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Post by Nako on Jul 3, 2008 18:07:12 GMT -5
If she had been more awake, she might have possibly made more sense of that dream. Then again, things like that tended to make sense when they needed to, so it might be better that Zuberi was not awake enough to over evaluate it.
Do I have to go home?
An empty protest if there ever was one, but a hopeful one nonetheless. Zuberi smiled into those blurred amber eyes before delivering a perk kiss upon the leafed nose that now loomed close to her face. It was times like this that Zuberi desperately wanted a child of her own. I'll be there with you." It was a small consolation, but a well meant one regardless. Her green lids were being pulled mercilessly over her slightly brighter hued eyes, but she fought to keep them open. "I'll be there... I'll be strong for you, Rhi.."
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 3, 2008 23:07:00 GMT -5
Whatever Zuberi had done, it worked like a charm to bring the girl back up out of her sadness. Yellow eyes brightened, the haze of worry pulled away from them like a shroud. Eagerly, the girl began to lick Zuberi's cheek, tail flopping lightly against the hammock. Seth would be there, after all, and as long as Zuberi was as well, nothing bad could befall either of them. How could her mother hate the very craftsman who made the beautiful wood dragonfly? And she could tell them both what good care Zuberi had taken of her...
Her tail began to wag a little harder. Maybe, just maybe, this could end with her getting to spend more time in the paradise of Midori! Anything to delay the trip back to the Heart's court would be wonderful at this point.
Something about the place was getting to her. Changing her, somehow.
"A-and my mom.. she's not that scary, I promise... I'll keep you safe from her." she licked the squirrel again in what she hoped would be a reassuring manner. This was going to turn out for the best, she was just sure of it! "When will we leave?"
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Post by Nako on Jul 4, 2008 2:39:41 GMT -5
Zuberi was jostled mid-snore by the licking in her face, and she swished her head side to side to fend off the kisses, laughing. Yes... laughing. It felt so good to do so too. Her sleepy smile peeled back her lips once again, tossling Rhiannon's hair one last time before letting her head back on her pillow.
"Hm... in the morning, Rhi. I just want... a few more hours.." but that's all she could really get out before her voice drifted off into a quiet, whistling snore.
~~~~
The following morning, there was a lot of debree on the shore, but as tropical storms seemed to go the sky was as clear as it had been the day before. What woke her though, was Rhi's insistent pleas to wake up along with a batty nose prodding her in the chest. Normally, Zuberi would be bothered by these changes, but Rhi was obviously so excited about it that she had no time to sulk. If she thought -that- caused a lot of commotion, Rhi was practically bouncing off the walls when she revealed her bipedal form! Seaworn clothes or not, she wanted to stand up to her inches in front of this fabled bog mother.
The morning was now over, and it was nearly midday when they finally reached the Capital. Zuberi's coin purse was secured at her side, and she surveyed the streets. It was a busy, bustling day. "Do you know where we need to go to get to your house from here?"
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 4, 2008 3:07:46 GMT -5
Rhiannon's joy knew no bounds when she opened her eyes to find the black mark on Zuberi's chest to be different from what it had been the night before. She had never seen anything of the sort happen, and felt a strange sense of pride for the woman that she had decided to cling so thouroughly too. If nothing else, she knew that it would make meeting up with her mother just /that much easier/.
There was still a part of the girl that hoped that her mother would never be involved in the meeting, that they would find her father and it would be a reunion of family and of old friends.
The sights and sounds of the capital were a staunch contrast to those in the village she had found in Midori. The hair on her back and neck stood up straight in an immediate reaction to the hustle and bustle of city life. "We live in the Hearts court... I think that we need to go.. that way?" the girl raised a paw, pointing down a major road. The street was lined with busy market stands, and her tail began to wag eagerly. "...And when we walk, we can look at what they have for sale? Maybe?"
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Post by Nako on Jul 4, 2008 3:29:36 GMT -5
"Oh, I think that would be a -lovely- idea!" Rhi's hopeful question would be greeted with genuine excitement as she grinned down at the coyote hybrid. She'd be spending a good portion of her meager funds today, but being at the Capital marketplace would certainly be the place she'd want to do a bit of shopping; there were just so many things that she couldn't find in Midori.
Well, they were -supposed- to be getting her back home, but what ended up happening is that they ended up perusing through items instead. All that shopping though, made for sore feet. Finally though, the two would find a nice place to sit on the curb with two bowls of french fries smothered in cheese. Alas, there were no drinks! Excusing herself, she left her fries with Rhi and warned her not to eat them all before heading around the corner to a fruit drink stand she's seen. Predictably enough, it was next to the fruit stand. As she paid for her two drinks though, a familiar mohawk caught her eye.
Zuberi turned to stare at a large, grizzled looking man.. a human. Still, the mohawk, the smile... She took a step forward before hesitantly addressing the human who was so intensely conversing with the owner of the fruit stand. "... Seth?"
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 4, 2008 3:44:09 GMT -5
Rhiannon had no complaints whatsoever when it came to their little detour, her tail wagging eagerly as the two wove through the stands. Music was reaching her ears from somewhere, she didn't really know where from, but it put an extra bounce in her step. She clutched the cheesy fries and nodded to the woman as she set out through the crowd again, immediately diving into the meal as soon as Zuberi was out of view. " Look, she's not just any child.. She's got a strange coat, almost oily? Nose shaped like a leaf? Wings?[/b]" The man said, a tinge of frustration beginning to tone his already panicked tone. At the shopkeep's futile shrug, the man practically snarled, turning from him. " Oh, well, you've been extremely helpful. Damnit, where the hell is she..?![/b]" The man stalked away from the stand, hair bristling even in his human form, fists clenched at his sides. His expression was a mixture of fear and anger and frustration all at once, and he was paying no attention to where he was going. It should have been no surprise when he bumped into the small bipedal woman, except when he turned his eyes down they fell upon the familiar shape of... " Zuberi?![/b]" Seth exclaimed, eyes widening. |
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Post by Nako on Jul 4, 2008 4:02:48 GMT -5
"Seth!" Her own tone turned into that of jubilation once she finally realized it was him. How wonderful to find him here, without his wife! Yes, very good indeed. With how his fur was bristled, she didn't think she'd want to deal with two frantic parents at once.
She'd almost forgotten herself. Shaking her head to regain her composure, she continued to speak in a hurried tone. "I've brought Rhi with me! She's fine, I assure you! Now.. don't freak out.. just stay calm and don't scare the girl off. She's had quite an adventure and I don't want you getting her all upset." All those words came out of her in a rush, and she breathed in a gulp of air to compensate. "Just.. don't be mad at her. She was terrified to come home for that reason alone I think." Damnit, she was fretting over it like some errant child! "She's on the curb just around the bend enjoying some.. potato strips with cheese.. Fries, I think they are called."
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 5, 2008 17:32:20 GMT -5
The man's expression fell into confusion as Zuberi spoke. Wait - Rhi was with her? How in the suits did that happen?! His mouth fell open, forming some words that went unexpressed, and he finally settled on shaking his head. Zuberi had always been a marvel, this was no exception. "How... How did you find her? How did you know she was mine?[/b]" he finally asked, biting his lip. Heilyn was searching nearby, he'd need to get a message to her somehow, letting her know that their daughter was found and in safe hands... "Where did you find her?[/b]"
He blinked at the woman's sudden outburst, somewhat taken aback. What had happened while Rhiannon had been missing? Surely, it couldn't have been that bad - With the squirrel around, he was sure that the girl was in good hands...
"I just need to see her,[/b]" he said softly, a hint of urgency in his voice. "Heilyn - Her mother - and her brother Hadrian are around here somewhere... They're both looking for her as well. We planned to gather together again at the fountain in a little while, so they'll be there soon... you can meet them both.[/b]" a hint of hopefulness entered his voice, but he was clearly in a rush to get moving.
~~~
Rhiannon licked a trace of cheese from her muzzle, then set about cleaning the rest off her paws. True to her word, she didn't eat all of them... but it seemed like such a waste letting those that remained go cold. She stared at them wistfully, then lay her head down on her paws, brows furrowed. She wouldn't eat Zuberi's lunch. That would just be rude.
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Post by Nako on Jul 6, 2008 16:22:30 GMT -5
To see Seth so worried... it was strange. This was the same man who she spent the most carefree of time with.. the man whom she helped court his lady... and now there he was, frantic to find the daughter which Zuberi only recently knew he had... He had been scared, and that was... strange to see. She swallowed thickly at the thought of meeting his better half. She'd heard too much of her not to be wary.
Zuberi, having been with the girl the whole time she had been missing, found it jarring that he was so panicked, but in her mind she understood his reasoning. Still, she was safe! She brushed off his multiple questions; these would all be answered later; right now, she had to get him to his daughter before he had a heart attack. Making haste, she walked along the path, taking the corner to come to where Rhiannon sat... gazing longingly at her fries. That made her smile, but she pushed that distraction aside before calling out. "Rhi, look who I found!"
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 6, 2008 23:35:40 GMT -5
"Zuberi!" Rhiannon's face lit up as the Midori woman rounded the corner, dropping into a playbow, her tail wagging desperately. Maybe Zuberi would let her finish off the fries, since she'd been nice enough to save them for her! Maybe they'd buy more! Maybe --
The blue mowhawk stood out in the crowd, and the girl's eyes widened rather abruptly. There was no mistaking her father, and she began to quiver with excitement. That excitement was mirrored in the man's expression, and the little hybrid leapt at him, crying out loudly. "PAPA!" she collided with him, the man wrapping strong arms around her small body, laughing as she licked at his face, tickling his stubbled chin.
"Rhi, love, you have no idea how worried we were![/b]" he exclaimed, pulling her away from him so he could look her in the eyes. She continued to squirm in his grasp, tongue lolling out of the corner of her mask. "Your mom and Hady are on their way now, they'll be so glad to see you.[/b]" he laughed, completely ignorant to the breif flash of terror that went through her eyes at the mention of 'mom'.
"How did you find her, Zuberi?[/b]" Seth finally turned back to the woman, eyes glittering with the spunk that he'd been missing when she first saw him. Rhiannon was safe... that was all that mattered to him right now.
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