Welcome to Gaia! ::

Decran let out a small sigh as he was finally able to settle down under a large tree. The day had been long for a Saturday and despite his intentions, Decran hadn’t been able to get out of his dorm as soon as he would have liked. The homework he’d had to work on had taken infinitely longer than he had expected it to and so he had been stuck inside for most of the day. With things finally done, he’d decided that a few hours at the park would do him some good (instead of just lounging around in the common area). So he’d grabbed the book he was currently on and headed out of the academy doors and towards the park.

Decran’s normal bench had been occupied by a couple that were more interested in each other than their surroundings. So he decided to walk a little farther until he found the perfect shade tree to rest under and read. After settling down, Decran flipped his book open to the spot he’d left off on the last time he’d picked up (a few days ago) and began reading. His current book was a murder mystery and had had him hooked since the first line. He had a large range of interests when it came to books, but murder mysterious were definitely at the top of his list.

As he flipped through the pages, Decran’s tail wrapped around his front and his sole focus was the words on the page before him. The more he read, the deeper he got lost in the story as his mind played through what was happening within the story. Getting lost in a book was the easiest thing for Decran to do — exploring a world that was so unlike his own was thrilling. Even if it was just in his mind.

As lost in his book as Decran was, the sound of his name didn’t quite register at first. Frowning as he found himself reading over the same sentence again, he glanced up and blinked. Standing not too far away, something steaming in hand, was the fallen from the other night. Tilting his head, Decran had to shift through a few names before he finally settled on the one that matched the boy’s face — Zephyr. Like the continent, only shorter. Decran couldn’t help but let a small smirk curl up one corner of his mouth as he marked his place and shut his book. “I was reading,” he said as he held the book up for Zephyr to see. “Whatcha eating this time?”

Decran, not having ate yet, wanted nothing more than to take Zephyr up on the offer. The fallen had already bought him food once, though, and Decran didn’t make it a habit to mooch off of people — even if it was cheap food. Plus, he really didn’t feel like making Zephyr walk all the way back to the dorms. He could easily pick himself up something to eat when he headed back. So he politely declined the offer, thanking the boy all the same.

When the subject of his book came up, Decran raised an eyebrow and glanced back down at it. “It’s pretty good. I’ve been hooked since the beginning.” He glanced back up to Zephy, silently pleased that they actually had something in common. “I’m almost finished with it. You can borrow it when I’m, if you want.”

Decran chuckled as he fallen struggled with his food and ended up wearing some instead of eating it. He pushed up from the ground and moved away from the tree, towards Zephyr. “I’m sure. I’ll be done with it anyway, so if it gets lots, no big deal.” He gave a small shrug and glanced down the pathway, back towards the dorm. Despite a want of food, the last thing he wanted to do was return to his dorm early. So instead, he glanced back to Zephyr and tilted his head. “I think I’m gonna go for a walk. Would you like to join me or would you rather finish your noodles off in peace?”

Decran’s eyes went to Zephyr’s wings as they moved and shook. It took a moment to realize he was staring and he tore his gaze away from them when Zephyr spoke again. Anywhere in particular? He mostly just walked around the park when he took walks. The view never grew old for him and with the seasons changing, as Zephyr had pointed out via the leaves, the park was also changing. Fall would most likely be Decran’s favorite season. The temperature was cooling down and, thanks to all his fur, he could still dress lighter than those nightmares without fur. He no longer felt dread at the thought of stepping outside of his cooled down dorm room and into the heat of the summer.

He didn’t like winter, though. Once winter came along, even Decran’s fur was no match for the cold temperatures. No, at that point Decran liked to stay inside, curled up with a blanket and a good book. And hot chocolate. He loved hot chocolate. Realizing that he had yet to answer the fallen’s question, Decran shrugged. “Doesn’t matter, I usually just walk without a goal in mind. We can head towards where there are more trees if you like.”

Decran shrugged and gave Zephyr a small smile before tucking his book under his arm and heading off down the path that would take them towards the trees. Like Zephyr, Decran loved all the various colors the trees turned in the fall. As Decran moved down the path, his gaze absently traveled up to the sky as he swished his tail back and forth. It kind of amazed him, how easily he’d taken to Zephyr. It wasn’t that Decran was antisocial. He was just very picky about who he associated with. There must have been something about the fallen that had sparked his interest when they’d first met (in spite of his sleeping with a book on his face).

Decran blinked as his stomach growled and he smelled something baking. Someone was...baking in the park? Brows knitting together, Decran glanced around and his confused look quickly turned into a grin as his eyes settled on a pretzel vendor. Decran loved those big, soft pretzels. He turned to Zephyr and notched his head towards the vendor. “Want a pretzel? My treat this time, yeah?” He didn’t give the fallen a chance to answer before he turned and headed towards the person selling his goods. He ordered two pretzels — and a thing of cheese dipping sauce and a thing of cream cheese dipping sauce (his two favorites). If Zephyr didn’t want one of them, he’d just have two pretzels to himself — he didn’t mind. Once he paid for the pretzels, Decran moved back over to Zephyr and grinned again.

Decran grinned at Zephyr’s expression and nodded. “Of course it’s for you. I wouldn’t buy myself something and leave you out.” He gave a small chuckle as he then held out the cheese sauce. “Here, have at it. I like the cream cheese better anyway.” Once the cheese sauce was out of his hands, Decran moved back to the path they’d been walking. If Zephyr could walk and eat cup noodles, Decran could walk and manage a pretzel and his dip. Curious about the fallen he’d apparently made friends with, Decran glanced towards him. “So, what do you like to do when you’re not sleep studying or walking around the park with a cup of noodles?” Decran’s lips curled up into a small smirk as he asked his questions.

Decran grinned as he dipped his pretzel in the cream cheese and tore off a bite. He was happy to repay the fallen for the food he’d bought him earlier but he, also, was just happy that he’d made someone else happy. Even if it was just over a pretzel. They walked and talked for a bit longer, getting to know each other a bit more and soon the subject was back on books as they headed back to the dorms.

“It shouldn’t be long before I’m done with the book. Maybe even some time this weekend,” Decran said as they stepped inside and he tossed the wrapper the pretzel had come in away. “As soon as I’m finished, it’s all yours.” He blinked, pausing for a moment as he glanced around. “Which way is your dorm room? You can show me. That way I can just bring it to you when I’m done.”