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Post by Riku on Nov 18, 2019 21:16:36 GMT -6
Cameron 1 Riku locked up The Malii Mantra for the night, turning the key on the outside of the front door - which was also the door to his home. The Malii were all resting and the streetlights of the city were on. It had been a productive day, and he decided to go on a calming walk afterwards to reward himself. He figured he’d stroll the city, check the quest board, and maybe get a cookie if the Herbologist’s Delight was still open. As he was about to walk away from the door, he heard a scratching at it and a voice calling his name through a ribbon. Recognizing the voice, he said “I’m going for a walk. Did you want to come with me?” Cameron responded that he did with an unintelligible murmur, and Riku opened the door for him and then closed and locked it again. He didn’t mind the company of such an angel.
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Post by Riku on Nov 18, 2019 21:18:35 GMT -6
2 They walked under the soft illumination of the lamps that were all an equal distance from each other and on every corner. The streets were a calming quiet by night that contrasted its rustling by day. They could hear a water fountain flowing in the distance and a few store chimes as people exited the last few shops that were still open. Cameron walked beside the boy, his fiery feet lighting up the area around them slightly. It had a nice, peaceful glow that also provided a bit of warmth - even though it wasn’t actually hot. Reaching the Herbologist’s Delight, Riku tried the door but it wouldn’t budge. He cupped his hands over his face as he tried to look inside and see if the back room’s light was still on. It wasn’t. He smiled to himself and was glad that Allura had already gone home to rest. She didn't seem to live in her shop like he did - but his was more of an amenity than a goods or service exchange.
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Post by Riku on Nov 18, 2019 21:19:08 GMT -6
3 They neared the Quest Center, which was on the other side of the city square. It had its own little wing of the city now that it had been open and so popular. It seemed like the building tried to exclude itself from the rest of business - but business had brought itself to the place, so the city rushed in and out almost as much as it did at the center. The building was already completely dark other than a flashing light hat he assumed to be a sort of alarm system. He walked up to check the board, which had its own lights facing the surface on each side. Cameron took this pitstop as a chance to use his wings. He loved to fly, and Riku had thought it interesting he had walked all the way to this point. Perhaps it was the dark that made him stay close? Or maybe he was just protective of the boy.
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Post by Riku on Nov 18, 2019 21:21:02 GMT -6
4 A Rakai-Sarane that needs healing? He had seen them around and admired their magical aura and scales. He sometimes considered them the more wolfish Malii, though he hadn’t ever owned one. He looked down at Cameron, who was sitting down and scratching behind his one ear with his back foot. He was a lot less graceful than his sister, but he was just as capable as she was. He knew the Malii had the ability to heal like her and their parents. He had never seen him do it...and it wasn’t taught on command like it was with Scarlet - but he knew it was possible. Perhaps this could be a good time to help him discover the ability. Riku grabbed the smaller loose piece of paper that had the address written on it, ripping it off the main request page. He knew the street, it was close. He gestured for the Malii to follow him there.
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Post by Riku on Nov 18, 2019 21:21:19 GMT -6
5 They found themselves at the address, which was just a few blocks away, still in the heart of the city. The house didn’t seem run down, so surely they weren’t struggling for money. However, it wasn't a mansion either. The creature could have been taken to a doctor if they could afford it....so why post it on the board? Clearly it was sent by a child, he could tell by he handwriting on the paper. Maybe the kid just didn’t know any better? Or maybe a doctor had already said they didn’t know what was wrong... Cameron had flown the shorter distance above and behind Riku. He liked the way the streetlights looked from so high up, but also liked to dive lower and dodge in and out of them quickly. When there were people during the day, it made that a lot less simple and fun. At night there were no unwanted obstacles in the way of his intended obstacles.
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Post by Riku on Nov 18, 2019 21:22:02 GMT -6
6 Knocking with the golden handle, they waited under the dim patio lights. They heard rustling from inside, then a scurry of footsteps casting a shadow across the stain-glass window nearby before clunking down the stairs in a hurry. A click and a crank, and the door swung open. Looking down, Riku saw a young boy seemingly ten. He had ash colored hair, brilliant sapphire and emerald eyes, and rosey cheeks. His skin was very pale, and his hand on the door was very small as he looked up at the young man with hope in his eyes. Panting, the child announced “Malii!!!” And jolted forward and hugged the winged creature. Cameron was shocked, but flattered. He was a much more patient Malii than others (like his sister), and he had an even softer spot for children...which he didn’t see often. He thought of them like cuter adults, not connecting that they’d someday grow into them.
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Post by Riku on Nov 18, 2019 21:22:36 GMT -6
7 “Hello.” Riku said with a warm smile, chuckling at the boy’s reaction to his companion. He waved his hand in a gentle arch to greet him. “He has bird wings! I’ve never seen a bird Malii!” The young boy remarked, completely oblivious to Riku. This was Malii time. He reached back and grabbed one of Cameron’s wings, a little rougher than what would have been polite. The Malii recognized the child was clearly too innocent to realize....that or he was stupid. (He did realize he had a horn, teeth, and claws, right?) “You do know you’re not a bird, right?” The boy asked him. Of course, Cameron didn’t respond or even comprehend the question. He studied the child’s awed face, and gave him a good lick from the side of his jaw to his temple, and then slightly backed away. The invasive examination was over. “Peter, I told you never to answer the door! Especially at night!”
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Post by Riku on Nov 18, 2019 21:23:10 GMT -6
8 The booming voice came from upstairs as an older woman turned around a corner and quickly stepped down them. Her motion was so smooth, it looked as if she was sliding downward as she fix her night robe closed and tied the waste secure. “Oh, um...Hello, sorry about that. He’s very eager.” Her arms were each tucked into her opposite pit to keep warm and further cover her figure in such an unpublic attire, but she loosed one to shake the stranger’s hand. Riku laughed at the clearly uncomfortable situation. He shook her hand and introduced himself. “Hi there, my name’s Riku, and this is my Malii Cameron.” “Cameron!” the boy exclaimed, “I love you, Cameron!!!” he shouted as he lunged forward again for another hug. The Malii had no choice, but allowed it so long as those hands didn’t get grabby again. “Okay, don’t overwhelm the poor creature, Petie...” the woman said, pulling back gently on his shoulder.
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Post by Riku on Nov 18, 2019 21:23:34 GMT -6
9 He let go of the fluffy creature with a pout, and the Malii seemed to think it had ended just a little too soon, as well. He leaned forward and licked the boy’s face again, causing an outburst of high-pitched laughter from the child, who reached out and kissed him on the face in return. Cameron’s five tails swished side to side slowly in amusement. He loved being loved. “Haha! Don’t worry, he’s a very clean Malii.” Riku assured the woman, a bit awkwardly. He reached down and ruffled the top of Cameron’s head, staying clear behind the horn. Then he opened the Ribbon of Telepathy up in his mind to translate what was being said in Common to the creature, so that he could further understand. Maybe he should have done that sooner... “I know it’s late,” he continued “but I saw the flier on the quest board and I wanted to see if I could help.”
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Post by Riku on Nov 18, 2019 21:24:03 GMT -6
10 “See!? I knew it! They’re here to save Biscuit!” The boy cheered. He made another eye contact and smile with the Malii, who seemed to smile back as he sat there with his mouth open and head tilted back to breathe. “Oh, are you a doctor...?” The woman asked, folding the sides of her robe in again as an unconscious habit. “We’ve already talked to a few. They said there’s nothing they can do with medicine...” “No, I’m not a doctor.” he said, strangely relieved. Usually that’d be an unsatisfying statement to admit - not that he wanted to be one. It just felt like admitting he wasn’t accomplished...which was sort of a sore spot for him. However, in this case that was a good thing, since she didn’t seem to have any interest in more of the medically trained. “That’s good. We already spent everything we could afford to on the three doctors who tried to help.”
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Post by Riku on Nov 18, 2019 21:24:32 GMT -6
11 “If you don’t mind me asking, what can you do to help...?” “Oh, it’s no bother.” Riku said, waiving his hand away at the concern. “I just wanted to see if you had already tried magic.” “Magic!?” The boy screamed, “Mom, he’s a wizard!!!” he cheered, pulling on the lower end of her robe and jumping up and down. She smiled and looked Riku in the eyes with new hope that hadn’t been there at first. “You have nodes?” She asked, putting her hand over her chest in disbelief that an accomplished mage would choose to spend their limited and coveted magical energy on her pet. “Well, no, not me. I meant Cameron.” He gestured to the Malii, who still sat there with the same dopey-grin. He could understand the conversation now...but he wasn’t listening. There was a decorative pinecone on a table behind the woman and child that he had his eye on. It looked disgusting yet delicious....
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Post by Riku on Nov 18, 2019 21:25:00 GMT -6
12 “He can heal.” Riku clarified, reaching out to pet the Malii again. “Can’t ya, boy?” he asked, all eyes now on Cameron... ....who was jerked back into the conversation. “I can what?” He asked, through the ribbon, now looking up at Riku. “Heal.” Riku answered, telepathically, awkwardly looking at the woman and boy who were looking to the creature for reassurance.....which didn’t completely make sense since he wasn’t sentient or speaking. However, in the moment it felt right - especially since Riku had first looked to him to confirm his statement. “What?” “ Heal. You can heal.” Riku answered again, totally being let down by the creature. Surely it knew it was capable, right? He had been there when his sister had done it many times. “Heal what?” He replied, still clueless and grinning. The corner of his eye was still fixed on that pinecone. “....injuries.” Riku sighed. “Oh, can I?” “Yes.”
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Post by Riku on Nov 18, 2019 21:25:26 GMT -6
13 The young man out his hand on his hip and turned back to the family. “He....is capable, but he’s never actually done it. I was hoping he’d figure it out tonight for you.” Peter’s face had turned a bit concerned during the uncomfortable, quiet, and blisteringly long silence during the telepathic conversation he didn’t know was happening. When Riku assured it was possible, he slowly reached out for Cameron and said “I believe you can do it, Cameron. You’ll do it for me, right?” This time the Malii was listening, and he leaned in and licked the boy’s hand. “I want to, for you.” He said through the ribbon. “He said he’ll try.” Riku translated, pointing at the ribbon he had on his wrist that matched the one on the Malii’s ankle. “Where is Biscuit, can we see him?” “Oh, um, that would be good. He’s through here...” the woman reacted, unsure if it was okay to hope again.
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Post by Riku on Nov 18, 2019 21:25:52 GMT -6
14 She gestured for then to enter the house, and then she closed the door behind them with her hand on the edge to keep it from closing too loud. Fixing her robe again, she led them into the next room where they had a dining table and a couch. It was a longer room, like a dining room and a living room combined together by taking out the separating wall. They walked past the harvest-decorated table and to the part of the room that had the soft couch and fireplace. “It started as a limp.” She said as they reached the auburn Rakai with dark tan scales. He was an adult with no horns, no spikes, and no fiery mane. Cameron moved closer and sniffed the tail of the sad creature. His own tails drooped in sympathy as he studied it. “He had a fire like mine, but it faded...” he told Riku through the ribbon.
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Post by Riku on Nov 18, 2019 21:26:19 GMT -6
15 “We thought maybe he he hurt himself playing at the park...but it never went away. And then his other joints started to get weaker as well.” She put her hand over her mouth, and Riku cautiously put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her. She didn’t seem to mind. “Peter, can you go get mommy her hot cocoa from upstairs?” “Okay, I’ll be right back!” he said, darting to the doorway to the front room with the stairs, but then turning around and folding his hands, and looking back with an adorable pout. “....um, I already finished mine. Can I drink yours, too, please?” Riku laughed to himself, seeing the manipulation the boy was so cleverly using. The mother nodded that it was okay. “Cameron, why don’t you go with him.” he added, releasing the Malii to go play for a bit. He darted around the corner after him, and a playful scream was heard as they both ran upstairs.
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