All in Perfect Balance (Finished!)

[carcinoGeneticist]

((*cough* I apologize if this is really weird. ;; This is... her thoughts, as they come.))

The world was spinning.

Has it always been like this? Did I just never open my eyes?

All around her were colors and the sound of the plants breathing, filling her own lungs with life.

You were never allowed to. They held your eyes shut, hid the truth from you in your own mind.

There were others who were breathing too, and with the thought a pair of amber-toned eyes rolled back in their sockets, coming to rest under thick lids. Everything was perfect. As it should be. Wherever the sun shone strongest there were patches of light, and an equal amount of shadow. While these people lived and walked around her, she knew that elsewhere... They were dying.

But... Death is bad. It makes people cry. When Queen Serafino died, a lot of people were really sad.

The girl was completely lost in thought, wings folded tightly to her back as she stood in the center of the marketplace, letting the unfamilliar setting unfold itself around her slowly. Everything about this place was different and fascinating, even the brightly-colored people who seemed to be doing their best to ignore the little hybrid-child, instead walking very carefully around her and doing their best not to stare.

It's not death's fault that they got sad. It's their fault.[/color]

In the heat of the sun, Rhiannon found herself becoming drowzy, the kind voice's words seeming to eccho in her mind. "'s not Death's fault..." she whispered, shaking herself in an attempt to keep awake, a battle she was quickly loosing. The journey from the Court of Hearts was long!

...But so very worth it.

[Nako]

The small Midori town would often be considered to be of one mind; it seemed when one person noticed something amiss, everyone did. It.. changed the demeanor of the people, and it seemed to pick up more speed as more cards were affected. That, and it didn't help that they were a community that kept close to their peers, and told any friends they had of strange things going on in the land.

One of those odd moments had happened that day, in fact. As Zuberi came back from one of her long days out alone, she picked up the scent that something was amiss. A group of Midori women sat in a group on someone's porch, weaving their sweetgrass baskets and chattering idly about the goings-on of the marketplace that day. That in itself was nothing to be concerned about, until they spoke of a strange child that had been wandering about. Bad juju was spoken of, but other than a solemn comment about such things, noone seemed too terribly worried.

Frowning, the Midori squirrel adjusted the sling on her shoulder, which was heavy with the tropical fruits she had been picking. She was intending to make a lovely dinner of some fish she caught the other day with a side of fried plantains. Though her stomach rumbled ominously with its hunger, the curiosity would certainly be too much to bear. So... off she went, tail flicking behind her with an air of her normal curiosity. It was a welcome change, since the Midori had been plagued with much darker thoughts in the past few days.

It wasn't hard to miss the wandering creature, staring off as if in a trance as she wandered about. It was immediately obvious that she was a Bog dweller, but with how ineffective her mask was, and the lack of stench she'd very well think she'd smell from where she stood made her wonder if she truly was naturally from the area. The creature turned.. and ah... the set of that snout.. the look in her eye.. and even the obvious mix of fruit bat in her with a leaf-shaped nose that could only belong to one person.. He had children??

"Lost, my child?" She'd hardly even realized she had spoke to the girl. The squirrel was in fact staring a bit... seeming a bit starstruck as she looked at the little Bog halfbreed. Goodness... she certainly favored Seth.

[carcinoGeneticist]

She was lost in her own world, paws folded beneath her, ears perked slightly as she took in the ebb and flow of life around her. It was a curious thing, that she could lay here in the middle of a busy marketplace, and be so completely ignored. It was as if she was sitting in the river of life, letting the tides flow around her, leaving her only to watch... To observe... Until the current shifted, and someone began to move closer.

The girl blinked.

She raised her head, looking up at the squirrel that had made the choice to come close, yellow eyes narrowed slightly against the glare of the sun. Her coloration was typical of the region, but to Rhiannon, it was glowing and vivid, one of the most unique things she'd ever seen. Her head inclined to the side, a wide and toothy grin that spoke volumes about her father's influence on her planted firmly on her face. At Zuberi's question, her ear twitched slightly, a strange expression flitting across her face before vanishing to wherever it had come from.

"Hiya," she began in the tone of voice expected of one of her age, but when she opened her mouth to continue there was something very different. The voice was level and smooth, almost sensual, and quite a bit deeper than the other. "I am in the Midori Beach, near Port Garisson, and I have not lost a path as I never had one to begin with. I am also not a child. How can you assign age to that which is eternal?"

Her tail began to wag as if what she had said was the most typical thing, yellow eyes lighting up as the smell of the fruit made its way to her nose. "...But I guess I am kinda lost. Your fruits smell really good, missus. My papa gets fruits frome here all the time."

[Nako]

Zuberi's nose wiggled as the youngster spouted out something the equivalent to some Vulcan chant, but couldn't help but grin all at once. So, the girl had thoughts about eternity and such complicated matters? That would make for.. interesting conversation later.

The funniest part though, would be the moment that veil of poise was lifted quite suddenly as her wiggly leaf nose caught the whiff of fruit. Zuberi chattered her teeth good naturedly, patting the sack with a paw. "Well, that's probably because your father has good taste. Midori has some of the best fruits in the land... Hm... and your father wouldn't happen to be Seth, would he?" Though she asked in question form, there wouldn't be much doubt in her tone. She just... looked too much like him to not be his offspring. The other parent though... well, that gave her a bit of insight as to the mother, as she'd never seen her.. Obviously Bog, but coyote? She'd not have guessed he was the sort.

She shook off those thoughts; it was unfair of Zuberi to be scrutinizing the mother when she'd never even met her. "I actually be going home to make dinner; there's plenty here.. It would be quite alrigh' if you wanted to join me..." In her mind behind the casual invitation though, she was calculating as to how to bring up contacting her parents. Surely they'd be worried... but kids.. ah, the girl might very well be running off on her own in some act of rebellion. She'd possibly bring up contacting Seth after they had some food in there belly.

Contacting him on these terms though, seemed somewhat ridiculous. 'Hi, how's it going? Want to come over for some tea? Oh by the way, I found your kid that I didn't know existed till today' Why was she so sore about it? Well... neither of them had seen each other since he went off to the bog. Only by word of mouth did she even know he wasn't -dead-. It seemed a sudden onslaught of children might provide enough distraction to forget about the woman he had met in the marketplace that day. Oh well, it was silly to have expected him to keep tabs. After all, he had a woman he was crazy over, and now kids! Hah... Seth with kids. To be honest, she hadn't expected that one.

[carcinoGeneticist]

Rhiannon blinked at that. Wait. This strange and neon creature actually knew her father? For a moment, her hair began to bristle - would she try and take her back to the courts?! "Yes..." she replied, somewhat warily. The hybrid wasn't ready for her adventures to end just yet, but then... She also wasn't ready to run away from this woman, especially now, when the promise of information about her father was so close at hand!

Her tail began to wag quite enthusiastically after she finally made up her mind, ears perked and attention completely locked on the squirrel. "I got my nose from him, see?!" she exclaimed, moving close to the woman and wiggling it. When it came down to it, she was still just a child. Her eyes went wide at the prospect of dinner. She'd stolen enough of Seth's money that she'd had no trouble getting food, but it had been quite some time since she'd had a really delicious meal. "Can I really, miss?! That would be amazing! Will you teach me about this place? Please? I've never seen anything like it!" she exclaimed, hopping at Zuberi's feet, her tail like a whipping banner by now.

Then she froze in mid-step, amber eyes narrowing. The air that had surrounded her when she spoke on eternity returned, and she took a step back from the woman. "...But I don't know you, even if you know my father. What is your name?"

[Nako]

The girl showed apprehension; she had expected that much, and she waited for those tense seconds under the intense scrutiny. When the girl finally relaxed, Zuberi was surprised by her sudden exuberance and childlike ignorance, laughing good naturedly as the bat/coyote mix jumped around her feet. "Yes, yes I see! That's actually how I recognized you, that and that smile!"

She wasn't ready for the sudden return of that odd stare, as if sizing her up once again. What an odd one, this child was! Then she spoke and.. OH! Of course! It would have been horrid if the child went on to follow her without knowing her name! Chuckling as much to herself as to the sudden scrutiny she was under once again, sweeping into a comical bow before extending her paw. "The name is Zuberi, friend, and might I ask yours as well?"

[carcinoGeneticist]

Rhiannon's eyes lit up at that. She had been told time and time again that she had a very handsome father, and that his smile was sure to sweep the most hard-hearted of women off of their feet. Perhaps this squirrel was one of the women who he had managed to charm in this way? She was certainly pretty! All the same, hearing that she had inherited that grin made some part of the girl feel extremely proud.

At the sound of her name, the girl seemed to be satisfied and she moved close once more, tail beginning to sway from side to side once more, a bit more controlled this time. The name was strangely familiar, but she just couldn't manage to place it... At the offered paw, the hybrid settled back onto her haunches, raising one paw and placing it into the squirrel's hand-like appendage. "My name's Rhiannon, but that's really long so you can just call me Rhi, okay? Everyone else does. I'm named after my gramma, did you know? She's dead, but that's okay. Death is just another part of life, after all."

[Nako]

Giving the girl's paw a gentle shake before releasing it, she immediately felt relieved that she had regained her trust. It'd be a pity to have her rushing off into goodness knows which city. Her parents would not doubt be looking for her eventually.

"That's a pretty name.." Zuberi offered kindly, though now she was studying the girl with a level gaze, with only the slightest glimmer of.. something in her eyes. Laughter? No.. nothing but a flicker of something like amused awe. "Yes... yes it is a part of life. You're a very mature girl to be able to understand that, but something tells me you already know that." The squirrel grinned, giving a good-natured wink before sitting up off her haunches and on all fours.

"So, what do you say about us going and fixing up some dinner, hmm?"

[carcinoGeneticist]

A pretty name, and her father's smile. This Zuberi-squirrel-lady was just full of the best compliments that Rhiannon could ever hope to have directed at her! When she stood as if to leave, the hybrid was quick to find her paws as well, falling in line directly behind the other woman. "Bodies are simply shells," the girl replied quite simply, blinking almost-owlish eyes up at the squirrel. "Our true selves are masked by the mortal constraints of time. I am pleased to learn that you can see past what we cannot change."

Her tail wagged cheerfully as they walked, seemingly undeterred by the strange things that kept coming from her mouth. "We're gonna make something with those 'nanners, right?" she asked, nose lifted to the air as she sniffed at the ripe fruits that Zuberi carried. "Something delicious, right? What do you cook with 'nanners?" She was certainly a veritable source of questions, and very suddenly she froze.

"WAIT! I know you! You made my papa a dragonfly for my mama!" she announced, raising onto her hind legs and spreading her wings wide.

[Nako]

Zuberi hardly had time to answer the questions thrown at her, so much of the time she'd merely mutter an amused 'yes' and keep on walking. It didn't annoy her though; she actually -did- love children, coming up in a place where family was so important. She'd very much been a part of every one of her younger cousin's lives, and could appreciate their innocent nature, even if she had cashed in on her own too soon.

Wait!

Zuberi screeched to a halt with her hind clawed feet. What was so important to have to stop in their tracks for. Turning her head to glance at the girl, she couldn't help but laugh a bit. "Ah-ye. I did. The fact that the piece was still around probably meant that it had at least been approved of and put on display. "Tell me, does ya madda approve of it?"