Negligence
Meta / Arthur
Meta is familiar with hospitals. His childhood is peppered with them, whether from teacher Bate falling ill to catastrophes in town to simple accidents that have given rise to a bit too much panic. He's more familiar with them than most.
He /hates/ being in this hospital.
It's quiet. There's not a soul in sight, and while the halls are brightly lit, it doesn't solve the feeling curdling its way through his gut, his throat. It's enough to make him want to puke, but he doesn't allow himself that courtesy. He doesn't deserve to be weak right now.
She had been here just a few minutes ago, and now...
That image is burned into his mind, of her laying lifeless on the ship. No matter how he talked, yelled, tried to do anything while he was piloting the Halberd to reach this place. She hadn't moved, and he still feels a cold grip on his heart at seeing just how /still/ she was, just-
Something bubbles up, and he swallows a humorless, wet laugh. Cold. Cold was what got them /into/ this mess, or at least, the lack of it. Nova, why hadn't he /listened/ when she complained about the heat? If he'd just listened, if he hadn't just- laughed along and turned up the air conditioning, if he had just-
There's a sound from down the hallway, of a door opening and closing. In the quiet, it sounds more like a kind of bomb, but he doesn't bother looking up from his place curled on the floor, wings like limp skin against the ground. He doesn't look up when he hears footsteps coming closer, doesn't look up when he feels a slight rush of air just before they stop. He doesn't need to look. He knows who it is.
"What the hell were you thinking."
The voice is like a guillotine, sharp and heavy and cutting, and Meta curls up more than he already has. Arthur is as sharp a Star Warrior as he is a leader, never flinching, never shying away from what needs to be done. In the quiet of the sterile hallway, it feels like a death sentence.
"You knew what this meant. You knew how this would turn out. And you still did it. So I ask again: what the /hell/ were you thinking? Why didn't you /tell/ me Kes was pregnant?"
Meta feels a swish of air, and finally does he look up. The light of the hall is blinding momentarily, but more than that is Arthur's great form, towering over his own where he sits like a broken shell of a man. His wings glow iridescent gold in the light, fanned out in all of their glory, and his armor reflects the sterile lights of the hospital as though they were rays of the sun, shining and beautiful. But his expression, what little Meta can see of it, says more of a monster than a god, for all that it's twisted up and marred by the force of fury likely raging through his veins.
Meta had always felt equal to Arthur. Now, he feels like the worst of scum underneath Arthur's boot.
"You've always made stupid decisions, Meta, ever since we were kids, but this?"
Arthur jerks his hand out, flares a wing that makes Meta flinch, but Arthur either doesn't notice or just doesn't care because the wing stays out, splayed in an aggressive posture. "This takes the cake. I /told/ you, Meta, about the dangers! I told you what would happen if you went the route that I did! But you didn't listen. You /never/ listen! And now, not only have you put Kes in danger, you might've put her /baby/ in danger as well! No, you /have/! Kes may be an Ice Leo, but she is a Leo nonetheless, and you /knew/ the risks."
Meta knew them. Yes. It didn't mean he could exactly control something to keep it from happening. It happened all the time...
"Do you know what I went through when Petta and I had Atticus? Extended hospital stays. Atticus getting taken to the NICU because he couldn't regulate, couldn't even breathe when he was first born. Do you know how many times we thought our son was going to die? Do you know how many times I thought my /wife/ was going to die in childbirth?"
Meta knows that too, he remembers it viscerally, as if it had happened to himself. The fear, the endless tears, Arthur trying to stay strong but the image of him crumpling down into a gold, limp pile of feathers and tired pleadings to NOVA to give him this, if nothing else, give him his family. Meta knows it all.
"And you chose to subject Kes to that. You /knowingly/ chose to subject Kes to pregnancy, to childbirth, to a fight for survival for a child that may not even live past their first birthday. That's /negligence/, Meta! You neglected everything, ignored all of the warning signs. You are many things, and I knew you were selfish, but I didn't expect this. Not from you, of all people."
Meta's hands fist slowly at his sides as something curdles inside of him, something deep, visceral, and ugly. No. He's not. He's...
"I hope you have something for Kes' father when he finds out you killed her and her child, because Meta, if she is anything like Petta and Atticus were, and she /is/, she will not survive this. And you are going to be the one at fault for it. I am /ashamed/ of you."
"That's enough!"
Meta is only half-aware of what he's doing. The hallways blurs as he shoots up, wings splayed back behind him in a threat despite how Arthur has never once backed down from his challenge. The feeling burns in his chest, his gut, up his throat and into his voice which sounds more like a demon beast than anything else he's ever heard as a Star Warrior. "You have no right to tell me that! Don't yell at me as though /I/ were the only one in control! She kept it! She /wanted/ to keep it! That was her decision! Do you understand me! Hers!"
But even as he spits like he's spilling acid, for some reason the words taste foul in his mouth like a filthy lie. He knows it's true. He and Kes had talked it over for so long, night after night, making sure that this was okay, that this was what they both wanted despite the risks. But now that the time is here, Kes in the emergency room, Meta out in the hallway, far too early - winter, not summer, it's supposed to happen in /winter/ - he doesn't know if this is what he wanted after all. If this was right, or if he was just selfish.
"And yet here she is, an Ice Leo, having a child in the middle of summer when, if I understand correctly, she's at her weakest. You didn't think to plan ahead? To take her somewhere colder? Where she might have a better chance?" Arthur is still as a statue, hands fisted, eyes glaring daggers, and something in Meta's expression makes his face shift in what Meta is certain is a sneer. "I don't care if it /was/ a joint decision. The fact that she is in this mess here is still your fault. You know that as well as I do. And the fact that you two both chose to bring a child to this world that is going to suffer all it's life? What were you thinking?"
Meta grits his teeth and doesn't respond. Because he wasn't. They didn't plan that far ahead, they hadn't the time. They were happy to have something to look forward to, for Kirby to have a sibling despite that he's already near grown.
"Atticus is going to be suffering until the day he dies. He might not even live as long as either his mother or myself. Your child is going to be /worse/ and you-- You didn't have the foresight to think about that. Or if you did, you didn't care. Neither of you did."
"Get out."
Meta doesn't hear himself say it. The adrenaline pounds in his body, his wings stiff, hiked up, and he needs to concentrate on breathing because if he doesn't, he's going to do something he regrets.
"Meta."
"I SAID LEAVE!!"
It's a yell that could've cracked walls, and Meta has a visceral sort of satisfaction at seeing Arthur wince, though it's subtle and gone before he can blink.
"..." Arthur considers him for a long moment, at the picture he must make. Something must've clicked, because Meta sees his wings finally relax, and though his gaze is stern, there isn't quite the heat that there had once been.
He leaves. Without a word. Meta is thankful for it, because if he had said anything else he might've jumped him without bothering to listen. Soon it's just him, alone, in the same sterile hallway that he had been in for the last several hours, and when the door stills it's like nothing at all had happened. Meta isn't sure if this is a good or bad thing.
The fight drains out of him and suddenly it's hard to stand. Hard to do much of anything except collapse on the floor and put his head back in his hands as something wet stings his eyes. He hates Arthur. He absolutely hates him.
Because at the end of the day, Meta knows he's right.
He /hates/ being in this hospital.
It's quiet. There's not a soul in sight, and while the halls are brightly lit, it doesn't solve the feeling curdling its way through his gut, his throat. It's enough to make him want to puke, but he doesn't allow himself that courtesy. He doesn't deserve to be weak right now.
She had been here just a few minutes ago, and now...
That image is burned into his mind, of her laying lifeless on the ship. No matter how he talked, yelled, tried to do anything while he was piloting the Halberd to reach this place. She hadn't moved, and he still feels a cold grip on his heart at seeing just how /still/ she was, just-
Something bubbles up, and he swallows a humorless, wet laugh. Cold. Cold was what got them /into/ this mess, or at least, the lack of it. Nova, why hadn't he /listened/ when she complained about the heat? If he'd just listened, if he hadn't just- laughed along and turned up the air conditioning, if he had just-
There's a sound from down the hallway, of a door opening and closing. In the quiet, it sounds more like a kind of bomb, but he doesn't bother looking up from his place curled on the floor, wings like limp skin against the ground. He doesn't look up when he hears footsteps coming closer, doesn't look up when he feels a slight rush of air just before they stop. He doesn't need to look. He knows who it is.
"What the hell were you thinking."
The voice is like a guillotine, sharp and heavy and cutting, and Meta curls up more than he already has. Arthur is as sharp a Star Warrior as he is a leader, never flinching, never shying away from what needs to be done. In the quiet of the sterile hallway, it feels like a death sentence.
"You knew what this meant. You knew how this would turn out. And you still did it. So I ask again: what the /hell/ were you thinking? Why didn't you /tell/ me Kes was pregnant?"
Meta feels a swish of air, and finally does he look up. The light of the hall is blinding momentarily, but more than that is Arthur's great form, towering over his own where he sits like a broken shell of a man. His wings glow iridescent gold in the light, fanned out in all of their glory, and his armor reflects the sterile lights of the hospital as though they were rays of the sun, shining and beautiful. But his expression, what little Meta can see of it, says more of a monster than a god, for all that it's twisted up and marred by the force of fury likely raging through his veins.
Meta had always felt equal to Arthur. Now, he feels like the worst of scum underneath Arthur's boot.
"You've always made stupid decisions, Meta, ever since we were kids, but this?"
Arthur jerks his hand out, flares a wing that makes Meta flinch, but Arthur either doesn't notice or just doesn't care because the wing stays out, splayed in an aggressive posture. "This takes the cake. I /told/ you, Meta, about the dangers! I told you what would happen if you went the route that I did! But you didn't listen. You /never/ listen! And now, not only have you put Kes in danger, you might've put her /baby/ in danger as well! No, you /have/! Kes may be an Ice Leo, but she is a Leo nonetheless, and you /knew/ the risks."
Meta knew them. Yes. It didn't mean he could exactly control something to keep it from happening. It happened all the time...
"Do you know what I went through when Petta and I had Atticus? Extended hospital stays. Atticus getting taken to the NICU because he couldn't regulate, couldn't even breathe when he was first born. Do you know how many times we thought our son was going to die? Do you know how many times I thought my /wife/ was going to die in childbirth?"
Meta knows that too, he remembers it viscerally, as if it had happened to himself. The fear, the endless tears, Arthur trying to stay strong but the image of him crumpling down into a gold, limp pile of feathers and tired pleadings to NOVA to give him this, if nothing else, give him his family. Meta knows it all.
"And you chose to subject Kes to that. You /knowingly/ chose to subject Kes to pregnancy, to childbirth, to a fight for survival for a child that may not even live past their first birthday. That's /negligence/, Meta! You neglected everything, ignored all of the warning signs. You are many things, and I knew you were selfish, but I didn't expect this. Not from you, of all people."
Meta's hands fist slowly at his sides as something curdles inside of him, something deep, visceral, and ugly. No. He's not. He's...
"I hope you have something for Kes' father when he finds out you killed her and her child, because Meta, if she is anything like Petta and Atticus were, and she /is/, she will not survive this. And you are going to be the one at fault for it. I am /ashamed/ of you."
"That's enough!"
Meta is only half-aware of what he's doing. The hallways blurs as he shoots up, wings splayed back behind him in a threat despite how Arthur has never once backed down from his challenge. The feeling burns in his chest, his gut, up his throat and into his voice which sounds more like a demon beast than anything else he's ever heard as a Star Warrior. "You have no right to tell me that! Don't yell at me as though /I/ were the only one in control! She kept it! She /wanted/ to keep it! That was her decision! Do you understand me! Hers!"
But even as he spits like he's spilling acid, for some reason the words taste foul in his mouth like a filthy lie. He knows it's true. He and Kes had talked it over for so long, night after night, making sure that this was okay, that this was what they both wanted despite the risks. But now that the time is here, Kes in the emergency room, Meta out in the hallway, far too early - winter, not summer, it's supposed to happen in /winter/ - he doesn't know if this is what he wanted after all. If this was right, or if he was just selfish.
"And yet here she is, an Ice Leo, having a child in the middle of summer when, if I understand correctly, she's at her weakest. You didn't think to plan ahead? To take her somewhere colder? Where she might have a better chance?" Arthur is still as a statue, hands fisted, eyes glaring daggers, and something in Meta's expression makes his face shift in what Meta is certain is a sneer. "I don't care if it /was/ a joint decision. The fact that she is in this mess here is still your fault. You know that as well as I do. And the fact that you two both chose to bring a child to this world that is going to suffer all it's life? What were you thinking?"
Meta grits his teeth and doesn't respond. Because he wasn't. They didn't plan that far ahead, they hadn't the time. They were happy to have something to look forward to, for Kirby to have a sibling despite that he's already near grown.
"Atticus is going to be suffering until the day he dies. He might not even live as long as either his mother or myself. Your child is going to be /worse/ and you-- You didn't have the foresight to think about that. Or if you did, you didn't care. Neither of you did."
"Get out."
Meta doesn't hear himself say it. The adrenaline pounds in his body, his wings stiff, hiked up, and he needs to concentrate on breathing because if he doesn't, he's going to do something he regrets.
"Meta."
"I SAID LEAVE!!"
It's a yell that could've cracked walls, and Meta has a visceral sort of satisfaction at seeing Arthur wince, though it's subtle and gone before he can blink.
"..." Arthur considers him for a long moment, at the picture he must make. Something must've clicked, because Meta sees his wings finally relax, and though his gaze is stern, there isn't quite the heat that there had once been.
He leaves. Without a word. Meta is thankful for it, because if he had said anything else he might've jumped him without bothering to listen. Soon it's just him, alone, in the same sterile hallway that he had been in for the last several hours, and when the door stills it's like nothing at all had happened. Meta isn't sure if this is a good or bad thing.
The fight drains out of him and suddenly it's hard to stand. Hard to do much of anything except collapse on the floor and put his head back in his hands as something wet stings his eyes. He hates Arthur. He absolutely hates him.
Because at the end of the day, Meta knows he's right.
-End-
Artist Comment:
February 15, 2021
-----------------
Since the comic will be on a small break, I wanna talk more about the recent timeskip I posted. Which is the son of Meta and Kes, Tulok.
Tulok was born much later in my series. If you read the information I posted on the Kirby’s timeskip illustration, you’ll know that Tulok was born when Kirby is in his late teens. Bate has already passed on, so he won’t be in Tulok’s life, unfortunately. The only grandparent Tulok currently has is Kes’ father, Wulfric.
In my series, I have an important headcanon about the Leo species, and how dangerous is it to start a family with one. If you are not a Leo or share the same element as them, you risk your child getting seriously ill, or possibly having them succumb if not treated immediately. Though I do need to clarify there are certain factors that contribute to this. (Ex: If the mother is a Leo, they are more at risk) There is also only one type of non-elemental Species in my series that are able to breed with them without rebuttal. But that’s a different story for next time since I’ll be rambling on too long. But going back to what I was previous saying- We’ve seen this with Atticus. Atticus is part Puffball and burning Leo. He struggles a lot maintaining his temperature and would fall ill constantly when he got too hot, or too cold. There was a specific plant that helped him, so although Atticus was at risk, as long as he took precaution and took his medicine, he would be fine.
Frozen Leos are like Burning Leos, but they are VERY sensitive to their surroundings. Pyrell and Petta are able to be out in the rain, or the snow. The downfall is they can’t use their fire as much as before until their temperature is regulated. But they do not suffer any critical damage. Worse case scenario is they get a cold. Pyrell is a biiiit more sensitive to the snow, but like I said, he won’t flat out die from playing in the snow with Tula and Fally.
For a frozen Leo, anything above a certain degree can be damaging to their health. They simply aren’t meant to venture outside of their element. This is why Kes never paid a visit to Meta during the spring and warm season. When she moved to Pop Star, she became very sick because she wasn’t in her natural habitat anymore. She struggled a lot to adapt to the warmer climate, and it nearly killed her. So imagine an infant going through what Kes had to deal with. They cannot regulate their body heat until they’re older, and they must retain a certain degree or risk injury or possible death.
While pregnant, Kes had to constantly maintain her temperature for their child at all times- night and day. This was very hard and stressful on her during the warm season. Due to how taxing it was, she requested they head back to South Nova for the remainder of the pregnancy. Meta tried to help her cool off, but once realizing nothing was helping, he finally agreed. He admits later on that he greatly regrets not taking her request as urgent as she did.
Kirby tearfully stayed on Pop Star upon Meta’s orders, and Kes weakly smiled at the young warrior, telling him she will return with his new baby brother. Kirby hesitantly called Atticus to inform them what was happening when he noticed how frail Kes has become. Being a hybrid, Atticus informed Petta, which lead to Petta telling Arthur. Hearing this obviously did not sit well with him.
The trip to Kalmari takes 3 days tops on the Halberd. On the final day, Kes became unresponsive when Meta went to check on her, and the warrior rushed to Kalmari to take her to the hospital. This leads us to the literature piece above.
Arthur raced to the hospital to confront Meta. He is furious about not being told about this sooner. Because no one was informed about Kes’ pregnancy, Petta wasn’t able to study the effects of certain plants that may help their baby. Arthur and Petta knows what it’s like to have a hybrid, and for Meta to keep it a secret completely infuriated Arthur. Not only is their child at risk of dying now, but Kes as well.
Tulok was supposed to arrive in the cold season, but because of the stress Kes endured, he was born in the warm season; 2 months earlier than expected. Kirby, once he heard what happened from Atticus, headed to Kalmari soon after Tulok was born. Being born prematurely, Tulok needed to be monitored for several months at the hospital, and required several surgeries. This of course took a huge toll on the couple. Arthur, though still frustrated with Meta, would always visit to help them get through this. His other comrades (Dragato, Non, Fally) would visit as well.
To help maintain his temperature, Tulok was placed in a special chamber that helps regulate and monitor him. It’s relatively new, but it seems to do a good job keeping Tulok in check. If he’s too hot, it’ll cool him off. If he’s too cold, it’ll regulate him back to a suitable temperature. He has to stay in it for the majority of the day until he’s old enough to regulate his temperature on his own. Kirby keeps him company anytime he senses the child getting fussy. Nova knows he hated to sit around as a kid, so he always did his best to keep him occupied by telling him stories of his past battles, or of his family- mostly about his Grandfather Bate.
Eventually Tulok was finally able to leave once his health started to improve (By this time, Kirby already went back to Pop Star). Meta decides for them to stay in Kalmari in the meantime until he’s older, and well enough to travel back home. They stayed in Bate’s old house which was being maintained by Atticus. Although he was released from the hospital, Tulok still has to be closely monitored. Because Kirby wasn’t here, Atticus would watch an eye on him when his Aunt and Uncle became too tired. During the time he was caring for him, Tulok started to grow fond of the hybrid Leo. This lead to Atticus being one of the few who can help calm the child, or successfully get him to take his medication, and even get him to visit the doctor with little to no scuffles/arguments. Atticus knows what it’s like growing up, so he has a solution to coax the child for practically anything.
Health wise, Tulok has trouble maintaining his temperature like most polar hybrids, and has terrible endurance which requires him to rest often; like his late Grandfather Bate, he, too, is asthmatic so that’s usually why he has to break from time to time. He’s a tad bit runty and is much smaller compared to an average Leo/Puffball; though that’s because Meta was born a runt as well. There’s no side effect to that, he’s just really small. Many compare him to his father in that department. Tulok also has trouble hearing, so as he grows older he relies a lot on his eye site and sense of smell. He does not wear any sort of device to help him compared to Ramset.
Strength wise, he isn’t as powerful as Kirby by any means, but he has is own strength and abilities he’s quite proud of. He can fly easily in the harsh storms of South Nova, as well as use a multitude of Ice attacks that were taught by him from his mother and grandfather. His sense of perception is very keen, and easily knows if someone is hiding or following them.
Like all Ice Leos, he has heterochromia. One is blue, while the other is bright orange. The eye colors of a Frozen Leo are usually muted, so Tulok stands out quite easily. The same goes with his wings, and he was made fun of a few of the other Ice Leos whenever he and his family visits South Nova.
In terms of personality between hybrids, Tulok is the complete opposite of Atticus. While Atticus preferred to stay away from any type of training, Tulok was eager as ever to be like Kirby. He would always try to sneak out, or mimic his movements while his brother is training. While Arthur wanted Atticus to train, Meta is against it for Tulok and will always intervene when possible. He doesn't want his son hospitalized for something as foolish as learning how to fly faster, or learning how to hunt. Kes isn't fully on board with Meta's decision, so she teaches him less strenuous techniques; Like making certain weapons, or lecturing him on the basics of plants that are safe to eat. Meta knows he can't protect Tulok for long, but for now, he refuses to budge.
-----------------------------------------
I think I'll stop it here. If I go any longer, it'll be an essay. XDD I hope you enjoy a little more info on Tulok and his family! ^o^
The one-shot for this illustration was commissioned by my good friend, Dogblog. (dA- Shadowrealmprincess)
February 15, 2021
-----------------
Since the comic will be on a small break, I wanna talk more about the recent timeskip I posted. Which is the son of Meta and Kes, Tulok.
Tulok was born much later in my series. If you read the information I posted on the Kirby’s timeskip illustration, you’ll know that Tulok was born when Kirby is in his late teens. Bate has already passed on, so he won’t be in Tulok’s life, unfortunately. The only grandparent Tulok currently has is Kes’ father, Wulfric.
In my series, I have an important headcanon about the Leo species, and how dangerous is it to start a family with one. If you are not a Leo or share the same element as them, you risk your child getting seriously ill, or possibly having them succumb if not treated immediately. Though I do need to clarify there are certain factors that contribute to this. (Ex: If the mother is a Leo, they are more at risk) There is also only one type of non-elemental Species in my series that are able to breed with them without rebuttal. But that’s a different story for next time since I’ll be rambling on too long. But going back to what I was previous saying- We’ve seen this with Atticus. Atticus is part Puffball and burning Leo. He struggles a lot maintaining his temperature and would fall ill constantly when he got too hot, or too cold. There was a specific plant that helped him, so although Atticus was at risk, as long as he took precaution and took his medicine, he would be fine.
Frozen Leos are like Burning Leos, but they are VERY sensitive to their surroundings. Pyrell and Petta are able to be out in the rain, or the snow. The downfall is they can’t use their fire as much as before until their temperature is regulated. But they do not suffer any critical damage. Worse case scenario is they get a cold. Pyrell is a biiiit more sensitive to the snow, but like I said, he won’t flat out die from playing in the snow with Tula and Fally.
For a frozen Leo, anything above a certain degree can be damaging to their health. They simply aren’t meant to venture outside of their element. This is why Kes never paid a visit to Meta during the spring and warm season. When she moved to Pop Star, she became very sick because she wasn’t in her natural habitat anymore. She struggled a lot to adapt to the warmer climate, and it nearly killed her. So imagine an infant going through what Kes had to deal with. They cannot regulate their body heat until they’re older, and they must retain a certain degree or risk injury or possible death.
While pregnant, Kes had to constantly maintain her temperature for their child at all times- night and day. This was very hard and stressful on her during the warm season. Due to how taxing it was, she requested they head back to South Nova for the remainder of the pregnancy. Meta tried to help her cool off, but once realizing nothing was helping, he finally agreed. He admits later on that he greatly regrets not taking her request as urgent as she did.
Kirby tearfully stayed on Pop Star upon Meta’s orders, and Kes weakly smiled at the young warrior, telling him she will return with his new baby brother. Kirby hesitantly called Atticus to inform them what was happening when he noticed how frail Kes has become. Being a hybrid, Atticus informed Petta, which lead to Petta telling Arthur. Hearing this obviously did not sit well with him.
The trip to Kalmari takes 3 days tops on the Halberd. On the final day, Kes became unresponsive when Meta went to check on her, and the warrior rushed to Kalmari to take her to the hospital. This leads us to the literature piece above.
Arthur raced to the hospital to confront Meta. He is furious about not being told about this sooner. Because no one was informed about Kes’ pregnancy, Petta wasn’t able to study the effects of certain plants that may help their baby. Arthur and Petta knows what it’s like to have a hybrid, and for Meta to keep it a secret completely infuriated Arthur. Not only is their child at risk of dying now, but Kes as well.
Tulok was supposed to arrive in the cold season, but because of the stress Kes endured, he was born in the warm season; 2 months earlier than expected. Kirby, once he heard what happened from Atticus, headed to Kalmari soon after Tulok was born. Being born prematurely, Tulok needed to be monitored for several months at the hospital, and required several surgeries. This of course took a huge toll on the couple. Arthur, though still frustrated with Meta, would always visit to help them get through this. His other comrades (Dragato, Non, Fally) would visit as well.
To help maintain his temperature, Tulok was placed in a special chamber that helps regulate and monitor him. It’s relatively new, but it seems to do a good job keeping Tulok in check. If he’s too hot, it’ll cool him off. If he’s too cold, it’ll regulate him back to a suitable temperature. He has to stay in it for the majority of the day until he’s old enough to regulate his temperature on his own. Kirby keeps him company anytime he senses the child getting fussy. Nova knows he hated to sit around as a kid, so he always did his best to keep him occupied by telling him stories of his past battles, or of his family- mostly about his Grandfather Bate.
Eventually Tulok was finally able to leave once his health started to improve (By this time, Kirby already went back to Pop Star). Meta decides for them to stay in Kalmari in the meantime until he’s older, and well enough to travel back home. They stayed in Bate’s old house which was being maintained by Atticus. Although he was released from the hospital, Tulok still has to be closely monitored. Because Kirby wasn’t here, Atticus would watch an eye on him when his Aunt and Uncle became too tired. During the time he was caring for him, Tulok started to grow fond of the hybrid Leo. This lead to Atticus being one of the few who can help calm the child, or successfully get him to take his medication, and even get him to visit the doctor with little to no scuffles/arguments. Atticus knows what it’s like growing up, so he has a solution to coax the child for practically anything.
Health wise, Tulok has trouble maintaining his temperature like most polar hybrids, and has terrible endurance which requires him to rest often; like his late Grandfather Bate, he, too, is asthmatic so that’s usually why he has to break from time to time. He’s a tad bit runty and is much smaller compared to an average Leo/Puffball; though that’s because Meta was born a runt as well. There’s no side effect to that, he’s just really small. Many compare him to his father in that department. Tulok also has trouble hearing, so as he grows older he relies a lot on his eye site and sense of smell. He does not wear any sort of device to help him compared to Ramset.
Strength wise, he isn’t as powerful as Kirby by any means, but he has is own strength and abilities he’s quite proud of. He can fly easily in the harsh storms of South Nova, as well as use a multitude of Ice attacks that were taught by him from his mother and grandfather. His sense of perception is very keen, and easily knows if someone is hiding or following them.
Like all Ice Leos, he has heterochromia. One is blue, while the other is bright orange. The eye colors of a Frozen Leo are usually muted, so Tulok stands out quite easily. The same goes with his wings, and he was made fun of a few of the other Ice Leos whenever he and his family visits South Nova.
In terms of personality between hybrids, Tulok is the complete opposite of Atticus. While Atticus preferred to stay away from any type of training, Tulok was eager as ever to be like Kirby. He would always try to sneak out, or mimic his movements while his brother is training. While Arthur wanted Atticus to train, Meta is against it for Tulok and will always intervene when possible. He doesn't want his son hospitalized for something as foolish as learning how to fly faster, or learning how to hunt. Kes isn't fully on board with Meta's decision, so she teaches him less strenuous techniques; Like making certain weapons, or lecturing him on the basics of plants that are safe to eat. Meta knows he can't protect Tulok for long, but for now, he refuses to budge.
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I think I'll stop it here. If I go any longer, it'll be an essay. XDD I hope you enjoy a little more info on Tulok and his family! ^o^
The one-shot for this illustration was commissioned by my good friend, Dogblog. (dA- Shadowrealmprincess)
Species © Nintendo/ HAL Laboratory
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem
