Submission (#1683) Approved

While most kittoms we’re lazily lying about in the soft sunkissed sand of the beach, above them yellow eyes we’re searching for something a bit more exciting. 

A place of palm trees and sweet drinks, Palu’au was a wonderful region for those looking to waste the day away by crystal clear waters. However, the summer ocean colored kittom was restless by now even though he had been living in the region for awhile now. Currently standing on smooth water washed rocks, his paw tentatively batted away a shell, watching as it splashed into the shallow water below. Usually when the small kit got bored chasing others around was a good time waster or even climbing one of the large shade granting trees but today that just didn’t seem to seem like it would eat up his energy. 

Hoping down and trotting down the beach, he leapt and jumped over those lounging, laughing out apologies and quick “S’cuse me.” as he went but he hardly meant it. For someone so young he had plenty of confidence he could talk his way out of a confrontation if an adult got a bit feisty with him for so rudely interrupting a nap. 

Making his way along, his eyes could see a boat in the distance and though that was a usual sight in the region, it was the caravan on the back that caught his interest. Seeing as it was gliding towards the docks, he trotted faster, flicking his large ears in hopes to at least overhear where they we’re coming from. 

At first over the soothing sounds of water and a gentle breeze Zephros began to doubt he would hear anything at all but the sound of bickering kits soon reached his ears, causing him to laugh at the exchange. 

“We’re almost there, get out the way I wanna see!” a shrill excited voice rose up above waves crashing, the sight of a purple and pink hued kittom and her large round eyes peeking over the edge of the boat. 

She must have been extremely tiny by the looks of it, as a much longer and lanky kittom jumped up on a crate on the ship, looking smug at the girl below. “You can’t even see, you're still too tiny.” although he sounded scolding, the girl seemed not to mind, still intent on seeing. “The docks, look Oliver!~” she squealed happily and disappeared again, Zephyros assuming she was scampering off to the front of the boat to wait to unload. 

Excited for new people, the blue kittom rushed forward, following the beach until it wrapped around to the docks, his small frame making it easy to move between the straw roofed houses along the way to his new destination. With any luck these new kittoms could be more fun than the ones that wanted to sleep all day! 

Though he had confidence when he approached, many boats seemed to be currency docked, causing him to slow down in his steps and look about for his actual targets. Elinin much bigger than him moved back and forth, carrying things and conversing, easily drowning out the sound of his new possible friends. “H-hey!” he grumbled to a group of Elinin moving a crate with lots of food inside that had nearly knocked him over. Deciding that was enough, he squeezed past them and gave a quick “Ooof” of displeasure as he landed on the other side on his white belly. Before him was what could only be the boat's captain, his leather bag over his body and a large hat upon his head. So many trinkets hung in his hair and Zephyros felt his eyes go wide in awe. What it must be like to be in charge of a whole boat! 

Scampering up, he started that way at last, realizing they must have been delivering the last of their food to the islands before heading home. How many places had they visited? Far more than he that was for sure. 

Looking around now, sniffing now empty crates, he struggled to locate the two kittoms he had seen until finally the familiar shriek of happiness hit his ears and he turned his head quickly to look. Sure enough what he assumed as a small kit before was standing up on hind legs, pushing on a larger brown boy who simply rolled his eyes at her excitement. Zephyros scoffed, tilting his head back with a quick bark of a laugh. She wasn’t small at all, she was just all FLUFF. “How silly looking.” 

Waiting no longer, her trotted over, head slightly raised like he was some celebrity of the island. “Welcome to my island, Palu’au.” he walked a quick circle around the two before sitting, his fluffy curled tail swishing playfully. 

The brown and blue hued kit that was clearly his age--a bit older than the girl--raised a quirked eyebrow as if laughing in his own way. “You're island? You're still a kid.” Oliver seemed unimpressed by the welcome but the fluffy purple kittom turned quickly to him, eyes wide. “The whole island?” she asked, as if it could somehow be true. Opening his muzzle to agree, Zephyros was caught off by a large swishing fish shaped tail that curled around the little ball of curly fluff. “Velia, he's lying. C’mon we delivered, time to get back.” he urged her towards the boat but Zephyros wasn’t going to be turned away that easy. 

“Where are you guys going, I’ve got plenty of time I can go to y’know.” he called after them, following them onto the boat. “Oh we’re going back to where our best friend is Taiki! He’s traveling back home for all the flowers to bloom for spring. He goes on tooooons of adventures and and and-” she was gushing so fast she seemed out of breath which only made the blue kit chuckle. “I go on tons of adventures to ya know.” he jumped up upon a crate, looking out over the beach he planned to leave behind. “Suuuuuure.” Oliver mumbled, grabbing a spot on a slightly taller pile of crates. Glaring up at him, Zephyros tilted his head. “I do!” he urged, trying to be as cool as he could on this adventure he had self invited himself onto. Palu’au had always been home but he was more than ready for more. 

“Oh oh tell us on the ride!” Velia didn’t mind at all that he had joined, the purple kittom curling up and her legs nearly vanishing under all her fluff. One big cotton ball is what she was. “I can tell you all about it.” he assured, tossing Oliver a challenging look. “Ever seen a fish bigger than a house?” He started his first story as he felt the ship rock and the older Elnins returned. The boat gave a soft goran of wood as it departed the docks, starting to sail off once again--this time with a little stowaway that was excited to know what was beyond the vast oceans surrounding the island and what adventures we’re waiting for him.