Following in their footsteps

Following in their Footsteps
(Tula / Rupion)

Tula kept close to her father as she watched him greet a small group of Frozen Leos who just arrived in Kalmari. She was informed many weeks prior that her Aunt Kes, Uncle Meta and cousin Kirby were visiting this winter for a very special occasion. Several Frozen Leos from Kes’ village were going to visit Kalmari for the first time! Other than her aunt, Tula hasn’t seen another Frozen Leo before, so seeing everyone is quite exciting…at first.

All of them are elders like her Grandfather Bate, or adults like her parents. She kept quiet and watched the new arrivals greet many of her relatives. She didn’t speak much, and wondered if maybe she should’ve taken up her parent’s offer to stay behind to play with her cousins instead.

“O-oh!” Tula’s attention is immediately caught when she noticed someone around her age. He was walking along side another older looking Leo, and the Sasuke quickly tugged on her father’s wing.
“Dad, look!” She eagerly pointed to him. “Can I say hi, pleasssse?”

Falspar, who was in the middle of a conversation, peered down and gave a small nod to her request. She squeaked with joy and happily ran past several of the adults before finally reaching the pair. Before she could get the chance to talk to him, however, she was picked up by another.

“Ah, Tula! Good timing.”

Her aunty Kes held her close, and introduced her to the pair she was originally heading to.

“Dad, this is Tula. Falspar and Pyrell’s child.” She spoke.

Tula gave a shy wave back.

“Ah, perfect.” Wulfric broke out in a smile before slightly turning to grab the little Leo next to him. “I was expecting Kirby to show Rupion around, but if he’s still sleeping from the long flight, I hope this young ice cube wouldn’t mind filling his role.”

Rupion? So that’s his name. She stared back at the Leo who was curiously staring back at her as well. He looked similar to the other Leos in the group, but adorned what looked like small blue horns on top of his head. She gave a smile expecting the same, but surprisingly he didn’t return it. That’s….odd. She tore her attention away from him when she heard her aunt speak to her.

“Oh, I’m sure she would love to.” She spoke, looking down at the child. “Would that be okay with you, Tula?”

“A..ah…Yeah, I don’t mind!!” She beams. “It’ll be fun!!”

“Great!” The elder Leo spoke and set Rupion down. “Remember, Rupion. We’re guests here, so mind your manners and keep close to Tula.”

“Yes Sir….” He spoke formally, and followed Tula when she started to leave the area to show him around.

Kes and Wulfric watched as the pair left before she slightly frowned in concern. “I still can’t believe they’re really gone. It’s hard to believe.”

“It’s a tragic loss indeed. He’s still dealing with the weight of it all since their passing. I thought taking him to Kalmari will be a nice change of pace for him.” Wulfric only allowed veterans to join him during this gathering- all the younger ice cubes or juveniles weren’t permitted. Since Rupion’s parents were his daughters’ comrades, he bent the rules to allow him to come.

“Even if it’s for only a few days, I hope you’re right.” Kes nods in agreement.

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“Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen another Ice Leo before. This is gonna be exciting!” Tula chirped with joy, and spun around to face him. “That reminds me! Welcome to Kalmari Town!!” She giggled, and threw her arms up in the air. “I can’t wait to show you around. What do you want to see first? The plaza, maybe? It has tons of shops!”

Rupion didn’t seem to share the same enthusiasm, and just gave a small shrug. Tula reeled back her excitement, and wondered if he was tired like Kirby. Maybe he didn’t even want to go sightseeing in the first place.

“Or, umm…but if you’re tired, I can take you back to your parents if you want.” She kindly offered.

Rupion stiffened at the remark, and quickly shook his head. He marched forward and grabbed Tula’s hand to continue walking down the dirt path. Tula barely had a moment to react to his response, and tried her best keep up with him.

When the dirt path seemingly came to an end, Rupion promptly stopped, and waited for Tula to continue leading them. He hasn’t spoken a word since leaving the group, and wondered if he was just shy. Or…homesick? He seemed to be the only child in the group, so maybe he just misses his friends back in South Nova.

No matter! She’ll be sure to show him a grand time! And she knows exactly how to mend it!

“Hey, Rupion!” She looks at him with a smile.

He doesn’t speak, but raises a brow at her.

“C’mon, follow me! I know the perfect place to take you!” She smiled.

Like before, Rupion didn’t say a word and quietly followed behind.

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“Oh, wow….” He softly spoke.

Tula couldn’t help but beam to herself. She finally got him to talk! Of course, the plaza truly is a sight to behold during the cold season! All the shops were strung and lit with bright colorful lights. A large tree was in the center that was beautifully decorated as well, and many of the residents were hustling with large shopping bags in hand.

The two children ran and zig-zagged through the group of shoppers for several minutes before finally stopping when they reached a large building with lots of candy themed decorations outside. A large glass window in front of the shop displayed many jars of candy and sweets which quickly caused the Leo to gasp in awe. He’s never seen anything like it before.

“Pretty, huh?” She said and nudged him to follow. “Let’s go inside, you can meet my Aunt Marlo and my Cousin Cellic!”

The shop was filled with many voices along with an occasional chiming of a cash register. In the center were several large barrels filled to the brim with toffee and assorted wrapped candy. Many of the kids and adults there were filling plastic bags, while some used the walls- which were aligned with tall candy dispensers.

“O-oh! Hi Tula!!” A voice calls as a small Gordo heads towards them. Bags were hung by each spike, and Tula couldn’t help but giggle.

“It looks like you and your mom are really busy!”

He gives an eager nod back. “The holiday season is the busiest!!! But it’s so much fun helping out, I can carry twice as much as my mom.” He states with a hint of pride in it. He then focuses on the Leo next to her, but before he can say anything, a bubbly voice cuts in.

“Tula! Sweetie, how are you!”

Tula yelped in surprise when she found herself being picked up and embraced.

“H-hi Aunty Marlo.” She managed to speak since she was being smothered in a hug. “H-how are you?”

“Oh, busy, busy. Squidmas is around the corner and I’ve never seen the shop this hectic. I got your uncle doing deliveries several towns away, and my little Cellic is hard at work lending me an extra hand..or spikes! Things have been nonstop for us.” She set her down, and noticed the other.

“Sweet Nova.” She cooed at the sight of him. “You know, your Uncle Meta brought your Aunty Kes here when he was around your age. I remember giving her a tower of ice cream. Oh, what memories.” She kneeled down to greet him.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Marlo. What’s your name, little one?”

“Rupion, Ma’am.” He quietly, but formally replied.

“Well Rupion, it’s nice to have you visiting Kalmari. It slipped my mind the greeting was today. Give everyone my warmest welcome when you return.” She then stood up and handed them an empty plastic bag. “Help yourself, dearies. Cellic, dear, how about you join them as well!”

“B-but…” He hesitates for a moment. It’s not that he doesn’t want to join his cousin- he loves hanging out with her!! It’s just that….

“I’ll be able to handle the store on my own.” She reassures and gives him a comforting nuzzle. “Don’t worry, my sweets, I’ll be okay.” She says as she grabs all the bags from his spikes before heading off to the counter to tend to her line of customers.

“Wow, your mom is so cool!” Tula claims, and holds up the empty bag in excitement. “C’mon, everyone- let’s get some sweets so we can eat them while I show you the rest of the plaza!”

With a bag filled with sour rings, chocolate bits and star sweets, Rupion wordlessly followed the pair to their next destination. Like the one before, it was beautifully decorated. Instead of candy, it was instead filled with flowers. He shyly followed behind once she opened the door, and watched as a rather tall Leo came into view when they reached the counter. This Leo, however, looked VERY different from him.

“Hi, Aunty Petta! Can Atticus come out and play? I wanna introduce him to my new friend!”

“He’s in the back tending to several of his plants, give me a moment and I’ll fetch him for you.”

“You’ll like Atti, he’s a Leo too, and he can even fly!” She says.

“Fly?” He repeated, wondering if he heard wrong. As far as he knows, Leos lack the ability to do such a thing. He continued to ponder how it was possible before his attention focused on the double doors behind the counter. It swung open to reveal the elder Leo he just met, along with another by her side.

“Oh!” He finally understood. He had wings!!! He stepped forward to get a better look at them. “I never saw a Leo with wings before.”

“I…think I’m the only one….” He speaks, giving them a few flaps. “A-are you Rupion?”

The Leo blinks in surprise. He never even met him before, and he somehow knows his name..?

“I, ummm…heard your name a few times before…” Since he visits his grandfather a lot, all the conversations his Uncle Meta or Aunty Kes share when they visit doesn’t go unnoticed by him. He’s heard his name during somber news, where Kes learned her comrades sadly passed away. He’s heard the name “Rupion” a few times. But other than that, that’s all he knows about him. He figured it’s not his place to discuss such a topic.

“Ooh! Probably from Aunty Kes, then!” Tula smiles.

“Tula…” Atticus tries to stop her, but his call went unheard.

“Do you know her? Is she friends with your parents or something?”

Again Rupion stiffens at the remark. He looks away from the group, as a frown and tears begin to form. Instead of replying back, he responds to her with a rather hard shove as he runs past her and out of the store.

“W-what happened….” She softly speaks once the door slams shut.

Cellic gives a confused shake of the head. Atticus softly speaks and does his best to answer it for her.

“I…I think his parents are, ummm…” His voice lowers to a mere whisper. So low, Tula has to practically press herself to him to hear it. “dead…”

“W-what?!!” She shrieks back. “Really??? I…but…all the Leos at the gathering! I…I thought one of them were----”

“Kids, are you alright?” Petta’s voice calls out as she appears from the back room. She scans the group, and notices Rupion missing. Atticus notices, and is the first to tell her what happened.

“I..I didn’t mean to make him mad, honest!” Tula says soon after. “I didn’t know, I really didn’t.”

“Oh, I know you didn’t sweetheart.” Petta reassures the little Sasuke as the child embraces her for comfort. “We better go find him before he loses himself in the crowd. Let me just close up my shop, and we can head out to look for him.”

All three kids nod, and help Petta turn off the lights, or close and lock the doors. Once everything was locked up, the group heads towards the main plaza. All four spread out and looked through each store. They checked benches, restaurants, or any alleys. The group met up in their designated meeting spot after 10 or so minutes, empty handed.

“Maybe Kalmari Forest?” Tula thinks.

“He could’ve gone back to the Ice Leo group?” Cellic chimes in after.

“Maybe the shrine?” Atticus says since it’s the closest thing to the plaza.

“Hmm…” Petta thinks for a moment before giving a nod to all three of them.

“Let’s check the shrines first.” She says since it’s less than a 5 minute climb from where they’re at. “If we still can’t locate him, then we’ll head to the gathering and ask if they can all assist us in combing through the forest.”

The four head to the path of the temple shrines. Celebrations won’t happen for another few days, so the area is completely empty and deserted.
“It…looks so creepy…” Atticus softy speaks.

“Yeah, it doesn’t look anything like the festivals or parties.”

As the kids are prattling about the shrines, Petta softly hushes them when she hears the faintest whimper off in the distance. The others hear it soon after, and Tula is the first one running to the sound of it. She ignores the scrapes of the bushes, and stings of the branches as the voice she was trying to track got louder and louder until-

Rupion looks up from his spot under one of the large trees sheltering him. Tears stain his face, and he looks absolutely terrified and miserable. The rest of the group catches up not long after, and Petta is the one who is the first to speak.

“Rupion, are you alright?” She kneels down to check her over. “Are you hurt? Did you injure yourself?”

He shakes his head before softly mumbling. “No…I..I’m sorry…”

Petta warmly smiles in response, and gently rubs the top of his head. “It’s quite alright, dear. I’m just glad you’re safe.” She picks up the Leo, and begins to lead everyone out of the thickets of the forest. When they arrived at the shrines again, Petta set Rupion down and motioned everyone to follow inside.

The room was faintly illuminated by several candles already lit. The kids quietly huddle and shuffle close to Petta as they make their way further in the shrine. They hear tinkering of metal and wood, before Petta kneels down and holds out several candles for the kids to take.

“Since we’re up here, we might as well pay our respects.” She smiles. “Rupion, would you like to light a candle as well?” She says as tiny flame forms on the palm of her glove.

Tula watches Rupion gives a silent nod, and inspects the candle in his grasp. The room is quiet for a moment, before Tula is the first to speak, and holds out her candle for Petta. “O-oh, I..I wanna light mine for Grandpa Ramset and Grandpa Gravel. Even though I never met them, I know how much my dad misses them…”

Petta gives her a smile, and lights the candle before placing it on the stand.

“I…ummm…” Atticus holds out his. “F-for O-ouji. He comes up here a lot for Grandma Ellie. I..want to light one for him so he doesn’t have to visit today.”
Petta gives a sincere nod and places his next to Tula’s.

Rupion quietly watches as Cellic is the last of the three to speak. “Oh! For Grandpa Gordon, a-and my big brother, Caspius.” He pauses for a moment, before softly lowering his voice. “A-and…my mom, from Central. I…really miss her..”

Cellic leans towards the comforting hand of Petta when she reaches for the child. “I’m sure she’s proud to know what an amazing little Gordo you turned out to be.” She says as she takes the candle from him.

“I hope so, I…I want to make her proud.” He says, which makes Rupion flinch back from the statement.

With only him left, he stares at the candle in his hands. It softly shimmers against the open flame on the palm of Petta’s hand. He’s never lit candles for the dearly departed, his tribe does something completely different, but still….

Tears on the brink of falling, and lips trembling, the Leo speaks loud- startling the kids around him. “M-Mom!! D-Dad!! I…I miss you!!!”

The shrine echoes, and a wave of cold hit the group. Luckily, no candles were burnt out because of it.

“I…I’m working hard!! I..I train with Chief Wulfric!! I practice every day to become stronger!!! I..I help Grandma around the house when she’s too tired I try and hunt for her!!! I….I don’t know how to cook like you, but I want to! A-Aunty Kesuk misses you a lot!” His voice starts to lower. “W..We all do. P-please…watch me become a great warrior. I..I promise I’ll make you proud…”

Gripping the candles with both hands, Rupion quickly holds it out for Petta for her to light it. He does his best to avoid eye contact, and concentrates on the old stone floor instead, as he waits for her to take it.

Petta does so, and the reaction from the others is quick. Tula embraces the little Leo, followed by Atticus, and Cellic.

“You’re going to make them so proud, Rupion.” Tula hugs him close.

“Show them each day how much you’ve grown.” Cellic says next.

“Even if you can’t see them, they’ll always be watching over you.” Atticus’ voice is but a whisper, but it was just enough for him to hear it.

Though he doesn’t respond back, Rupion doesn’t refuse the contact, and eventually hugs back as well.

---------------------------------------------------

“Rupion!!”

Wulfric calls out as the sun begins to set. The long week has passed, and its finally time for everyone to head back home. The noise of laughing rings out in the wind, and several kids appear soon after- all of them racing to see who can reach him first.

“I win!!!” Cellic cheers as the other kids reach him soon after.

“No fair, you’re floating!” Kirby says. “Of course, you’re going to win!”

“Says the one who used his wings and still lost.” Tula says soon after in a git of giggles as Atticus and Rupion join in as well. Kirby just sticks out his tongue, and heads towards Kes and Wulfric.

“Are you sure he can’t stay for a few more days?” Kirby asks, practically begs. “Pleaaaase!”

“The winter is slowly coming to an end. Maybe next year, Ice Cube.” Wulfric says.

“Yeah!! Besides!” Rupion puffs out his chest and proudly speaks to the others. “I got a whole bunch of training to do! If I wanna make my parents proud, I gotta work hard every day!”

“Yeah!!” Tula cheers. “Show us how much you’ve learned next time you visit!”

“I will, promise!” He gives her a cheeky smile as he makes his way to the elder.

“Thanks a whole bunch for all the souvenirs.” He points to the large sled where tons of gifts were given to him and their tribe by their family. From chocolates and candy, to specialty tea leaves, and even pastries and native fruit! It was truly a bounty from all of them.

The kids give a heartfelt nod, and group hug one last time before it’s time to head out. Meta and Kirby give their mother a hug goodbye, as she’s going to spend the remainder of the trip over in South Nova since Kalmari is starting to heat up just a bit. Kirby, a bit too clingy, takes several additional minutes to say goodbye to her. When all the hugs, kisses and goodbyes are done, Kes heads to the little Ice Leo patiently waiting for her.

“Ready to head back home, Rupion?” Kes smiles, and holds out her hand.

With fire and determination in his eyes, the Leo give a confident nod. “I am, Aunty! I’m ready to start my training where I left off.”

“Are you, now?” She beams. “Well, then. Since I’ll be staying for a bit, how about I show you one of your mother’s special, signature moves.”

Wulfric could only howl in laughter as Rupion cheers and practically bolts to the direction of home. He knows he’ll make them proud.

-The End-

Artist Comment:

November 18, 2025

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The first time Tula, and the cousins meet Rupion. It...doesn't go as well in the beginning. Atticus was the only one in the group who knew his parents died.

Just some brief reminders!

Rupion's parents are Kia and Kavik! You can read about them here!

Information for Cellic's mom from Central can be located here.

Information for Cellic's older brother, Caspius, can be located here.