Submission (#3381) Approved

Strynhalde was truly a sight to behold, the towering trees dusted with snowfall, to the decorative lights that strung neatly across nearly every house. It would be a place she'd visit more often had the temperatures not been below freezing all the time. There was a lead on two Elnins that fit the similar description of her parents, and unwilling to pass up the opportunity, Fuu trudges forth through the powdered snow. Kicking bits and pieces off every few seconds, the girl's tiny chest heaves with an exasperated sigh. There was no confirmation that the information she heard was true, and her paws were growing awfully cold and wet now. The paper lantern attached around her waist would occasionally bump into the back of her head when she made abrupt stops. It wasn't too annoying at first, until she kept stopping and bumping. Fuu's nose scrunches in irritation, head whipping around to glare at the inanimate object that housed nothing.

The girl wasn't too keen on having a companion that was tethered to her for the rest of her life. Unlike many her age, Fuu dreaded the unsuspecting time in which her Pomu could drop in at any moment. Scolded by her own traveling companion, whom she saw more as family than anything else, the girl crafted a Kyendi inspired paper lantern with several ink drawn roses. It was beautiful to many, but when the Kittom stares for too long, dread settles in the pit of her stomach like a bubbling of unsettled butterflies. Fuu had not the constant of her parents, or anyone in her life to begin with. Before she stumbled across Jin and Artemis, she was all alone. The loving couple that raised her for a few years were proud to send her on her way when she needed to pursue her own truth, and had it not been for her unsatisfied curiosity, she would have had a true family in them. But she went and messed that up all for something that she's not sure exists. The lantern sways in the breeze and thwacks her on the side of the head again, mutely fuming at the annoying action.

When she's gone down the rabbit-hole long enough, and self-pity becomes a bore, Fuu pushes herself to keep pulling forward. To comfort herself with baked goods always seemed like the go-to after a little spiral like this. It distracts her from all of the negativity clinging in her life. It was comfortable. Knocking on a covered sign, it teeters a bit before dropping a mound of fresh snow and reads just the exact location she was hoping to come across. Besides the pleasant aroma that wafted from out the log cabins, a sign was just what she needed to confirm her suspicions. Heading inside, Fuu gives her body a twist and shake to remove clinging snowflakes to her petite frame. It was awfully warm in here, such a stark contrast to the chill of outside, where the winters nipped at your nose and your breath misted into the sky.

Cakes of all sorts of flavors were strewn out, frosted, and picture-perfect. Cupcakes dotted the main isles, while cookies and jelly donuts were packaged neatly in little boxes. Fuu skips across each isle, stand, and then some... Snagging one of everything and bringing it towards the front. When the owner rings up her charge, the girl holds coins out to pay and be on her way. Shuffling to a table outside with a heaven-sent heater, the Kittom plucks a cookie from her bag and nibbles half-heartedly. Sweets normally made her feel better, but her mind kept straying back to the inevitable. Crumbs dot the corners of her mouth, brows furrowed in deep thought. It can't be entirely bad, when your Pomu shows up for the first time -- after all... So many that she's known all seem to adore their companions. They come in handy through the most inconvenient of times, are there to brighten your day when you've fallen flat. Maybe a lifelong companion is just what she needs, even if she didn't readily accept it at this moment. Hues flit over to the stacks of pastries that sit closed on the table, and Fuu smiles to herself, almost embarrassed at her sudden revelation.

Maybe having one of those little guys around wouldn't be too bad.