Welcome to Gaia! ::

Rhyki bowed his head, smiling at Lin. "Then I look forward to seeing you tonight," he murmured warmly. "I wish you a pleasant day, and please enjoy your stay here in Namu Ngulu."

Earendil smiled back at the man, then nodded at the woman, and headed out of the shop.

Once outside again, Kaito stretched his arms and wings. "Ahhh, so much better to be outside," he murmured. "Maybe we could check out the falls while it's still early, before it gets too hot. What do you two think?"

Earendil smiled at Lin. "That sounds lovely," he commented. "Lin?"

Earendil smiled warmly and nodded. "I would like that very much," he murmured happily. "Let's go then."

With a grin, Kaito shook his wings and started running, leading the way to the falls.

The falls were even more impressive by day than they were by night, so tall that looking up, the top seemed to vanish into the sky. The mist was thinner as well, thinned out by the sun which evaporated more of it than the night sky would allow, and over the whole base of the falls, a rainbow hung in the air: seven clearly defined colours, and a full arc, such a rainbow as was rarely seen in nature.

Earendil was amazed, and for several moments he couldn't even find his voice. He stepped forward and reached out as if to touch it, but it was beyond his reach.

"It's amazing," he breathed, his voice filled with awe. "In all my readings, nothing has ever ... ever come close to describing this ..."

Kaito just grinned, watching the two. Of course, he had seen it the day before, so for him it wasn't as big a deal.

There was a soft laugh from behind the group, and Tinuviel's voice called out, "Now isn't that just the perfect birthday gift, Earendil?"

Earendil turned around to see his sister and her family. He smiled widely at them. "Indeed," he agreed. "I could think of no better." He tilted his head slightly. "I thought you were going to visit Lord Eradoc."

Regan made a beeline for the river, and Aranel ran after her to watch her. "We were," Tinuviel nodded, watching her husband and daughter, "but he was unable to take a visit, he was in a meeting. We are expected tomorrow again."

Earendil flushed slightly and turned away, but Tinuviel laughed. "My big brother Earendil is seventy years old today," she winked at Lin, "but he's never liked making a big deal of his birthday."

"It's just a day," he muttered, wandering over towards the river with Aranel and Regan.

Kaito was surprised. "Kaa-san always makes a big deal of our birthdays," he said, puzzled. "At least, she gives us a present ..."

Earendil shrugged one shoulder. "Dozens of people are born every day," he replied, "no matter where you go. It's really not an uncommon occurrence. What makes one day more special than another?"

"You celebrate Coronation Day," Kaito pointed out.

"That's different," Earendil argued. "That's the celebration of Ninako's queenship. It's not something that happens often, it is a special remembrance."

"Maybe so," Earendil shrugged, "but once I became an adult, age ceased to be relevant. No matter how old I get, nothing important will happen - at least, nothing due to age. Hitting adulthood is important, but after that what does it matter?"

Kaito sat in the sand and looked at his cousin. "Have you ever thought that maybe your friends and family might just want to celebrate with you the fact that you've survived another year?" he asked.

"Considering this is the first time I've left the city ..." Earendil let the idea hang, looking at the others seriously.

He had a point, Kaito had to admit. After all, how much danger was there as long as he stayed in the city? Even Daeron had never gotten into trouble in the city - he and Ruel had been traveling when he'd been kidnapped, or so he had been told.