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'Don't get dirty', they said. 'Keep your pants clean', they said.

What did they expect her to do? Not play at all? Escpecially when there was snow, and rapidly-melting snow at that? No, Ti Kitha knew that they knew and they were just being cautious in case someone was listening. So it meant that the moment she was out of anyone's eyeshot, she stomped in some of the puddles, slid on the dirty slides, and had a great time!

It wasn't until she got to the older part of the park that she slowed down into exploration mode. Old run-down equipment was fascinating, and she couldn't help but touch some of the wooden beams. And upon sighting the other kid in the area, she beamed and walked over.

"Heya! this is a cool place, innit?"

"What's that gotta do with being cool?" Ti Kitha giggled a little bit before somewhat parkour-ing up to the bridge. Still young, her bushel of seven tails didn't impede her in any way, and she was surprisingly agile and fast. Once up on the bridge, she perched. Didn't sit, just perched beside her fellow Kumiho, not at all seemingly bothered by their mutated features. She did, however, take a moment to look the other over a few times, as if trying to read them a bit.

"We found it, so it's not forgotten, huh?" Her head tilted to one side. "But whatchu doing here alone? Did you get in a fight or something?"

"Oh, that's not being forgotten, that's being neglected." She nodded, her ears flopping a bit as he head moved. Pushing some of her hair back, she stared a bit more at her strange little kin, unsure of what to make of her. Or her attitude.

"I dunno. I just saw you and thought I could come say hi! And, well, I really like places like this." Finally she sat down on the bridge as well, using her own seven tails as a cushion of sorts. "Um...I had a friend once, but he disappeared. I guess he didn't like my music..."

"I dunno why he left, really. He just stopped coming over and that's the only excuse I can think of."

Choosing to ignore that attitude for a bit, Ti Kitha looked around at the abandoned and neglected area. There were so many things she could say about it, but not much that someone else could understand. At least, that's what she figured. But it was worth a shot.

"There's something about it. Like...At night, if you come to these places, you can tell someone hasn't abandoned them. Or, something. Cuz sometimes you can see the orbs around. There's quiet and there's still, and other people can't see it sometimes. It's...Iunno. I think if my papa was still here, he'd like these places too."

"Papa said he had to go to his friends." It was the best explanation he'd ever given her. "He owed his friends on the other side, so, he had to leave forever."

Kicking her feet again, she thought. Well, she wanted to make a friend, or at least someone she could talk to. So, talking her mind couldn't hurt, right?

"I...looked up what that meant and I think he went and died. My momma didn't want me when he dropped me off at her house, either." It hurt a bit, thinking back on it, and it showed in her pained expression. But it quickly disappeared and she went back to smiling.

"But, my name's Ti Kitha! You can call me Kitha or Kit though, if you want!"

"Huh?!"

Ti Kitha couldn't understand that. Someone not liking someone because of how they -looked-?! It was bad enough she remembered some kumiho back in the village judging others for having the wrong number of tails, but apparently this kid- Jess- was judged for something ELSE she didn't have control over?

"I like them! Your eyes look really interesting! My papa would have let you live with us if he were still here." Nodding, she reached a hand out as if for a handshake, "Maybe I'll get a house someday, and you'll always be welcome to come visit. I'll want you to come visit!"

"Mmmmaybe..." would it be bad to admit she was skipping class so often that by now she'd been held back? Yeah, that stuff could come later. "But um! I'm in Arkham! But, but, I'm really good at a lot of things. If you ever need help with homework I can help you! And, and projects! I can help you with a lot if you want me to!"

So excited was she by now that her tails, that fluffy bushel of tails, was wagging excitedly. It looked ridiculous and she knew it. But, care about it? She didn't. As far as she knew, she was making a new friend for LIFE.

"And if you want, we can come here and talk, too! Or, maybe just come here and be quiet. And listen. And maybe see the orbs! I think they'd like to see you visit them too!"