Abie wiggled into Thea's lap, her eyes half-closed. yes. shep want to stick with thea.
In the back of her mind, beyond the constant thoughts about sugar and sleep and having a happy snuggle and a pet and a dance, she began to mull over past memories, thoughts of where she'd come from. A big house, blue hair, someone blonde. That's what she remembered.
With a yawn, she snuggled closer against Thea and closed her eyes.
Mashka's hair swirled around her, tightening so much that it represented a brown, somewhat lumpy cloak, and she rubbed her clavicle even harder, her sparkly white skin pinkening slightly against the pressure of her thumb. The feathers of missing were a crown on her head, but only she could feel them. She had never, in her entire, lonely existence, known that she was what some would call "different". She had never known she was astonishingly tall, had never known that her glowing skin was unusual, had never known that nature itself was at her beck and call. She had assumed that if other beings existed, they would be like her.
"I… I don't…" The words fell from her mouth, jumbled and vague. "I… I've lived my whole life alone… I wasn't aware that there were other… other…" Her green eyes roved over everyone, wide and curious. "Other… things? Other beings? I don't…"
The young girl felt tears flood her eyes, making it practically impossible to see the soft form resting atop her lap. This must be a dream. She wasn’t used to being shown this much affection from an animal. They usually hated her, sensing her anger and fright.
Blinking rapidly, Thea cleared her gaze and shoved her emotions away, thankful the other companions weren’t there to see her.
She sat for a while, scratching Abie affectionately. She gently set Abie back onto the ground and started to her feet. It had been away from Arwood longer than she had planned.
“Come along Abie.” Grabbing a handful of sugar cubs, she pressed her finger to her lips, “it’ll be our little secret.” She laughed, tossing Abie one of the cubs. She paused just outside the door, indicated for Calix and Mint to follow. “You want to meet my other companions? They won’t kill you. Hopefully.” She gave a sly smile and started back toward the small parlor.
~~
Arwood clenched his jaw, his fist slowly curling, and un-curling into a fist, his face, however, stayed neutral and unreadable.
He already knew Mashka lived in a house alone but didn’t know to what extent. It was far worse than he had thought.
He thought they had something similar, growing up alone and being kept prisoner for most of their lives. Now, he knew there was no similarity.
He had been allowed out of his dungeon from time to time, had had a glimpse of the ocean. Mashka hadn’t had that luxury.
He turned back to Mashka and raised his hands, hoping she understood the sign that she didn’t have to continue. “It is alright not knowing what you are,” he said softly, “for most of my life, I did not know what I was. Even now, I still do not know for sure.”
Hoping to take her mind off the previous conversation, he indicated around him, “have you been able to control the…earth for long? Can you conjure random plants from thin air? Can you control your magic, or does it just happen?”