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Lila fought the impulse to run and hide herself for sheer embarrassment once she realized that Kass had noticed her social stumbling. Once she heard him speak, she let herself relax, and she gave him a cute little mischievous look.

"Well..Mother isn't here to mind right now..and she didn't say when she was coming back.." She shook her head and straightened her shoulders, clearing her throat and attempting to look more serious, "Besides.. she did say that I'm an adult now..I think I should be allowed a friend or two, don't you think? Especially if I'm going to be left out on my lonesome like this all the time.."

She gave him an almost pleading look as she took a deep breath and smoothed out her featherfur. Awkwardly, she watched him from a short distance, as if she wanted to move and touch him as she said her farewell, but she was far too nervous to make a move. "I should probably let you go...your clan is probably wondering where you are.." That honest, pleading look returned again as she looked at him. "Maybe I'll see you again sometime soon.." It came out more like a question than a statement, however..a request.

Please don't forget about me..

~Several Weeks Later~

The hits just keep coming, Kass thought dismally, slumped atop the barn's roof with his head resting upon his paws and staring up at the afternoon sky. As of late, it just seemed like the world was being turned in the wrong way, and he no longer knew which way it would go.

First Caiden took off, abandoning them all, and Kass wasn't even sure how long ago that had been. Then Laurent came, brought by Vellir's loneliness and the prospects of a clan full of females without any true leader or protector - he and Caiden's sons tried, but the other males didn't do much to be of assistance and they didn't have the missing Dustling's magnetism and charm. And then there was Toril, who'd come back a few weeks ago one morning, after months of being absent herself, silent and battered, a shadow of the hot-headed, stubborn, strange woman he had known before. Within a few weeks of her return, it became clear that she was pregnant, but no one seemed to care. No one but he, the human Katie, and - oddly enough - Vellir seemed to care that she barely moved from her nest in the loft anymore, that she never even growled at those who got too close to her, let alone spoke to them. The only thing many of the others commented on, gossiped, really, was that after she came back, the Angel Fenris had suddenly disappeared. No one but Kass had tried to find out what had happened to his broken friend, and Toril would not speak a word.

Now, to add to all of the chaos, the humans had suddenly up and left a few days ago. Not just their humans, but it seems every human in the town was rapidly taking off, and he didn't understand why. Katie had been crying on and off for days before she and Kristen left while they packed clothes and personal items, and kept going to Vellir, Nyx, tiny Acantha and so many other creatures who lived with her to hold and pet them. He remembered her shaking and hyperventilating as she'd hugged him around the neck, until Kristen had to take her and calm her. And just before they left, while they'd packed clothes and some items, Katie had opened every door and window in the house before they were led off by other humans in outfits that looked the same.

He didn't understand it. Not at all. Everything he knew about life seemed to have been taken, broken and scattered, and he didn't know how to put the pieces back in order again. There was so much pressure on him now, so much confusion that he didn't know how to deal with, didn't want to deal with. Kass couldn't help but feel bitter towards Caiden. He'd dumped so many troubles on the backs of his family and clan when he left. He should be here to see them through this, not leave it to Vellir and his few children. Even he felt responsibility he'd never asked for weighing upon him, and he wasn't one of Caiden's sons, though he did think of him as a father. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been able to relax and be at ease…

No, that's not quite true, he thought, a faint smile quirking the edges of his beak as he thought of the young, lovely pink dustling he'd met a few short months ago. It seemed like longer though, with all that had gone on. Lilavati. He remembered her name. He thought about her a good deal, but things had been so insane lately, he hadn't been able to even consider trying to see her again. He wondered if she thought of him. What she was doing in this hectic time… Maybe I should find out.

The thought came unbidden, but as soon as it did he felt the need to act on it. No one needed him right now. He had caught a rabbit earlier for Toril, left it at the top of the ladder in her loft. She would eat when she was hungry. Now there was quiet - later there might not be. And he had promised.

Decision made, he stood, backing up to the edge of the roof so he could get a running start to take off from the other side. Without hesitating he bolted, wings beating at the air to hold him up as all things solid fall out from under his feet. He heads towards the lake, peering off beyond it in the direction he remembered Lila was staying - or at least hoped he remembered.

It seemed to take ages to cross the lake. The body of water never seemed so large when he stared at it from the ground, but once he took to the air it seemed to stretch on and on. When he touched down on the other side, he looked around, trying to see if there was anything familiar, but he couldn't be sure. It had been weeks since he'd accidentally come upon Lila, and his sense of direction was just awful.

He started walking along the lake shore, looking around, perhaps to try and see if he could spot her or that den she had spoken of. It could be set back further from the lake, or he could be walking in the wrong direction. Or she could have gone into town with her family, or in search of her human, if she had one... So many ifs... What if she went from here and won't come back...?

The thought made a strange distress rise inside him, though he couldn't explain why. He'd only spent a short time with her, a meeting of pure chance, but she seemed so pleasant, and so lonely.... And very lovely, he admitted to himself. He wanted to see her again, and the idea that he might not upset him greatly.

After a long time wandering, slowly moving away from the shore, the setting sun began to bother him more and more. If he would have trouble finding her by day, searching for her home by night would be even more difficult. Not to mention that anyone that might live with her might not take kindly to visitors after dark. "Lila!" Kass called, hoping it would carry if he were going in the wrong direction. "Lilavati! Where are you?"

The black and white Dustling's head jerked at the feminine voice calling his name, instantly recognizing it as Lila's. He fully turns in the direction of the shout, listening carefully before he starts running, four strong legs pumping as he bounds in what he's hoping is the right direction.

When she finally came into view, he felt his heart jump into his throat, pounding harder than it had previously. She's still here! he thought exuberantly, an excited expression growing on his face as he dashes towards her.

"Lila! I'm so glad to see you!" Kass calls out as he approaches, voice a little ragged from the long flight and the running. "I... I told you I'd be back!"

Kass was surprised but very pleased by the warm, affectionate greeting, and happily returns it. He nuzzles the feather-fur between her horns, his heavy breaths ruffling the softer fluff. He was truly glad to see Lila again, the presence of such an enthusiastic, bright girl that wasn't plagued with the troubles burdening him easing the tension in him.

It seemed, however, that Lila had her own problems, her words after drawing away from him making it feel like a boulder had dropped into his stomach. She'd looked for him in the town, and hadn't been able to find him. He hadn't told her that his clan's home was just outside the town, close but not quite a part of it. I should have made it clear, I should have tried to give her directions... he berated himself. He wasn't the best navigator, but he should have at least tried.

Imagining her distress made his chest tighten in guilt, and he was on the verge of apologizing when she continued, asked after him. He was a bit confused when Lila said everyone left, but he assumed she only meant all the humans. He gave a nod, then leaned in to brush his cheek with his beak, trying to give her some comfort.

"Yes, it has... So strange. My clan... We stay together, but we're not united. We haven't been for so long, but our humans leaving..." He shook his head, fighting off the melancholy trying to envelop him. "Things are not improving. And my friend..."

The winged male was unable to repress the depressed whine that rose at the thought of Toril, couldn't talk about the loss of his old friend's spirit. His beak slipped from her cheek down the soft curve of her neck, pressing his face into the side of her throat. "I'm sorry you couldn't find me... I'll make sure you know how to if you need me. Promise."

Kass frowned as Lila told him she'd been left alone, seeing the meaning behind that flash of sorrow he'd seen earlier. He also understood her eagerness and excitement at seeing him again, more than one might expect after just one meeting, though it had been a very pleasant encounter. It made more sense that she would be so happy for a friendly visitor.

She's been alone for over a week... No family, no familiar faces, no one, he thought, feeling even worse for not trying to come sooner, even if he'd had his reasons. Some got on well on there own, but Lila didn't seem to be one of them. Neither was he, really. It was one of the reasons he'd remained with the clan. Though not sharing blood with any of them, he thought of Vellir as his mother, and loved her as much as if she had bore him, and so many had become his 'brothers' and 'sisters'. He couldn't leave them, even when things were bad. It made him more than a little upset with Lilavati's mother, gone with a lover for he didn't know how long, but he would not say anything about it to her. Even if a relationship is strained, a child rarely want to hear someone speak ill of her parent.

He gave her a soft nod in answer, bowing his head over hers, taking comfort in her closeness and hoping he returned. "I'm sure they won't be gone forever," he murmured. He didn't know if it was true, but it seemed the right thing to say, and he went on, putting a bit of cheer in his voice, "And when they do, you may have a few new brothers and sisters. An even bigger family."

The wind was picking up, the desert air growing cooler as the sun dipped lower. It wasn't unpleasant now, but the seasons were shifting. With the disappearance of the sun the night rapidly lost the day's heat, and it would be better to be indoors. He gave a thought to going home, but he thought - or perhaps imagined - he felt Lila shiver. He didn't like the idea of letting her spend the night by herself after what she said. The black and white dustling glanced back across the lake, imagining all his clan mates finding their resting places for the night. He pictured Toril, alone in her roost, probably still slumped atop her blanket with her head on her paws, staring blankly out the loft doors.

He then looked back down at Lila, and felt himself sigh inside. Nothing will change if I'm gone for a night. He smiled and leaned down to nudge her back, then lifted his right paw in the direction of her den. "Maybe we should continue talking inside?" He shifted so he could be alongside her, standing close to lend a little warmth. "Might not be comfortable out here for long after sundown."

Kass looked upon the main chamber of the den, impressed at such a large space built under the ground, with rooms branching off of it. His tail swishes as his interest piques, curious about the other chambers but not thinking it would be polite to explore if they belonged to Lila's family. So he walked to her room with her, trailing behind just a little to let her lead the way.

Upon entering Lilavati's room, the black and white male lingered at the entrance, watching her settle upon her pillow with a smile. She looked nice there, and her bedding seemed quite comfortable, obviously swiped from a human home at some point. It was the only soft place to settle in her small room, though, and he didn't know if she would be comfortable laying down that close to her, despite their earlier greeting and touches, so he'd remain standing for now, or sit on the floor if need be.

He offered her a small nod and a chuckle at her words, wings ruffling softly as he shifts. "It's a nice little space. The closest I have to my own room is a stall in the barn. Not uncomfortable, but less private." He gazed over the walls of the room, his curiosity taking hold again. "How did all this come to be here, anyway? Did humans make this?"