isleofavalon | closed 🌠 the night is blind, so hard to find the way back home

[Nanaki lets out a hum, his ear flicking. Right... Tifa hasn't heard much about him, at least not yet in her time. He remembers his initial hesitance to reveal anything to what were at the time a group of strangers, but now... well, Tifa is a good friend. So, lowering his tail enough to finally allow the kitten to be within pouncing reach, he keeps his eye on the kitten while he talks to Tifa.]

...no, not anymore. My father died many years ago, when I was too young to remember him. My mother died when I was a pup, so for the most part, Grandfather raised me. He taught me the ways of my kind, even if he was not the same as me. I owe much of my knowledge to him.

[She's hit a bit of a sore spot, hasn't she? She watches his ear flick, notices his hum, but when he explains, she listens patiently, her own eyes on Clover while she makes another leap at the tail. She's persistent, if anything.

Tifa recalls their initial meeting with him. He hadn't been so open to share anything about himself, so they had little to go on about who he was before he wound up there, or where he'd come from... whether he had family or friends looking for him. So the fact that he's sharing even this much with him now pulls at her chest a little, but in a good way.

Her smile grows sullen to warm, hearing about his grandfather, and she's silent for a short stretch while she gives Clover a small scratch behind the ears, to which she responds with a small, angry mewl. Don't, mom! She's trying to catch her prey!]

Your Grandfather... he wasn't like you?

[Once upon a time, talk of his family would be a sore spot. Something he adamantly refused to bring up with strangers, and found it even harder to bring up with those close to him. But the truth about his father's death really allowed him the peace to talk about these things more openly.]

No, he was not. He was long-lived like my species, but he had a human appearance.

[Old Bugenhagen wasn't a Cetra, but he wasn't quite human either.]

For many years, it was just me and Grandfather, and the rest of the residents of Cosmo Canyon. They taught me all I know, and everything I knew about the Planet. And, in time, Grandfather even taught me of how my father died... ironically, it was not long after I met you all.

[His ear flicks.]

...that's something that will come to pass for you, eventually.

[Tifa's brows shoot up.]

Cosmo Canyon? We really make it that far, huh?

[All the way across the water, closer to Nibelheim than Midgar which means they would find a way to get across. Through Junon and Costa Del Sol, perhaps? But why there in the first place? Were they planning on taking a trip down memory lane? ... As he said, it will come to pass when the time comes, so she'll simply leave it at that. The future isn't something she wants to know too much about anyway.]

He must know a lot, if he taught you everything you know. Including how to be a cat.

[She smiles down at him.]

And now you get to pass it all down, too.

Yes. We travel to many locations around the Planet.

[He won't say too much, because like her he's not sure if it's a good idea to reveal too much too soon. But it's a little interesting, holding knowledge that others do not possess.]

He lived in Cosmo Canyon for generations, and knew of my species the best. He was very knowledgable! I would have no other teacher than Grandfather.

[There's something of a childish pride in the way he speaks of the man. Someone was very proud indeed.]

Ah, I suppose so... But I am still new at this, so please forgive any inexperience on my part. [And then, more to himself, he adds,] I'm only 50, after all...

[Very proud indeed. It's sweet, really. And she's sure that if he were here right now, he would be proud to see how far Red had come... even if it is just on the dining room floor wagging his tail around with a kitten. Although she does raise a brow at the last part.]

Only fifty?

[A giggle bubbles up in her chest that startles Clover, and she realizes how rude that must have sounded, so a hand shoots up over her mouth.]

Sorry... I just... that's older than I thought.

[Good save!? Not that she meant any of it in a bad way!]

[Ah, right... Nanaki hums, his ears flicking as he looks away. A little... bashful?]

Well... yes. I am fifty years old now. [Meaning he was 48 when he met everyone.] Truthfully, it's not very old for my species... it is about the equivalent of a human teenager.

[That's what Bugenhagen had told them all.]

Ahhh, so... [Tifa leans towards him, her voice and smile all too teasing in manner.] That means you're actually younger than me.

[Than all of them!

Clover mewls, and it almost sounds like a gasp in surprise at the news. She sits, her tail curling around herself, and stares at Nanaki through watchful yellow eyes.

She won't tease him too much, don't worry!]

So your species must live a pretty long time, huh? The things you must be able to see...

Well... I suppose...

[But he's been in several fights! He is a guardian of both Cosmo Canyon and the planet! He's practically an adult!]

[Perhaps if this was around when they first met, he would have said as such. But instead he simply rumbles, turning to Clover and flops his tail in front of her. Hey, he's still older than you, kitten!]

Yes, they do. It is not uncommon for my kind to live a few hundred years.

[Clover mewls quietly at him, her head tilting while she continues to sit and watch his tail, the end of her own tapping gently against the floor, and Tifa pauses to look down at her.]

You want to live a few hundred years too?

[She meows again, this time louder and more enthusiastic before she's pawing at his tail again.

Tifa's hands reach out, and she pats them both on their heads. Cute.]

I've never seen your species before meeting you. Are you all just in one place? Feels like I should've at least seen them when I was in Nibelheim.

[Nanaki looks down at the kitten, and lets out a little chuckle.]

Work on growing stronger first, young one. Then perhaps I can show you my skills.

[He will endure the petting, mostly because it is Tifa, Though, he does frown a little, looking away.]

...no. My kind are... rare. I only know of a small number of them.

[She sees that frown, small as it is, and wonders if maybe that was a bit of a sore spot for them. A rare kind, and hopefully only that instead of a dying breed. So, with a small, sad nod, she lets the conversation steer elsewhere.]

Well, I guess Clover can be a part of your pack now.

[Tifa smiles wide, hoping that it will bleed into the air around them and lighten the mood, but there's still a small pang of sadness that cracks in her voice.]

She's going to need all the friends she can get... [She turns to Clover.] You're lucky to have him as your teacher, you know.

[Outside of his parents, himself, and another member of his tribe named Deneh, he's honestly not sure exactly how many remain. It is a sobering thought, knowing he is one of the last of his kind. But like Tifa, he is willing to move on from such a sorrowful conversation. He nods, looking at the little kitten.]

Someone needs to teach her to hunt and survive on her own. And when it is appropriate to bite someone, and when it is wise and unwise to pounce. I believe I am the best to teach her such skills.

[He will teach her the ways of the wild catdogwolf!]

[She's going to be the best catdogwolf Camelot has ever seen!

Clover seems to agree, because she mewls happily as she takes a spot next to him, sitting and swinging her tail in a way that mimics his, her big eyes mesmerized by it still. Soon enough, she's going to be more Nanaki than cat!]

Yeah. I wouldn't know the first thing about that. So... what's our first lesson?

['Our' because she wants to learn for Clover's sake, too. It's important that mom knows all of these things so that she knows what's appropriate and what's not!]

Well...

[He draws out the word, looking down at Clover. His lips curl up in a feline grin. He lifts up one of his paws.]

The first lesson of any feline is to learn how to remain on your paws.

[And then he moves to gently knock Clover over, so she can roll over. It's little more than a gentle nudge, and a low, deep rumble sounds in his chest as he does it. Is he... having fun??]

[Tifa's gasp is loud when she sees Clover topple off her feet, but there's no shortage of amusement. She's still young and small enough that even the gentlest nudges could knock her over, but even Clover is surprised by it, mewling at Nanaki in a fit of protest as she tries to right herself.

But instead, she gives up and rolls over onto her side, the end of her tail flicking contentedly on the floor.]

No, I think that means you have to get up and try again!

[Clover's eyes flick to Nanaki, as if asking him if this is indeed what he intended.]

[Nanaki chuckles a bit, intermingled with that deep rumble in his chest. What a playful little one.]

Well? Will you take that, little one? Or will you pounce back?

[Leaving it up to Clover. Will she pounce at him? Or just keep rolling around? Honestly, either way is fine; play is play when it comes to children.]

[She's a feisty little one now that she's starting to feel more confident, so she will indeed pounce! ... But she misses and instead crashes into Tifa's legs, and the collision topples her over. Just going to pick her right back up and set her on her feet.]

Aim's pretty off there. You sure that was the best choice? Maybe try learning how to sit so you don't fall, hm?

[Clover's mouth opens and she gives a mighty meow back. Don't tease her, mom!]

How's she supposed to sit proper anyway?

[Aww, poor Clover. But practice makes perfect, and she is still young. She'll get it right eventually!]

Personally, I find however is most comfortable to her would be best. Most animals do not require the same manners or etiquette that humans do.

[Still, he does shift his position, sitting upright like he normally does.]

She might mimic those she sees around her, until she finds her own way of doing things.

[He's right in that she will mimic, and Tifa does wonder again if she can understand everything he's saying the same way she could with Eustace, as she watches the kitten shift and turn and sit, get up, turn around on the spot, sit down again, and wraps her tail around herself.

It's almost like a mirror image, but smaller.]

Okay, let's try now.

[As soon as she sees Clover is well-situated, Tifa reaches out to nudge her in the side, and she remains almost as sturdy as a tree. She meows loudly, looking up at Nanaki. Are you proud, big bro!?]

[Aww, look at that. He's a little touched that she mimics him, and when she remains upright and meows loudly at him, he rumbles again in his throat. Yes, little one, very proud.]

She's a quick learner. She will be fine, I believe.

[The moment is fleeting of course, because she goes right back to playtime again, lunging at his tail with her paws, batting at it as if it were still that teaser toy that she thinks it is.]

Sooner or later, she'll be high fiving everyone too.

[Tifa laughs along with him, low and content as it bubbles over in her chest. In spite of everything, she's glad that Clover has found a home where she can learn to be comfortable being herself, and in turn, bring them all a little bit of sunshine on some otherwise gloomier days.]

I think this deserves a celebration. A treat, maybe?

[For all of them. Is there something that Nanaki likes for dessert?]

[Ah, to be young again. This time, Nanaki lets his tail fall within reach. She's more than earned the right to pounce on it, and her claws aren't that sharp yet. He does chuckle at Tifa's comment.]

Oh yes, soon she will be.

[He hums a little in consideration, before nodding.]

I think that's a great idea. Moments like this should be celebrated.

[He won't say no to dessert!]

[For Clover, she'll only get a small squeeze of her favourite tuna treat into a bowl. For them, it'll be some slices of cake baked by yours truly—a simple chocolate one that won't be too dense or sweet, but light and fluffy and easy on the tastebuds, although Clover is much more interested in theirs as soon as she's finished gobbling up her own.

Tifa brings the plate back to Nanaki and sets it down for him, and she sits on the floor with hers, propping her back against the wall next to him so that they can enjoy it together.

It's nice... sitting here with him like this. Outside, parts of the world have started to crumble, but here, she can forget about it, and just be with family. Feels a little odd to be thinking that she could even have one, especially after all they've been through back home so far, but in a good way.

She'll be sad when it all has to come to its inevitable end.]

So... [she finally says after her first bite.] You think you'll be staying here a while?

[Chocolate cake is always good, especially if made by a friend. Nanaki doesn't need much flair in his food, so he's all but happy to enjoy the cake Tifa has prepared. It's a much-needed bit of respite after so much turmoil and suffering. And the fact that he's able to take a bite without getting sick is just proof that he's not your regular lab rat dog!]

[He swallows his own bite before looking up at Tifa. He nods to her, his tail flicking.]

If my presence isn't going to cause too much of a problem, then yes. I think it's best we stick close to each other, for now.

closed 🌠 the night is blind, so hard to find the way back home

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we can probably start wrapping this! 🥰

I'm cool with that! :3

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