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 Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:26 pm
Time seemed to pass slower everyday, as cliche as it sounded. And with each passing second, Ikuinen felt he finally lived up to his name 'eternal.' Surely a normal Kitsu would not live so long when seconds passed like days. Empty eyes narrowed, staring out across the expanse of territory visible from the side of the HQ. The ground, although padded with grass, pushed uncomfortably at his side. He'd been there for a long time, he was positive. There would likely be an indent when he rose. Of course, he didn't plan on going anywhere for a while.
Setting his head on his paws, he sighed, daring for a minute or so to close his eyes. Surprisingly, sleep had come easier after the whole 'incident' with Nahanni and her magic. And so, equally as surprising, he didn't have as much of a problem dropping his guard from time to time, either. That didn't deminish his hatred for the world, however. That he still kept religiously honed.
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:35 pm
It had seemed that Himawari had taken after both her mother and her father when it came to restlessness. Despite tiring easily, she roamed the HQ restlessly, searching for an adventure, for something interesting.
She had stopped to rest for a moment, her breath coming in short pants, when she saw something bright. With a smile and a short burst of adreneline(sp) she raced towards it. Only when she was going too fast to stop, did she realize that it was another kitsu.
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:48 pm
Eyes squeezed tighter. Something pounding gently against the ground. Ears slid back, obvious annoyance spreading across just recently relaxed features. The male's shoulders hunched, making it look as if he had no neck for a moment before he forced his eyes open. He watched the ground in front of him a while longer, distracted only by the fact that the vibrations of the ground--despite being light--were getting closer. Was it coming his way?
Lifting his head from his paws, Iku looked to the left, to the right, to the le- Before his mind could even calculate, the tiny kit's body bumped into his. Letting out a huff, he glared at his 'attacker.' His expression quickly softened as he realized that it was just a small child. Oh, how he prefered them. And envied... "Are you alright, little one?" He questioned.
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:56 pm
Himawari sat down, her eyes felt all fuzzy. She blinked several times to try and clear her vision, and also took advantage of the time to catch most of her breath. She was able to finally focus on the kitsu, although the edges of her vision was still blurry.
"S-sorry!" she squeaked, her ears drooping slightly.
She tried to stand up on her shaky legs, which resulted in her falling onto her stomach. She grinned slightly at the other's question.
"Yes, or I will be in a few minutes."
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:20 pm
"No need to worry," he assured quickly, not wanting to seem mad, despite his earlier expression. For now he would look to her well-being. Once she had herself straight again, he would think about speaking the truth all kits should know. After all, she would be less likely to absorb his teachings in her current state. He'd had too much foul luck in the past with completely coherent children; he wouldn't be willing to risk anything with this one.
"Take time to rest," he continued, nosing gently under her chin. Around young ones, it was almost as if Ikuinen was normal, caring, kind. So many things he lacked that seemed present when youth was involved. Strange, but he considered it part of his mission. Were she to disregard his words later in life, he would 'disown' her as he had the others.
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Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 2:13 pm
Himawari smiled at the other as the world began to steady more, she stopped feeling like she'd roll onto her side if she stood again. When the other kitsu nosed her gently, she was a little startled. This being the first encounter with a kitsu other than her parents and siblings though, it was quite understandable.
"I like to explore this place," she said, her breath returned so she wasn't breathless any longer. "There's so many neat places. You're the first kitsu that I've met here though." She grinned somewhat foolishly.
"Other than my parents and my brother of course."
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Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:30 am
Neat places? He certainly didn't think so. But for now, he kept his opinion on the subject to himself, opting for a more friendly approach. Perhaps he was tired of his ideas being snerked at, but it seemed that each time he greeted kits with wisdom about the world, they became confused or rejected the idea completely. This time he would try a more personable approach. Maybe he would be lucky this time.
"Well, it is an honor to be your first new encounter, young one. I am Ikuinen." Bowing his head slightly, he smiled. "Though I hope your parents know you are wandering around alone." Better they didn't show themselves while he worked.
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Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 2:07 pm
Himawari grinned happily and stood up carefully.
"I'm Himawari," she replied cheerfully. She tilted her head to one side. If her parents practically told her to enjoy her youth did that count as wandering alone?
"Both of my parents wander around. I think that they don't mind if I do the same." She beamed at him and her tails swished around happily.
It seemed like she had recovered from her running accident now.
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 6:29 am
"Good, little Himawari. We wouldn't want them worrying about you." Time to go to work. The male's white eyes held no inclination of the bitterness that festered behind him as he leaned closer, canting his head to get a better look at her. "But you know, I worry." Pulling away again, he looked off towards the treeline, watching blankly as a few 'early crispers' left the branches and tumbled to the ground below. "I worry about all children in this world."
"You see, the world is a cruel place." Returning his gaze to her, he watched for a reaction. Something told him that she would react as many others did, denying the fact that the world was evil. "It would've been wise of your parents to warn you." The fools. Parents never did.
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:59 pm
Himawari tilted his head. He worried? She was confused as Ikuinen looked around. For him to worry about so many, he must be devoted, or care a lot. She sat down comfortably, curious about what he was thinking about. When he spoke again, she found herself back on her feet.
"Do you mean, like the things that happened on the Mountain?" she asked in a whisper. Her mother had spoken a bit about it, to warn her of possible dangers of travel. The kitsu that had gone missing, and her mother hadn't visited the Mountain since. Himawari knew that her mother would go again though.
"Do you know what happened there?" she asked. Her mother knew very little about it. Ikuinen now had her full attention.
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 8:11 am
On the Mountain? Pale eyes narrowed thoughtfully. It seemed he'd finally found someone willing to listen. Good thing for curiousity. "Yes, I know." Such a huge incident. One so inclined to hate the world would surely know the basics, at least. He also knew that other foolish adults tried to hide the truth from the youth. It only put them in more danger.
"Have you ever seen a dark shadow on the Mountain?" he asked, gaze looking off again, lifted to the high peaks. "Demons lurk in the shadows. Not even the Mountain's deities have complete control over the darkness." Shutting his eyes, he heaved a sigh, adding drama to his story. "The demons, wishing to control the Mountain with their darkness, abducted many Kitsu. The darkness became their curse, shrinking and painfully mutating their bodies." Okay, so he really didn't know if it had been painful or not, but it added a little more, after all.
Going silent for a moment, it seemed his story was finished. That is, until he looked back to the kit, smiling forelornly. "Have you ever seen the mark on a bobtail's ear?" He asked, canting his head questioningly. "It is proof of their curse and the demons' hold on them" Maybe a bit dark to be telling to an innocent, but it had to be done, he decided. Adults needed to warn the young beyond a mere mention of the incident.
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 9:34 am
Himawari shook her head at his first question. She had never been to the Mountain before. She was having a hard enough time trying to get around the HQ without getting tired. When she was older though, then she knew that she would visit the Mountain.
Her skin shivered as Ikuinen described the darkness on the Mountain. Deities, so something like Light against Dark? Her ears flattened against her head thinking of any such war that may occur. Her tails curled around her body, such was the horror that she felt as she heard the story.
"I... I've never seen a bobtail," she murmured, fright shaking her form. Never had she imagined that such horrible things could befall a kitsu.
"Are... are those kitsu alright now though?" she asked looking up at the older kitsu, her eyes almost glistening with tears. Her mother would be horrified to hear this, she knew. But perhaps, perhaps she should tell her to put their hearts at rest.
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:17 pm
The impact his story had on the young one was almost more than he'd expected. The look of her shaking tore at his heart, but he quickly dismissed the foolish notion. He had no need for such feelings. They only burdened his mission and softened his disposition. Such feelings weakened his guard and made him vulnerable. And so, while internally looking for his emotional 'off-switch,' he nearly missed the child's question. But just nearly.
"Are they alright?" He repeated, acting surprised. "I suppose, if anyone could possibly be alright living in this world." No, the bobtails didn't have any lasting side-effects that he knew of, but it wouldn't help his ideals to say so. They lived like normal Kitsu and that was enough to label them fools in his eyes.
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 4:12 pm
Himawari sat down, and it helped to slow her shaking. To think that something so horrible had happened still shocked her. She smiled though, when she heard that the kitsu were still fine. She would definitely have to tell her mother about it.
She looked up at Ikuinen.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked.
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:21 pm
A smile? Did she truly understand? Her shaking had been proof enough that the story stirred her, but the simple expression that now tainted her maw made him wonder. Perhaps he had said something falsely comforting and missed it. Ah, well, whatever it was, he was once again given the opportunity to push her towards his ideals because of her question.
"Well, I mean that the world is a horrible place," he answered bluntly, plae eyes narrowing on her. "It would be impossible for any of us to be truly okay, having to live here."
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