Submission (#7176) Approved

You meet him for the first time by chance. You’re young and still a kittom, and although this “meeting” is a slight exaggeration, you’re not sure what else to call it. But mentally you know that it is incredibly difficult to meet somebody whose name you don’t know, favorite color you can’t guess, and it is unknown to you what desires they currently hold within their heart. But you run across that otherwise strange, green kittom by chance one day down at the port in Ealei, and despite how young you are, that is old enough for you to realize that some people hold galaxies within their soul. Although, you’re much too young to understand the gravity of the situation; eyes focused solely on the young kittom as they follow another adult around. There’s a passion and dedication etched and worn on his face, as though he’s simply known it all his life. The image of this leaves you bothered but you’re not quite sure why the simple picture of someone else’s joy causes tiny paws to curl into fists. Realization of the unfamiliar sensation would come much, much later in your life, but for now you’re young. You’re young and unable (perhaps unwilling?) to acknowledge the slithering movements of jealousy that begin to coil firmly around your heart. 

“Lunae.” The call of his name breaks him out of his focus. He apologizes to the shopkeep he was helping, caught up in his own daydreams. He’s dismissed with a wave of a hand, and Lunae pockets the extra change he’s made for his work early in the morning. And although he doesn’t like to admit things to himself, the image earlier of the kittom embarking on a journey still lingers within his mind. Maybe…maybe…ugh. Maybe Lunae really, really needs to leave Ealei. It’s just so easy to get into a rhythm in such a comfortable town. But since his travels have led him here, he’s felt no ambition or desire to do anything with his life. As dramatic as that may sound. 

(The coils within Lunae’s heart twist and turn uncomfortably.)

The other problem is, he’s never really considered what he wants to do when he does pursue adulthood. He’s made friends with fishernin, shopkeepers, adventurers, and a whole boatload of individuals that have come and gone in his life like the slow moving waters in Ealei. He wanders the streets of Port Pthalo, anxiety slowly creeping its way into his mind. Perhaps this is why, in his haze, that Lunae doesn’t notice when he’s gone awry from his normal path home. He only begins to notice his mistake when the twisted roots from the trees around him don’t look…quite right. A quick glance around confirms his suspicions, he’s most definitely lost. Strangely enough…there’s no panic; rather, the feeling of excitement begins to swirl within him. 

A puzzle piece of himself fits together in his mind. And before long he’s bounding through the root systems. Lunae’s mind is racing with the thrill, but he’s careful to catalog everything he sees. A knot in the tree there, well he’s passed that a couple times, so he should change directions. Pawprints in the mud indicate that he’s splashed through that puddle a good number of times, so perhaps he should head in the diagonal. The sun in the sky casts a variety of shadows upon the still surface water, and Lunae knows that the puffy clouds float in a familiar direction, so he can keep track of where he’s facing. And yet, despite all of this, there’s no fear of the unknown, rather just the pure adrenaline that fuels his movements. Before long, Lunae begins a subtle climb. The branches act as notches that allow him to propel himself up higher and higher. Leaves in the trees shake with the unexpected addition of a kittom climbing, and a few birds voice their displeasure at the uninvited guest. 

And when he eventually crests the top of the canopy, Lunae’s eyes are alight with a fire that he didn’t know existed within himself. He’s not thinking about the other green kittom that he saw before, just reveling in himself and his journey to the top. Oh…oh how marvelous! In the distance, he can see everything, how wonderful it would be to take flight with the birds in the distance, or swim deep within the waters  below. He wonders how deep some of the roots travel down into the earth, or how dark the forests of Enmir in the distance truly become. 

He’s felt himself be so small for so long, that finally at the top of the trees Lunae feels something he has never quite felt before. The thirst for adventure. To seek the unknown and discover all the secrets the world before him has to offer.

(Also, thankfully at the top of the treeline, Lunae is able to see very clearly the direction in which he needs to go in order to return back home…but for now, he’s relishing in his new found determination.)

—

“You’re looking happier.” 

The statement catches him by surprise. But he turns to look at the kind shopkeeper he’s been helping out. A small smile creeps onto his face and he looks down at the coins he’s been paid, rolling the metal around in his paw gently. They glint in the bright sunlight. 

The coins click into the pouch with the other’s he has saved up. 

“What can I say? Must have been a change of heart.”