Welcome to my world (Kiri)

[Kiri Honeywater]

Whoa? What was Mr. Herald whoa-ing about? She turned to look behind her and not seeing anything maybe she had perhaps startled him in some way? Tilting her head in slight confusion she smiled as he commented on her outfit. "Yes, I love the outfit. They were outside my room. I'm guessing Mrs. Herald put them there?" Kiri looked down at the clothes her hands splayed over the fabric of the skirt. It was a rather cute outfit even if it was a tad more revealing than she was used to. Her gaze lifted again as he mentioned the pillar and she took a step forward to get a better look.

"I think that will make a lovely nest for the baby, and I'm sure Star will look after it as well." At the sound of Locke's voice she turned her expression bright as she spotted the two near matching pair. They looked adorable standing next to each other and she noticed that all three of them were wearing white shirts. At least now if one of them got lost they'd be able to find each other. Giggling she blushed at his reaction to her outfit and bowed her head. Was it really that nice of an outfit? A lot of girl's her age wore this kind of stuff all the time didn't they? Or at least she saw a lot of girls wearing these types of clothes back at the academy.

She nodded in agreement to Locke's statement about it being a nice day. Waving to Mr. Herald she followed after the adorable pair excited to be going to a park. "You do realize that you two kind of match right? And we're all wearing white! I do hope we don't do anything to get them stained. White gets dirty so easily." The young fae pouted her bottom lip and tugged at her shirt glaring at it playfully. "Don't get dirty you understand? You're not mine!"

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke laughed as she scolded her shirt. Not hers? Oh of course, she probably got it from Angela or Rae...no scratch Rae, it was way to subtle for Rae. "Oh I am sure they'll get a little dirty. But I didn't think you would be a stranger to clothing getting a little messy." Locke commented. "I mean you spend time in the forest with animals all around you, it has to track a little dirt." He grabbed Alley's hand as she made to run off down the street once the door was open. "Ooooh no you don't. We walk." He said sternly, gripping her hand tightly. She stopped trying to run and resigned herself to walking...for now.

Kiri might noticed, but as they walked down the path they passed Lu, who was resting on the grass. When they walked by he grumbled and got up, sharking his fur before following them.

"Great, taking the cub out." He grumbled, pacing along behind them. It was a nice day for a walk, and now there were more people out and about. An elderly man mowing his lawn, a middle aged women digging in her front garden, a group of ten year olds playing street hockey, and plenty of kids riding bicycles and enjoying the nice weather. Locke got his usual stares, but he was talking with a slightly raised voice so if they did whisper, Kiri wouldn't be able to hear it.

"Yeah, we've got a pretty big community of kids here. All ages really, there are even some other Academy students here. It's generally a nice place, and they've got plenty of parks and such for the kids."

Locke smiled as he led them down the sun filled roads towards a decent sized park up ahead. Swings, a hand merry-go-round, a sandbox, a jungle gym and a myriad of other places for children to play.

[Kiri Honeywater]

She shrugged at bit at his comment then nodded after a bit of thinking about it. "I guess so but I would really hate to get these clothes dirty. I mean I'm pretty sure they're your mom's old clothes. If I ruined them I think I'd cry." When Alley tried to run she jumped forward to grab her as well instantly but stopped before actually grabbing her. Such a good older brother. She thought with a smile. "Hey would you like to take my hand? Then we could swing you between us. It might be more fun than walking."

When she was little, really little, she remembered swinging between her mom and some man. She couldn't really remember much about the guy but she was sure in her heart that it had been her father. Movement at the corner of her eye made her glance in the direction and found Lu following them. Kiri smiled at the wolf and gave a small finger wave at him glad to have him along. Guess he was Alley's body guard or something.

Walking along peacefully she let her eyes wander and take in all the sights. It was a rather highly populated little town but not so much so that it made her nervous. Really populated places tended to make her jumpy for some reason. It might have something to do with the fact that she just wasn't used to so many people, and just used to the animals. Or maybe it was just the wild fae girl in her wanting the forest to surround her. The park in sight she grinned broadly having never really seen a play ground before now. Maybe a slide or two but not a full out play ground like this one. Her play ground had always been the forest.

[Locke F. Herald]

Alley smiled at Kiri's suggestion, and instantly gripped her hand, allowing herself to be swung between the two teenagers. "Weeeeeee!" She cried out, giggling and laughing under the bright sun.

Locke just smiled at her, before looking back to Kiri. "You really do have a way with kids, you sure you never had any siblings of your own?" He said as they approached the park. It wasn't until they got there that Locke realized Lu had been following them. "Eh? Oh..yeah I forgot. My Dad had a deal with Lu from a long time ago. He was my guard when I was little, and she inherited him." He grinned.

Lu lay down on the playground grass. "Hmph, making me babysit this cub. He's lucky..."

Alley instantly released Locke's hand and ran towards the slide. As she got to the ladder side, Locke was right behind her. She climbed it slowly, and though only a few feet, Locke's hands were right behind her should she slip. Her hands were sure however, and she arrived at the top where she sat down with a wide smile.

"Hewe I come!" She called, sliding down the metal chute towards the sandbox below.

[Kiri Honeywater]

Giggling along with the littler girl her heart soared each time the little girl was lifted into the air. Her eyes drifted over to Locke shining with warmth until he asked about siblings. She dropped her gaze and pushed a smile. "Nope, I don't have any siblings." Kiri glanced back at Lu again but didn't say anything still getting the feeling that he didn't like her.

Her hand closed around air as Alley ran off and for a second panic flashed crossed her face. Then she saw that the girl was just running off to play. Face brightening she ran after the two smiling warmly by the time she reached the two at the slide. Arms open wide at the bottom of the slide she swooped up the little girl when she reached the bottom.

"Do you want to fly back to the top?" She asked the girl tickling her little stomach as she asked the question. Was it bad that smiling for alley was easier than smiling for the man she loved? A part of her felt guilty for it, but taking care of Alley made the ache in her chest and abdomen almost nonexistent.

((sorry this took so long and it's so short...))

[Locke F. Herald]

Alley squealed in delight as she was caught up and then tickled gently. When Kiri asked the question, it was clear she didn't really understand. After all, people didn't fly, birdies did! "Gan! Gan!" She cried out happily.

Locke looked to Kiri with a thoughtful grin. "Hmmm, that's right. I still need to practice that. Not really sure how to fly very well." He said, thinking for a moment. "Well why don't you bring her up to me?" Locke suggested, focusing as he slowly hovered above the playground. His hair started to stick up slightly, and his brow furrowed with concentration as he was now floating a few feet above the top of the slide. "Heh...it's not...so hard." He said, trying to maintain his concentration.

[Kiri Honeywater]

Laughing at the girl's excitement she glanced over at Locke as she started walking toward the steps that lead up to the slide. When he started hovering in the air she giggled softly before spreading her wings. "See Alley some people can fly. Not everyone, so don't go trying to fly by yourself. It's a very dangerous and hard thing to master."

The yellow and black fairy dust from her bright butterfly wings flowed about them as she soared into the air. She hovered in front of Locke not sure if he could take the girl and concentrate on staying air borne. "Did you want me to put her on the slide? I can fly down to the bottom faster than you can, no offense." He was just learning to do this or that's as far as she knew. It took her many years to get as fast and agile in the air as she was now. Course it was easier seeing as she was a fairy after all and fairies were supposed to fly.

Holding Alley carefully yet firmly in her arms she waited to see if Locke was even able to take the little girl. As she waited she fluttered her wings to produce more fairy dust nearly covering the little girl in the glittering specks. Hopefully Alley hadn't seen Peter Pan yet so she wouldn't think that she could fly too. It would probably be hard as it was to understand that she couldn't fly like her brother and Kiri could. Though both of them were flying in different ways.

Kiri felt eyes on them so she looked down and found nearly every child in the park staring up at them. Eyes going wide she wondered if not many people flew around here. "Um, Locke have these people seen fairies before? I thought you told me that lots of kids from the school come here?"

But even Kiri knew that not many fairies left the Fae Kingdom, even without a tyrannical Queen lording over them all they just tended to keep to themselves. Some left the kingdom obviously because Kiri had, but she remembered attending the academy and feeling alone in that respect. Surely these people have seen a fairy before their parents at least. Kiri felt very much like a fish in a fish bowl.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke smiled as she played with the child, and nodded at her suggestion. "That's....a good idea. I'm flying like I did that day...when we raced remember? If I touched someone like this I might shock them, not used to it yet..."

At her remark Locke looked down as well, watching all the awe struck children. "Oh they probably haven't. Fairies' are pretty rare, even in the Gifted world. Besides..." Locke said, blushing a little bit. "You might forget, but all fairies are unearthly beautiful by human standards. They're probably all a little entranced by you right now. And I have to admit..." Locke said, admiring her. "No matter how many times I see you like this, your wings out, the wind blowing your hair gently, you still leave me awe struck."

Locke floated a little closer, and moved to touch her arm gently. As their flesh neared, he felt his power start to drain, and he knew what was causing it. Sure enough, Kiri would feel a shock like a little bit of static as the electricity arced between them. Locke snatched back his hand as if it was burned.

"Ah jeez...sorry I still can't control it too well..." He muttered, embarrassed.

[Kiri Honeywater]

Feeling entirely too self conscious she moved to set the little girl next to the slide so that Alley could slide down if she wished. She kept her eyes on the girl in case she needed to fly down and catch her. Locke's explanation did not at all comfort her about why the people were staring, but it did make her blush slightly. The young fae girl knew she wasn't hideous but unearthly beautiful was going a tad too far in her opinion. Her mother was unearthly beautiful, the Queen was beautiful, but she was just relatively plain next to them.

Eyes warm she fluttered closer to Locke as well but jerked back as soon as he touched her. Rubbing her am she pouted her bottom lip at him playfully. "No touchy while you're flying." She waved her pointer finger at him then giggled glancing over at Alley to check up on her.

She zipped to the bottom of the slide landing gently gazing up at them both waiting for Alley to slide down. Her skin tingled where Locke had touched her and she wondered if her magical form clashed with his gift. Standing there she stared at him her expression soft and wondering. He was hers all hers; she didn't know how it happened, why he stayed, or what she did to deserve him. But under all that she knew like she knew her animals that he was hers.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke grinned sheepishly when Kiri mockingly chastised him. "Well...if I cannot hold you while I fly, then I guess I'll stick to the ground." He said, slowly lowering himself towards the ground once again. He seemed focused, and as he touched down he relaxed. Instantly his hair fell back down and the air seemed less charged then it had been, Locke looked slightly tired.

"Huh...I'll need to practice, I was wasting too much..." He said with a half grin, looking at the small gathering around the park. While people know Locke's family, it didn't mean they knew him very well, and the scene in the park was very foreign to them. In truth, the stares were making him rather uncomfortable as Alley slid down into Kiri's arms again, but he caught sight of something that could potentially be a lot worse.

One of the kids, a little brat of about 7 years old, was walking closer with something in his hand. A stick? Before Locke could think to say anything, the boy threw it, more of a lob then a real malicious throw, straight towards the resting wolf.

It all seemed frozen in time, for though Lu was rather passive, Locke knew better then to agitate a sleeping animal. The stick, thankfully did not hit the wolf, but did land close enough for him to notice he was the target of some action. He jumped up instantly, staring down the child who threw it, growling and bearing his sharp fangs.

"Grrrrrr....this one could use a lesson..."

And instantly the child locked up in fear at the animal's reaction, causing a gasp from those gathered.

"Lu! Hey Lu! Calm down!" Locke said, approaching the wolf and going to try and hold it back, though what he could grab in such a situation wasn't very obvious. The wolf merely jumped to the side, still growling while bearing down at the child.

[Kiri Honeywater]

Sweeping the little girl up in her arms she spun in a circle laughing with the little girl held high in the air. Her heart was singing even if her stomach was clenched tight and a voice in the back of her mind whispered dark thoughts. This was a glorious moment and she wasn't going to let her memories taint it. She lowered the girl holding her on her hip turning to smile at Locke. He looked far too tired and she frowned slightly. "If you go spending all your energy experimenting how are we supposed to spend the day playing?"

Kiri was of course just playing around but she really was worried about him. The Fae girl bounced Alley on her hip calling forth butterflies to flutter about them. By now she was more focused on the girl in her arms to even be bothered with the people that kept staring at them. But then at the corner of her eye she saw something fly through the air. Figuring it was Locke practicing again she turned to chastise him only to find a more terrible scene unfolding. As Lu sprung to his feet she flew over to Locke shoving alley into his arms and zipping in front of the wolf.

"Stop it, Lu! He is a mere pup compared to you. Such a wise and proud wolf should not react in such a way." Arms spread wide she hovered in front of the snarling wolf not an ounce of fear in her. If he chose to pursue the child she would defend the boy, and if he chose to fight her then so be it. "I will not let you hurt a child is that clear?" Eyes sharp and commanding she touched ground with her feet wind from her wings stirring her hair.

Kiri glanced at Locke for a moment then back to the wolf. "Locke, if things get out of hand please take Alley home and get your father. Do not worry about me." Lowering her arms she started striding toward the wolf until she was within touching distance. "Please, Lu, don't do this. I don't want to disrespect you or fight you."

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke watched Kiri silently, until she made the remark about him going to get help. If that wolf laid so much as a paw on her he'd....he'd...

Would he? He'd known the wolf as long as he'd known his father...he was just a pup when Francis had returned to the household. And from that moment on he'd been his shadow, his guardian...and now he was his sister's guardian. Though Locke never understood the wolf, they'd reached a kind of understanding. And now here he stood, baring fangs against the women he loved. If he did decide to pounce, did he have the capability to strike him down? He wasn't going to abandon Kiri here alone...

Alley seemed to sense the change in the atmosphere, and began to cry. Rather loudly. Locke subconsciously moved to comfort the child, as he kept his eyes locked on the contest of wills. What would happen?

Lu stared down Kiri, seeming to absorb her words. His faded eyes still piercing, as if looking through her. Finally a growled response. "You sound like him. Hmph, whatever. Pup won't do that again." He remarked, turning and padding over to where Locke and Alley were, the child still sniffling. "Oh great...now the cub is upset."

As the wolf retreated, the tension in the air seemed to drop markedly In but a moment another voice pierced the air. "Nathanial Jacob Caperton! What on earth were you thinking?!" Exclaimed a middle aged woman running up to the still stunned child. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? You never play with someone elses pet without asking!" She scolded the child, who began crying slightly. She turned to Kiri a much warmer look in her eyes. "Oh I am so sorry for my son, he really should know better then to go throwing sticks at animals. Thank you very much. I know Mr. Herald trains his pets very well, he's normally so tame." She remarked, eying Lu oddly. "Now come on you." She addressed to her son. "We're going home, pronto."

And with that, they moved away from the playground. Those gathered murmured for a second, then returned to what they had been doing prior.

Locke walked up to Kiri, the hiccuping child still in his arms. "Don't scare me like that!" He protested. "Run off and leave you here? You can't honestly think I'd do that." Now free from his power, Locke reached out with his free hand and placed it on her cheek. A different kind of electricity flew through his body now, and he relished the contact.

"Though I have to admit, that was pretty brave. Even if you can talk to him."

[Kiri Honeywater]

When Lu walked away she sighed seeming to deflate a small smiling spreading on her lips. Turning back to Locke she was about to say something when a woman approached her. Her eyes flashed with anger as the woman called Lu a pet and said he was 'normally so tame'. A part of her knew that Mr. Herald viewed the animals as more than simply pets.

"So tame? How would you react if someone threw a stick at you?" Kiri yelled pointing at the stick on the ground. "He got mad that's all. It wasn't like he actually attacked the child like some animals would. If he hadn't grown up with humans and learned their behaviors he could've killed your child!" She was ranting but when mother's didn't do their job and blamed it on animals she tended to lose it. "And play? You seriously think your child was playing? If that's what you're teaching your child then he's bound to get eaten!"

Kiri turned and face Lu speaking to him in his own tongue making sure no one could understand them. "I deeply apologize for this woman's actions, and of that of her child. The mother deserves to be taught a lesson maybe this will awaken her." Storming over to Locke she lifted her hands to brush away Alley's tears.

Her eyes flicked to him when he spoke her eyes deadly serious. "Yes, I did expect you to do it. I have no fear of Lu, and I knew you'd take care of your sister. Your father has a much stronger bond than I ever could achieve with the wolf, and would have been able to handle things." Voice sharp her expression softened when his hand touched her cheek and she smiled.

"I'm sorry Locke I know I worried you, but I wasn't going to let that child get hurt. I-I can't even stand the thought of any child getting hurt. Even if it means I have to stand against my beloved animals." She lowered her gaze for a moment then tickled Alley kissing the little girl's nose. "No more serious talk. We need to get this princess laughing again!"

Moving in close Kiri blew a raspberry into the child's neck tickling her in the process. "Who wants to go flying again?" She cooed at the darling child trying not to think of Locke's worried face.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke watched the show of emotions fly through her. It was natural, he supposed, to be angry when a friend was mistreated, but her anger had even scared him a bit.

"Kiri you really shouldn't get so worked up." Locke said to her, trying to keep his tone soft so as not to upset the child further. "I mean, I understand the animals are like your family, but they don't. And yelling at someone will only make them resent you, and then be less likely to listen. I know you're angry, believe me I understand how others peoples ignorance can be so frustrating, but you've got to calm down a little bit."

He placed Alley down onto the ground, so he could look at Kiri unobstructed. Even though she seemed drawn to the child. Alley, for her part, found her way over to Lupus and sat down, softly petting the animals fur. The wolf looked up initially, and seeing it was her he resumed his nap.

"I know this is all really new for you. Are you sure you're gonna be ok around this many people? More of them are going to misunderstand you, even with my father around here."

He was worried. He hadn't really considered it before, but Kiri really never lived in an atmosphere like this. Sure she'd been at the Academy a bit, but that was a different kind of place. This was a place with families, with people and kids and parts of the bigger world...

Maybe too many parts of the bigger world.

[Kiri Honeywater]

"Shouldn't get so worked up? Shouldn't get so worked up?! Not only was that mother endangering her child and Lu, but she was endangering the other children and your family! How can you tell me to calm down?" Did he not understand what could have happened? Lu was obviously a more serene beast than she'd first believed. But it still didn't mean that things could've gone badly for the mother, her child, and nearly everyone else in the park. Which then would reflect badly on Locke's family and maybe even harm them in some way. The mother's carelessness and refusal to educate her child correctly was nearly a crime in Kiri's eyes.

"If my-If my-" Pointing at her suddenly tight chest she spun away from Locke glad that Alley had wandered off for now. He didn't understand not completely. Yes, he had Alley for a baby sister, but it just wasn't the same thing. Kiri took deep even breaths shoving down her rampant emotions wanting to go back to the slide. Her hands covered her face for a moment as she tried to do as Locke told her to and calm down.

She faced him now his words confusing and hurting her. "What do you mean? There's not that many people here, and why would they misunderstand me?" Was this still about her explosion in defense of Lu? Eyes darting over his face she took a step away from him all attempts of calming down failing. "This wasn't just about Lu. This isn't just about animals! This is about that woman not protecting her child!"

Pointing in the direction of the woman tears streamed down her face. "He was practically a baby and didn't know better because he wasn't taught any better. That isn't his fault it's the mother's! As soon as he threw that stick she should have been by his side!" He thought she didn't understand? Thought that she didn't belong here? Kiri crossed her arms over her abdomen eyes full of anger and pain. She knew was over reacting but it was like a train going off the tracks and she just couldn't stop it.

"I'll meet you back at the house later. I can't breathe around here." Red and black dust fell from her wings as she shot off into the air a raven soon flying beside her. He was right she didn't belong there she wasn't a mother she didn't have a child.