forget-me-not [Cy!]

[Kilnarak]

T'gan was uncertain. She had been so for some time now, both in the infirmary and out of it. It troubled Othokenph to sense it in His, to feel that there was nothing he could do about it. The girl refused to give him a clear answer when he asked her about it, she changed the subject, she looked away - while he could have easily found out on his own, the little blue felt that would be impolite and wrong to pry too deeply in her thoughts. It made him a bit sad that she wouldn't tell him what was wrong, but not enough that he would not forgive her. She would tell him eventually, he was sure, he just had to wait, to stay near her and protect her.

Othokenph had grown a bit over the past couple of weeks, however he was still a bit smaller than a number of the other blue hatchlings - only a bit taller than some of the larger hunting dogs kept in the Eyrie's kennels. He hadn't put on nearly as much weight as some of his brothers, as he had eaten little while His had been injured - he had been too worried to eat much, even when His and the others in the infirmary insisted. Of course, now that his T'gan was better, Othokenph had resumed a more healthy appetite - although he still worried for His now and then.

Now was one such time. This morning the pair had left their eyling - as they did most days lately - to take their breakfasts and then stretch their legs in a long walk throughout the winding pathways of the Eyrie. Sometimes their walks ended near the pond, and His would go for a swim. Sometimes they would end up in the gardens and would practice climbing the trees, they would snack on fruits and scare off lizards and bugs. More often than not they were fairly lonely walks - they would greet people that they passed, of course, but rarely would they do much more than that; T'gan uncertain and Othokenph wanting fix it. He understood a bit of her disquiet, but only that - she missed her old roommate, the little girl who had bonded Weirph. Oth only knew as much as T'gan had told him about the girl, and that their new roommate was nothing like her. While they had exchanged greetings with M'rion, she was little more than an acquaintance, and seemed to be away more often than not. Othokenph didn't understand, however, if His was lonely why did she still shy away from others?

Today, their walk lead them to the gardens. Othokenph scampered ahead of his - she told him he was 'scouting' and he had liked the idea. He was scouting ahead, looking for dangers to His! Of course, there were no dangers in the Eyrie, but that didn't mean he couldn't pretend this bush or that rock wasn't a monster waiting to pounce. The simourv was a black and blue blur darting amidst the trees and grasses - getting snagged here and there, but that didn't stop him long.

It was while he was hunting a large cattail-like weed that bent and swished in the slight breeze that he noticed her - the red-headed girl who was also in this section of the garden. The little blue nearly bowled into her in his leap for the weed; he emitted a little squawk and skidded to a halt just short of her only to stare up at her with wide olive-yellow eyes. Oh! Hello! he projected to the girl, chirping up at her. Even as he did he projected another message to His, letting her see what he saw. Mine! There is a girl here already!

T'gan had been some distance behind her little blue, only just entering the garden, and she stopped in her tracks for a moment at Othokenph's announcement. Amira... she supplied a name for her simourv as she recognized the face. She hesitated where she was, not quite sure what to do - she hadn't seen Amira in anything more than passing since the hatching, only briefly spying the girl directly after in the infirmary. The other girl had been distant - T'gan could understand that she was probably depressed over not being chosen to bond during the hatching, but she wondered if the girl held some resentment for her now that she had? While she hadn't thought much of it, she had at least come to consider Amira a friend during their time here, if not back at home - a familiar face, a comfort.

It was some minutes before she could bring herself to move, Othokenph's presence lingering about the edges of her mind goading her on. Hello Amira! Mine is coming soon, the little blue butted his head lightly against the girl's leg in an affectionate manner before sitting back on his haunches. He alternately stared up at her and back toward where His was, waiting. T'gan stooped briefly, not thinking much, and gathered a handful of wildflowers - yellow and bluish daisy-like things - before making her way toward where Othokenph and Amira waited. As they came into sight she offered Amira a quick somewhat awkward smile and a short wave with her free hand. "Ah, morn' Amira."

[Cy]

[/b] She asked with a polite smile sitting small at the corners of her mouth. She followed his gaze to look off down the path, moving a hand up to tuck her hair behind her ear as she waited for the blue’s bonded to make an appearance. And when the other girl managed to make an appearance, the emotional impact was instantaneous as her eyes widened on the familiar figure. Nerves twisted as she stayed in place, watching the girl approach with her heart in her throat and her fingers anxiously twisting together against her stomach where butterflies twirled. She hadn’t seen her friend since she’d been lying injured in the infirmary and she’d not spoken to her since she’d been laid out bleeding on the nesting sands. She’d asked about the new winglet plenty of times. She’d missed her, wondered about her, but guilt had kept her away. Guilt that bubbled up now, because she’d left her and she didn’t feel capable of letting that go.

She straightened up more as the girl greeted her, pulling up to her full height and she returned the smile offered to her, just as awkward and yet lasting far longer. “Hi, morning, Teagan. Er, actually, it’s probably not Teagan anymore, is it?” She returned, wandering on a slight tangent as she narrowed her eyes on the other girl, tilting her head coyly.[/ul][/size]

[Kilnarak]

Othokenph chirped brightly as His appeared, completing a quick, brushing circle about Amira's legs before bounding over to T'gan. He warbled happily up at her - she had liked the girl, so he liked her; she had been her friend, so she should be happy as well! But still, she was uncertain, she was hesitant... There had to be something he could do about it! The little blue circled His in a similar manner, nudging her forward another few paces before settling back onto his haunches again at her side. His wide eyes gazed up at his, then to Amira, and back. A part of His wanted to run away, to avoid this, but the rest wouldn't allow it. His was strong! I'm Othokenph! Mine calls me Oth! Do you know what that means, Amira? he chirped at the other girl as he looked to her again, his voice pleasant and cheerful.

T'gan scratched at the back of her head with her freehand, looking away a moment with a short and somewhat barking laugh. "Ah, it's T'gan now. Isn't that different 'though, yeah? Just kinda... blurred tagether..." She fell quiet a few moments after this, glancing back up to Amira. She knew what she wanted to say, but she wasn't sure how to say it - she hoped that the other girl would do or say something to make it easier. But from the looks of things, Amira was just as uncomfortable with the coincidental meeting as she was, herself.

"Um, here," she mumbled, flashing another quick and slightly awkward smile as she offered the flowers to Amira. "I'm, ah, sorry. For whatever, you know? I still want ta be your friend... We are still friends, right?" The words came out in a rush, blurted quickly, and she flushed slightly as she looked to the other girl. She didn't say it how she wanted to, she wasn't sure how Amira would take the offering, the apology, but it was the best she could think of at the moment. T'gan squirmed a bit as she waited for the girl to take the flowers, to reject them, to do something.

Seated at her side, Othokenph watched His as she offered her apology. He wasn't sure he understood it, there was too much going through T'gan's mind and he still didn't want to pry. But he did understand that it would make her happier, that she wanted to be on friendly terms with Amira again, and that she would be very sad if the apology was rejected. The little blue didn't like that idea much at all, and his ears flattened a moment as he picked up on it. He shifted, picking himself up long enough to move closer to His's side and nestle up against her legs - a supportive presence. Mine missed you, he confided to Amira, looking back to the other girl with interest.

[Cy]

[/b] It seemed incredibly ironic, honestly.

Returning to her friend to greet her, her smile stretched a bit more at the corners at the sound of that familiar laugh. A short bark of noise, amused and awkward, she could remember making the girl laugh like that before. “T’gan. Well, should be easy for me to remember at least, right? You know how awful I can be with names,” She teased with a light smirk, glancing down to her twisting fingers as she chewed at her bottom lip, taking a breath in through her nose. She wracked her brain for something to say, something to do, but came up hopelessly empty. So she glanced off to the side before drifting her gaze forward, back to the winglet, but her gaze snagged on the bundle of flowers collected in hands that had once been so often wrinkly with time spent diving. She almost wanted to wonder if the girl missed Itnala at all, if she ever wished to go home, but then she had to remember that her friend was T’gan now and she had Othokenph. She probably didn’t want to be anywhere else but right here.

Just as she was considering the notion of asking about the bouquet, the bunch was being held out towards her and given. Her light eyes widened slightly, darting up to the other girl as if it must be some mistake, but T’gan was continuing without pause and Amira felt almost hard-pressed to keep up. Her brain felt slow to register the apology, snagged on being given flowers. It was so… sweet.

Generously, a wide grin began to crawl boldly across the teenager’s face, all sunshine and bubbles like it so usually was. Her gaze returned to the flowers and, through sudden rose-tinted glasses, they seemed bright and beautiful and simply wonderful. With some hesitation, she reached both of her hands out to accept them, wrapping slender fingers tenderly about the stems and brushing slightly against T’gan as she took the flowers from her, pulling them closer. She bit her lip as she looked over each petal and bud, hoping to perhaps dim the brightness of her expression at the offering, but it did little more than make it childishly endearing. Still, she had yet to register what else had been said and it’s uncertain how long she’d have remained oblivious to everything else if it weren’t for the smooth voice filtering secretively into her mind. She glanced up quickly to T’gan before dropping her gaze down to Oth. Her smile softened, but remained just as broad. T’gan had missed her? Her heart fluttered.

It all sank in at that moment, bringing a crease of concern across her brow as she abruptly looked back to her friend. “Of course we’re still friends. You have nothing to apologize for, you did nothing wrong. Nothing.” She assured quickly to make up for her delay, shaking her head before looking down to the flowers and frowning. “I should be the one apologizing, really.” She started, nipping at her bottom lip as she raced through everything she wanted to say before sucking in a deep breath and looking quickly up to the girl. “I left you on the sands and I am so so sorry for that. You’d bonded and so I wanted to just find someone who could help you out. And, I mean, I didn’t, but… and then those boys that were there bonded, so they were able to help and – I am so sorry I didn’t come back, I just… I got ridiculous and bitter, I guess, and I just wanted to get back in line so I could… bond too, you know?” She began to slow, for the sake of breathing and out of the pain of memory as she looked back down to the flowers. “I’m sorry I didn’t come to see you afterwards either, I’ve been… sort of just a hermit lately, I guess. I asked about you a lot though, making sure you were healing nicely.” She offered, as if to make up for her alienation, glancing up to the girl with a soft tilt of her head.

Abruptly, looking back down to the bouquet, she thrust her face against the petals, closing her eyes to draw in a deep breath. They smelled sweet too. Sad smile upon her lips, she pulled her head back enough to look over them. ”These are beautiful, thank you.” She complimented in a whisper, peering beyond them to her friend then.[/ul][/size]

[Kilnarak]

Yep! That's what Mine said! Like a promise! Othokenph chirped brightly as he replied, incredibly pleased that Amira knew what it meant. But of course she would know what it meant, she was like His and she would belong with one of his future siblings just like T'gan belonged with him. If simourv could beam Othokenph would have been doing so; as it was he still looked incredibly cheerful, his eyes bright and warm, and his ears pricked forward in an interested and comfortable set. So I promised Mine I'd protect her! And you, too! Everyone here! That's an oath too, right? The little blue tilted his head to the side as he addressed Amira, questioning.

T'gan's smile turned a bit less awkward - a bit softer about the edges, warmer - as she looked briefly down to her simourv. She wondered if she should answer him, but he wasn't addressing her. Her eyes shot back up to Amira as the other girl took the flowers; a faint flush briefly coloring her cheeks before she released them into Amira's hands. She considered taking a step back, now that her offering had been made and accepted, but the bright, happy expression that spread across Amira's face stayed her. It was contagious, and the new winglet found a happy grin curling her own lips - she was glad to have made Amira smile, to see her acting more like herself than the stranger she had been for the past few weeks.

When Amira finally answered her, T'gan's grin broadened and her eyes lit up - glad, again, that Amira admitted they were still friends. It had been a silly fear, thinking that she had been abandoned by the other girl - but still, she had feared it. "I'm... I'm glad ta hear that," she laughed - the sound still a touch nervous, but relieved. "Makes me happy."

She paused a moment as the rest of what Amira said registered to her, and she shifted her weight uncomfortably to one side, then the other. "Not... I mean, you know, not about..." T'gan trailed off awkwardly, wincing slightly. She wasn't sure how to talk about it, about the fact that Amira hadn't bonded. Her eyes drifted back down to Othokenph, who still pressed stubbornly against her legs - it must hurt, to see her here with her own bond.

The little blue looked up at her, blinking as he caught the trailing edge of her thoughts. His attention turned back up to Amira, wide-eyed, and he confided in her again: I'm sure, next time someone will choose you. You are pretty and wonderful and smart, like Mine, so... So things will work out! He finished brightly, expressing his certainty up to the girl. Of course she would be chosen! If he could choose two, he would definitely choose her too! But he couldn't, and he loved His more than anything. Still, he could help! He could cheer her up! And His could help too! He projected this idea back up to T'gan, turning his wide olive gaze back to her.

The former fisher-woman's expression turned a touch awkward again at Othokenph's insistence. "Ah... I'm glad you like them, too. I wasn't sure what ta bring... There's so many colors, right?" She took a moment to look away, looking around at the various greenery around them, at the profusion of wildflowers still clinging to the verdant hues of summer even with the coming winter looming nearer and nearer. After a moment her eyes returned to Amira and, after a few moments more, she hesitantly lifted a hand to awkwardly pat Amira's shoulder - trying for comfort, 'though maybe a hug would do better? She wasn't used to this sort of thing at all. "Are you allright, 'though? I mean, after all that... An' I saw you in th' infirmary, an' all that blood..." Her lips curved into a brief frown - maybe this wasn't the right thing to be talking about, either...

I'm sure Sradivaph didn't mean it! He'd probably apologize, too! He was just scared! Othokenph cut in abruptly, trying to defend his blue brother. Sradivaph had done a terrible thing, hurting Amira, but he hadn't meant it at all! Not like that red, Teimoph! He was just excited and frightened - and hadn't they all been, to an extent? Although truly, Othokenph's own memories of the event were somewhat blurred - he remembered clearly finding His, although he had paid little attention to the other humans on the sands. He had been more excited than frightened, although he had felt a bit scared when he had found His. It was probably the same for Sradivaph! I can apologize for him, maybe? Can I? I'd be very scared too if T'gan was in trouble! The little blue's ears flattened at the merest thought of it.

[Cy]

[/I] happy for them, absolutely. She was – she just sort of hated it too, because she wanted it. She wanted what they had, she should have had it with the fantastic odds that had been hers, but she didn’t have it. Not yet. With a quaint smile turning the corners of her mouth, she nodded softly. “Yes, I think that’s an oath too.” She assured, tilting her own head for a moment in brief mimic of the creature before she was looking up to her friend. “He’s adorable…” she complimented, surely stating what T’gan already knew.

Flowers in her grasp, her sad smile took on a refreshed note of excitement and charm, blue eyes glittering as she looked over the offering. A flush filled her cheeks as she peered over the petals at the other girl, pleased to no small end to have made her friend happy. She should have been making her happy a long time ago. It had been weeks, nearly a month! This whole thing – apologies and smiles and all – was long overdue. Sadness trickled back in as T’gan belatedly responded to her own rambling apology and she could tell immediately what the other girl had latched on to. It was the same thing that anyone latched on to, what she herself so often latched on to when thinking back, and she promptly dropped her gaze down to the bouquet gripped tightly between her hands. “It’s fine.” She piped up abruptly, cutting her friend off and offering no more room for pity. She’d had enough of pity, as she was sure others were having enough of pitying her. It was just awkward, and this whole thing was surely awkward enough as it was. Bright tones filled her head though, affected by the tensions and yet made no dimmer by them, and another soft smile crept to the edges of her mouth as she looked to the blue. His comfort was genuine, but it fell on a heart that had tried to heal on the same reassurances so many times already. It fluttered, but nothing more. It would all sink in as soon as she was truly prepared to let it though, she was sure.

She turned her gaze to T’gan as she spoke, smile growing as she followed that wandering gaze to the multitudes of wildflowers that surrounded them in the well kept garden, vibrant and sturdy as they fought to remain for just a moment longer before the touch of winter pushed them to a long and frozen sleep. Her gaze loyally returned to the bouquet in her hands though. “I like blue.” She assured in low tones, sincere and flattering. Blue had always been a favored color. It was the color of her eyes, the color of her favorite toy and her favorite dress and her favorite ribbon. It was the color of the sky and the sea. It was the color of Oth and, with him attached to her best friend, it was now the color of T’gan. Yes, she liked blue. Very much so.

Her features dimmed for a moment at the awkward pat upon her shoulder and her memory was turned back to the hatching, to her rejection and the attack and the infirmary afterwards. At least the infirmary held a fond memory in the kind words of a man and his gentle hands. She nodded as she looked back to the bundle in her grasp before looking to Othokenph as he eagerly butt in to defend the blue that had scraped her up. Sradivaph was his name, she could only assume. She shook her head though, endeared by the little thing’s attempt all the same. “No, I’m not upset with him.” She returned, quickly looking up to her friend with explanation. “The blue that ran me over, that is.” She nodded, speaking as if it was an everyday occurrence for blues to run people over. Her light eyes lingered on the other girl’s face for a handful of moments longer before she abruptly thrust herself forward, arms opening wide, so she could collect the winglet in a forward hug, clinging tightly to her. “I’m sorry about everything,” she muttered in muffled words, her cheek squished against the shoulder that she rested her head upon.[/ul][/size]

[Kilnarak]

Othokenph brightened again quickly enough as Amira admitted that she did not begrudge Sradivaph. He warbled happily and rose to his feet once again, fairly prancing to Amira and butting and rubbing against her legs like a cat. A veritable aura of affection and cheer radiated out from the young blue - both glad that she did not hold Sradivaph's mistakes against him, and also childishly pleased that she had announced a fondness for the color blue. Because, of course, he was blue, and he took the words as a compliment. He was so happy about this announcement that he continued his skipping about the pair of them, chirping brightly.

T'gan was, of course, fully aware of Othokenph's adorable-ness - he was curious and cheerful, and it was difficult to imagine how she had lived without him. She smiled down at her blue as he pranced about, opening her mouth as if to comment on him - but whatever she had intended to say was cut short as Amira suddenly lunged at her and drew her into a tight hug. T'gan froze a moment, uncertainty stilling her briefly, before she hesitantly returned the hug. A smile touched her lips as she set her chin on Amira's shoulder, and she shook her head slightly. "S'okay. Don't got ta be sorry for anythin'," her arms tightened slightly about her friend, holding tight a few moments longer. "I'm glad you're allright, you know? Glad we're allright. Er. I s'ppose it was kinda silly thinkin' you didn't want ta be friends anymore," she laughed softly, a bit awkwardly, and a faint blush touched her sun-tanned cheeks.

After a few moments longer, T'gan lifted her hands to Amira's shoulders and carefully pushed away, an entirely too happy grin pulling at her lips. It was a moment before she was aware of it, and once she realized she was grinning like a fool she only flushed further and offered a sheepish laugh. "Ah, sorry. Just... Just glad, yeah?" She took a step back from the other girl, and the still circling blue bumped into her legs with a little cheep. It's wonderful, isn't it Mine? When Othokenph peered up at his, it almost looked as though he was smiling as well. Yes... The girl laughed again, less sheepish, and offered another grin down to the little blue before shifting her attention back up to Amira. "So, ah. How've you been? I mean, aside from... all of... th' that stuff," she finished lamely, making a bit of a face at her lack of eloquence. "Are you still in th' same room? But you have a new roomie now, don't you?" she continued after a moment, slightly more coherently.

While His was chatting, Othokenph completed one more skipping circle about the girls before suddenly pouncing upon a fallen leaf. The red-orange color of it shone brightly against his pale blue-gray paws, and he leaned down to catch up the thing in his beak. He tossed it into the air, then skipped after it as it slowly fluttered back to ground. Maybe His and Amira would like to play as well? He picked up his leaf again and bounded back to the girls, holding up his catch proudly. Do you want to play? We can climb trees! There are tasty sweet things in some of them!

[Cy]

[/I] silly thing to think.”[/b] She returned kindly, playful but still meaning it entirely.

As always, she waited until a pair of hands were moving up to push at her shoulders before she dared to relent, easing her clasp on the girl until her arms were falling away entirely, her slender body straightening up and her hands coming to cradle the bouquet between both of her hands once more. Her own grin sat wide on her lips as she absorbed the sight of a dopey grin mirrored on her friend’s own features. She noticed the exact moment that T’gan seemed aware of it, a shade of pink crawling prettily into her cheeks before she laughed and Amira laughed as well, the light noise much more assured than the sheepish thing offered from the winglet.

Briefly, she glanced down to the playing blue before she was looking back up to T’gan, raising her eyebrows slightly. Biting at her bottom lip for a moment, she glanced down to the bouquet in her hands before tilting her head and taking a breath. “I’ve been alright, I suppose. Just… hanging in there.” She replied with a small chuckle, shaking her head as she looked back up to the girl. “Still in the same room, but, yeah, I got a new roommate. She seems nice enough, I haven’t really talked to her too much yet.” She confided, now nodding her head before shrugging it off. “What about you, how’ve you been?” She suddenly questioned, brow furrowed with her concern. T’gan had been so hurt, mauled and bleeding and disturbingly cold. It haunted her sometimes.

Distracted, her attentions whipped down to the little blue as he skipped back up to them, large leaf held proudly in his beak. With an amused smile and confused narrowing of her eyes, she chuckled and tilted her head. “Really? Oh, I dunno, I haven’t climbed any trees in a long time.” She explained with a broad grin, glancing up to T’gan for some ideas of what to do. [/ul][/size]