we visited you for a while, under the rocks..

@that picture: Do not anger a Kaoori? 8D;

Her tongue was still flicking in and out of her mouth to rid it of the chunks of poppy that had been a part of the paste she chewed for Esll. It wasn't so much that she disliked the taste, but she had no wish to dirty her next objective which laid hidden in an abandoned snake hole at the base of a birch tree. It took some digging to remove the item from its place. To rid it of sand and return it to its former luster, a visit to the idol's river was needed. She avoided the pond now. The pond had become death once again.

The thought was exiled from mind. It turned to life, instead. The life that grew within one of her closest-friends-might-as-well-be-a-sister. She looked forward to the child's birth; it had been the only thing that kept her from doing anything stupid this past week. That promise to be there and welcome it into the world. A promise to be there- before and after.

She found Kaoori sleeping fitfully in her chosen resting place. Doing what she could to comfort the doe without waking her up was a difficult task, but she lay beside her to offer warmth in the chilly morning. Her head pressed lightly against the shika's bulging stomach and quietly, she murmured a story to the restless babe after setting her gift beside Kaoori's head.

Her story was a deer's version of David and Goliath. A tale of how something small could defeat the most giant of creatures so long as he believed he could. Though encouraging, Noelle was sure to caution the young fawn. One should never bite off more than they could chew, but yes, sometimes the bite shoved itself into one's mouth without permission.

Kaoori received another nuzzle, and then Noelle was gone.

In her place, a tiny statuette rested and waited to greet her with the new day. It was found by the ruins, lost to time and hidden within a crook of the old grey stone walls. A silver figurine of a fawn with emerald eyes, no bigger than Kaoori's nose, watched with unending patience until it was found again by the one it was meant for.

Kaoori's mood had improved much since yesterday with just the simple clearing of the rain. Feeling warmer and drier, she sat beside Rev under the autumn sun, listening to him speak softly.

Of course I'd love you to stay. I do know that you've been living outside the forest.. do you feel comfortable here, however?

She looked at the concern on his face. It was true many deer had come and gone.
There has been much change, but that does not mean you cannot fit in here anymore. It's been some time since you've seen Takeshi, hasn't it? I don't think you've seen him since he's become a stag. And you .. well, you'll be here for the birth of this little one, won't you?

Kaoori gave a light laugh, looking at Rev. You don't have to help. Simply being there to see the fawn would be wonderful. I'd like the fawn to meet as many friends and loved ones as possible. This fawn, like Takeshi..I'll protect with my life.. I will not fail. I will be honored for them to meet you and Cell, and your sons.

[well, when you do, she'd like to meet him. :3 ]

Kaoori's face brightened and her muzzle widened into a smile. Oh, congratulations! I hope he is well and strong. Is he here, in the forest, or coming at all to visit?

The 'other worlds' and 'outside' that Kaoori had heard about and explained to her were something she would probably never understand, but she nodded.

I would love if you danced.

(Blarg, I'm so sorry I haven't been replying to this. Last 5-6 days have been pure crap, and procrastination is an amazing thing 8'D)

---

Salaawa began to wonder if she should have even asked about the child at all. She hangs her head, her voice more quiet this time.

I'm sorry for your loss...it wasn't my place to ask either...

Kaoori's question flitted through her head, but it didn't register for a few moments. Quickly, she snaps her head up, the firefly resuming its post on her nose, looking at the small doe.

Ah, yes, I am fine. My head is just...hnn. It just felt a little heavy, that's all.

okay, I just laughed so hard at the "AGBLAGAGA"

like you have no idea. I snorted and covered my mouth and giggled and basically facepalmed myself while banging my elbows against the desk. I LOVE YOU &hearts

Remind me to show you a DERP thing when you get home. :U

(&hearts)

---

For a minute, there is nothing but the sound of birds chirping and deer calling out in the distance. The Ghoul is quiet, simply staring. It isn't until her ear flickers that she finally speaks, sounding as if someone had jolted her awake.

No, no, I am not ill...Miss Kaoori. My head just has a tendency...to feel funny sometimes...that's all.

She smiles, though it looks slightly lop-sided. She means it sincerely, yet it hardly seems that way.

Ah...no. Maybe...except for just sitting here. You...don't mind, right?

There is a certain desperate edge to her tone, as if it were the most important thing she had.

(LOL, Salaawa looks like a creepy stalker, the way she's sitting there. For shame. 8D)

---

There was a small, tingling sensation from the back of her brain. It was an emotion, a feeling.

Happiness. The kind that makes the cheeks burn a deeper red than normal. The kind of happiness where you know everything will be alright.

I...like the quiet. It's very...relaxing.

Her head, in one smooth, rolling motion, looks up towards the sky. The firefly is still sitting on her nose, its wings flickering quickly. There is hardly any sound that comes from it though.

....And I'm honoured that you would feel such a way...

Her head lazily brings itself to look at the small doe.

Thank you, so much.

(Lol &hearts)

---

Ahh..

The question seems to catch her off guard. It was funny how hardly anyone asked about the firefly. She pauses a moment before speaking.

He cannot talk the way...you and I are talking. His is...a collection of noises and squeaks I've come to recognize...

The firefly flutters from her nose, to the tip of one of the tines jutting from her large antlers. It rests there, still looking at the small Izo Shika.

Although...he doesn't talk much, honestly...

T-thank you...

The firefly's wing flutter rapidly, and he hangs himself in the air breifly, before returning to rest on her tines.

And...he says "Thank you," as well...

Salaawa could just barely feel the cold; to her, it was hardly there. A tiny sensation that crawled along her fur, miles away from chilling her bones.

And that, like many things related to touch, frustrated her.

Why...?

It's...not too cold. At least...not for me...

Absentmindedly, she inches closer to the doe, her body touching the doe. She can barely feel her as well, and she certainly had no clue as to whether or not she was even keeping the small doe warm at all.

Are you...warmer yet?

Salaawa knew of these things; she knew of the weather changes, and what it meant for the inhabitants. And yet, she knew she would hardly be able to feel the changes. She would only be able to see the ice as it dangled from the tree branches, the inhabitants shivering as the wind nipped at their bodies.

And yet...

The world may become cold and desolate...but don't you think that...there's beauty somewhere in it as well?

She pauses briefly, shifting her body slightly.

The world turns white; the ice is almost blue in hue. When the Sun hits it just right...it's like being...lost in a world that isn't...your own. It...to me at least...is beautiful.

Lost in a world that isn't your own.

How funny.

She can only see forward, as the firefly is facing. She can only see the world that's directly in front of her.

She doesn't notice Kaoori's wincing.

Bar-chan: |D

It does seem like you are transported to another world..and it is not your own. Perhaps it is beautiful.. but the biting cold.. sometimes is frightening, don't you think?


Quad:
aww, rofl! With the mini and everything? I'm sorry I missed it. I love Kao-clones. xD

brb loling forever

Trackie!

(Bar-chan, whut? xD)

---

She pauses again, as if unsure whether or not she was willing to share another piece of information about herself.

When she speaks, her tone is hesitant, cautious.

It's...hard for me to say, really. I...I can't really feel the cold when it comes. I can see the icicles hanging off my coat...and my breath in the air, but...I can't feel how cold it is, or how annoying the icicles are. I...can't feel the air freezing my lungs. Or at the least, it feels very...distant, numb.

She pauses again before continuing.

Although, I suppose it...would be frightening to be so cold...with icicles hanging on your fur...

So is she having twins?

Triplets then?
I was just reading the part of that article that says ewes are more susceptible to that condition if they have more than one baby. So it just made me wonder.
Maybe Kaoori is just too fat. *pokes her*

X3

"Coward of hers? I don't suppose you've given yourself a new pet name, hm?" The question came quietly and from behind Renoir. Wesker had always had a way with words, and creeping up on others for that matter. To be honest, there was very little that frightened the bull with the black and white pelt. When you had seen the things that he saw, done the things that he did, such petty commentary didn't so much as prick.

"If you are referring to Vasla, you best be careful. Some wolves, when hungry enough, will track down mutts." A pause. "No offense."

(Hi, Raz. No worries; I never once thought that those were your words. However, while I'm aware that I am sometimes forgetful, I'm afraid that I can't recall the incident that Ren is speaking of. In fact, Wesker hasn't even seen him in the game for some time now. Some of my other characters have, but I can only play one character at a time on this computer. That, and Kaoori and Wesker are essentially attached at the hip... take that as you will. Would you mind clarifying your post, so that I may respond to it appropriately? We can always take this over to MSN if you would like, too, as to not clutter Kaoori's profile. )