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Xerxes wandered blissfully through the grass. He was in a small patch of grass that shone like gems as the sunlight hit their tips. Dew glittered and hung there, almost seeming to defy gravity. The sparkle of a particularly large drop caught Xerxes' eye, and he leaned close for a good look. He continued closer and closer, fascinated, until the drop touched his nose and with a cold dribbling sensation ran down his nostril, causing him to sneeze.

He wiped his nose and grinned a silly big grin. Close by was a forest that seemed dark and mysterious in the half-light. Somewhat entranced by imagined shadows flitting here and there with, Xerxes crept into the forest. Eventually he came to a huge gnarled tree. He admired it's giant roots, and began trying to climb them. The morning was quiet except for his scrabbling up roots, until suddenly a piece of bark he was standing on peeled away and he fell with a crash to the ground.

Xerxes was staring up at the dark sky, winded slightly. Mostly though, his tail hurt.
"H-Hello?" Xerxes heard a strange voice call out. He got up slowly, panting slightly as he got his breath back.

"Um, hi... I can't see you! are you invisible?"

Xerxes began walking around the tree to see if the stranger could be found, but his tail ached abominably and eventually he stopped to cradle it in his arms and make sure it was ok.

Xerxes tail seemed to be getting better, and the initial shock of the fall had worn off. "A-are you ok, sir?". The stranger again! Xerxes glanced around, and upon spotting the other young chandra his grin broke out all over again. tail forgotten he bounded a little closer and enthusiastically greeted the stranger,

"Hi! I'm Xerxes, who are you? How come you are in these woods? Did you know it's not really light out yet? Why are you up so early?"

With each question his eyes got a little wider until upon reaching 'did you know it's not really light out yet?' they reached their capacity and he could not express any further astonishment, so instead he lifted his arms above his head dramatically for his last question.

Xerxes arms were still pointing upwards in their unmarked exclamation of curiosity. He gazed intently at this stranger, this Sage, until it became obvious that was all he was going to say. Xerxes arms became weary and sagged slightly in disappointment, before being gently placed back on either side of him.

"Well, um ... Sage"

Xerxes wondered how to continue. Sage was obviously nervous around him, perhaps he shouldn't have jumped in with large gestures. Xerxes sat down to appear less intimidating and turned his gaze towards the forest floor, a little ashamed of making Sage upset.

"I'm sorry if I upset you"

He didn't know what to say really, but an apology seemed right. He had always been told not to upset others because he wouldn't like it if they upset him. His tail hurt as he sat and he unconsciously reached to rub at it gently.

Xerxes continued looking at the ground, trying to be small and unintimidating by suppressing his natural urge to leap around and smother his new companion with attention.

"I'm fine,"

he smiled.

"I just fell on my tail and it hurts a bit, I think I bruised it."

Xerxes sighed and leaned back against the tree to watch the sky grow light with the morning. Yes his tail hurt, but it was hardly even a twinge anymore and it felt like it was going to be a good day. He smiled at Sage as the light crept through the trees to illuminate the scene with a warm glow, and Xerxes felt like the dark curtain of uncertainty that had covered the conversation so far was lifting from his chest and unburdening him. He decided then that he would be Sage's friend no matter what.

"You know, my tail isn't that hurty. I like you, I think you're nice. I really am sorry I startled you, but I think we should be friends."

He continued watching the sky.

Xerxes stood and dusted off his behind. Birds in the trees nearby were twittering, and a faint smell of pine wafted on the breeze.

"Normally I would have breakfast and then an adventure..."

Xerxes glanced at Sage,

"but I'm not sure if you enjoy adventures, so if you like I could show you a pond I found! It's very clear and there are fishes and ducks and baby ducks."