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It was dusk when the brothers began to head home to Catalia Glades from Teritia Glades. The night sky was vermilion and the setting sun cast smoky blue light.

Souppi shouted, "Livewire, Livewire!", tackled his big brother to the ground, and crawled on top of his chest.

Still on his back, Livewire said, "What's up, little guy? Did you have fun?"

"Yes," Souppi said, with a nod, "I met a girl named Ginger. She was so nice. We played in the leaves together. It was so much fun!"

"I'm glad to hear that." After that, Livewire got up and Souppi fell down in front of him. Then, he scanned Souppi with a gaze like a fine toothed comb.

Unbeknownst to himself, Souppi was all covered in dirt and leaves. It was natural that he didn't know, since when he was playing, there weren't any mirrors handy and if there was a body of water where he could see his own reflection, he wouldn't've checked it, for fear he'd fall in, because he hated getting wet.

Finally, Livewire said, "You got all dirty. I'm going to have to give you a bath when we get home."

Silence. Souppi's eyes dilated and he began to sweat. No, not that! Anything but that! After giving it some thought, though, he sighed in relief. He must be joking. He knows I hate getting wet. He wouldn't make me do anything I didn't like. Then, he began laughing nervously.

When they got home, Livewire took Souppi by the nape of his neck and dunked him into a washbasin full of warm, sudsy water. Then, it started. The ungodly caterwauling.

"MEO~WRGH!" Souppi tried to leap out of the washbasin, but he kept slipping on the bottom and falling on his bottom. "No~! Sto~p! Plea~se!" he cried.

Finally, it was over. Souppi was nice and clean. His fur was also wet and clumping and when he shook himself dry, he looked like a big, blue puffball. "See, that wasn't so bad, now, was it?" Livewire said, trying to reassure his little brother.

Silence. Souppi didn't agree at all.

It was then that Souppi made up his mind to run away. I know he knows I hate getting wet. Why would he make me do something I hate? Does he hate me? That has to be it. He must hate me. I don't know why. I love him. I really do.

After they went to bed, Souppi waited for Livewire to fall asleep, got up, and snuck out. He was headed nowhere in particular. He just knew he didn't want to stay there...

Souppi was beginning to wonder how long he had been running away in the darkness. Minutes? Hours? When he saw something appear on the horizon, he thought for sure it meant it was dawn.

Until he heard laughter. He cocked his head, confused, and said, "The sun doesn't laugh, now, does it?" Afterward, he realized how silly his question was.

It was just a gladier, a Cetus. With her white fur and warm colored markings, Souppi thought she looked as brilliant as the morning sun.

His ears perked up and his heart began racing when she saw what she was doing. She was jumping off the tops of hills! He had never seen anyone other than his older sister, a Spica, attempt such a thing. Then, a cool wind blew. "W-What if she falls down?" he said, shivering, more from the chilly breeze than from fear. "She's alone u-up there. It's not like anyone will c-catch her." Despite what he said, he did think it looked like fun.

After realizing his mistake about what he had seen on the hill, he had to mind his manners. A little master doesn't just stare at others without introducing himself. Just because he was running away from who taught him many of these things, didn't mean he took those lessons any less to heart. He stepped towards her and said, "Good evening, little miss. I'm Souppi. What're you doing? It looks like fun. Can I try?"

"Thanks! It's a pleasure meeting you!"

After that, Souppi climbed up the tallest, steepest hill and jumped. On his way down, he could feel the cool air rushing through his fur and tousling his wings like they were tissue paper. He frantically flapped his wings, but he didn't get any additional air. They just slowed his descent.

He landed on his feet with a great big thud. "Ow!" It hurt, but it was fun.

He ran back to where Rose was. "That was awesome! I'm going to try again."

Then, he thought of how he felt when he landed. She looked okay to him, but he didn't think it'd hurt to ask. "You are feeling well, right?"

Souppi had the feeling Rose wasn't pleased with him. He couldn't tell from just what she said or her expression - he actually thought her face was cute - but her body language was markedly different than before. She reminded me of him when he tried to hide how he felt, but some things still managed to spill out no matter how hard he tried.

He didn't like this walking on eggshells feeling he had.

After hearing her story, he said, "Wow! I wish I could've seen that."

Then, he continued. "S-Silly?! ...I don't know." His ears perked up at that. He wasn't sure what else to say, because he hadn't seen what he'd done . It was all very instinctual. Then, his ears drooped sadly. "You're probably right. I'm not very good. You're definitely the expert."

He tried to change the subject. "...um, do you live around here?"

What Rose said cheered Souppi up. He sat up and smiled, beaming. "You're right!" He thought that practice makes perfect, after all, and additionally, there must've been something he could well.

He didn't understand her answer to his question, though. "What do you mean? You don't know where it is? Did the city run away?" As soon as he said that, he knew it sounded weird, but seeing as magic existed and all, it wasn't impossible, right?

He then pointed in front of him and said, "I used to live over there, but not anymore."

After that, he said, "I need no home. I'm a man of the world." He wasn't sure what that meant. He was just parroting things his older brother would say.

Souppi immediately thought what Rose said made perfect sense. Then, he nodded affirmatively to her question, "Are you goin' on an adventure like me?" After that, he gave her a pat on the shoulder and wondered how to respond to her becoming his mentor.

"I accept your offer." While he was usually the sort to think things over, his emotions clouded his judgment. That and she really did look more experienced than him.

Since it was autumn, it was quiet. All the ladybugs had flown away. Silent clusters of aphids weighed down dry leaves. Caterpillars were curled up, nice and warm, in their chrysalises and pupae.

Souppi didn't like that it was so quiet, right now. He thought a moment like this needed to be more dramatic. He was leaving home and going on an adventure, after all. If it were spring, then cicadas would be crying, seagulls would be mewing, and maybe someone would be lighting up firecrackers.

While he'd rather have fireworks, he'd settle for that.

But no, now, it was quiet.

Souppi was completely oblivious to Rose's act. "No, but I have a lot of food back home." Then, he grinned and added, "My brother sleeps like a rock too, so you don't have to worry about him waking up."

He turned around and pointed right in front of him. "I do. It's just over those hills in an open field."

"That's a great idea! We had a lot of fruits and vegetables last I checked." Then, he slowly walked in that direction and hoped Rose would follow him. "We'll be there in no time."