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Talim has come home crying, once again. The children often tease her and this is the third time this week she has been sent home in such a state. She's starting to hear voices on the wind, and the other children believe her to be crazy. Unfortunately, you can't hear the voices either, and may be equally concerned for her sanity.
What do you do to make her feel better?
What do you do to make her feel better?
The soft, whisper-like creak of the door was a common sound. So were the small bells that merrily jingled on the doorframe, preventing even the stealthiest person from entering unannounced. Marushii, the owner of said door and owner of the walls it was attached to was proud of it. Why, it was so noisy that her adopted son took to entering and leaving through the window! It was enough to make her proud.
And yet... And yet the soft, choked sobs of someone entering, trying to hide beneath the bells’ clamor was not something that was common. Though, at the rate this has been happening, it just might be, Marushii bitterly reflected, shaking her head. "Talim? Are you alright?" Marushii called, rising from her impromptu workbench at the kitchen table and walking towards the front of her home-shop, arriving in time to see Talim quickly lower her hand from her eyes.
"Yeh-yeh-yesss," Talim replied, the loud sniff that followed saying otherwise.
Marushii tilted her head to one side, studying her for a moment before dropping onto the floor and sprawling out into a comfortable position. "C’mere, Tali - the floor’s a bit cold, but it’s not that bad!" She cheerfully called, patting the floor beside her.
Talim sniffed, quickly rubbing her eyes once again before she plunked down next to her, slipping her backpack off in the process. She leaned into Marushii when a comforting arm was thrown around her. "They’re picking on me again! I hate it! I’m NOT crazy! I can hear the wind, I really can!" Talim yelled, her tears of frustration starting anew again.
Marushii flicked her fox-ears back, drawing the child close to her. Aha! So that was the problem! The fox-demoness briefly squeezed her in a quick hug, perking her ears forward as a thought struck her. "Tali~" She began, her voice taking on a musical edge. "Do you want to know a seeeee-cret?"
If anything grabs anyone’s attention, it’s a secret. Slowly, Talim looked up and sniffed again, wiping away the trail of another stray tear. "Wh-what?"
"Everyone has a secret!" Marushii grinned at Talim’s puzzled look and savored it until Talim bit her lip, thinking. "Look at me, Tali - I’ll admit it right now that I can’t hear what you hear... However!" She held up a finger, her grin growing bigger. "Look at this - I betcha you can’t do this, right?" Marushii closed her eyes, concentrating until a soft gasp of surprise occured. She opened her eyes, watching the small blue flame that danced atop her fingertip fade. The same hand wiped away the bead of sweat that gathered on her brow, revealing that her brilliant grin had faded into a tired, soft smile. "See, Tali? Everyone has a talent, even a secret one. Mine... Mine is a small one, but your’s, methinks, is a great one. Let them say what they want, y’know? Who cares what they have? You now have two secrets - what’s mine, and what’s your’s. More, too - just remember what the wind tells you, and keep it to yourself. Though," Marushii shrugged, giving Talim a wink, "If the wind tells you that some house or something is to go up in flames, let me know so that I can stock up on fire hoses before hand, ‘kay?"
Talim blinked, then giggled softly, "Th-that’s not being v-v-very nice!" She sniffed again, then exchanged a grin with Maru as the elder shrugged.
"So? A secret is very useful in the right hands, especially if you know how to use it correctly!"
