Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ava glided towards a house rather slowly, her mind wandering every now and then before being tugged back to the present. Though her wing was almost completely better, it still gave a twinge of pain when she full opened it and it kept bringing her thoughts back to Gwydion.

She cradled a small box in her arms, the box wrapped in white tissue paper with a large silver bow on top. As she flew up to the doorbell, she struggled a moment with the box, slipping it under one arm; her black spike of hair bobbing up and down. She smiled warmly to herself as she pressed the button and heard the chiming sound inside, having found out that giving friends gifts made her exceedingly happy.

She hoped someone was home, she liked to deliver the gifts in person, but she supposed that couldn't be helped sometimes.

The person who answered the door wasn't Youko... or anyone that Ava had seen before. A pale white kitsune stood there, the girl immediately looking at feien-flying-height when she didn't see anyone right away. She was apparently used to feien coming and going, and smiled as she saw Ava there.

"Well hello!" she said jovially, standing aside so that the fairy could enter. "Are you here to see one of the feien that lives here?"

Ava blinked for a moment and then smiled, hesitantly flying into the house. She stopped just inside the door and turned to the kitsune girl, her hair once again bouncing about as she nodded.

"Yes, I came here to see Shalafi," She repositioned the box so she was holding it in both hands again. "Is he home?"

"Yes, he is," she replied, closing the door gently. "I'm Aniya... my father is bonded to the feien. I think Shalafi's in his cabinet right now... it's a bit cold in there if you're not used to it though." Aniya pointed towards a cabinet in the kitchen against one wall. The door itself seemed to have been sealed shut, but a dollhouse door had been built into the front, perfectly feien-sized.

"he's an ice feien... and there's a small aicon in there that keeps the temperature cold."

"My name is Ava, it's nice to meet you." She smiled to Aniya and then looked over at the cabinet, pursing her lips. She didn't care much for the cold...

She started in that direction before stopping a second later, turning to face the kitsune once more, "Thank you, and in case I don't see you again have a good Christmas."

She flitted towards the cabinet and landed just in front of the tiny door, shifting the package to one arm a second time. Outstretching one hand, she knocked rather loudly on it and then rocked back onto her heels.

"You too!" Aniya grinned, smiling at the little feien.

The door was solid, that much was certain. A soft voice called from inside. "Come in!"

Shalafi's cabinet was very nearly like a loft 'apartment' for a feien. The inner area was divided into two sections by a shelf that didn't quite reach out to meet hte door itself. A dollhouse staircase bridged the gap between floor and shelf. A small pixacat was on the stairs, sitting there and watching Ava carefully before being moved by the pale feien that came down to the main 'floor'. "Hello?" he called, eyes flicking randomly as he started towards the door.

Ava smiled upon seeing Shalafi, her emerald eyes quickly scanning the feien sized structure before returning to her friend. Aniya had been right, it was cold in here, and Ava steeled herself against a fit of shivers she felt coming.

"Hello, Shalafi, it's Ava." She supplied, in case he wouldn't recognize her voice. She stepped more into the room and smiled to the pixacat before returning her attention to the slightly taller feien. "How have you been?"

"Ava!" he said, grinning as he came closer. A movement at the top of the stairs became apparent then as a german shepherd Pixa came down and moved to stand beside Shalafi. There was a small wire and fabric harness around him,a nd it was obvious that Shalafi used him as a guide dog. "There's a blanket upstairs, if you're cold," he offered, then motioned towards a small couch that looked as though it had been put together by someone who had a basic concept of carpentry... but not much. "I can get it for you if you like. Most people aren't very comfortable in here."

Ava watched the dog for a moment, her eyes slightly wary. She had never seen a dog in person before, but it looked friendly enough. Her ears perked slightly and she nodded slightly, more out of habit than anything, "Please, if it's not too much trouble. It is a little cold in here. Does warm weather bother you? Aniya told me you were an ice feien."

"It can, if it gets too hot. That's why I have this room. The aicon keeps it cold for me, and I don't have to get in the freezer." Shalafi chuckled then, leading Aza towards the couch as the dog darted up the stairs and came back a moment later with a large square of fleece fabric that seemed to be cut to a feien-sized blanket.

"Warm weather doesn't bother me, it's actually cold that gets to me fairly easily." Ava wandered over to the couch after Shalafi and sat down on one side, the box resting in her lap with her arms cradling it. She smiled and tilted her head slightly as the dog retrieved the blanket.

"Your dog is very smart," She said, her fingers lightly tapping the side of the box. "I've never seen a dog our size before, he's very pretty."

"That's Sega... he helps me see." Shalafi blushed faintly, folding his wings behind him. "Blizzard does as well, she's my cat. They can both talk, so it makes it a lot easier." As Sega sat next to Ava, holding the blanket in his teeth, Shalafi tilted his head to the side at the strange sound of fingers against the box. "What's that?"

Ava gently took the blanket from Sega and patted his head, "Thank you."

She wrapped it around her wings and pulled it tight over her shoulders, bunching it in her hands just below her collarbone. She looked back over to Shalafi and then down at the box in her lap and smiled broadly, her voice taking on an exciting tone, "Oh, this is a gift for you, it's your Christmas present! I saw it and part if it reminded me of you. Would you like to open it now?" She let go of the blanket for a moment and picked up the box, holding it out to him so the bow brushed against his fingers.

"For... me?" Shalafi smiled brightly, feathers fluttering in excitement. "Oh dear, I don't have anything for you... we're going to be going holiday shopping soon, though, and I promise I'll return the favour. I'll have to find something perfect for you!" He was grinning from ear to ear as he took the box gently, his hands sliding over the outside and the bow. "I'd love to open it, if I may."

Ava smiled and folded her hands in her lap, extremely happy that Shalafi seemed excited about the gift.

"Of course you may open it. It might be a month until Christmas, but I want you to have it now." She smiled, feeling herself flush slightly at the thought of some one giving her something. "You don't have to get anything for me, it's alright, I like giving friends things."

"I know I don't have to... but I like getting people things too." He grinned then, chuckling softly. "I like hearing people smile." He carefully unwrapped the box then, reaching inside and lifting out the pendant and chain that lay inside. His eyes widened as he felt it, the gentle fingers tracing over each silver wing and the cross and serpent beneath. "It's lovely," he breathed, feeling the cool metal slide beneath his touch. "Could... you help me put it on?"



Ava beamed as he opened the gift, very grateful that he liked it, "Yes, of course I'll help you."

She stood and slowly walked over to him, picking up the clasp on the chain and undoing it before taking the ends and slipping them around his neck. She felt color rise to her cheeks at being this close to another feien that wasn't family, but she ignored the feeling and hooked the clasp behind his neck.

"It's very beautiful on you," She said and smiled, taking a step back and looking at the pendant. "It goes with you very well."

Shalaf's hand rested on it, the smile increasing as he felt the pendant resting against his skin. His gaze stayed forward, the blind feien using touch to tell exactly what the jewellery looked like. "It's wonderful... thank you so much, Ava!" He turned then, hugging her gently, his wings getting in on the act as well and wrapping around her for a moment.

Ava smiled and returned the hug, slightly - though not very - surprised that Shalafi was just as cold as the room itself. He was an ice feien, after all.

"You're welcome," She said softly. "I'm very glad you like it. The wings on it are very beautiful, they reminded me of yours."

He blushed at that, his fingers exploring the wings on the pendant as she said that. "Thank you so much. I know I can find something just perfect for you as well... I want to make you just as happy as you've made me."

Ava smiled and shook her head slightly even though he couldn't see it. Here he was not able to see, and yet he was so kind and so strong, she couldn't understand why it was so hard for her sometimes...

"You've already made me very happy, Shalafi, but if you feel you should me something I can't stop you, can I?" She laughed softly, taking his hands and giving each a friendly squeeze.

Smiling, he shook his head. "Nope. And I'm stubborn too." He was ecstatic about this, really... so THIS was what Youko had talked about when he said that Yule was a wonderful time of year. He simply HAD to make his friends this happy too!

Ava couldn't wipe the smile from her face, but she didn't really want to either. It was good to be around friends, she forgot how lonely it could be at Rhia's house, even with her bond's housemates. Being with other feien was really nice.

"I should probably be heading back soon." She said quietly, some of the happiness leaving her voice at the thought of going back home. "I told Rhia I wouldn't be gone long, and I almost got lost on the way here."

Getting to his feet, Shalafi nodded. "I don't mean to keep you if you have to leave... but you will come back to visit now that you know where I am, right?" The tone of his voice let Ava know that he was very much looking forward to another visit, if it was possible.

Ava leaned forward slightly, giving the ice feien another hug. She smiled, though it was slightly sad this time. "It's kind of funny how I feel safer at someone else's house than I do mine own."

She sighed softly, turning from Shalafi and picking up the blanket. She started to fold it and kept on talking, not giving him a chance to query that statement. "Yes, I'd very much like to come and visit you again soon. Maybe sometime in December if I'm able to?"

"Absolutely," he said softly, worried at her statement, but not willing to pry about it. There would be time for that the next they spoke. "You're welcome over here anytime you like."

She turned back to him and smiled again, a slight shiver running through her wings. "It was nice to see you, I'll drop by again soon and maybe we can chat more."

She set the blanket down on the couch and headed for the door, turning back to him for a moment before leaving, "Take care, Shalafi."

"You as well." Shalafi listened as the door opened and closed again before he lifted one hand and rested it on Sega's head. The gentle nudge from the poixa let him know that he wasn't the only one worried. He made a mental note then to find something extra-special for Ava when they went shopping... something that might make her feel better at home too.

A small box with a note is left on the doorstep, carefully arranged that it can't be stepped on. On the note is written Ava's name in tiny print.

It took the orange Feien much longer than he had anticipated to reach Rhia's house. He had gotten some direction from the shop itself. He figured he'd be there an hour ago, but he underestimated his growths effect on his speed. There was no change. Shrugging midair, he finally happened upon the house. It would be wonderful to see Ava again. He wondered what she'd been up to since they last spoke.

Floating up to the window, he stuck his head in. Without being too rude, he called out, "Knock knock! Ava? Are you available?"

Smiling to himself, he decided to sit on the windowsill, just outside of the house itself. He wondered about her reaction to seeing his growth. If he sat down, did he seem much taller?


Ava was sitting in the living room with Rhia, going through a few vacation brochures and seeming to be more than a little bored. But she didn't want to be rude or get Rhia mad, so she helped her bond as best she could at choosing the location they would be spending Christmas. The earth feien found it slightly amusing that Rhia and Azy still hadn't agreed on a place to go when they were leaving in only five days, but she figured this is how it was between them with a lot of things.

And as long as Gwydion wasn't going to be there, she didn't really care where they ended up.

Rhia's large ears flicked back and forth, the earrings jingling against one another and she raised her hand; absently jabbing her thumb towards the kitchen. "Someone is calling for you, Mushroom, you better go see who."

Ava blinked a few times and frowned as she stood, taking to the air and flying towards the kitchen. She hadn't heard anyone, but then again, her bond's hearing was extremely good. As she entered the kitchen, she looked around and then veered towards the window when she didn't see anyone. Landing on the small sill just inside, she poked her head out and looked around; cowlick bobbing.

"Neruo?" She queried when she spotted a bright orange feien sitting just outside. Her face instantly lit up in a smile and she slipped outside, starting over to him before halting mid stride. Her eyes narrowed before widening and she stood stock still, realizing that it was her friend, only not as she remembered him...


"Ava! Wonderful to see you again!" he said, arms wide and inviting. He stood up, his full eight inches of height towering over her. Oops. Bad idea. He rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed, and knelt in front of her. He felt so...cumbersome.

"Ava, would you mind if I hugged you? I hope I didn't scare you. I grew the other day. Instantly. I'm still getting used to it. What do you think?"

He wanted to wait to hug her. Instead, he watched her, half-hoping she approved. Whether or not she did, he was stuck this way. Not that he minded too much. The height was nice, despite still bumping into things. Everything got easier as the days went on. He tried to hide the tiny burlap bag he carried with him. Inside it was a surprise present, but she seemed too shocked at the moment. Best to wait.


The smile that had only a moment ago lit her features and caused her emerald eyes to twinkle was now gone, replaced by a look of utter confusion and perhaps a slight hint of horror. When her friend stood, her eyes - already huge within her face - widened further and she took a tiny step backwards. His words seemed to do little for her other than cause her eyes to shrink down to fit the rest of features.

He was still Neruo, still her friend, he had just grown up. He was still the same, no matter how tall he got or how old he became...

"You... you're tall," She managed after a moment, her voice betraying nothing. "Congratulations on growing up."

She didn't really know what else to say to him... what was there to say? She swallowed hard and hesitantly stepped up to him, raising her arms slightly to allow him to hug her. She didn't exactly feel comfortable in hugging someone so much bigger than her, but he was her friend, why was it so hard for her to remember that?


Neruo hugged her gently, feeling a pang of guilt in his chest. Why was she so afraid? He didn�t remember doing anything to harm her. He would never do that to anyone, regardless.

"Ava, I... Did I scare you? Are you alright?" he asked, worried. This was the first negative reaction he had gotten on his growth thus far. Perhaps growing up wasn't such a good thing after all?

He was determined to make her feel better. Reaching back behind him and into the sack, he pulled out a panda plush toy for her. He hoped she'd like it, but he wasn't sure about her tastes.

"I brought this for you." he said, handing it to her carefully.




"No, no, I'm alright. Only it's... I was just surprised to see you grown up, that's all." She gave him a small, uncertain smile as he drew back and extracted something from the pouch he had. Her crisp eyes watched as he took the small, plush object and handed it to her.

She smiled softly as she ran her hand over the bear's stomach, for a moment the shock of seeing Neruo grown had passing. She looked back up at him and her smile faltered somewhat, but not completely. She should have expected this, of course, everyone grew up eventually. But still...

"Thank you, I like it very much." She blinked a few times and held it to her chest, happier over the fact that he had thought of her than of the actual gift she had just received. "I got something for you as well, wait here and I'll go get it."

She turned and ducked back into the house, only to emerge a few moments later with a small box wrapped in white tissue paper; a bright orange bow resting on top. She smiled and handed it to him, much more at ease than she initially had been. "Here. I know it's early, but I won't be here in a few days. Merry Christmas, Neruo."




"Oh...my....thank you, Ava! It's wonderful!" he said as he threw the necklace around his neck. It sparkled with a radiance that was never seen in his household. He hadn't much thought of jewelry, but he was very pleased with it. Ava was a very thoughtful girl.

"I'm glad you like it. I was worried when you looked...scared. I didn't mean to frighten you at all. You know that, yes?" Ava was like a sister to him. Any thought of her being hurt in any way made him feel guilty. He wanted to spoil her rotten, until she was beaming with happiness again.

Letting the subject drop from his mind, he sat down again. "Tell me," he asked, "what have you been up to? I haven't seen you in so long. How's the artistry?"


Ava smiled again, glad that he liked his gift. She hadn't been too sure if her friends would like the gifts she got them - necklaces didn't seem to be a very "manly" thing. But Shalafi had liked his, and Neruo liked his as well, which made her grateful that she had picked out a good gift for each of them.

"I haven't really had time to draw anything lately," She commented, deciding to leave the 'how are you' query he made alone for now. That's all she needed, to blurt out something stupid about Gwydion and get others worried. She had already done that with Talon, and almost did the same thing with Shalafi, that was partly the reason she had left so suddenly, she had wanted to tell the ice feien. Just like she wanted to tell Neruo too, anyone really.

Preferring to stand at the moment, her ears drooped slightly, but she didn't say anything about it. Even sitting he was as tall as she was, if not more so. Size shouldn't really make a whole lot of difference, but for some reason it did. At least to her.

"How have you been? Good, I hope?"


Neruo tilted his head. "Have you been busy?" he asked. Well, obviously, since she hadn't the time to draw. But, what had she been up to? They had only met once or twice, but he considered her a good friend, just as he did many Feien he'd met.

He nodded, more to himself than anyone else. "I've been good. Getting used to my height. Reading more, mostly. Still haven't learned anything new, but I don't mind much anymore. As long as I can help people, it doesn't matter to me what powers I have and don't have." That was what he concluded. Perhaps sometime he'd invite her over to spend time with him? He'd like her to meet his family.

His gray eyes watched her, a bit worried. "Are you alright? You look...sad."


Ava's wings twitched a bit and she pursed her lips together, but she managed a small smile, "I feel the same way, I guess, all I want is for everyone I know to be happy."

Her crisp eyes flicked over to him for a moment before she looked out into the forest that surrounded them. Trees weren't all that interesting to her, of course, she had spent her entire life (which at the moment was very short) amongst them.

She was just avoiding eye contact.

"I guess I've just been helping too hard, maybe. Rhia and Azy are taking me, Kenshi and Rhia's Faemice on a trip somewhere, and I guess I feel bad that I can�t help a whole lot." Even to her own ears that sounded slightly fake. She wasn't a good liar, simply because she hated lying, but she didn't want anyone to worry about her. Everything was fine now, she hadn't been seriously hurt and Talon had healed her. If she got hurt again she could just go see him and everything would be fine. It was probably wrong of her to always run to her father when she needed something, but some things she couldn't handle on her own.

Gwydion was one of them.

"Are you going to celebrate Christmas at your home?" She said softly, again trying to steer the focal point of the conversation away from herself.


Neruo sighed. As non-observant as he was, he could tell she was hiding something from him. For now, he'd indulge her.

"Yes, we'll be celebrating Christmas. We've got the tree set up, and we've all been doing our own Christmas shopping..."

Now, this is what bugged him. He thought of himself as open, friendly, and easy to turn to. But perhaps others did not feel the same way. Lu, his Bond, hated talking about anything relating to herself, save for things that made her happy. Perhaps Ava was the same way. But he disliked the practice, mostly because it was more self-destructive than anything else.

Sighing again, he gently took her chin with his index finger and thumb. He wanted to speak to her directly, about whatever it was that bothered her. His face projected a look of please speak to me. He hoped that would work. He was worried about her.

"Ava, tell me what's bothering you. I just want to help."


For a long moment Ava was silent, and though her face was turned towards him her gaze still refused to meet his. Her hands curled into fists at her side, and she suddenly wished she hadn�t left the stuffed panda sitting on the counter in the kitchen. She wanted something to hug, to hold and snuggle close to, as childish as that sounded.

And that's when it hit her.

Her emerald eyes widened slightly as she gazed at something unseen on the sill below them, and her wings gave away the small tremor that passed through her body. She was a child. Of course she had always known this, but that was what was now different between her and the orange feien at her side. Perhaps it wasn't such a big change for him, but it certainly was for her. He was like a superior to her now, not an equal. Still a friend, but in a different way than he had been when they were both kids...

She could tell him, she knew that now. Just like she told Talon, and just like she hadn't told Shalafi. Children didn't need to be burdened with other children's problems, they should be able to live happily, without having to worry about their friends. And though adults should have those same privileges, it was different somehow, they could accept others problems and understand when they couldn't help.

"Rhia has allowed a young man to stay with us," She said, her voice at first almost inaudible, but as she talked it gained strength. "His name is Gwydion, and I didn't really like him from the beginning. Maybe he knew that and that's why he's so mean to me, I'm not sure. He's a vampire, and even Azy says that he shouldn't be hanging around, but Rhia won't listen. She says he's special or something like that, she says he needs someone to teach him things. Rhia is normally home before it gets dark, because she knows he doesn't like me and is mean, but one time when she and Azy were out they stayed out past dark and woke up. It was awhile ago, I don't remember when exactly, sometime last month. But he said that he was going to tear my wings off, and he actually started to... but I got away and I went straight to Dad's house. I was bleeding a lot and I got scraped a few times on my way over there, but I finally got there and he healed me. I didn't tell anyone about it because I knew everything was okay and I didn't want to worry people because it was pointless for them to worry because I was fine and nothing happened to me."

Ava blinked a few times, sucking in a deep lungful of air. She had been rambling and her words had run together, but it felt kind of good to let someone else know what she had been through. The tip of her tongue poked out at the corner of her mouth and she was surprised when she tasted salt. Reaching up with one hand, she brushed her fingers across her cheek and realized that she had started to cry. She looked back over to Neruo with a slightly bewildered look on her face, her teary eyes wide. Her lower lip trembled slightly and she shook her head, her voice turning slightly hoarse as a few more tears fell, "I'm... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to start crying..."

Suddenly, he felt like a parent. Or, at least, an older brother. Patting her head and drawing her into another hug, he attempted to soothe her. He was glad that she had opened up to him. She looked as if she was relieved, which was his primary concern at first. Now, though, he felt obligated to ensure her safety, however that was to be done. He smoothed her hair and wiped away her tears with his fingers.

Poor thing. She seemed to feel the need to be strong, yet carefree. She already was very strong, but maybe she didn't see that. Wrapping a wing around her, he smiled.

"It's okay, Ava. I am worried, though, about this Gwydion guy. I hear garlic works, but Rhia should be taking better care of you."

Turning his head to look down at her, he said, "It's good to hear that your father helped you, too. It's not weak to turn to others, especially family, for help." Again, he felt like an older brother. But it was a good feeling. He liked it. "I want you to know that you are always welcome to come to me, if you need me."

Mature as he tried to be, he too was susceptible to the whims of childhood. He wasn't embarrassed about it, either. Wanting nothing more than to cheer her up, he chuckled. "Would you like to play a game? Something to take your mind off of things?"


Ava literally clung to Neruo for a moment, extremely grateful for contact from someone her size. It was really rare that she got to talk to another feien, and she found she felt the safest and the happiest when she was with her own. At least she was hysterical, like she had been with Talon. Or close anyway. She sniffled softly and blinked a few times as he wiped her tears away, her body stiffening slightly as he spoke.

"It's not Rhia's fault, she does the best she can." The smaller feien said, always quick to jump to her bond's defense, even if perhaps Rhia could do a better job. "She tries, but it's hard for her. She's been through a lot and she's been around a long, long time. She can't always be there for my problems when she has so many of her own. And I know I'm always welcome at your house, thank you for that, and I'm sorry I haven't visited." She let go of him and sat down at his side, finally content to be about half his height. Reaching up and gently toying with her spike of hair, she turned her bright eyes up to his and drew her brows together in a light frown.

"A game? What kind of game?" The tears in her eyes were now gone, and her face glowed with curiosity. She had never played a game before, of any kind actually, and though she was rather mature for her age, she couldn't help but run countless images through her head about what sort of game the heat feien had in mind.


Smiling, he was very glad she felt better. It was good for him as well to be around other Feien. He felt more at home, even though he was taller than most of them. To him, though, it was the psyche that mattered, not the body.

"You're very strong, Ava." he said quietly. "I'm glad."

At the mention of a game, his heart warmed when her eyes lit up. A wonderful response. Well, now he had to think of something she may like. Hide and seek, perhaps? He was slow as a snail, so maybe that wasn't best. Oh! Lu had played some sort of game involving a net. What was it called again?

"Ava, do you have a small, slightly soft ball? We could play this game my Bond has played before. I believe it was called 'volleyball'. We'd need something of a net for it... That's about the only thing I could think of, unless you have video games around here. Lu has a great deal of them."


Ava's nose crinkled up slightly and her brows drew together at the game he had suggested. What on Gaia was a volleyball?

"Well," She said after a moment, getting up and absently brushing off her rear, "Rhia doesn't have any video games that I know of. She does have a little handheld thing, a Gameboy I think, but she gave it to Kenshi because he seems to love it. There might be a ball in the house, but I'm not sure if there are any our size. And Rhia has some... umm, cheese cloth I think it's called. That could be used as a net I guess."

She frowned at him, a very grave look on her face as her wings fidgeted and she said, "What's volleyball? I've never heard of that game before."

In reality, she didn't really care what game they played, she just wanted to play. Playing was something she had done the bare minimum of in her life, and that depressed her somewhat. She had always heard that playing was something children did a lot of, and here she was - four days short of being three months old - and she had played not a single game in her entire life.


Neruo was a bit embarrassed. He'd have to remember everything properly. Even if he didn't get all the rules right, he was sure they�d have a wonderful time. Taking up the burlap bag, he folded it to demonstrate.

"Volleyball," he explained, hoping memory served, "involves volleying, or hitting, a ball over a net. I've seen my Bond do it a few times. She says she isn't good, but she did say that there were different ways to hit it over the net."

Taking his hands into the fist and turning his arms over to the tender side, he showed her how one hit worked. "You hit the ball with the backs of your arms. The softer side. It looks like it hurts to me, but I suppose any sort of hit that gets the ball over the net is fine. I'm not really a stickler for rules."

He patted her on the head. "Any soft ball will work. And just for fun, we�ll hit it however we please. And no points, if that's alright with you. It would just be for fun."


Ava smiled; a wide beaming grin that spread across her face and made her bright eyes sparkle. Though she had only genuinely smiled this way once or twice before, no one could say that it didn't suit the tiny feien.

"I'll go see if I can find a ball, and get the net." She took to the air; being faster in flight than she was on foot - though only marginally so. She slipped into the kitchen and blinked a few times before dipping towards a drawer and struggling to open it. Being rather strong, she managed it open it enough to where she could squeeze in, locate the cheesecloth and then get back out again without being stuck. It was a rather large square, but they could fold it up if need be. Now for a ball...

Ava hovered in the air a moment, the white fabric bundled in her arms and hanging down past her feet, and tried to think of something that could be used in a game of feien volleyball. Something soft and small. Wracking her brain, she couldn't think of anything and felt slightly disappointed. She was about to head back out and tell Neruo when she noted a box sitting on the far counter. Her earlier grin came back and she flew over to it, landing on one of the flaps and setting the cloth down. She reached in, rummaged around a bit, and then pulled out part of a strand of silvery colored balls. The balls on the garland weren't very soft, but they weren't rock hard either and were a good size to hit back and forth over a net, so they would probably work. She wasn't sure what color volleyballs were, but she didn't think it mattered in this case. She tugged and strained for a second, but was finally able to snap the string and pull one of them free. Rhia wouldn't mind.

She hoped...

Wrapping the ball in the cloth so she wouldn't drop it, Ava picked up the bundle and once more took flight, heading towards the opposite end of the kitchen and squeezing out the open window to rejoin her friend on the sill. She held up the cheesecloth and the ball wrapped within it and gave him a serious look, "This was all I could find, it might not be what you were thinking of though."


Clapping, Neruo commended the tiny Feien's efforts. "Excellent. I couldn't have done better myself. And don't worry about getting everything perfect. A volleyball is much larger than the both of us combined."

Neruo took the cheesecloth from Ava, patting her on the head. Floating as slowly in the air as a snail crawls across the ground, he wrapped the cheesecloth about two candlesticks set up on the table nearby. This would serve as a net.

And the ball would be perfect as well. "Not too heavy or solid at all. Well done, Ava."

Taking his place on the furthest side of the net, he called to her. "Would you like to serve, I mean, hit first, or would you like me to?"


Ava followed Neruo to the table on the porch and landed silently onto the ground, watching as he set up the cheesecloth between the two candlesticks. It was probably fairly mundane to most, but Ava had never seen something like this before and for a moment she wasn't sure what exactly it was he was doing.

She was about to comment on this when he positioned himself on the opposite side of the net and called to her. Blinking a few times, she realized (basically) how the game was played and at first felt that maybe this game wasn't the best her friend could have chosen to play.

"You start." She called to him, hoping it wasn't as hard as she thought it looked. She was pretty slow though, so she didn't really see how she would be able to play a game like this. Though Neruo said he was slow as well, so maybe it wasn't that hard?


Neruo nodded, waiting for her to get ready. He knew he was slower than any other Feien, so it wouldn't take effort on her part at all to beat him. Bu that didn't bother him in the least bit.

Raising the garland ball a ways above his head, he volleyed it with only enough force to send it gently sailing over the net. Not too high, either. This was to be fun, not challenging. He knew she would do well.

"All you have to do is hit it back and forth. If you become bored, I'm sure we could think of something else."


Though Neruo's words calmed her somewhat, the sight of a shiny ball roughly the size of her head flying at her didn't do anything to help settle her nerves. A small squeak issued from her and her emerald eyes widened as she hurried over to where the ball finished its arch and started to drop. Folding her hands like Neruo had done earlier, she cringed slightly and smacked the ball as it reached about shoulder level and watched it sail back into the air.

...And in the opposite direction of the net.

Having never hit a ball like that before, she had swung her arms up too high and caused it to fly over her head and drop out of sight over the edge of the table. She whirled around and stood still for a moment, blinking at where she had lost sight of the silver orb, as if staring hard enough would make it come back to her.

"Umm..." She turned back to her friend and felt her cheeks flush slightly, a nervous laugh rising from her chest. "Sorry about that... I should probably go find the ball, huh?"


Neruo smiled, chuckling. She really was a sweet little thing. "Don't worry about hitting it in the wrong direction. I've done that too, and I accidentally knocked over a few things in the process. At least we're outside, where we can't break anything."

Floating up to the top of the net, he looked down over the table. Not far enough. He couldn't see the ball. Shrugging, he offered to go get the ball himself.

"It's okay, Ava. I can go down there, if you like."

She was quicker than he, but still. He felt like being extra nice to her today.


Ava smiled and shook her head, "No, it's alright. I was the one that hit it, so I should go get it."

She turned away from him and spread her wings, hopping off the table and slowly floating down to the porch floorboards in search of the ball. Upon landing, she didn't see the ball right away and walked under the table to look around for it. She cringed slightly as she noted a spider web underneath the table and set her eyes to the floor again, looking for the silver decoration they had been using in their game. Or had tried to use.

"I don't see-- oh wait, I've got it!" She hurried over to one of the table legs and scooped up the ball, flapping her wings and soaring up to the table top once more. As she landed she held the ball out in front of her, "Should I try to hit it first this time or would you like to?"


Floating back down to his original position, he contemplated. "How's about you try again. And don't worry about hitting it too hard. I can always go after it myself. I don't mind at all."

Smiling, he took the stance that he had always seen his Bond use when playing this game. He felt a little ackward, if not dorky, but at least it served a comedic purpose.

"Say, Ava, did you say you were going somewhere soon?" he asked, absentmindedly.


Ava reached up and gently tugged on her ear, a trait she had unconsciously picked up from Rhia, and took a couple steps back from the net. She made sure she was in about the same position Neruo had been in when he served, and rolled the ball in her small hands a moment before getting ready to serve it.

"Yes, my bond and her mate are taking me and the others on a vacation. I thought we were leaving on the 20th, but we might not leave until after Christmas now." She paused a moment to toss the ball a little ways into the air before hitting it over the net, perhaps too high and too far, but at least it was in the right direction this time. "I don't know if I'll like going though, because there probably won't be any other feien there. But I don't want to stay with Gwydion..."


It was a little high, even for him, but he thought it would be amusing to try and reach it standing on his toes. Barely grazing it with his fingertips, it rolled onto his other open palm. More of less pushing it back over the net, it sailed slowly through the air. He tried to remember how to 'bump' the ball. His Bond showed him that once.

"If you don't think you'll like it, and you don't want to stay here, why not stay with me? Lu wouldn't mind at all. You're polite and well-behaved. She'd love you."


Ava took a few steps to the left and positioned herself under the ball, her brows drawing together in concentration. At the net this time, make it go at the net. She lifted both hands in front of her face and placed on one top of the other, closing her eyes and gently bouncing the ball back over the net. It sailed over the net perfectly, though the opposite end from which Neruo stood. At least it was on his side, whether making a beeline at him or not.

"I don't know if Rhia would like that, I would, but I think she wants me to come with."


Well, the ball was sailing the other direction. Although he was one of the slowest Feien one earth, he had a height advantage. Stretching out his arm, he barely nicked the ball. It took a few tries and a little bit of comedic flailing, but the ball did get back over the net. Smiling, he decided to stand in the middle of his side of the field instead.

"Well, if you have to go, I want you to try and have a good time. Nothing beats a positive attitude, even when you dislike your company."


Ava watched the ball for a moment and then blinked at Neruo. Her mouth twitched for a moment and then she looked slightly chagrined, "I like Rhia and Azy, and Kenshi too. I just wanted to spend my first Christmas at--"

She let out a soft wailing sound and hurried over to where the ball was closing the gap between itself and the ground. Being more than a little clumsy, she stumbled and fell; the ball smacking her in the chest and then was slammed between the small feien's body and the wooden table.

The earth feien rolled over onto her back and lay there a moment, the wind having been knocked out of her; her emerald eyes staring unfocused up at the porch ceiling. She blinked a few times and inhaled deeply, sitting up and shaking her head. Her wings fluttered a bit and she reached over, pulling the undamaged ball to her chest and smiling over to Neruo to show him that she was okay. "...Oops."


Still concerned despite her appearance, Neruo floated over to her. He offered a hand to help her stand up. Glancing over her quickly to make sure she didn't sustain any real injuries, he sighed. He was very glad she was alright.

"Well, it's good to hear that you like your Bond and the others that live in the house." He paused, thinking. "Where did you say you wanted to spend your first Christmas? This'll be my first Christmas as well, so I may need some ideas in case my family wants to go somewhere."

He chuckled, messing with his hair. "My apologies if I'm prying or rambling on."


Ava accepted the hand he offered to her and stood up, absently brushing off her rear after letting go. She kept the ball tucked under one arm, though she was beginning to dislike the inanimate object with a passion.

"I thought it would be nice to spend my first Christmas here, at home," She replied, gently tugging on one of her pointed ears. "That way I could maybe visit my friends afterwards, I don't have very many and I don�t get to see them a whole lot."

The small feien's face saddened for a moment before she shook her head gently and once again smiled up at Neruo, her wings folding in against her back. "Do you want to try playing again?"


Neruo chuckled quietly and placed a gentle hand on her head, messing up her hair. She was like a little sister to him, and he would do anything in his power to protect her. Though, he thought, since she is Talon's daughter, she'd probably be able to protect herself.

"I'll be spending Christmas here, too. You're always welcome at my home, so feel free to drop by, if you wish."

He folded his own wings against his back before replying to her question. "I'll play again, if you wish. Unless you want to do something else."


Ava smiled for a moment and then shrugged her shoulders lightly, her wings rising and falling with the gesture as she rolled the ball slowly between her hands. "I don't care either, we can try something else if you'd like."

Her ears drooped slightly and she glanced back at the open kitchen window, but didn't seem too bothered by whatever it was she was thinking about. "Perhaps I'll drop by after New Years. Rhia is intending on having the vacation last until after then."


He shrugged. He really didn't care either way, but it didn't seem like either of them were about to make a decision.

"After New Years? Oh, yes, humans have parties then, don't they? To celebrate the upcoming year? Maybe we could have a party like that when you get back?"


Ava nodded, "Yes, they celebrate New Years too. Though I think the Japanese celebrate it later on than people do here in the US."

The small feien blinked and looked back towards the open window, a small frown forming on her lips. "I guess maybe I should get back inside now, I was helping Rhia when she heard you call me."

She turned back to Neruo, again a little disheartened at how tall he was compared to her, but she smiled. "I wouldn't want to make her angry."


Neruo smiled, patting her on the head lovingly. "It's alright. I apologize for distracting you from helping your Bond. But I had a great time, Ava. I hope can come visit you sometime in the near future."

With a bow as elegant as he could muster, he took to the air to slowly float back home. Over his shoulder, he waved to her. He truly did have a good time, but now he was curious to see what his Bond would concoct in celebration of the new year.

"Goodbye, Ava! I'll see you again soon!"


Ava smiled and nodded, her wings opening slightly as she watched Neruo fly off, "Goodbye, Neruo, have a good holiday!"

Once he was out of sight she flapped her wings and flew back towards the open window, ball in hand, to help her bond with the last few things that needed to be done before they went on their trip.

Outside of the front door on the porch lies two small gifts with a note underneath.

Ava landed on the small sill outside the window to Karma's home, a sudden pitch of nervousness crawling into her stomach. She shouldn't be nervous though, it was Talon after all. So what if she hadn't seen him in awhile? Neither one of them had changed since their last meeting.

...At least she hoped.

She quietly stepped up to the crack the open window created and stepped through, clearing her throat and gently tugging on the spike of hair on her head, "dad?"

For a moment there was no response and then from the carpet near the door, a hint of movement. A moment later, a white-winged shape glided to the sill and lowered itself. No, Talon hadn't changed since last she'd seen him....and he looked, in fact, a bit surprised once he saw the source of the voice.

"Ava..." he said, blinking as he approached her. Of all of the four of them, somehow he'd felt he'd damaged things with his youngest the most.

Ava released her cowlick and smiled warmly as Talon landed on the sill and approached. She was afraid that perhaps he wasn't home, or if he was, maybe he wouldn't want to see her. She still felt rather bad about the way she had first reacted upon seeing him merged. Of course he was a little frightening, but he would never hurt her, and she knew that.

"Hi," She said, her green eyes sparkling happily. She would have given him a hug, except she wasn't exactly sure if he wanted one at the moment, so she held back. "I'm glad you're home, I wanted to visit you soonerbut I was kind of busy with other things... I'm sorry I haven't kept in touch that well. How have you been? Good, I hope?"

He hesitated, seeming a bit surprised that she seemed relaxed in his presense once more after their last meeting, and then nodded. "I've been all right...I've seen better days, of course, but I can't complain." He summoned a thin smile for her. "And yourself? That wing isn't giving you trouble, i hope..." He lowered himself to one knee so he was more at eye level with her.

Ava smiled and shook her head, again getting the urge to hug him and again restraining. Maybe he wouldn't mind, but she still felt a little uneasy hugging him, even if he was still the same Talon she had first met.

"No, my wing is fine. Thank you again for healing it for me." She reached up and gently tugged on her right ear, giving him a small, shy smile and suddenly hoping she had done it right. "Did you get the package that I sent you?"

Package...before his face could betray puzzlement, he suddenly knew what she was talking about. Karma had dropped off a box for him that had arrived in the mail earlier that day as a matter of fact. Actually, the orb it contained was still sitting on the floor nearby where he'd been reading as he'd found it hypnotic to watch.

"I did." he nodded and then, only slightly hesitantly, pulled her into a light hug. "Thank you very much for it, Ava." He meant that on more than one level. The foremost being that it had started his affirmation that the bridge between them wasn't quite as rickety as he once thought, and the secondary being that he had few things that calmed him or allowed him to lose himself these days...the orb had been a welcome distraction from things.

Ava smiled again and returned the hug, basically clinging to him for perhaps longer than she had to. She found it very comforting to be held, probably more so at the moment since it was her father who was holding her. She wished they saw each other more often, maybe then it wouldn't hurt so bad when Rhia and Azy yelled and one or both of them left.

"I'm glad you like it," She said softly, only after a moment and still very slowly. She looked into his eyes, still a little disheartened that they were no longer the same color as hers, but she smiled nonetheless. "Have you talked with Irisa, Raylan, or Tahki lately?" She said softly, only after a moment and still very slowly pulling back from the hug. *

The yellow eyes wavered a little and then dropped. "No, I can't say that I have...from what I've been told, Tahki and Raylan are currently visiting someone far from here but should be back in a month or so, and as for Irisa.....her bond said she was upset by something and has gone to stay with some friends until she sorts it out...."

He paused a moment. "I'm sure she's fine though." he added, moreso as though he was saying this to convince himself than to try and convince her. Another pause, and then, in an attempt to lighten the mood a bit. "You still have to meet Berra, don't you?" he asked. This was the first time he'd met up with Ava when Kookaberra was actually within reach.

What little color was present in Ava's face slowly drained away as she listened to Talon, causing her crisp eyes to look insanely bright. Gone? All of them? She felt a familiar feeling slowly sink its teeth into her, the feeling of being left out of everything, of being the outcast, the loner. She had no clue what was going on, and now they were all gone, and she hadn't even known. And now Irisa could be in danger...

She blinked a few times and inhaled sharply, realizing that she had exhaled and not taken another breath. She tried to smile for him but failed the first time, and didn't even try a second time as she knew he could probably see how she really felt. "Y-yes, I haven't met her yet. Is she here?"

The small feien perked a little at this, but only slightly. She wanted to meet her sister, and she was a little ashamed at not being able to be as excited as she knew she should be, but her mind wouldn't relinquish its thoughts about her other siblings and her mother. But Talon and Berra were still here, and Talon had said they were okay. Her remaining family would stay. They wouldn't leave... would they?

He reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm worried too, Ava." he admitted. "No one told me they were leaving until they were gone...I've spent these last couple of days panicking trying to find everyone and those were as best of answers as I could get from people." He seemed to be having similar black sheep thoughts at the moment.

"But you and I were away in another country for awhile, too....maybe something happened here that we didn't hear about and people needed to leave to deal with it. A couple of good friends of mine have gone missing too, so it isn't just our family, all right?"

Ava slowly nodded, feeling her throat tighten painfully. Others were leaving too, but that didn't help the awful feeling she had about knowing that the better portion of her family was now gone. Her mind suddenly wandered to Neruo and Shalafi, and for a moment she felt panic tighten around her gut.

Please let them still be here, please let them be okay. She thought worriedly, raising a hand to gently brush the back of it against her eyes as she felt them sting slightly. She wouldn't cry, she couldn't, she had to be strong. If not for her own sake than at least for Talon's, for her dad's.

"They're okay." She said softly, echoing his earlier statement, only in plural. It wouldn't help to sit here and think of all the things that could go wrong, that wouldn't help anything. She would have to find out if Neruo and Shalafi were still close enough for her to visit, and she was tempted to ask Talon about it but held her tongue, realizing she didn't want anymore bad news at the moment.

"Berra is here, isn't she?" She queried instead, figuring she had to be somewhere nearby, otherwise why would he mention her as he had? She reached out and took one of his hands in both of hers, almost as an unconscious gesture, suddenly needing comfort.

Shaking himself back to the present, he nodded. "Yes, she's here..." he said, moving to stand and gliding to the guest room door. He didn't leave the room, moreso poked out halfway into the hallway and called out. "Berra? Come here, please!" Withdrawing from the gap and then pushing the door open a little wider, he waited.

A moment later a tiny red and white shape fluttered into the room, stopping to hover in front of him. "Daddy?" she asked, looking up at him quizzically, wondering if she'd done something wrong. She didn't THINK she'd left any of her plushies out.

"There's someone you're long overdue to meet." he said, pointing at the windowsill at Ava and then ushering Berra forward. It proved unnecessary, however, as after the initial push in her sister's direction, Kookaberra moved forward quite on her own. She didn't even need to ask who this was as she drew nearer....the colors, the eyes, the cowlick....it could be only one person.

"Avangelyne?" she asked, already smiling and refraining from the initial urge to tackle her with joy. Her wings, however, betrayed her excitement and trembled a bit behind her.

Ava pressed her lips together in a grim line as Talon went to fetch Berra. She suddenly found herself a little nervous again, and though she probably had a right to be, she still didn't really like the feeling. She thought of Raylan and Irisa being black and white and wondered briefly if Berra would be the same way. She couldn't remember anyone telling her what Berra looked like, and for a moment she felt slightly afraid that perhaps she was the only one in the group who had red.

As Berra flew into the room, however, the fear and nervousness both left. A smile slowly broke out across her face as her sister landed in front of her and said her name. She was red and white, just like Ava herself was, and the slightly taller feien found that made her happy.

Slightly shorter.

Ava blinked for a moment and realized that Berra was in fact a little shorter than her, and her smile widened, secretly pleased that it turned out she wasn't the shortest of the four. Even after everything she had been through and the long months she had waited to meet Berra, she still surprised herself as she stepped up to her sister and hugged her tightly, "Berra! I'm so happy we finally get to see each other."

Berra instantly hugged her sister back, just as tightly and was practically vibrating with excitement. "I'm so happy to see you! Daddy's told me so much about you!!!" she chattered, clearly having inherited a bit more from Tahki than her eyes. She drew back from the hug after a moment, beaming at the other juvenile.

Talon watched from the door, making no move to join the two girls as he allowed them to have their meeting on their own. He felt it was only fair, after all, considering all the time he'd spent with Ava when Berra had had none at all.

"I haven't heard all that much about you," Ava admitted, keeping a hold of Berra's hands, "But I suppose that's because I haven't visited Talon very often, or for very long."

She smiled and found Berra's hyperness slightly amusing, and guessed she got it from Tahki. She remembered someone telling her Tahki was like that, but couldn't pinpoint who it had been. She suddenly wanted to ask Berra a million things at once, but restrained herself and started with only a few, on the verge of prattling herself, "How have you been? My summonday was yesterday, when is yours? I have a Christmas present for you, I'm sorry I didn't send it with Dad's, it's too big for me to carry, so I'll have to send it to you as soon as I get home. I hope you like it."

Berra didn't seem perturbed at all by the questions and happily answered them in sequence. "I've been okay! Sorry I wasn't here the first time you came over, but I was off looking for something. Daddy said that he'd first seen you in the shop so I went there a couple of times to look for you. My summonday was six days ago. On the fifteenth!"

At this, Talon cringed a bit with guilt, realizing he'd missed both of their summondays....not that it was a huge deal as summondays in general went unnoticed by the household at large anymore and no one seemed to care, but still...

"You got me a Christmas present??" she asked, sounding somewhere between surprised and excited. "Thank you! I'm sure whatever it is, I'll love it!" and then, remembering something... "Did you ever get the pixa that daddy and I sent?"

Older but shorter, Ava found this slightly odd, but it didn't stay in her mind for long as Berra kept talking. She was very nice, perhaps a little overzealous, but Ava liked her just the same. She paused a moment and her brows drew together as she thought. She had gotten a few pixapets for the holidays, and her face lit up as she remembered.

"Yes, I did, thank you!" She said, smiling once more and nodding her head, her cowlick bouncing up and down. "It's a beautiful grey cat, and she has spots, I named her Katarina. I had gotten one from Tahki and Raylan also, and Maquinar, for a moment I had forgotten which one came from you. I'll have to bring her here sometime, or you'll have to visit, she's very pretty and loves to be cuddled. I have five pixas so far, and they all just sort of landed in my lap within a short period of time, but I love them all very much. How many do you have?"

"Me? Oh I've got a few." Berra said, immediately illiciting a loud clearing of the throat from Talon's direction as she blushed and then relented. "....actually, I've got a lot." she grinned sheepishly. "They stay in the backyard because they were taking up the whole room. But....I'm sure they'd love to meet Katarina!"

Ava smiled at Berra and Talon, wondering exactly what her sister meant by 'a lot'. There was so much more she wanted to talk to Berra about, and Talon for that matter, but she realized that she had been gone probably longer than she had told Rhia should would be.

"I'll be sure and bring her over sometime, but you're welcome to come visit me anytime you like. I really don't want to, but I should probably be going soon." Her smile turned slightly sad, but she silently vowed to herself that she would spend more time with her family and friends... at least the ones that were still near enough for her to visit. "It was really nice to finally get to meet you, Berra, and I hope we'll see each other again very soon."

"Already...?" Berra's ears drooped. She didn't want her to go yet...! She'd just met her! But.... "Okay." she said, her smile slipping a notch or two as she leaned in to hug her sister again. "Come back soon, okay? I'll let you meet my pixas and you can show me yours! Or--or whatever you want!" Frankly, she didn't care what they did just as long as she got to see her again. "I'll miss you, Ava!"

Hearing them starting to wrap things up, Talon hovered forward from where he'd been hanging back on the other side of the room to say his goodbyes too once the two of them had finished.

Ava smiled and hugged Berra back, knowing exactly how her sister felt. She didn't want to leave either, but with Rhia being touchy lately she wanted to make sure she did everything she could to not anger her bond. "I'll miss you too, and I'll come visit again really soon."

She reluctantly released Berra, giving her another warm smile before stepping up to Talon, her smile lessening slightly as his words of their other family members once again filled her mind, "I'll miss you too," And almost as an afterthought, she showed her small, quirky streak to him again. A sly smile gracing her lips as she spoke softly to him, "And just because I now know Berra don't think I'll stop bugging you."

At that, he allowed himself to smile back in a similar fashion and showing that Tahki's hyperactivity didn't seem to be the only thing that was hereditary. "I'd hope not...I've been told I need a good bugging now and then." He reached out then, pulling her into a brief hug against him. "You take care, all right?"

Ava again hugged back, pressing the side of her face to his stomach for a moment before pulling away and nodding. "I will, you take care too, Daddy."

She stepped up to Berra, unable to resist the urge to smile broadly and give her another hug, "Take care, Berra." With that she turned and headed for the window, only stopping long enough to give them a small wave before disappearing outside.