story / almost home

The path back to the town was not as grueling as the first time they made their way to the beach. Perhaps it was the fallen leaves, the brisk air, that left her a bit more energized--or perhaps it was the brown wyngro that stepped beside her, looking forward with amber eyes stoic. She glanced at him briefly before feeling her cheeks warm, still not entirely used to his handsome new form.

When they returned, there would be no doubt that Koshari would be the talk of the town. News travels fast in a small little hamlet like Wynsiph, and although the houses were sprawling and spreading at an alarming rate, Noki had no doubt that wyngrew would be excited to see him back. A small worry gathered at the back of her mind, as she peered at him. Would the others find him as attractive as she did him? Clearly if he returned so honed and powerful, there'd be no end to his admirers. Suddenly, Noki found herself wanting to pull him back, to make sure that--

"Noki--" "Koko--"

They had spoken at the same time, as he paused in his step to readjust the sleeping Eglantine on his back. The small pink bundle had tired herself out from playing with all the magic students, charming them all one by one by calling them all her big brothers or sisters.

Noki flushed, and shook her head. "Y-you go first."

"No," Koshari offered, "You can." He watched Noki quietly, his gaze steady and making her extremely self-conscious. She idly reached up to pat her hair down, hiding her cheek sneakily at the same time.

"Koko, about what happened... On the beach, you know?"

The brown wyngro glanced furtively, before focusing back on her. "Oh? Did you have fun? I'm glad you're still taking classes."

Noki nodded. Was she really having a conversation with him again? It seemed as if it were eons since they have. Since his appearance, all their approaches have been awkward glances and gesturing about Eglantine to avoid the subject at hand. Speaking with him again was as foreign as speaking another tongue.

"That's good," he murmured. He adjusted Eglantine again, pulling her gently forward to cradle her in his arms. "Eggy seems to enjoy your care very much, too."

Noki smiled gently at the sleeping child. "I only played with her while you rested. The other classmates were happy to have her around, too."

"That's... good. I'm glad she's well recieved here." Koshari's brow furrowed as he searched for the words. "I was worried for a bit.. you know? Raising her alone and all."

The grey wyngro looked away and felt a weight drop in her stomach. "Why did you raise her alone?" Her tone was sharper than she intended. "I mean... I thought you had gone and.. made a family. By yourself. And someone.. else."

Koshari glanced up quickly and gulped. "No! Of course not! I wouldn't..." He sighed softly. "I just didn't know when to return yet. That's all. When I found Eglantine's egg, I thought I should come back so that she could be raised safely. But I was selfish... I couldn't ask you for help again. I needed to be strong. I needed to find myself. So I raised her myself, I wanted to come back as someone responsible." 'And you were always on my mind,' he mentally added.

She listened to him quietly, sky blue eyes gazing up at him. Was that really what he thought? What caused all this? She tapped her paws together before sticking it out at him.

"Can I hold your hand?" She whispered.

Koshari gulped, eyeing her soft paw. Adjusting Eglantine so that she was clinging to his other arm securely, he gently took Noki's paw in his claws. They fit together like pieces of a puzzle.

"Noki," he started. "About earlier."

It was Noki's turn to gulp, and she felt the fur on the back of her neck rise with embarassment. What other 'earlier' could he have meant besides her embarassingly loud show on the beach?

"It sounded like you..." No, Koshari stopped quickly. Too direct. "Were you okay?"

Noki tilted her head at him. 'Did he not hear.. what I said? I swear to Chii even wyngrew in Wynsiph heard that...' "Oh, I'm fine... My friend just surprised me, is all."

"You sounded like you were... saying something." The embarassment seemed to have spread through their connected hands and tickled up to his cheeks, now tinged with red.

Noki quickly slapped her free paw to her face. "T-the assignment was to enhance the sound inside the shell we found... B-But I whispered into it the moment before..."

"W..what did you exactly say?"

Noki shot him a glare quickly. He knew damn well what she said! She bit her lip and wiggled on the spot awkwardly, refusing to budge.

"... ... I... I said... Isaidiluvyu."

Koshari's brow tilted in confusion, but he took it quickly as an invitation. "Noki! I-I just--!"

The grey wyngro felt her breath hitch. "Koko? Me, too." This was it, right? She could lean in, as she did now, tip toe just slightly so that Koshari could also lean down and--

"KOKO!" The pink bundle, squished between them, squirmed and gazed up at the two adults sweetly. "NOKI!" Eglantine squealed with happiness at being sandwiched, wiggling her toes.

Koshari looked as if he had ran a marathon, looking away and shaking his head to try and clear his thoughts. He felt Eglantine being lifted off his arm, and saw Noki pulling her to her chest.

"What is it, little petal?" Noki cooed at Eglantine softly, smiling and not minding that she had interrupted their adult 'talk'. She turned and continued down the path, rocking Eglantine gently.

"I want to be carried by you now, Noki," Eglantine burped sleepily, clinging to Noki's fur and nuzzling her cheek into it.

"Alright, sweetpea. Anything you like... Koko? Why did you stop?"

There had to be painters in town, right? There was nothing as picturesque as Noki holding Eglantine, he thought, nothing as perfect. He stared at them blankly, with only a faint whisper of a thought going through his mind. 'She looks just like a mother,' he mused.

Koshari blinked as he snapped back to reality with Noki waving her paw at his face, and he cleared his throat. "Eggy seems to like you a lot," he stammered out.

"You think so? She's dozing off, the poor thing. She's just impressionable."

"Oh," Koshari huffed and picked up his courage again. "Well, about earlier..."

Noki stepped carefully to continue walking, but spoke clearly. "Koko, can I say something first?"

"Yeah... I.. Go ahead."

"When you left, I thought you'd be back right away," Noki fluttered her wings to stretch them. "I thought you just needed space. Or you were mad at me."

Koshari stepped to catch up to her and gaze down at fervently. "I was never mad at you, I promise!"

Noki's eyes widened in surprise at his earnest voice. She nodded. "And then, the months passed. Summer passed, and now it's almost winter. I begged the stars to give you back. Whatever I did, I would atone for it..."

The brown wyngro grimaced. 'She missed me so much,' he thought as he nods in understanding. "But," he curled his tail with hers. "I'm back now, aren't I?"

"Are you?" She teased, but her features seemed forlorn. "It's like I'm in a dream right now."

"It's not a dream. I'm home." Koshari turned her gently to face him and mustered up a silly, lopsided smile, like he would always give her.

Noki giggled and stepped closer to lean against his chest. "I love you, Koko."

Koshari wiggled his ears and wrapped his arms around her, taking both Noki and Eglantine in his arms. "Noki! Me too... I love you!"

-- 1313 words --

      

And then shortly afterward, the illustration happens.

Kids. :^)

Thanks to sum fuq rookare for basing/shading for me cuz I wanted to Mantine Surf i mean rest for a bit

 5/620 (1 noki headshot + 1 koko headshot + 2 eggy fullbody + 1 story)