Oooh, either way sounds good to me! 83

Ooh, awesome! :3

Lemon woke in her poppy fields, shaking away dreams of times long gone. The poppies, with their warm scent and soft touch, always brought a pang of sadness to her heart. It was here that she had spent her time with a stag whose existence was now nothing more than a wistful, distant memory in her mind. And yet, still she slept in the rosy-red field, hoping to wake one day and find him there, his bony body nestled tightly against hers, his brooding skull face ever-watchful over his little pet.

But he was gone -- long gone -- and the day was new. She did not plan to spend it grieving for what could never return. So the little grey doe rose, stretching her spindly legs, and delicately inhaled the sweet scents of the forest. Amid the hearty fragrance of her beloved poppies -- a fragrance which had come to be a part of her -- she detected something faint and familiar, something which stirred her stomach.

Malikorin. She had met the slender stag the day before, at once intimidated and enraptured by his brooding, demure attitude. Carefully, the little one stepped in his direction, keenly aware of the fact that she did not know him well and could not count on his affection. Lemon's small, plump body was pocked and lined, beneath the thick plush fur, with scars from a past full of abusive lovers and hateful strangers. She could not be too careful around those she did not know well.

Lemon circled the stag, and found a place nearby to settle down and wait. Normally she would be more subtle about her intrigue -- but this time, she was feeling bold and stubborn. She lay out in the open, feeling the warm sun against her back and the flat grass against her belly. She could sense him only a few paces away -- dangerously close if he was not interested in companionship. And yet, something fiery and wild inside her wanted him to see her and react -- to notice her laying so casually with her slender legs folded neatly, her unseeing-white eyes hidden beneath an eye-less mask, her lips pressed into a soft, coy smile.

Her approach did not go unnoticed by the seemingly devoid male. As she neared, an ear followed her even though his eyes did not. He heard her settle down closer than she should have, her small, gray figure in the corners of his vision. Finally, his olive gaze flickered to stare at her, black pupils constricting into thin slits. No longer were the depths of his eyes hollow - instead, they held a look similar to a cat watching a mouse. As soon as he recognized her, their piercing quality eased... but just a little.

Malikorin lifted himself to his black hooves, closing the small gap between them and his attention never straying. He came to a halt when he was a hair's breadth away, and his muzzle lowered near the side of her head. A quiet inhale of her scent verified her identity, not that he had doubted who she was when he saw her. His eyes, which had been staring at where her eyes would be beneath her mask, now briefly slid down towards her throat. A moment later he looked at her face, and then took a step back while raising his head.

"...I remember you."

The black and white stag's voice was barely above a murmur, but he was close enough for her to hear even a whisper. Both black-rimmed ears slowly pivoted forward to listen to whatever she might say, and he took another step back to give her more room to get up in case she was going to.

Kaoori never did like the cold- she tried her best to keep herself moving during the day when she was about. With no young children to watch over, her youngest now in their adolescence and not wanting to hang out with good old Mom all day, she was free to wander about without worry.

She had found a break in the trees in the first forest, where some sun had peeked through. It never got brutally cold in the Endless Forest, but enough for one to indeed catch a chill if not smart enough. Settling down on the warm ground, the air brought an old but familiar scent- one that she had not come across in some time, and she raised her head as she recognized it, looking for the source.

>>-Kaoori-<<

Lemon hesitated, her face turned to the warm winter sun, nostrils flared as she took in the scents of the forest. She could sense a familiar spirit nearby -- one intimately familiar to her, one which brought with it a flurry of memories at once anguished and joyful. But could it really be her? Time had claimed many of Lemon's old friends -- the forest was a place of transience, its inhabitants ever fading in and out of its infinite embrace. It was hard for Lemon to believe that after all this time, her old friend might still be here...

Lemon took a tentative step forward, still testing the air. Yes, it could only be -- couldn't it? She would have to find out for herself.

With her heart in her throat, the little doe whisked herself in the direction of the glowing spirit -- praying, silently, that she was not mistaken. She found the doe nestled not far away, in a patch of sun. Lemon stood, trembling, blind eyes wide with disbelief. Her voice shook when she spoke, every word spoken so softly and carefully.

"Kaoori? Is... is that you?"

--

>>-Malikorin-<<

His words, while cold, were reassuring. Lemon took a cautious step closer to him, feeling emboldened by his agreeable reply.

"Let's sit," she answered, inclining her head a little. It wasn't always easy for her to keep step with other deer when traveling through the forest. It was a matter of learning to see their souls, and to memorize the sound of their steps and the speed with which they moved. She did not know this brooding, aloof creature -- and his soul appeared to her as nothing more than a mystifying cloud of silver-grey. For now, it would be easier to merely sit in one place.

She could feel his eyes on her -- though she could not see the intense stare, she felt it's white-hot touch licking up and down her body. The doe suppressed a shudder and forced her lips to retain their pleasant smile. His gaze reminded her of the serpentine way with which Walter had looked at her when he was in one of his demonic phases. It was not an unpleasant feeling -- but she wasn't quite sure yet whether it was entirely welcomed, either.

"Your name is Malikorin, correct?" She recalled hearing the name the day before, as she had pressed herself nervously to Reed's side. Now it sounded strange on her tongue, painted as it was in her feminine drawl.

>>-Kaoori-<<

Laughter bubbled unexpectedly up from her throat as she heard her name exclaimed in that voice she knew so well.. Tears brimmed behind her eyeless mask, and she leaned into Kaoori's feline-like embrace.

"Kaoori, oh Kaoori!" She was laughing and crying, her cheeks wet with tears and her sides shuddering with soft laughter. "I'm so glad you're here! I missed you!"

What more could she say? Oh, she longed to know all that had happened to her dear friend during her long absence -- but for now she was merely happy to be reunited with the lovely little doe. At a loss for words she merely nuzzled against Kaoori, like a child reunited with its mother.

In a world that had changed so much, this was the single thread leading back toward a past she so desperately missed.

After she voiced her preference to sit, Malikorin nodded once and turned around. A few steps brought him closer to his trees and he cast a quick glance over his shoulder at Lemon to make sure she was following, then continued on until he was there. White legs folded and lowered his black body to the ground with enough room for her to fit in between the trees next to him, if she so wished - there was plenty of space beside either of the trees if she was uncertain about sitting too close. At this point, her nearness no longer put her in potential danger - her company had been accepted by him.

An ear twisted in her direction when she said his name. Another nod came from him. "Yes." He paused, but he was fairly certain that he had not heard her name mentioned. Perhaps he had been too distracted and had failed to catch it. "And you are...?"

Malikorin shifted his weight a little so that he was leaning more comfortably on one of the trees, and allowed his attention to temporarily focus on their environment. He wasn't paranoid, but he wanted to make sure no one was staring at them or anything. Finding nothing suspicious, he looked back at Lemon.

Mitsuki loved to sit among the poppies. The ebony hind was just returning from a trip to the pond, when she picked up on the other female's scent. She was gaining weight bit by bit, and any doe in her right mind would be able to discern her pregnancy, except for Mitsuki herself, naturally. The stubborn doe refused to believe anything but that she was simply sick. Even her scent was beginning to change. The doe, slightly lightheaded, trotted closer to the patch of flowers. Stepping softly, more cautiously than usual, she drew closer.

Malikorin had expected her to sit on the outside of either tree or beside one on the inside, but he had not expected her to lean against him. The contact paralyzed the stag for no longer than a moment, but it sent an inward jolt through him. After the moment ended, he relaxed again, as though nothing had happened.

His head remained facing forward when she answered him, but his olive gaze flickered to her face and fixed upon her smile. Such a simple, easy action for anyone. Just pulling up the sides of their mouth, maybe revealing their teeth in a grin, and yet he could not. He had tried, but all he could manage was something that resembled a grimace or a snarl. But everyone else could smile without any effort, especially this little gray doe whose gentle face was a constant home to a smile.

"Nice to meet you, Lemon." At least, their interactions so far had not been unpleasant. He, for some reason, could practically hear the silence after he finished speaking, and concluded that he would have to somehow continue conversation. Being reserved and quiet was not the best combination to carry on verbal communication, but he felt that if he kept silent, his thoughts would wander to things he didn't want to dwell upon.

"...I haven't seen you around the forest until recently. Are you new?"

Kaoori listened to the tales of Lemon's 'underworld', eyes widening. It frrightened her, and unnerved her. She'd dealt with soul-dealers.. particularly one, and he was still around. If her soul left to float in limbo, she worried for the safety for her little friend. As long as Lemon was in forest and she could protect her, she would. Perhaps subconsciously, the little shika curled a little closer to Lemon, as if to shield her.

But as the talk turned to lighter things, she brightened, too. She laughed. "I must admit, I never imagined having a family as big as I do, but I"d never change it. I have two grown children now, a son and daughter. Takeshi has his own mate and son now, and my daughter Kari has just grown to adulthood. Seifer and Reira were born last May.. they're twins. They're growing fast, and don't want to spend so much time with their mother anymore." She stopped again, to chuckle.

"My mate and I are well. We've had our share of troubles, as have all in this forest. But Wesker and I grow all the more closer."

Kaoori was quiet for a moment, as if hesitant to ask her next question, but finally she relented.

"What.. what do you do in the otherworld?"

>>-Kaoori-<<

Lemon listened, astonished, as her friend casually recounted just how large her family had gotten. Lemon herself had never been able to conceive a biological child, but it was her dream to have one one day. She had formally adopted a single fawn with her mate Seth -- the orphaned, deaf Peppa. But now her daughter was long gone, and Lemon was again alone.

But to hear that Kaoori was even now a grandmother was much to Lemon's greater astonishment. Had it really been so long since she had last visited the forest?

Lemon smiled at her friend, full to bursting with happiness for her. She could have been envious or bitter -- but that wasn't in Lemon's nature. She felt nothing but joy for her friend. "I'm so happy for you, Kaoori!" she exclaimed, laughing.

She was about to press for further news, when Kaoori suddenly asked a question Lemon had hoped she would not.

Lemon hesitated, pondering the question carefully. Would it be safe to reveal her true nature? No one had ever asked before -- odd as it was -- and now Lemon wasn't sure just what she should say.

"It's a long and complicated tale," Lemon finally answered. Again she paused, uncertain. She had spent so long in secrecy, it seemed strange to finally be able to say just exactly what she was. Finally, she resumed; "I am from another realm -- a spirit realm. I was stolen as an infant and hidden here by an envious God. I grew up here, knowing nothing of my true calling as a spirit. Eventually, of course, I learned the truth. The God took me to other realms, at times, to keep me from being discovered. I never knew where -- or when -- I would be going."

She turned to her friend, her face a mix of many emotions. "During my last departure from the forest, there was a final battle -- I was discovered. I did not wish to return to my old realm, however; I know nothing about it. Instead, I requested that I remain here in the forest. They granted my desire."

She smiled. "Which means that hopefully my extended departures have come to an end."

Lemon found herself acutely aware that she had not truly answered Kaoori's question -- but the question of what had gone on during Lemon's absences was something Lemon would never speak aloud. The atrocities had been too much for her -- she could not recount them, and make them real. They would remain forever locked away in her mind, where she was free to pretend that they were little more than an odd delusion or dream.

--

>>-Malikorin-<<

Lemon had hoped that Malik would not comment on her curious habit of disappearing. Alas, it seemed too great a temptation for him to pass up. It was not that she minded his probing into her personal affairs -- Lemon was an open creature, always happy to reveal her deepest heart. It was merely that the little doe did not like to think about her time spent away from the forest.

She inclined her head, considering his questions quietly for a moment before choosing her answer.

"No, I was never able to control my disappearances," she replied finally. Her voice, normally spirited and sunny, had taken on a small and frightened tone. "I have been to many places, seen many things--" her voice trailed away, her body trembling at the recollection. After a moment she chuckled -- a dry, joyless laugh. "I have been to hell and back again, I suppose you could say."

She stretched her slender forelegs out before her and crossed them, trying to soothe herself. At the same time she leaned a little more against her larger companion, needing the comfort of his warmth. "Hopefully," she said quietly, "Those days are long past."

Malikorin could tell that this was not a topic she would have brought up herself from the tone of her voice, but he listened silently as she spoke, his olive gaze staring at the painted closed eyes and tear stains of her mask. The tear stains reminded him of his own eye markings.

Her words about hell caused memories of his past to rise. He closed his eyes and banished them, and then opened his eyes again to look down at Lemon. Her words, tone, and shivering were clear evidence that she had definitely seen things she never should have had to. He wasn't a professional at comforting others, but it seemed he didn't have to do a thing when she leaned on him herself.

"Hopefully indeed."

She had been nothing but pleasant to him and, from what he'd seen so far, she was a very kind individual. She shouldn't have had to experience such horrible things - it wasn't difficult for him to be able to imagine horrible things, but doing so would require the resurfacing of memories he preferred to be locked away. And what was worse, she had no control whatsoever - at least he had some degree of control when he left the forest. She could disappear tomorrow, or even now, and have to suffer. That would be unacceptable. The thought made Malik curl around Lemon, but just a little.

"Don't linger on the bad memories," he ordered, even though he'd been the one who had inquired about this and caused her to talk about it. "Think about something positive."

((I got an idea ^^))

It was another cold evening in the forest; another part in a series that had occured, time after time. Seed's breath lingered in the air in front of him, and the green stag crossed his eyes to watch it slowly unfurl, pufting larger with the first blast of an exhale. He tried controlling his breathing more carefully, in through the nose and out through the mouth... Seeing how it changed the cloud that dispersed into the air.

All of this was to take his mind off pressing things, but it worked. Eventually, he settled enough to keep moving about, on the lookout for...Anything, really. In the cold, it was best to keep moving. He hadn't lost the flowers or leaves that grew from his branch-antlers to a cold snap yet, but he didn't like the possibility. It would be a shame to be the only non-evergreen tree or tree-deer in the forest, after all... And he wasn't sure about his mossy patch full of things, either. Most of them relied on him for heat, after all. And he sure felt cold...

This mound of worries had piled up on the forefront of his mind, with the rest of his woes, making it difficult to focus on the here and now. His golden eyes darted about as he wandered the woods, his step a light trot.

>>-Seed-<<

Lemon shivered, her little tongue darting out to flick at her quivering nose. She was so unused to the drop in temperature, and the way it affected her body. Her nose was chafed from the constant licking, something she had begun to do inadvertently -- her body's attempt to warm up the coldest part of her.

She had taken to jogging through the forest in short bursts to keep warm, unhappy that it meant she would have to forgo her usual habit of laying low and listening to the other deer go about their business. This constant moving about was sure to attract attention, and she wasn't quite sure if she wanted any.

Lemon was suddenly stricken by a familiar scent and a stirring sensation in her heart. The doe halted, head high, carefully testing the icy breeze. Could it really be him? But of course, it had to be! He was as much a part of this forest as any of the other trees which inhabited it. He had no other place to go, no other home to relocate to. It had to be him.

With her heart in her throat, Lemon scraped her hooves excitedly against the half-frozen earth, a cry of delight lifting from her chest. "Seed?!" She exclaimed, her little voice rising to echo and bounce through the still forest. "Seed, is that you?"

--

>>-Kaoori-<<

Lemon was touched by her friend's words. She sincerely hoped that her days of disappearing were over for good. There was nowhere else Lemon felt at home -- this place truly had become a part of who she was. Kaoori's powerful words were a reminder of just how much Lemon had grown to love her and all of the forest inhabitants.

"Thank you, Kaoori," was all the little doe could manage without bursting into a blubbering mess. She smiled a watery smile, trying to hold herself together.

Their talked turned again to family and children, and Lemon could not help but grin at the joy with which Kaoori spoke about her family. Kaoori was no doubt the best mother a fawn could wish for -- caring, sweet-natured -- family and friends were the only things, it seemed, that filled the blue doe's heart.

"Well that's only natural, of course!" Lemon giggled. "You make the perfect mother!"

Lemon's mind could not help but wander to Walter, for many reasons. He was the reason Kaoori had lost one of her daughters, and yet he was the same stag with whom Lemon had planned to have a child.

Lemon had keenly avoided Walter after she had heard of the atrocity he had committed, and finding that he had impregnated another doe had only compounded the finality of their relationship. Now there were even rumors that he was mated to one of Lemon's old friends -- the stag named Queze. Lemon's face took on a troubled look. She knew Kaoori would know what had come of Walter, but she did not know if it would be wise to ask... Still, she wanted to know.

Hesitantly, she asked the question that had hung at the back of her mind. "Is... is Walter still around?"

The little blue doe laughed, flattered. "I'm by no means the perfect mother. I could have ten more children and -still- learn something new every day!"

As for Walter, Kaoori knew the question of him would come up sooner or later. She'd been around for Lemon's romance with him, which seemed so long ago now. It had been a different time. As much as she tried to remember that, however, her own heart froze at his name. He'd installed so much terror into the little shika. Often, she'd wake up in the middle of the night in a terror, lost in a dream of the Demon Gazelle.
But Lemon had every right to know, too. After a moment, he answered.

"He.. is. But he is nothing like he used to be, Lemon. Nothing at all. I know how you care for him, but.. for your safety, please.. stay away from him."

She'd tell her more, if she wished. There was indeed more she should know.

>>-Seed-<<

{ Lemon's a derp. }

Lemon laughed, a happy sound that bubbled from her chest and lifted into the air like dandilion seeds. She adored her brother, it was always a pleasure to have him near.

She felt his brief nuzzle and grinned, her tail wiggling gleefully. His teasing words caught her ear, and she scrunched her nose. "Oh, you!" Lemon laughed, giving her brother a playful nudge with her head.

At his mention of the cold, she shivered. "Oh I have to get used to it again... I have to admit, I can't wait for summer..."

Lemon stepped forward to embrace her brother again, happy to have him with her. "What about you? Your blossoms seem to be faring well, so far!" She could not see them, of course, but their fragrance was unmistakable. The scent of healthy green plant life covered her half-deer brother, just as if it had been spring instead of dead winter.

--

>>-Kaoori-<<

{ I said something to the other two so HI! lol }

Lemon nodded, her fears confirmed. So the Walter she had once known was long gone. His transformation had begun taking place when the two had been lovers. But his anger had grown out of control -- he had lashed out at her, hurt her.. and Kaoori, poor Kaoori...

But now he was something different, it seemed. Not Walter, but a demon. Everyone had warned her, but she had so foolishly believed otherwise...

"Don't worry, Kaoori," she answered, her voice soft and comforting. "That part of my life is over. Walter and I have scarcely spoken since -- " her voice faultered and she changed the course of her words. " -- since he was with Wafiya. He has moved on, and I will too."

--

>>-Malik-<<

{ OH ff I don't mind! And wh- thank you. ;3; I love your writing style, too! }


Lemon's smile faded as the silence stretched between them. Perhaps her coy remark had insulted him...

Turning her face back toward the forest and trying hard to ignore Malik's intense stare, Lemon took a moment to wonder about the stag's own past. He had hinted that he could relate to her in some way -- did that still hold true, now that he knew more? He did not seem like the sort of person who went around revealing his past; and anyway, part of Lemon didn't really want to know. She liked to think that he could relate to her -- even if it wasn't true. There was something comforting in the thought.

Finally he spoke, and she was startled to hear that there was no malice or disgust in his voice. The surprise registered on her face, her ears flitting forward and her lips parting momentarily with surprise. She could not quite read him -- but he didn't seem irritated, at least. So she had mistook his silence?

But his question soon registered in her mind, and her look of surprise faded into one of sadness. She took in a breath, holding it in as if it might delay her obligation to answer his question. The seconds ticked by. In the distance, she could hear deer calling to each other, birds twittering away, the wind through the long grass... It seemed surreal.

Letting her breath escape with a soft sigh, the doe decided she liked Malik enough to tell him the truth. If he truly could not stand the sight of her, it would be better to get it over with now.

Expertly, Lemon took a slender hind leg and gave her mask a gentle push. It slid from her face with a little help from one of her forelegs. For a moment she remained with her eyes downcast and her face forward -- and then, slowly, she turned her face in his direction.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Lemon grinned, leaning happily against her friend. "I know," she laughed, brightening. It was easy for her to think that she was over Walter, when she was not faced with him -- the smell of his skin, the warmth of his embrace, the pleading in his voice. Only time would be the true test of her words.

Lemon sighed contentedly, glad to be by Kaoori's side. She snuggled a little closer, nuzzling against the starry doe to get comfortable.

"So tell me," she said after a moment's thoughtful pause. "What else have I missed? There sure are a lot of new ones running about..."

Perhaps I would also try to rp, if you don't mind (but my english is very bad, could be a good exercise ...)

Ahhh...So she had been alright with it because she hadn't noticed... Well, that made this slightly less easy. Seed fidgeted nervously, tilting his head away from the awkward questions. Or, more accurately, the awkward answers. How to tell it...

"Not exactly...I...Ended up sort of getting a little bit more arboreal, after..."

He paused. He was not going to say he died, he was not going to say he died. He would not. He wouldn't. He wasn't sure what reaction he would expect from that, but it wouldn't be good.

"a small accident I needed a bit of help recovering from -- and it turned out that between my past and my friends here....This was what came of it. I'm all right now, of course. Just a few little changes, here and there."

He explained, a little lamely. He scraped his legs together, letting the sound of wood on wood echo a bit. That actually made good scratching, to be honest -- the sensations he got through the wooden parts of him was actually a bit cleaner than sensations through fur.

>>-Seed-<<

Lemon waited for her brother to answer, slightly concerned over the brief hesitation that had come before his words.

When he finally spoke, halting now and then as if to gather his thoughts, her look of mild confusion turned to concern. But after a moment of consideration, she smiled again. Her features lit up, radiant with her sunny expression.

"An accident, hm?" She decided it would probably be better not to know what exactly that meant. She chuckled, bending to rub her head inquisitively against his wooden legs after he had pointedly scraped them together. "Well, do you like the changes?"

Almost as an aside, she gave him a gentle nudge and muttered softly, "Let's go find somewhere warm to talk; I'm freezing..."


--

>>-Malik-<<

She was stunned. For a moment she merely remained frozen where she was. Her face had shed it's forlorn composition, taking on instead a look of shocked uncertainty.

To be quite honest, no one had ever commented on her looks before. Walter had been just as blind as she -- and Seth's compliments had bordered more along the lines of how chipper and cheery she was. A bi-product, she'd assumed, of the fact that she was some sort of fearsome-looking wraith. Something left politely unsaid.

Now that she considered it, no one had ever even asked why she wore a mask.

Of course, he hadn't said she was pretty, or even relatively normal looking. He had merely remarked that she had nothing to hide. That could have meant anything. Still, it stirred something warm and appreciative in her. A shy smile found it's way back to her face and she bit her lip.

Lemon placed a foreleg on her mask, pulling it a little closer. But she did not put it back on -- not yet. It was nice to leave it off for a moment.

"O-oh... thank you..."

She wasn't sure what she could say after that. Perhaps she should have demurred, insisting that she knew the truth. But she didn't really know the truth of it -- and she had a feeling Malik was a no-nonsense sort of guy.

So instead Lemon re-crossed her forelegs and tilted her face at him, beaming.

"Perhaps we should go for a walk, after all?"

Kaoori paused, in thought. "Well, there's been quite a baby boom, that's for sure. Many fawns running about and being born, almost daily. I don't know many of them. To be honest, Lemon, like you.. I don't know many in the forest anymore, either. Many of my family and friends have moved on, so when old friends return, like you.. it's such a surprise and blessing that it's a wonderful thing to celebrate."
She smiled.
"Every birth here is a cause to celebrate. There are a couple that have lost children, like I have." Her ears fell. "So each child indeed is precious. Even the few who have no true family. Wesker and I have taken a couple under our wing.. and we've watched them grow. Although we don't see them much anymore, if at all, it's a great comfort to know that they had love too, as much as one of our own."

(ajkjs I'm so bad at rping, I'm sorry ;_; )

>>-Seed-<<

Lemon trotted along beside her brother as they made their way to the old oak tree. She listened as he attempted to describe photosynthesis, not quite comprehending it but enjoying his poetic descriptions nonetheless.

His voice trailed into something like irritation, and her ears flicked forward with concern. A little stab of fright went through her when he fell silent. Was he irritated with her? Hopefully it was just his poetic mind again, trying to find the right words.

After a moment he spoke again, and she tried (and failed) to suppress a giggle.

"Branchlers," she whispered, biting her lip to keep her grin at bay. She hoped he had not heard her.

By now he had gotten a few paces ahead of her, and the little one jogged to catch up. "Well, they are still your antlers," she offered lamely. Poetry had never been her talent. But suddenly, she was curious. "Are they strong? do they bend like green wood, or snap like dry twigs?" Though she had felt the rough bark of his legs, she did not know what exactly lay beneath, nor what his antlers might be made of, now.

--

>>-Kaoori-<<

Lemon grinned, stretching out her forelegs. She had indeed noticed a huge increase in the amount of fawns -- and most of them were already parented. When she had first arrived in the forest, it had been filled with orphaned children much like herself. It was good that things had changed...

But Kaoori's words soon seemed a little sad. Lemon sensed that Kaoori seemed to feel lost, a sensation which Lemon knew all too well.

Lemon wasn't sure what to say as Kaoori's thoughts turned to lost children. She pressed her shoulder against her old friend, her brows wrinkled with concern.

But Kaoori, like Lemon, could not be held by shadow for long. In a moment her voice had turned sunny again, reflecting on all of the children she had taken in under her wing.

A question loomed heavily over her, insisting on being asked. Lemon turned to her friend, already knowing the answer but needing the confirmation.

"Seth.. and the Phantom.." Her lips twitched, pulling at the corners to form a sad frown. "Have they returned, yet?"

{ YOU ARE NOT. }

--

>>-Vala-<<

{I love it! :3 }

Lemon had been lounging near the crying idol, listening to the pleasant roar of the waterfall. She didn't often like to visit the strange statue -- the loudness of the falls often drowned out other noises that she needed to pay attention to.

But today, she was feeling bold and playful. It was not a day for hiding in trees and running from other deer. It was a day for lounging in the sunshine and romping with friends.

Lemon tilted her head back and closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the sun on her face. Suddenly, she was startled by the sound of a familiar voice. Lemon rose to her feet, her face registering shock.

"Vala?! Yes, it's me!" She giggled, her tail wiggling with excitement. She trotted closer to her friend, and could not resist hopping circles around her before showering her with nuzzles and kisses. "Vala! It's so good to see you again!"

Kaoori wished with all her heart that she could bring a smile to her friend's face with the answer to that question. But she knew it wouldn't happen, she hadn't seen Seth since the first time Lemon had disappeared, and that went for the Phantom, too. It was odd how she had been thinking about him not too long ago, and Lemon arrived.

She frowned slightly, and shook her head slowly.

"I have not seen them since you left yourself, Lemon. I'm sorry..."

She knew Malikorin for quite some time. She'd known him when he'd had feelings for her sister Noelle- then when he'd become Pandora's guardian. She didn't know him very personally, but she'd spent time with him every now and then, sitting quietly. She didn't know what sorts of secrets he brooded, but she was certain he wouldn't harm Lemon.

"I know Malikorin. He's a quiet one.. often spends his time alone in the First Forest. We know each other a bit. I think he'll be a good friend."