Welcome to Gaia! ::

*I...I'm a bit...surprised, to hear you say that. To mean it...to...oh heck...*She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed *I thought you'd think I'm some horribly bi=polar freak or something! I feel horrible this way! All gangly and with limbs sticking out where they shouldn't and all these new responsibilities I feel I should be taking on...and thinking that noone...that noone needs to care anymore so they won't. What if they don't care anymore, Nika? We're not cute, or helpless or needy anymore. Why would they still want us now?*

She shook her head *That's too easy an explanation though...it has to be. Doesn't it? Nothing is ever that simple or clean. Nothing that picture perfect. I-what if what we have isn't strong? What if it wasn't a real family. I mean...it's not, is it? Chae raised me, but I never ...called her mom...*

There it was. The guilt that had been gnawing at her. That since the words were never spoken...that a familial contract had not been signed.

*What if it really just was a partnership? Something of convenience?*

*Tea.* She said with some sureness. Then, understanding how cryptic that message was, she expanded. *It's...like a ritual with us. We'd have tea when we needed to talk, or needed to communicate beyond words. It was a signal that all was well...or would be. We...I...neither of us have offered it since this happened to me.

She won't talk...she won't even LOOK at me. I feel like shouting in front of her to at least look...but then I'm afraid what would be there. You said Gee was okay with your growing. But ever since *I* grew...everything has been anything BUT okay...But I'm afraid to ask. I don't want to hear her say that it was all nothing.*

She gave a small and unhappy laugh. *So much for your surprise...I hope whatever it is won't melt or get hungry...*

*Maybe...*she said, unconvinced. It couldn't be that simple. Nothing was. It bore repeating. It damn well did!

Easier to think about other things. *Not hungry, and not melting...so what is it then?* she prodded teasingly.

"Yup, I sure do. It's where we first landed not too far away. Thank Terawl on that note." She stretches as she walks. "How 'bout I teach you a little about me and my people? Then maybe... You can give me those pesky needles in the morning. I hate it myself. I really can't stand needles all that much." Kata looked him up and down, thinking it foolish to think he would want to do that everyday... to see her everyday. "You don't have to do it though... it's just if you wouldn't mind is all."



Zahar notices a small blue mask girl waving at Galilee and her. 'Oh Galilee, I think we may have a visitor. I guess we should talk later then.' She sighed lightly wishing her and Gali had more time to talk in private. He seemed to be one of the more friendly masks she has met yet.

Zahar placed down her fishing rod a safe way from the water and stood up. She brushed off her clothing and looked at her reflection in the water making sure she was presentable. With one more glance at Galilee she headed over to Saniya.

'Hello, I am Zahar. Nice to meet you.' Zahar's eyes smiled warmly as she motioned over her shoulder. 'And that is Galilee, he is my...' She paused thinking to herself, what were they? friends? 'He is one of the teen age masks.' Zahar covered quickly hoping that she hadn't taken too much note on the pause. She then waited hoping she hadn't scared off the new mask with her quick actions.

"Alright then. Ask me what you will and I will tell you what you think you should know so far." She took a breath looking around. Kata knew they weren't far off from the storage now. "Firstly I wouldn't be a good blood doner for anyone here." Pulling her hair back a bit she shows her slightly pointed ears. "These are fake, they were surcically put on to me." Her voice was a bit cold before she shook it off and continued. "It's hard to break any of my bones and even more difficult to set them. Since I have a quick healing process they try and mend themselves while still dislodged." Kataio looked at him while she worried her lip. "I don't know what you need to know... Is there something you can think of?"

(It's ok about editing Zahar's post. I will post for her later. I don't have time right now gomen! *runs off*)

Nika took her hands in his and used his back to keep the branches out of the way.

'This way,' he murmured in her ear, slowly tugging her forewards. He took a deep breath and gently nudged her to the side, stepping away from the branches that swung backwards.

'You can open your eyes now...' he announced, watching her closeley.

He wondered how she would react to the beautiful seen before her. The crystal clear water that flowed down the run-off, feeding the miniature lake that was seperated from the larger one by a large bolder, water seeping through a large hole in the center.

The miniature lake was so clear, the beautiful and rounded pebbless that sat the bottom were visible.

Trees surrounded them so thickly that it was difficult to see beyond the first few.

'When I first saw this place...' he ran a hand through his hair, 'I thought it would be a comfortable place to just come and sit. To be in peace.'

((Blah. That discription was terrible. XD

Feel free to add whatever you like. *nod*))

She opened her eyes...and quoted the first thing that came to mind. *I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.* Then clapped her hands lightly, a pleased sound to the ear. *Thoreau, Henry David. It's perfect, Nika!*

She couldn't have been more pleased if he had given her a diamond the size of a marble. This was much...much more precious.