A Frozen Leo's Return
Chapter. 7
Much to Meta's delight, Kes kept her promise and stayed in Kalmari to finish her recovery. She rested for a majority of the week since she still had trouble walking, but Meta didn't mind. He'd stay be her side and talk about their respective homes; continuing to catch up where they left off. Once she was finally able to get around without tiring out, he figured it would be a great idea to show her around town like when they were younger. A lot has changed since she last visited, and he wanted to make sure to show her everything before she left. While he may not know if their strict traditions have changed, maybe this incident will allow her people to see that some outsiders could be trusted. If that's the case, then she'll be able to visit any time! Just the thought made the warrior smile with joy.
"What are you so cheery about?" Kes asked, setting her fork down when she saw his unusually chipper expression. Shaking his thoughts, Meta gave a slight shrug and continued to munch on his sandwich.
"Just...thinking." He mumbled and chewed, reaching over to steal a few of her fries.
"Care to enlighten me as well?" She asked, pushing her plate towards him since she was already full.
"Hm...it's...ah...." He picked up one of the fries and slowly munched on it. "It's about your home. Do you think when this is all over, you can visit more often?"
"Oh." She resting her arms on the table and began to ponder as well. She's never traveled this far since the last time they met, but would she really be able to after this? His comrades and Teachers are probably in South Nova by now, which is certainly unheard of in their village. They're never had such an abundance of outsiders before, maybe having them around will cause the Leos in her village to be less guarded, and more trusting.
"I hope so, it's been quite an experience returning to Kalmari. I would really like to have a chance to spend more time here as well." She smiled.
"I'd like that." Meta spoke, taking the last bite from his meal and setting his plate on top of hers. Once rested from their late lunch, Meta suggested heading to one of his favorite places to relax for the rest of the day. Kes agreed, and both made their way out of the plaza. The journey wasn't far, it only took ten minutes or so to reach the area Meta described while they were walking. When they reached it, Meta helped her up the steep hill and sat under the large plum blossom tree his mentor planted many years ago. Both sat and enjoyed the others company as they quietly listened to the sound of the ocean.
"This is nice. I never heard the sound of ocean waves this close before. Now I can see why it's your favorite spot." She closed her eyes and enjoyed the last bits of sunlight warm her body. She never felt such contentment before, it was such an unusual feeling.
"My Teacher used to bring me up here all the time when I was younger. I suppose his habits rubbed off on me as well." He chuckled, casting his gaze on the setting sun. "It sure is a sight, though."
Once the sun set and a purple hue started to mix with the orange sky above, Kes looked towards Meta and gave a small smile. "Thank you for being such a good friend, Meta. I'm really having a wonderful time here in Kalmari. It's been so nice catching up with you. You may have grown, but you're still the charming little warrior I once knew."
Wrapping one of his wings around her, Meta agreed. "All the more reason I hope you're able to visit more. It'll be nice watching the sun set together again."
"Or spar, perhaps? I've seen you're quite proficient in wielding that sword of yours." She said with a conceited tone. "Us Leos like a good challenge. Once I'm back to fighting condition, you better hope you give me a battle worth fighting for." Straightening her pose, she gave him a determined grin.
"Why wait, then." He quickly grabbed a fallen branch not too far from them and pointed it at her. His usually quiet demeanor gone as his laugh filled the air. Kes, not wanting to lose, dodged out of the way and found a formidable stick to challenge his. She held it up and brushed it up against his before trying to poke him with it. He veered out of the way and tried to disarm her. Kes saw, and she quickly formed a small ball of snow and threw it at his face. Meta inched back and to swat it away.
"Hey, that's cheating!" He tried to muffled his laughs to sound serious. His stretched his wings to avoid getting hit again each time she threw one at him. Their childish laughter rivaled the crashing waves below; echoing through the warm winds of Kalmari. Eventually, Meta decided to end it with his final attack. Flying a bit higher to prepare himself, Meta nosedived to the Leo before managing to strike her on her side. Landing a few feet away, his smile soon turned to a concerned frown when she saw her staggering to the floor. Clutching her side, Meta wondered if he used too much force when he threw it. When she collapsed next to the tree, Meta made a dash to her.
"K-Kes!" He called her name in a panic. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you? Did-" He stopped when he saw she was clutched her sides in laughter, not pain. Realizing he didn't hurt her, he gave a fearful chuckle as he fell to the floor. Once the pair settled down, Meta stood back up and extended his hand.
"It looks like it's getting pretty dark out. How about we head back home?" Since his teacher offered to house her until she was able again, the walk wasn't too far away. Kes graciously took it and both smiled as they made their way back to the small cottage.
It was quite an eventful day, he would say. Going out for ice cream, playing in the ocean, fighting with tree branches- it was like he was a kid again! Now he understood how Nonsurat, Arthur and even Dragato felt when they spend time away from their comrades to focus on their friends. It was a different kind of relationship they share. It was personal, it was unique, and it was special. He always used to make fun of Arthur for it. He badgered and even taunted him at times for spending time with Petta.
The past few days made him realize how wrong he was.
"What are you so cheery about?" Kes asked, setting her fork down when she saw his unusually chipper expression. Shaking his thoughts, Meta gave a slight shrug and continued to munch on his sandwich.
"Just...thinking." He mumbled and chewed, reaching over to steal a few of her fries.
"Care to enlighten me as well?" She asked, pushing her plate towards him since she was already full.
"Hm...it's...ah...." He picked up one of the fries and slowly munched on it. "It's about your home. Do you think when this is all over, you can visit more often?"
"Oh." She resting her arms on the table and began to ponder as well. She's never traveled this far since the last time they met, but would she really be able to after this? His comrades and Teachers are probably in South Nova by now, which is certainly unheard of in their village. They're never had such an abundance of outsiders before, maybe having them around will cause the Leos in her village to be less guarded, and more trusting.
"I hope so, it's been quite an experience returning to Kalmari. I would really like to have a chance to spend more time here as well." She smiled.
"I'd like that." Meta spoke, taking the last bite from his meal and setting his plate on top of hers. Once rested from their late lunch, Meta suggested heading to one of his favorite places to relax for the rest of the day. Kes agreed, and both made their way out of the plaza. The journey wasn't far, it only took ten minutes or so to reach the area Meta described while they were walking. When they reached it, Meta helped her up the steep hill and sat under the large plum blossom tree his mentor planted many years ago. Both sat and enjoyed the others company as they quietly listened to the sound of the ocean.
"This is nice. I never heard the sound of ocean waves this close before. Now I can see why it's your favorite spot." She closed her eyes and enjoyed the last bits of sunlight warm her body. She never felt such contentment before, it was such an unusual feeling.
"My Teacher used to bring me up here all the time when I was younger. I suppose his habits rubbed off on me as well." He chuckled, casting his gaze on the setting sun. "It sure is a sight, though."
Once the sun set and a purple hue started to mix with the orange sky above, Kes looked towards Meta and gave a small smile. "Thank you for being such a good friend, Meta. I'm really having a wonderful time here in Kalmari. It's been so nice catching up with you. You may have grown, but you're still the charming little warrior I once knew."
Wrapping one of his wings around her, Meta agreed. "All the more reason I hope you're able to visit more. It'll be nice watching the sun set together again."
"Or spar, perhaps? I've seen you're quite proficient in wielding that sword of yours." She said with a conceited tone. "Us Leos like a good challenge. Once I'm back to fighting condition, you better hope you give me a battle worth fighting for." Straightening her pose, she gave him a determined grin.
"Why wait, then." He quickly grabbed a fallen branch not too far from them and pointed it at her. His usually quiet demeanor gone as his laugh filled the air. Kes, not wanting to lose, dodged out of the way and found a formidable stick to challenge his. She held it up and brushed it up against his before trying to poke him with it. He veered out of the way and tried to disarm her. Kes saw, and she quickly formed a small ball of snow and threw it at his face. Meta inched back and to swat it away.
"Hey, that's cheating!" He tried to muffled his laughs to sound serious. His stretched his wings to avoid getting hit again each time she threw one at him. Their childish laughter rivaled the crashing waves below; echoing through the warm winds of Kalmari. Eventually, Meta decided to end it with his final attack. Flying a bit higher to prepare himself, Meta nosedived to the Leo before managing to strike her on her side. Landing a few feet away, his smile soon turned to a concerned frown when she saw her staggering to the floor. Clutching her side, Meta wondered if he used too much force when he threw it. When she collapsed next to the tree, Meta made a dash to her.
"K-Kes!" He called her name in a panic. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you? Did-" He stopped when he saw she was clutched her sides in laughter, not pain. Realizing he didn't hurt her, he gave a fearful chuckle as he fell to the floor. Once the pair settled down, Meta stood back up and extended his hand.
"It looks like it's getting pretty dark out. How about we head back home?" Since his teacher offered to house her until she was able again, the walk wasn't too far away. Kes graciously took it and both smiled as they made their way back to the small cottage.
It was quite an eventful day, he would say. Going out for ice cream, playing in the ocean, fighting with tree branches- it was like he was a kid again! Now he understood how Nonsurat, Arthur and even Dragato felt when they spend time away from their comrades to focus on their friends. It was a different kind of relationship they share. It was personal, it was unique, and it was special. He always used to make fun of Arthur for it. He badgered and even taunted him at times for spending time with Petta.
The past few days made him realize how wrong he was.
<< Chapter 6 | Chapter 8 >>
Artist Comment:
Date:
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Date:
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Species © Nintendo/ HAL Laboratory
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem
