise of a better childhood. Would those laughing amber eyes go cold?

"Pick out whatever you want girls. For Taylor too." It wasn't like he couldn't afford it, after all. And perhaps it would be some protection against the dark, even if it couldn't lure Jer'ain back out of it.

"Uncle Michael?" Jer'ain, always confused by generosity, looked at him with a frown.

"It's okay, Da' means what he's saying, huh, Da'?" Earako laughed, and leaned over to kis his rough cheek.

"I guess I could get Taylor some stuff." She leaned down, crouching beside the stroller and touching the giggling boy with gentle fingers. "You do like your sparkly things."

Earako nodded, picking a month chart out of a small display and tossing it to her cousin, "We'll get him a sparkly for every month! And I'll pick out a new ring for Vimber's horns."

And that, was what started the search. Jer'ain scooped up Taylor, holding him against her hip as she pointed to various jewels beneath the glass. Then Earako would pick them up, setting aside the ones that got the strongest response for purchase. The likely hood of the gryphon ever wearing the hoard wasn't even taken into consideration.

So, there were pearl earrings, a ruby necklace, loose stones that Michael was sure he'd choke on, and rings much too large for his baby fingers.




Each one was held and tasted by the delighted, cooing infant who seemed to come alive with delight, waving his hands, grasping and gasping as each new jewel was selected. His tail refused to hold still, it lashed wildly about, smacking Jer'ain's arm and tickling Michael as he passed by to point out an opal necklace to the girls.

Finally Jer'ain and Earako stopped in satisfaction. The albino bat bounced with impatient pleasure, her usual ladies manners forgotten, as they often were, in the presence of her cousin. Jer'ain was more sedate, but her eyes shone bright with pride, and it was so strangely touching, seeing light in her cold eyes.

As for Taylor, the gryphling clutched at the jewels like a miser beset by thieves, and it was all Michael could do to get them away from him long enough to make the purchase. The store keeper had forgotten his earlier distaste for their little group, and was more than happy to take the cash, going so far to offer a little velvet bag in which Taylor could keep his new treasures.

Taylor, who'd wailed through the purchasing, a sharp raptors keening, settled immediately when he was given back his treasures. Contently, he sucked on the edges of the velvet bag, gurgling happily as he was settled back into his stroller.

They walked out of the store, and Jer'ain stopped then, kneeling down to gently touch the childs cheek with her fingers. "You like those don't you? When you're older, you'll thank Uncle Michael, little zombie."

Her voice was full of warmth and sweet affection. Michael realized, watching, that unlike Jer'ain, Taylor wouldn't grow up cold. He'd have Jer'ain's love, and no doubt the bird brats.

For his part, Taylor glowed. Literally.

He seemed infused with sunlight, emitting bright rays of comforting warmth, so that even through his sunglasses, Michael had to wince, then look away. Earako, so sensitive to the light, whimpered softly. Only Jer'ain continued to stare, her fingers never leaving the boy's cheek.

The light began to fade, and blinking away the afterimages of brilliance, Michael turned back to the boy, only to find that the child in the stroller was not the boy of a moment ago. At least, he wasn't the infant he had been. His limbs were longer, his features more defined. His eyes were bright with intellect that hadn't shone through as clearly in his infant form.

This was a toddler, that was clear enough, as was the fact that he'd need a new stroller. Jer'ain was frowning.

"She's not going to be happy about this."

"You let me handle Lithle." Michael murmured, trying to be reassuring.

Earako, meanwhile was beaming. "'rainy, he's so sweet!"

"S'eet!" Agreed Taylor, kicking his feet. "So s'eet."

Oh, this was going to be fun to explain to the b***h. Fun indeed.

Taylor lay on his stomach, gently turning the pages of a picture book, his fingers tracing the pictures, his brow furrowed in thought. It made noises, when you pressed the pictures. He was pretty sure all these things were connected to the squiggles underneath.

"Dog." The book announced. "D-O-G. Dog."

It looked like Fen. Was Fen a dog or were dogs Fens?

"Dog." He parroted, carefully, immitation something he was simply good at. "D-O-G. Dog."

D-O-G. Dee-Oh-Gee. Deeohgee. "Deeohgee. Dog."

And then, quite abruptly, he hurt. It wasn't a phyical pain. It was a snapping, a losing, an emptiness like hunger but much deeper and more direct. His soul hurt and he whimpered, curling up on himself.

Jer'ain looked up at him, and he reached toward her in desperation. "I hurt. Hurt." He managed, as she scooped him up in her arms. "Hurt, 'rain. Hurt."

She made soft sounds, and those eased the shock, if not the feeling of loss. But what had he lost? He didn't understand, only knew how empty he felt. Clinging to Jer'ain, he cried softly, and tried to understand it. It was how he coped with everything, by understanding.

But he had no way of knowing of the death happening far from where he cried.

An Email

Alpha,

I located what you were looking for, but I'm not sure you'll want it when you find out where it is. We have enough enemies, don't we, without hunting down trouble. Besides, with your brats, you're a family man now. Don't go getting yourself killed, I won't be taking them in.

Speaking of which, you want mine? The three of them... gods. Listen, I know. It's not like they're trouble. Not in the sense you'd think. But they're there and I'm tired of it. I want a place of my own with a little ******** silence. I remember when I used to be able to just live, without having to bother with a bunch of punk kids in my space, demanding time and attention.

The girl and the bird take care of the zombie for the most part, so at least I don't have to worry about him, much. Though, as he grows, he becomes more difficult to ignore. He's begun to communicate in words that I can understand, not his inane chirping or his strange baby language. The brat is smart, I'll say that much. He devours the picture books that 'rain and V bring him, and is constantly asking to be read to.

He seems to listen too, when I read to him. He mumbles the words I say under his breath, and stares at the pictures and words on the page as if he can make sense out of them, or thinks he should be able to. And then he steals the books and hides them in his bedroom.

In some ways, he's behind, though. He mostly refuses to walk, and still tries to crawl everywhere. It's not that he can't walk, unsteadily, but he just doesn't try to. He gets startled easily, and throws little fits if he's left alone to long.

V and 'rain are V and 'rain. V seems to be more distant these days. He still calls me Dad, and smiles his idiot smile, but he doesn't cling to the idea of family so hard. Maybe he's decided we finally are one. Idiot. 'rain is quiet and gently mad. I-- ********, I guess I should blame myself for that. But how was I to know? I was never meant to be a parent. I still think someone hurt her, and we somehow missed it.

But neither me nor V know who.

b***h

The birds that sang outside Taylor's room were silent, and the lights had grown dim as the sun disappeared behind distant buildings. His twin bed, which had so recently replaced the crib, was turned down for the night, and he was dressed in gold footie pajama's that matched the rooms garish decorating.

It was bedtime.

Jer'ain stood just within the room, looking down at the boy who stood in the room, delicate child. Sweet child. Their child. Child of the house, of the pack. He was so much smaller than she ever remembered being, but she did not remember time before the pack very well. She could almost remember, like a dream near lost at waking, a time when Savius still wore feathers. But still, even then, he had been more than her.

Kin.

This one, the one who sat on the bed looking up at her and waiting, was not Kin. Pack, but not Kin, instead she was as he was. Yet Savius treated him well, as he treated her well. And Lithle, Lithle treated them all the same. She couldn't see them, was all, there were too many walls in her eyes.

"Book, sister?" Taylor's young voice stole her thoughts, sent them windborn on the wings she didn't have. His eyes held simple trust, and she almost understood Lithle's hate of it. It asked so much, the not asking.

"One."

"Lots!"

"We'll read 'The Wolves in the Walls'."

Taylor growled, clearly imitating Fen. "Wolves bad."

"Yeah zombie. Wolves are bad." She crossed the space between them and gently stroked his hair. "That's why we protect the sheep."

He lay down as she sat on the edge of the bed, looking up at her patiently. He too was one of the sheep, wasn't he? How did sheep become dogs, or wolves?

"Book."

Right. It was story time.