It wasn't often that Madeline took Killerie shopping, and the shedling was all the more excited for it. Hunched in the back of the battered white van, she peered through the windshield with shining eyes, eager to see where they were going this time. Odman's weather was fairly consistent, and today was no exception; mountainous clouds rolled across the sky, cut through like giant flour-covered rolls as various spaceships and freighters darted past.

"Can I get a hat?"

Madeline chuckled. Her eyes stayed on the road in front of her, though she reached a hand back to pat Killerie right between her antennae. For some reason, Madeline liked to drive manually, even though it was perfectly safe to use the automatic. Killerie knew it for a fact! She'd dismantled the engine four times, after all (it was actually six, but she was pretty sure her mom didn't know about the other two), and there was no way the guidance and accident prevention systems would fail.

In her self-contemplation about the engine, she'd completely missed her mom's answer, and had to ask again with no small amount of embarrassment. Madeline laughed in reply, and was greeted by a distinctly Killerie-esque pout. "Yes, you can get a hat."

"And a scarf?"

"All the scarves and hats you want," Madeline promised. "It's your birthday, after all."

Ah, yes, and it was her birthday. That may have been a contributor to the wiggle in her tails. Killerie turned eleven years and two-ish months old today. The extra time was from before she had been adopted - the shedlings had not been eager to reveal exactly where Killerie had been during that period, what she'd been doing, or even who had been taking care of her. Maybe that was just how long it took to make telepathy caps.

Sooner than later, the van squealed to a stop and Killerie happily bounced out of the back doors, her antennae wobbling. Madeline climbed from the driver's side, slamming the door shut and taking Killerie's side a few seconds later. She took one of Killerie's legs in hand, her eyes creasing in a genuine smile as she looked up at her. "Shall we?"

Killerie shuffled sideways so that she was pressed up against her mom's side, her mandibles split in a broad grin. "Yeah!"

The shopping mall was as unobtrusive as one could be, with a simple sign spelling out "CLOTHES" in blocky letters. Brick walls framed glass windows, with a good number of clothes prominently shown off in the front windows that Killerie most certainly wouldn't fit in. Still, she eagerly flounced forward, temporarily leaving Madeline behind as she rushed inside.

There were a few people already shopping as she burst through the doors and a dozen wary eyes immediately turned onto her. She managed not to cringe at the sight, but she still hung back to wait for her mom and only moved forward once Madeline was backing her up. Most of the staring stopped after her mom joined her, thankfully, but it was still awkward to be browsing through headwear and scarves when most of the former customers left the moment they saw her.

It stopped affecting Killerie the moment she saw The Hat.

The Hat in question was an oversized yellow sunhat, worn through somewhat. It sat battered and beaten on the pre-owned pile at the very peak, a beam of sunlight shining upon it as though to emphasize its glory. There were holes worn through it, and as Killerie telekinetically lifted the sunhat and placed it on her head, her antennae effortlessly slipped through the holes and sprang to the back.

Killerie turned to her mother, a deadly serious expression on her face that made Madeline laugh for some reason. Killerie politely waited for her to finish, and then solemnly told her, "I want this hat."

"We can get the hat," Madeline promised, reaching out to take the hat off. Killerie sank down slightly, the hat creasing as she held it in place with her thoughts, and her mom chuckled in reply. "Okay, we'll get the hat, I promise. Do you want to keep shopping?"

Killerie slowly nodded, rising slightly as she continued to peruse the items on display. Madeline picked out a pair of red heels for herself, even though there wasn't anyone she'd wear them for except herself, and a few moments later selected a pair of sweatpants from the bargain bin as well. Killerie briefly contemplated getting a few dozen pairs of socks before deciding against it, holding a mental picture of herself paddling down the hallway. It was too undignified for her to bear, and so she reluctantly slid away from the mismatched, brightly colored footwear with a sigh.

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She froze as she came face to face with another shedling.

Killerie, despite her origin, had rarely if ever spoken with her own kind. Shedlings rarely showed up in public places, and when they did, it was almost always to repair something, and then they were off to disappear again. Her eyes widened, scanning the newcomer and taking everything in. This one was a good deal smaller than she was - barely seven feet long, and their chitin looked oddly soft. Their antennae were long and slender, with what almost looked like ephemeral feathers at the end of each one. Their glossy black eyes clicked briefly as they blinked, staring up at Killerie with an indecipherable expression. It suddenly occurred to Killerie that she had never had to interpret what a shedling was thinking before from its face - it wasn't like she had to look in the mirror to know what she was feeling!

Her attention was diverted as her eyes went to the shedling's neck. Before she could compose herself, she blurted out, "I love your scarf!"

They started, looking down at it before glancing up at Killerie. There was a brief silence, and then they jumped a little. "Ah, my apologies. Killerie of the Exceptional Mind, yes?" Their voice - her voice? - was vaguely musical, but thin and almost oddly fragile. If Killerie had to put a word to it, it was like listening to a wind chime.

Killerie blinked as she realized she'd fallen silent and smiled broadly. "Yeah! I mean, it's Killerie Parker, but I guess nobody told you. I really like your scarf though. What's your name?"

The shedling seemed mildly confused for a long moment, trying to track her train of thought. It took her a couple seconds to reply. "Thank you. I quite appreciate my scarf as well. My name is Masac of Keen Intellect. Are you here to shop for clothes as well?"

"Yeah!" Killerie enthusiastically replied. She spotted Madeline come around the corner, freezing on sight, and Killerie promptly brightened. "My mom took me here! This is Madeline, my mom, she's super nice." Killerie hurriedly scuttled around Masac, standing beside her mom with a bright smile.

Masac's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Your caretaker."

"My mom," Killerie confirmed, nodding happily, unaware to the meaning of the way that the shedling's antennae twitched. She was so excited to introduce her mom to another shedling! Especially one that talked. Turning to Madeline, she indicated Masac with an antenna. "Mom, this is Masac of Keen Intellect! Look at her scarf, isn't it pretty?"

Her mom gave Masac a smile, her hand gently landing on Killerie's back. "It is! Where did you get it, if I may ask?"

Masac seemed a little thrown, glancing between Killerie and Madeline. She paused, her antennae flickering briefly, and Killerie wondered how many billions of questions she could ask if she had access to the shedling mind for even a little bit. She'd probably ask who her birth mom was. Not that it mattered a whole lot - Madeline was perfect, but... she was curious sometimes.

Who had wanted to abandon her?

"Grinatyz," Masac finally said, her stance softening. "There are shops there that you would enjoy. We imitate many fashions from their craft, and I will likely return soon for-"

"-for a hat!?" Killerie cut in, her eyes glowing with excitement. The tiniest of smiles appeared on Masac's face, and she inclined her head positively. "For a hat," The shedling confirmed. As she spoke, Killerie felt Madeline's hand slowly leave her back with a departing pat, slipping into one pocket. Killerie gave her an inquisitive look, but Madeline only smiled instead.

Masac glanced at the hat in Madeline's hands, then at Killerie. "Do you intend to buy that, or is it already yours?"

"I haven't gotten it yet, but I'm really excited to! It's my birthday today." Killerie was bouncing in place. She'd never felt this weird combination of feelings before - nervous, excited, curious. She wanted to explain what a birthday was, and ask about nuisance elves, and all sorts of things that she couldn't properly parse out.

Masac brushed past Killerie, clearly unaware of the eclectic maelstrom of questions rattling around Killerie's head. Briefly taking the hat from Madeline, she paused at the cashier. "I am taking this," She said simply, and then passively skittered back over to Killerie and her mom. Reaching forward telekinetically, she placed the hat on Killerie's head, guiding her antennae through. It was a strange feeling, having her antennae held like that. Almost as if Madeline had loosely grabbed them, firm and guiding and somehow from every direction at once.

"Thank you for getting me the hat!" Killerie enthused, briefly leaning forward to bonk her head against Masac's.

The smaller shedling shrank back, a distinctly alarmed expression on her face before she muted it. "Certainly," Masac respectfully replied... and then turned around. Killerie's countless questions wilted like winter roses as Masac promptly left the store, heading around the corner.

Her antennae slowly drooped, her legs lowering. "Do you... think she was...?"

Her mom interrupted, giving her a pat on the back. "I'm sure she was busy," She said firmly, taking one of Killerie's legs and leading her outside. Soon enough, she was dangling in the hammock in the back of the van once more, and while Madeline's hand rested on the gearshift, she didn't move. Killerie angled her head, leaning forward to timidly ask, "Everything okay?"

Madeline stared ahead for a long moment, then took a deep breath and allowed the tension to drain from her shoulders. Looking back at Killerie, she gave her a smile. "How do you feel about some birthday hot chocolate?"

Any reservations or concerns Killerie may have been having temporarily vanished as she wriggled, squirming forward with a giant smile on her face. "The good stuff from Coffee Shop!?"

"The good stuff from Coffee Shop," Madeline confirmed, an easier smile on her face as she pulled out of the parking lot, heading down the road. "Happy birthday, Killerie."

Focused on the upcoming hot chocolate, Killerie failed to notice the gentle tremble in Madeline's hand.