Submission (#1550) Approved

“What the heck are you doing?”

Keahi stops from where he is meticulously sorting out his freshly made quills, double, triple checking that he has the orders right. A small elnin in a riot of colors flaps her tiny fairy wings, hovering over Keahi’s shoulder to sneer down at his work. 

“I’m finishing up an order for the quills that I make. The students over at the university will pay a lot for a good one, and I’m trying to save up.” He makes a point to not look at her when he speaks, afraid that he’ll get tongue tied. He nevers knows how to react around Chief. The faenin is blunt and cruel and frankly doesn’t give a shit about what anyone thinks, always chasing her own enjoyment and pleasure. Keahi shouldn’t be as enamoured with her, but he just couldn’t help it. He wanted some of that confidence, wished that he could just set out and do whatever he pleased, without constantly having to rely on others to allay his fears.

He glances around the room, spying the toys and belongings sprawled about, mementos of the other kittoms he was sharing a room with. Kaia, Koa, and Kau’i were all down in the kitchens with their mother, Evenne. The warm afternoon light streams in through the window, filtering through the bright red leaves of the maple tree just outside. The leaves seemed to be everywhere, showing up not only on the trees scattered about the town, but in the decor, their room even having a wreath made of a fiery combo of red and gold sprays of foliage hanging upon the door. Even the linens upon the beds were decorated in a pattern that mimicked those ever present maple leaves.

Chief bobs a bit in the air, and huffs, unimpressed. “That’s so boring geez, Keahi. What are you even saving for anyway, c’mon lets just go mark up the fence outside the university, I have the greatest idea for a new work.” She giggles evilly. 

Keahi shakes his head, and carefully wraps up the feather quills into a bundle that he tucks into his pack, before slipping it on to head out the door.

“I can’t, Chief. I-I don’t want to get in trouble.”

Chief scrunches up her face and rolls her eyes before snorting. “Tch. You’re so boring Ke. Live a little.”

Keahi looks at her, eyes wide, but he turns away without saying anything before heading out the door. Chief cackles and flies after him, not yet bored with tormenting him. Keahi reached the stairs, admiring the garlands of auburn leaves that are intertwined in the railing, warm colors bright against the dark wood. He stops for a second to nudge an errant leaf back into position, but quickly makes his way down the stairs and out the door of the inn. 

He steps out onto cobblestone streets, a narrow alley stretching out in front of him, smaller houses fencing in the inn. 

Chief hmphs at him from behind, reaching up to shove a loose braid back into her nest of hair. Keahi stops and turns to look at her, eyes catching on the brightly colored feathers tucked into her hair. She always mocked him and made fun, but she also followed him around and wore the feathers he had saved for her, everyday. He just didn’t know what to make of her.

“Fine, lets go and be boring.”

Keahi shrinks in on himself a little. “You- you don’t have to come y’know…”

Chief narrows her eyes at him, expression unreadable. What Keahi wouldn’t give to know what went on in her head. “Nah, I’m bored, and you’re such a funny little brat, I think I’ll just tag along.”

Keahi just stares for a moment before shaking himself, flicking pink bangs out of his face. He glances away, then starts to make his way around the building, passing the small garden his room overlooked, home to a small area of grass, some small shrubs and the maple tree, all festooned in the familiar reds and golds. The  grass is a little overgrown, spilling out from under the wrought iron fence, growing into cracks in the stone pathway. The inn was off the beaten path, a little run down, but cheap. Perfect for an extended stay for a family with four Kittoms plus Auntie Himawari. 

They slowly make their way down the increasingly familiar path to the city's biggest university, Keahi having made the trip many times over the past month. He’s lost in thought, barely registering the double takes that Chief keeps getting, her appearance quite colorful and unusual, even without her fae heritage coming into play. She grins to herself, then sticks her tongue out at a woman who stared at her for too long. As they pass another elnin who is sweeping the leaves out of their front porch area, she swoops by, the passing wind sending leaves in red-gold-orange swirling back into the area the poor nin had just sweeped.

“Hey!” The other nin shouts, but Chief just giggles gleefully, a satisfied smirk adorning her face.

Keahi can see the university coming into view, and he quickened his pace. The light is fading, the sky starting to match the color of the everpresent trees, that even paint the surrounding mountain sides in a riot of fiery hues, the whole world seeming to burn, just for a moment. He was gonna be late, and have to walk home in the dark. That wouldn’t be too bad, the city having many street lamps, each decorated with a small wreath of those ever fresh charmed leaves, tied off with a pretty ribbon bow.

A dainty elnin waits at the gate, her face lightening into an almost motherly smile as she sees him. The smile dips a bit when she catches sight of Chief drifting along behind him, but it firms up again as she turns to Keahi. 

“Keahi! You made it!”

“Yeah! I’m here! I brought the quills!”

They step off to the side, out of the way of the gateway to university. Keahi can spot several students sat under a tall tree with lemon yellow leaves, just the faintest hint of green tingeing them, a rare color to be found here in Il”Durahn. Keahi wonders if the university mages had cast some sort of spell to keep it alive and healthy here. He returns his attention to the student he was meeting, nudging a stray leaf out of the way as he undoes his pack, revealing the small bundle of feather quills. 

Chief drifts closer, almost coming between Keahi and the student, who shoots an irritated glance at her. Chief just looks smug, and the student huffs and looks away. She examines the quills, while Keahi waits nervously. Would she like them? Maybe they weren’t that good, but he had tried, and he was getting better, wasn’t he? 

The other nin paws through the cluster of quills, plucking out a red one that matches the maple leaves, a pretty speckled brown one, and an almost iridescent black one. 

“These will do! Thanks Keahi. I might have some more business for you. My professor really liked that last one I got from you, you know that green and blue one? I could put you in touch if you like?” 

Keahi nods furiously. “O-okay! Yeah, that would be great!”

Chief just rolls her eyes, thoroughly unimpressed. “I don’t get why you sell these to such losers.”

The student bristles with indignation. “You are a really nasty piece of work you know.”

Chief preens, quite pleased. “I am! Thank you for noticing.”

Keahi looks between the two females, not sure if he should say anything or not. He won’t, either way, too nervous to get anything out.

The student growls slightly before yanking her gaze away from Chief, turning back to Keahi. She fishes in her pack, coming up with a handful of coins, passing them to Keahi.

“This should cover the quills, right?”

Keahi quickly counts the coins. It’s more than enough, and he almost says so, but he’s a little too selfish, so he just nods. She shoots him a smile, before turning and heading back into the university, but not without one last glare at Chief. 

“See ya!”

Keahi waves at her, before turning back towards the path he’d come from. The light was rapidly fading, the reds and golds of before deepening to a rich purple, stars starting to peek out in the sky. The street lamps were being lit, one by one, the warm flickering light causing the leaves on their leaves to almost shimmer, a warming sight. 

“Well that was lame, I’m out.” Chief drawls. Keahi panics a little. He’d have to go home alone? He didn’t want her to go yet, but Chief quickly flitted away, leaving him behind. It was nothing unusual for her. He honestly couldn’t understand just why he liked her so much. 

He sighed, and took a step towards home, a leaf crunching underneath his paw. He was going to miss dinner if he didn’t hurry.