A Dash of Chipmunk (open)

[Kiri Honeywater]

A chipmunk sat on her stomach, a fawn's head rested on her leg, and she scratched the head of their newest member, a bobcat. The bobcat purred rubbing it's small head against Kiri's hand tripping over its own paws. The fae girl had found the baby bobcat on one of her many walks finding it odd that for being so young it was so alone. Then she spotted the reason why the poor thing was alone. The mother bobcat lay dead a mere ten feet away from the mewing kitten. Most of the body had been eaten.

That had happened a few days ago and now Kiri watched the little cat like it was her own. She couldn't just take it inside so she'd convinced the birds to watch over the kitten. They brought the little thing plenty of mice and such to eat, but could not give the small creature any milk that she needed. Kiri came out every day multiple times a day to give the kitten milk. What she needed was a serrogate mother for it.

Eyes closed she listened to the purrs, the birds, and the rustle of leaves. It had been a few days since she'd seen Locke, but that was okay. He was probably busy with classes. She just hoped that he didn't think that day was a mistake. The kitten butted Kiri in the face purring loudly its tufted ears making Kiri giggle as it tickled her ears.

"If only people were as open as animals." The chipmunk chattered at her and she smiled. "I promise Tuft won't eat you!"

The kitten however thought differently batting at the rodent with its tiny paw. Kiri sighed tapping the paw with a finger distracting the feline from eating her friend.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

OOC: I was gonna give someone else the chance, but if nobody is going to touch it, I guess it's more for me

IC: Karmine was walking the grounds today, as he was frequent to do. He loved the feel of the outdoors, it was just so pleasant. Then he saw a young fawn, from a ways off, and thought it odd. The animals usually did not come so near the academy.

He didn't want to approach it, lest he scare it away, but he did want to know what had enticed it to come so close. So he did what anyone who needed to get a new perspective did. Well, if they were a fae that is. He flew into the air a bit and saw an odd scene.

A little blond girl lying back on the grass, with all the animals lying about her. How curious this was! She could obviously talk to them, no other reason why the birds and the fawn and what looked like a small wild cat weren't scaring each other. But she looked familiar...Where had he seen her before?

Ignoring that he merely stayed from his perch in the air, observing her. He didn't want to approach since it might scare the animals away, but something about this girl simply begged to be approached.

[Kiri Honeywater]

The young fae girl paid much more attention to her animals than she ever did to the sky so she didn't notice the man hovering about in the air. The bobcat kitten purred against her hand it's golden eyes occasionally flicking to the chattering chipmunk. The fawn flicked its tail in its sleep not minding the sligtest that a baby predator was in tis mists. Kiri's leg felt tingly and she wiggled her foot carefully trying not to wake up the fawn. Giving up she sighed pushing the kitten over onto its back to attack its stomach with her hand.

'Ey, no fairs! Yous biggers than me!

She giggled rubbing her hand about its stomach and chest. The kitten hissed playfully attacking Kiri back though it tried to keep its claws in it was a kitten after all. Kiri whinced and pulled back her clawed up hand.

Oops.

Shaking her head she turnd to eyes away from the kitten kissing her wounded hand. That's when she noticed the man. Blinking she sat up slowly waking the fawn and sending the chipmunk tumbling to the ground. The bobcat took this chance to tackle the small rodent. Kiri without even really paying attention grabbed up the chipmunk putting it on her shoulder, which meant the baby bobcat ate dirt.

She smiled and waved up at the man. No need to be unfriendly after all.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

Karmine winced when he saw the girl get scratched, and then she looked up at him.

"Careful there little one, looks like that kitties got some claws." He said with a smile. "And you just a youngun out enjoyin some friendly company unda the sun eh?" He added, flying a little closer to the girl. "A fine day for such an endeavor, I must say."

He touched down, thinking it a might foolish for him to be scaring the poor girl by flying around.

"Now, I know I see all manner o students, but I can't help shake tha feeling that I've seen ya before. May I ask a charming lady to grace this wandering soul with a name? Fair maiden twould make my day." He said, tipping his hat in a formal bow, not removing the silly grin from his face.

[Kiri Honeywater]

She smiled at the man ruffling the bobcat's head. It eyed the man evilly hissing softly before hiding behind Kiri. The fae girl twisted to look at the kitten then turned back to the man with a perfect little girl smile.

"Yeah, but his claws aren't all that hurtful yet. He hasn't gotten his adult set yet." When he did she certainly wouldn't be playing rub the tummy games with him. She'd be lucky if he came out to play at all once he reached adulthood. "I like being outside. It's better than being in the stuffy indoors all day."

The weather was starting to get a bit too cold for the delicate fae girl, but until snow kissed the ground people would find her outside with her animal friends. She didn't really remember seeing the man before but maybe he was one of her old teachers.

"Umm, I don't really remember you, but my name is Kiri, Kiri HoneyWater." He sure did talk pretty with all those words used in old time plays like Romeo and Juliet. It made her giggle as she stroked the sleepy eyes fawn.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

"Kiri..." He said absentmindedly, thinking to himself. "I know I have heard that name before...now where was it?"

[red]"Ok, listen up. Most of the outside ones know me, but there are a few I didn't get into contact with. Namely ones at the Academy. It would get ugly with a fae agent sneaking around the academy, so I'm going to ask you to look after them." A harsh a stern voice spoke.[/red]

"Yea, yea, I gottcha." Came a lazy and bored reply.

[red]The crack of a whip followed suit. "Pay attention already! Can't you grow up after five hundred years?! Now make sure they don't get into trouble, they may not be in our society, but they are still subject to our laws and punishments."[/red]

"Yikes! All right, All right already! Shesh. I'll take care of em, just chill." He had pocketed a list and looked over it once or twice, not really bothering to look for any of the people on it. He'd find them in time he knew, if fate wanted him to.



"Ah! That's it!" He said snapping his fingers. "Allow me to introduce maself, I am Tutor Karmine de Arcadia, a fae, like yerself yes? Ah it must be fate to meet here, for you were one of tha ones I was sposed to be keepin an eye on." He grinned a bit. "See, people have this weird notion that we get into trouble if left alone."

Then he remembered where he had seen her before...that incident....with Angela Wingrose, and that Jamie kid who flipped the hell out. Yeah, maybe it was good she didn't remember him, or that event. She seemed far too pure to be burdened by such a sour memory.

Exposed to death at such a young age...how sad.

[Kiri Honeywater]

As his mind went elsewhere Kiri played with the fawn's ears waiting for the man to come back to earth. When he did she grinned up at him rubbing the fawn's ear between her fingers. Then a thought came to her while she messed with the young deer's ears. I wonder if this is how Locke's ears feel... She'd never ask to touch his ears but it was still something she wondered about.

"Watch over?" Was he from her mother? Did he know her mother? "I'm not getting into trouble. Who told you to watch over me?"

This was very important to her, it might mean that her mother was alive and watching over her. Or it meant that she had left this person to watch over her and he was just now getting around to doing what her mother had asked of him. Not a very good guardian...

"Should I know you?" Kiri frowned slightly pulling the fawn closer to her. She suddenly was leery of the man in front of her. Not everyone in the world was peaches-n-cream, even if he hadn't done anything to her she'd learned better than to trust everyone on sight.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

Karmine leaned back for a second, holding his hand out. He could tell the girl was a little timid, and he didn't want to scare her. "Whoa, I mean ya no harm lassy. And o'course ya ain't gettin inta trouble, is just that."

He sat cross legged on the ground. He'd learned this from dealing with people whose language he didn't speak, if you sat they usually saw it as a sign of peace. After all, it's hard to attack from the ground. "People in our home, they dun like sending their little ones off an not being able to check up on em, but such is tha way it is. Well, mah sister normally checks in on those people who live here, outside the rest, but she doesn't come here to tha academy. An since I work here, I keep an eye on the little fae in the area, to make sure they are all ok and not causing mischief or getting bullied or anythin o' the sort. But...well I kind o' waited for most of em to find me, afta all, if I dun notice ya, then ya aren't gettin into any trouble, so why do ya need me?"

He said it with a grin, hoping he'd eased her nerves a bit. "I'm jus here ta help, promise. See, we fae aren't too many here, so the few we are should stick together, eh? I am here to help, to guide, and to be what ya need me ta be."

He laughed and then said.

"I guess ya could call me a 'fairy godfather'."

[Kiri Honeywater]

So he wasn't from mother. She bowed her head her long locks hiding the disappointment in her eyes. Mother would never come back. Kissing the top of the fawn's head she sniffled which brought the kitten round to nudge her elbow. Kiri scooped the kitten up hugging him to her.

"Oh, well. Okay." She lifted her head slightly but not looking at him sitting near her. For just a few moments she had thought she had found someone who might know mother.

"Yeah, stick together. I don't know too many fairies around here. Far as I know actually I'm the only one." She didn't remember seeing any of the other students with pointy ears like hers. Cat ears, yes, but no fae ones. Or maybe she just hadn't been paying very good attention.

"Fairy godfather? Like a boy version of Cinderella's?" At that thought she smiled turning bright blues to him. He was nice, even if he did talk funny.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

"Ah indeed!" Karmine said with a smile. "Ya see, I can help ya in whatever ya need, much better then anyone else round here can. So ya wanna be a beautiful princess and find yer prince charmin' as in tha story? Well, might take a bit, but I figure I could work somethin out." He said with a laugh. "Ah there is a smile! Good good, I'm not a fan o' making ladies sad, really ruins tha day ya know?" He grinned widely.

"So Miss HoneyWater, it is a pleasure ta meet your acquaintance! And am I ta understand you can talk to those little guys there?" He said gesturing to the animals. "Quite a gift, sometimes I wish I had it, but it isn't in tha cards as they say. They got anything ta say to me? Afta all, the friends o' ma friends are ma friends too!"

[Kiri Honeywater]

Kiri ended up giggling by the time the man had finished talking. She hugged the bobcat kitten to her chest a bit tighter then let him go. He eyed the older, male fae wearily then inched over to the man.

"No need to find me a prince, I already have one." Her cheeks tinged a bit and she smiled as if the sun shone inside of her. Maybe she shouldn't be telling absolutely everyone that she'd found someone. But why shouldn't she? She was happy and she wanted the world to know.

"Yep, yep, yep. I can talk to them, and if I ask really nicely they do stuff for me." She pointed at the chipmunk and grinned. "Munk? I want a berry, please."

The small rodent blinked at her then scratched his ear. Giggling she reached over to her shoulder to poke him in the tummy.

"Tuft over there, the bobcat, thinks you might be a giant butterfly in disguise. Munk, says to keep away from his acorns, and the fawn, Lily, thinks you're very friendly." She gestured at each animal in turn with her peryk smile. "And the hawk in the tree behind you thinks you should distract us all so he can eat the chipmunk."

Kiri glared at the hawk and shook her head. "But he's not very friendly- what can you do?" The sentences ran together as she got more relaxed and excited to have a new friend.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

Karmine arched an eyebrow with a smile when she said she already had a prince.

"Well than if ya already have a prince than ya must already be a princess too! Mah work is done 'fore it even began!" He listened to her describing her animals to him, and smiled.

"They really are ya family eh? Ya know em all like the closest o' friends ya can have. An I see they treat ya as such as well, eh?"

He retracted his wings again, hiding them from view. And he stood back up on his feet, turning around to see the Hawk in the tree.

"Ah yes, sometimes every family has one that isn't tha most friendly person in tha world." he said with a half grin at the bird. "Still part o the family though, eh? If they were in trouble, ya'd still be here ta help em. And that's tha way a family is, even if ya don't like em, ya watch out for each other. o'course it's kinda hard when some o ya family is also food."

He grinned. "Ah well, it'll give ya experience fer dealing with people fighting, sometimes ya gotta be the one in the middle keeping it all safe."

He strolled about the area, seemingly unable to stand still.

"So tell me Kiri, how many years have ya? You'll fergive me, asking a lady her age, but it's kinda hard ta tell when ya don't age much." He said with a smile.

[Kiri Honeywater]

She nodded at how the animals were like a family. Not having a family of her own she had to make one, which was nice. Then she got to chose who was and wasn't in it. Most people don't get that decision.

"Yeah, I also have a fox friend but he isn't socialable. He only comes around when none of the animals are here." The bobcat followed the man around it's slightly tufted ears perked in interest. She stuck her tongue out at the hawk who just blinked at her boredly.

"I don't think I'm a princess, but my mom used to call me her little princess." Her eyes followed him walk around her hands stroking the fawn's spotted back. "But that was a long time ago."

"I'm sixteen. Not very old, but everyone has to start somewhere." She smiled tilting her head to listen to the chipmunk ramble. "Um, you never answered my question fair-godfather sir. What's your special talent?"

It wasn't that she wanted to be rude or anything but she was just curious. She also liked learning about people, the more you knew about someone the closer you were.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

"Sixteen? Why a veritable infant ya are! An already out inta the world? I thought I was bein reckless leaving 'fore I was a hundred. An non o this sir stuff." He said with a grin. "I may be half a milenia yer senior, but I dun wanna feel my age quite yet."

At her remark that he didn't answer her question he slapped himself in the forehead.

"Ah now how could I do such a diservice to a young fairy princess?" He said with a smile. "I, as all of ma family, have ah connection with tha spirit that travels tha world. It carries all words an songs an hopes an dreams. Indeed it carries you once or twice at least I am sure." And with a flick of his wrist and a quick thought, a breeze would flow through the area and blow both of their long hair about on the wind.

"It's fun ta play with, plus it's just as flighty as I am." He said with a grin.

[Kiri Honeywater]

She giggled and buried her face into the fawn's hind at his flattery, and cute nick name. His accent also made her giggle, she hadn't met someone with an accent in a while.

"I'm not an infant! I'm a teenager." Kiri poked her nose into the air attempting to look uppety, and ended up giggling again. "Oh, you're not old! It's just that's what you're supposed to call your elders, isn't it?"

She scrunched up he face trying to remember his name it was sort of long and somewhat complicated she knew that much.

"Kar? Mr. Kar, I think your talent is wonderful." Her hands tried to calm her hair trying to decide if it was wind, or if he could talk to ghosts. "Um, did you tell me what you tutored up at the school?"

If he had she felt sad for forgetting so quickly