Submission (#2374) Approved

Current Prompt [Aquatic Acquaintances]
Regional Affinity: Bellmoril
Claiming AP for: Tsuki [MYO-ELN253]
Word Count: 707

I didn't quite describe the fish in extent, but they look like a mix of a Betta and a Koi (Koitta.... or Bekoi?) Lots of colors are possible! Red and orange are considered good luck! (I know not too original but!!! It's something lol)

The early morning was cool with mist. Precipitation collected on the fire-red maple leaves of the surrounding trees, giving an eerie atmosphere to the area. The land was new to the silver kittom who stepped out into the dewy garden. He was apprehensive, unfamiliar with the property that his guardian brought him to. They attended a meeting Tsuki wasn't allowed access to, left alone to his own little devices until they returned. Of course, he was only allowed within the confines of the property garden.

Although curious about the lands of Bellmoril, Tsuki hated uncertainties. He was skittish at best, especially in a new area. He was tempted to turn back into the house and snuggle back into the futon, but Tsuki felt a bit too curious. He needed some fresh air.

Tsuki would normally look forward to the visit from his good friend Haru in the mornings, but he was regions away. He missed their rendevous already. There wasn't much he could do. So, he set off on his small adventure into the unknown.

The garden stood decorated with swirls in the sand and stepping stones dotting throughout, leading to a gravel walkway. Bright red weeping maples stood like guards on the outskirts of the sandy lake. Tsuki hopped from one step to the other, careful not to disturb the intricate design. There were points where he paused to view the white sand curiously. Although he wasn't one to be too playful, he was still tempted to place a paw print to leave a mark to say he was there. Anxiety crept up into his chest though thinking that his guardian would probably scold him.

Tsuki moved on, jumping to the last few stones and onto the gravel pathway. The misty fog was thick; he could barely see a bridge in the distance. The arch was steep, folding over a small, eerily calm pond. The kittom slowly made his way toward the edge, perching upon one of the large rocks that outlined the water. He stared at his reflection as the water was dark and murky. Ripples from the mist dropping upon the surface were rare, but they pulled his attention toward them.

Under the bridge, he noticed movement. Tsuki sat up to get a better look. He was slightly surprised to see fish swimming around since the water seemed so cold and dark. The morning fog didn't help with the visibility. Jumping up, Tsuki ran over to the arching bridge and climbed up to get an aerial view. There was a school of koi, lazily swimming around under the bridge and nipping the surface of the water. The kittom's tail waved around in excitement. He loved koi fish! His guardian had a pond full; his favorite chore was to feed them.

Tsuki felt disappointed that he didn't have any food to give them, but he wanted to say hello. He slid down the opposite side of the bridge he came up from, perching back on a rock outlining the pond. The koi noticed his presence, a few slowly swimming over to inspect the kittom. Tsuki smiled, finally feeling comfortable with his surroundings. He slipped a paw to the surface, coaxing the koi to him. They mouthed at his toe pads; the kittom giggled in delight. The whole school started to come over and interact with him.

There was something off about these koi, however. The fins were longer and looked like drapes. They were quite graceful swimming through the water. The colors too were not typical of koi, rather there were spots of blue and green within the mixture of silver and black. Tsuki wasn't sure what kind of fish they were, but they were beautiful.

For some time, Tsuki would play with the fish and enjoy himself. Soon enough, the fog would clear and the sun would warm his back. The splashing around was fun, but he knew his guardian would be returning soon. Retracting his paw, he would stretch his neck to sniff at a few that gummed the surface.

"Goodbye, my friends. It was fun, thank you." Tsuki would stand and stretch before trotting off back to the guest house. He would wait for his guardian in the safety of the futon.