Fall was perhaps Kali’s favorite season. Ischia itself didn’t do much by way of changing colors, but almost everywhere else she went, the world was painted in vibrant oranges and golds, reds and yellows and browns. The trees along the big river on the mainland were especially vibrant lately, and Kali had a bit of an itch to go see them. Thing was, she wasn’t in the mood to go alone. Oh, she could. If she wanted to. But exploring was so much more fun when she had someone to share it with. So instead of heading across the water, she set out in search of her big brother.
He wasn’t at their favorite spring, nor the quiet little cove where they liked to go lie in the sun and talk about life and dreams and the future. She didn’t find him up on the cliffs with his wings spread out so he could feel the sun shining down and the wind caressing his feathers. Sad, too, or she could have snuck up and tucked herself up under one of those beautiful wings, even if she’d started to notice she fit against him differently these days than she used to. She was still a good bit shorter than he, but she sure as hell couldn’t duck her head and sneak under his chest anymore, or dart between his legs and jump out the other side with a giggle and a wag of her tail.
Even her tail was different, no more scruffy little stump. Her hair was growing out, reaching halfway down her legs. Her mane had fallen over and was starting to flow down her neck, even if it was still nowhere near as long as Khari’s. Still, he’d said it would grow in time, just like the rest of her was. Just like it had already been.
She walked along the trail to the grove where the parrots loved to nest, drinking in the sound of home and breathing in Ischia’s sweet island scent. Flowers and wild things, salt and sunlight, trees and earth and home. No matter how far she wandered - and she’d certainly begun to wander farther and farther - her island was always home. The island, and the people who lived on it.
Especially Khari.
Oh, she loved them all. Mom and Dad, Papa, Baddie and Kylie, and all the not-family residents that she’d encountered seemed lovely too. But Khari had been her best friend from the moment she could think coherently enough for him to reach her, and he’d always have a special place in her heart. He’d always feel just a little bit extra like home.
Khari, would you like to go to the river with me? she asked, feeling the first hint of him brushing against her mind. So familiar, so welcome, like the soft smile before a long hug. The trees look so lovely, and it would be nice to get out and stretch our legs, don’t you think? She smiled and kept walking, waiting for him to come up beside her and drape his wing over her and tuck her up against him. He had to be close, she could feel it.
He wasn’t at their favorite spring, nor the quiet little cove where they liked to go lie in the sun and talk about life and dreams and the future. She didn’t find him up on the cliffs with his wings spread out so he could feel the sun shining down and the wind caressing his feathers. Sad, too, or she could have snuck up and tucked herself up under one of those beautiful wings, even if she’d started to notice she fit against him differently these days than she used to. She was still a good bit shorter than he, but she sure as hell couldn’t duck her head and sneak under his chest anymore, or dart between his legs and jump out the other side with a giggle and a wag of her tail.
Even her tail was different, no more scruffy little stump. Her hair was growing out, reaching halfway down her legs. Her mane had fallen over and was starting to flow down her neck, even if it was still nowhere near as long as Khari’s. Still, he’d said it would grow in time, just like the rest of her was. Just like it had already been.
She walked along the trail to the grove where the parrots loved to nest, drinking in the sound of home and breathing in Ischia’s sweet island scent. Flowers and wild things, salt and sunlight, trees and earth and home. No matter how far she wandered - and she’d certainly begun to wander farther and farther - her island was always home. The island, and the people who lived on it.
Especially Khari.
Oh, she loved them all. Mom and Dad, Papa, Baddie and Kylie, and all the not-family residents that she’d encountered seemed lovely too. But Khari had been her best friend from the moment she could think coherently enough for him to reach her, and he’d always have a special place in her heart. He’d always feel just a little bit extra like home.
Khari, would you like to go to the river with me? she asked, feeling the first hint of him brushing against her mind. So familiar, so welcome, like the soft smile before a long hug. The trees look so lovely, and it would be nice to get out and stretch our legs, don’t you think? She smiled and kept walking, waiting for him to come up beside her and drape his wing over her and tuck her up against him. He had to be close, she could feel it.
Kirby and Lacey's
little whisper girl
little whisper girl