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The rain was fun! Makai liked this. It was like swiming... only bit by bit. Being his first rainstorm since he de-wispified, he had accquired permission from Wyv to play in the rain, provided it didn't rain too hard and he didn't stray too far away.

Of course, too hard and too far were relative terms. Makai probably wouldn't have headed inside even if it had started to hail. He zipped along, wings and arms outstretched, gleefully laughing as water dripped along the extended limbs. He almost ran right past Gael and her hiding spot, only registering her presence after a few more steps. The boy retraced his steps, walking backwards until he could see the other aerandir clearly.

He grinned brightly, his face lighting up before his expression suddenly drooped. Wait, what was the right word for greeting somebody? He couldn't remember, silly words, so very many of them to choose from! He waved instead.

That was it! "Hello!" he chirped right back. Curious, he inched closer until he was under the tree, but not overly close to Gael. Personal Space, Wyvern had called it. Some people liked it. Better to err on the side of caution. Not that "err" or "caution" had much in the way of meaning to him, but he tried.

With nervous fingers, he pushed wet hair from his eyes and smiled. Prompted by Gael's greeting, he remembed the rest of what should be said in an introduction. "My name is Ma-kai," he said, stressing the syllables carefully to make sure he got them right. Then hed added: "Whachu doin'?" Maybe she didn't like the rain, although, he couldn't understand why.

"OH," he said, eyes widening as if gifted with some great revelation. These samples must be important. He wanted to ask if he could see them, but then they'd get wet. That wouldn't be good. "I like th' rain," he said, almost converstaionally. "But no' 'f the samples get wet."

He adapted a pose of consternation, thinking about this problem. "I know! I gots a... a...," he fumbled for the word, sketching out an upside-down u shape with an index finger, "a'brella!" He nodded furiously and was off like a shot, feet pounding out a counterpoint to the rainfall.

He returned momentarily, chestheaving as he'd run flat out home and bag. Clutched under one arm was an umbrella, almost as tall as he was. He beamed, still panting, and held it out to her.

As his breathing slowly returned to normal, Makai began to fumble with the a'brella. It was long and sticklick and one end opened with a poof. He just didn't remember how. Gingerly, he held it by the handle and pointed it at the ground. Nothing. Now genuinely puzzled, he shook it. Hesitantly at first, then fiercer and fiercer until he hit the button and the device opened with a loud FWOOMP!

"Eep!" That startled him and lost his grip in surprise. The 'brella dropped to the ground, upside-down, and the top began to fill with water. "Noh like thaaat!" Makai whined at it. The horrid thing didn't seem to give his guardian that much trouble. Quickly, he righted it, dumping out the water. Now that he was satissfied he had it right-side up, he held it out to Gael. "Seee? Keeps it dry," he finished with an eager nod.

Makai returned Gael's grin with one of his own. He was quite proud that he got the 'brella to work and even more so that she found it usefull. "Uh-huh!" He nodded eagerly, wanting to see her collection.

He scooted over to join her, but shook his head at her offer to walk him home. "Nu, 'sokay. I likes the rain," he made little splishes in the puddle with his feet for emphasis, "and the samples won't get wet anahmore, 'sall gud." Besides, walking home would take time from looking at the samples! He really wanted to know what the samples were and what they were for.

As much fun as being by yourself in the rain was, Makai found he liked being with someone else in the rain to be even more fun. He vowed to do this again. Maybe Wyvern would even let him play with Gael again! They could go swiming, or climbing! He loved to climb, but while Wyv loved to swim too, she did not see the merits of clambering up trees.

As they approached, the boy peered intently at where Gael pointed. Looking around to get his bearings, he pointed in a vaguely easterly direction. "Mah house is over t'ere." He smiled proudly. "It's whur I make my music."

"Dunno music?" It took him a moment to process this. It was outside his world view. One of the few things he hadn't needed to be told upon reaching the child stage was about music. It was a fundamental part of him. He fumbled for words, not sure how to best describe all that music was.

"Music is... um, music!" That wasn't very helpful. He tried again, face scrunched up in concentration. "Sounds! All sorts of em. They go together! Like, like... the sea and the beach! Voices, claping, crash, bang, twang, hum plink!" He waved his arms, frantic to express this idea. "I show you." He finished with a nod. "Later. Issa promise."

Soup? Makai shook his head. "Never had soooop." He liked that word, with it's long ooooo. He saw that Gael was smelling the air and with a cautious snif, he did so too. He'd never smelled anything like that before. It made his tummy rumble. Wow, he didn't realize he was hungry. "...do you eat it?" He hoped so. It certainly smelled edible.