Welcome to Gaia! ::

As you drive (or walk) up the large circular driveway the house comes into view. The driveway splits off, one way going towards a parking area and another towards the entryway. If you're driving you park your car and walk towards the entrance. If you are walking you simply walk towards the front door. As you ring the doorbell the sound of the bell seems to echo. After a moment the door opens and a petiet woman with bright red hair opens the door. "Hello! You must be a guardian! I'm so glad you could come! Please come in and make yourself comfortable." As she talks she escorts you into her home. Walking through the grand foyer the woman brings you into the formal living room and elegantly sits down, crossing her feet at her ankles. "My name is Kendra Ash and, as you know from the letter, I am a counselor. My Ikaji, Hailey, has the ability to locate different Ikaji and Mini Demons and that is how I was able to contact you. I have invited all the Ikaji and guardians here, as well as peculiar creatures known as Mini Demons and their guardians. Please make your self at home for now and feel free to explore the house. Please avoid the west wing, which is my personal bedroom and office as well as the descending area across from the laundry room. All of the doors to these areas you will find locked." As she finishes saying this Kendra stands up, smiles, gently shakes your hand, and walks towards her office.

Echo had gotten a cab, not because she could necessarily afford it, but because she was notorious for always getting, well, lost; and that was perhaps the last thing she wanted that day. The infant napped in her arms. Even between the letter and the... experience of a blue-furred child 'coming from' a boot... Echo was still unsure and nervous about the whole ordeal.

At least she knew what he was, as the letter had called him an Ikaji. Given the circumastances, Echo was also relieved... she had Mackerel - an enigma all her own - but she had know about the child's kind before her meeting. With Dalziel (she she had dubbed him when she first saw him) she had no idea.

The baby rolled in his sleep, and clung to Echo tightly as he went through his dreams.

"We're here ma'am, that'll be ----" The driver turned after stopping the car.

Echo was shaken from her thoughts and looked outside - and up - at the mansion. "Thank you," she said as she handed over the money before exitting the cab.

The small woman juggled her burden and then knocked of the door, only to have a woman introduce herself regally. Echo could simply stare and listen attentively as she sat down, still holding Dalziel who now had his back exposed to this 'Kendra Ash'.

"Ummmm....." Echo started, but Kendra had already shook her hand and walked back to her office. The woman only watched, too nervous to actually speak up more.

Alone, and sitting on a rather comfortable couch, Echo turned back to the resting Dalziel. She ran her hand through his short, fine fur.

The infant purred in his sleep, but made no move to wake up or let his grip leave the woman's shirt.

Hailey heard noises and sensed the presence of an Ikaji and a minidemon from below. Moving, she left her puzzle game on the floor and crawled towards the door to her room. Three people had come so far. Hailey was not sure that the rest would show, but she crawled towards the stairway to meet the new people.

Kendra pops her head out of her office when she hears Bumble's cry. "Oh, I'm sorry Annchen. If you would like to allow Bumble to run around the house that is fine, but perhaps he would be happier outside in the yard with my mini, Symphony. There is a large pool in the back which he is welcome to swim in. If he is prone to running away there is over an acre of fenced in area with a small pond and plenty of grass and room to play. THat is where Symphony is. If you would like, Geoffrey can assist you and take him out to play, following, of course, any instructions from you." Kendra pauses.

As Kendra speaks, Hailey hears her voice and giggles as she slides down the large stairwell on her bottom. Bump after bump her bottom hits the floor with her weight and her head bobs gently. As she reaches the bottom she chews gently on the tip of her tail as young girls often chew their long hair. Then she noticed Bumble playing with a large oddly shaped bag. Her eyes lit up as the light hit the zippers of the backpack and she crawled towards it. "Sim-pony!" she said, not understanding the difference between the mini demon who resided at her house and the mini in front of her. She grabbed the tail of the animal in front of her, hoping that the mini would drag her around the room gently as Symphony often did.

((Just to clarify Kendra talking and Hailey's entrance occur simultaneously.))

Eeek! Tail! Bumble spun around only to discover that the disturbance was another one of the tiny ones. He flickered his forked tongue out and decided he hadn't smelled anything quite like it before. It wasn't food and it seemed more friendly than dangerous so he nudged it gently with his nose.

Annchen was relieved to see that Bumble didn't pounce on the new baby that had appeared and grabbed his tail. She had always suspected he was fairly intelligent, and he seemed to grasp that babies weren't suited for rough play.

"Bumble, do you want to go out to the other demon?" she asked gently, afraid to disturb the peaceful interaction. "Bumble?"

The demon ignored her and she had a feeling there would be lots of demon and Ikaji wailing if she tried to pick him up and separate them too quickly. Bumble could be impulsive, but he rarely hurt things other than furniture. Keeping a keen eye on the scene on the floor, and ready to intervene if it should be necessary, she greeted the parent that had approached her. "Hello Echo, nice to see you. And hello there Dalziel."

Echo nodded her greeting to the Annchen. "A pleasure to meet you as well," she smiled and shifted the baby in her eyes to extend a welcoming hand.

Dalziel had his head buried in his Mama's shirt, and only peeked around when he heard his name called. Upon seeing another human woman, he promptly turned back to the safety of her cloth blouse.

The woman eyed Bumble and the gray infant clinging to him. She had seen one of those before.... but was unfamiliar with what it was, "So.... what is he?" Echo leaned over for a closer look, but Dalziel squeaked at the movement - so she stood back up with a sigh. She always wondering if the blue cat-baby was alright, he always clung to her as if she was going to leave him. And many times, it hurt!

"Ahhhh," Echo hummed, still watching Bumble with an attentive eye.

When Annchen asked the infant if he wanted to touch the mini demon, the woman shifted him to give him the chance to be closer and make decision.

But Dalziel wasn't cooperating. The baby peeked out of the corner of his eye to the other woman, looked down at the bright creature, and then pouted before his eyes widened in horror and clung to his guardian once again.

Echo sighed sadly. "I'm sorry," she apologized for him. "He was just recently.... born...." she thought that might be the best term. "We haven't been able to get him to do much."

At times like these, she really worried about the boy. He was very reclusive already, and reluctant to do anything but sleep and be held. Even when he was awake she couldn't leave him without the boy making a scene.

She decided to try again, "Dalziel," Echo shifted him - painfully for her this time as his little hands dug in - again, "Don't want to pet Bumble? He looks very soft. And see, another baby is playing with him as well."

At the mention of another, he looked again. His eyes still held fear, but there was a hint of curiosity this time. The baby looked from Echo to Annchen, down to Bumble and Hailey, back to Annchen and then settled once more on Echo. Dalziel skirmed a little, wracked with indecision and anxiety.

Echo held her breath, maybe... just maybe he would!

((Just as a side note none of the infants should have the verbal capabilities of Hailey. They should be able to communicate in some way, but not to the extent that Hailey can.))
Hailey looked up at the other baby she hadn't noticed before. "Baby...Dal-zee-el" she said lightly, trying to get the name correct. "Come play Dalziel!" Hailey pushed head against Bumble's belly nuzzling him.