"Alright, Drew start already," frowned Dria. Dani scowled at her. "You just want to know where you come into the fray." Dria squinted back at her 12-year-old sister. "So do you."
"Hey, let Daddy tell the story!" Dari cried, "I want to hear more!" The girls both squinted at the little kitten. "You're already in it!" They frowned at him, so he farted. "Eww!" They cried. "Stop that! Excuse yourself!" They waved their noses. "You've got to stop doing that! Drew! He listens to you! Tell him to stop!"
Drew frowned. "He may not after tonight." Dria, Dani and Dari were still flabbergasted as to why Drew thought he could have done anything that would make any of them even dislike him let alone hate him.
When everyone was seated, he began once more. "On my second day, I was in the Great Library, on what I think was my quarters. I was removing roots that had overtaken the room, when I was suddenly again in the past -
Etamin and Darius Ammun - the kitten from the night before - lay cuddled together. The night before, Darius Ammun had worked hard to raise Etamin's spirits, before both of them had collapsed in to sleep.
The Librarian-Priests stand outside his door hesitant to wake him. They had not foreseen having to raise a child, much less a formerly royal one. They have never dealt with a child before as seen by the way they had handled things the day before. The poor boy had been in so much shock, he refused to eat or do anything and went to bed sick and crying. They do not know that Darius is with him, and fear waking him and starting the scheduled training will do far more damage.
Aker and Basket come padding, looking for both their missing kitten and the reason Etamin hasn't come to breakfast yet. When they see the Librarian-Priests gathered outside Etamin's door in concern, they both sense the problem.
Each sensing the other's plan, they take their Humanoid Forms. Aker takes the form of a strongly built, medium height, Etaminian (Egyptian) man, with long black dreadlocks a sharp Etaminian beard, black cat ears and tail, along with a blue star. He wears a round, golden collar that comes to the bottom of his chest and has a ring of colorful jewels, and a white sarong, with a colorfully decorated length of cloth embroidered with gold and jewels, and emblazed with the Falcon - the Mark of the Court.
Basket takes the form of a strongly built Etaminian woman, though marked with gentleness, also with medium height. Her hair is long, ebony hair, thick and soft, brought together by two blue-silver cat ears, that also come with a matching tail and a purple star. Her outfit is similar to Aker, except that she also wears a sleeveless linen shirt that reaches to her waist and a skirt instead of a sarong.
Upon reaching the door of the room, they tell the Librarian-Priests that they will handle this. The Librarian-Priests nod, thank them and wonder off toward their regularly scheduled duties.
Aker and Basket knock and enter Etamin's room. They see Darius Ammun, their kitten snuggled up on the bed, in Etamin's arms. There is a smile on on both of their faces. Aker and Basket snort together. Aker mumbles, "We should have known."
Darius mutters in his sleep, "I'm excited for you to meet my new brother, Hapii." "Yay." Etamin mutters in his sleep. "I have a new brother."
Aker and Basket look at each other in confusion. Then a strange look crosses Basket's face..."No Basket, we can't -" "Don't you see, Aker, it must be." She is quiet for a minute. Then she smiles, "I see we have a new kitten in the family." Aker sighs. "When you're right your right." Basket nodded, "I shall go prepare breakfast. Later, I will prepare him a place in our quarters. You wake them."
Aker turned to watch them go. Dari opened his eyes and yawned, as did Etamin, and behind Aker's back Dari winked at Etamin, and Etamin just shook his head and smiled.
A square table had been set up in the Mauvian quarters. Aker sat on one side in Humanoid form, and Basket sat next to him, also in Humanoid form. On the third, Darius actually sat on the table in kitten form, as he had not achieved his Humanoid form yet (in future mealtimes, Aker and Basket's forms would vary between Humanoid and Cat, as they felt necessary and/or comfortable). Etamin, or Hapii as he would be called in secret, sat at the third.
Here, he was given the details of his new life in a slightly more digestible format.
A square table had been set up in the Mauvian quarters. Aker sat on one side in Humanoid form, and Basket sat next to him, also in Humanoid form. On the third, Darius actually sat on the table in kitten form, as he had not achieved his Humanoid form yet (in future mealtimes, Aker and Basket's forms would vary between Humanoid and Cat, as they felt necessary and/or comfortable). Etamin, or Hapii as he would be called in secret, sat at the third.
Here, he was given the details of his new life in a slightly more digestible format.
"Those memories ended there." Drew murmured. There were a few moments silence.
"So... Those my Mom and Dad... and we, we adopted you, when you had nobody- you were... my brother... I see how that could be weird... Daddy..." Dari broke the uncomfortable silence.
Then Dani burst out with what Dria was also thinking, "I mean yeah that is cool and everything! You were adopted by Mauvians! Dari's family and everything - though, " here she paused, and an awkward look crossed everyone's face, "now that he calls his Daddy - you know what? No, I'm not going to go there. But where are Pasithee - and Leaena? Where are Dria and me?"
Dria nodded. "We're all so supposed to be in this."
"Hold your horses. I'm getting there. This part had to come first or that wouldn't have made sense." Drew explained. "Just keep listening."