Yotto – Summer – Rite – Nite (4th Month 32nd Day) Year 827 GE

The cascade of sound from the parade made Zira smile as she walked along the parade route, avoiding the people who were all watching the entertainment. As she passed the end of the parade route and the music started to fade into the distance, she noticed the thinning of people around her.

Zira froze when she felt an impact on her leg, and the wail of a small child rang out through the air. Looking down in horror at the distressed child gripping her leg, sobbing loudly, she shifted awkwardly. “Um, small one?” She stumbled as she tried to remove the child from her leg. “Geez, that is one tough grip,” she mumbled as each time she got close to dislodging the child, she would shift her hands, and hold on tighter.

Zira looked around in horror as she tried to identify the parents. With a few more looks at the little one clinging to her leg, she identified the young girl as a Hisanni child with pale lavender hair. Zira looked through the thinning crowd, trying to identify if there were any Hisanni parents potentially looking around for their spawn.

There were only two other Hisanni in the area, both were male, and neither of them seemed to be looking for a lost child. “Oh dear,” she said as she knelt down careful not to jar the child clinging to her leg, “Can you let go little one?” Awkwardly patting the child on the shoulder, she asked aloud, “What do I do now?”

Just then the little one started to loosen her grip. Zira cringed as she felt the moisture left behind on her leg. The child showed her tear stained and snotty face to her, snuffling as she swiped a soggy arm across her eyes. When she looked toward Zira, she caught a glimpse of the child's sapphire blue eyes. It was common in the Hisanni that the hair color came from the mother, and the eye color from the father.

Trying to speak calmly, remembering that children reacted to any heightened emotions, she asked, “So what is your name small one?”

The child looked at her, before shoving one of its chunky little thumbs into its own mouth, the tear stains starting to dry, and the snot turning to crust. Zira swallowed, trying to calm her upset stomach. “Do you know your name?” She asked before she muttered under her breath, “They're so... gross.”

The child popped her thumb out of her mouth, the drool dripping from her now drenched appendage as she muttered, "Muna..." and returned the thumb to her mouth. Zira had to look away to hide her growing discomfort with the small child's leaking body fluids.

“Muna, do you remember where you last saw your parents?” Zira asked, hopeful the child could help guide her way back to her family. When a few moments passed, and the child continued to stare at her, Zira knew she was out of luck. Standing back up she scanned the crowd again for any Hisanni in the area. Not even the two males from before were still in the area. Unfortunately, she and the small child, Muna, were the only Hisanni in the square.

Cursing inwardly, she looked down at her small charge. Thumb back in her mouth, Muna stared at Zira with full trust. “Oh no,” Zira looked around again, “This ain't happening, they never taught me how to deal with children.” Scanning the area for any local authority to take charge of the small child brought back disappointment when there were none to be seen. Pulled from her thoughts, Zira stared at the small child as her curious hand traced the Zitta exposed on her leg. Again, she froze, should she run, or should she help this little one? What do you do when someone touches you without your permission?

“Most people don't touch a Kander's Zitta,” she spoke as she brushed the child's hand from her leg. “You know it's rude to touch someone without their approval.” Zira had noticed people were giving them a wide berth as they passed, eyeballing the Kander with a small child. “Wait, they think you're mine,” she grumbled as she pleaded with her eyes for anyone to help her in this situation. “Why did you have to be Hisanni? If you were any other race there would have been a panic to get you away from me.”

Zira noticed a woman sitting at the fountain in the square and headed toward her, Muna tottering after her. “Hey lady,” she called out. The woman at the fountain stiffened, then gathered her things in her arms. “No, wait, I need...” but she was already out of hearing range. Zira looked back down towards the child just as she plunged her wet thumb back into her mouth. Swallowing hard, Zira tried to keep her own bile in check. "Must you do that?" She finally asked, “You're going to turn my stomach.” The child grinned around her thumb and let out a giggle. “It's not funny,” Zira grumbled. And the child, let out a stream of giggles.

Zira looked around, the child making sucking noises at her side. To her dismay, there were no law enforcement in sight and the only Hisanni who entered the square had light blue hair and two small children of the same hair color.

The hair stood up on the back of her neck as she felt the slimy, small hand of Muna gripping two of her own fingers. It was then she realized the noise of the child sucking her thumb had stopped. “Oh no,” she cringed as she looked around desperately for anyone who could help.

A laugh on her left drew her attention to a Jariven man in his second phase of evolution. With short black hair, gray eyes and pale gray skin he looked to be fresh into his second phase. But his physique said it had been some time since his phase change. She glared at the man as he started toward her and the child. When he was close enough, he laughed again, “Can't say I ever thought to see a Kander panicking.”

“Yeah, well,” Zira started, but noticed the Jariven looking at the child. She glanced down at Muna, who was concentrating in a very un-childlike way.

“You're about to have another thing to take care of,” the Jariven smiled.

It took her a moment before she understood what the man was saying, “Oh no... no no...” she looked down at the child, “Hold it in… oh no.” She felt panic setting in, again the Jariven started laughing.

He knelt down next to Muna, patting her on the head. “Now now, little one, I think you have your big sister in a panic.” He smiled at her knowing the tone of his words mattered more than what was said. “How about we get you something to clean you up.” Looking at Zira he spoke in the same calming tone, “Can you stay with her while I get some necessities for the little one?”

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“No, wait, can't you...” She felt Muna squeeze her fingers and the Jariven waved a hand over his shoulder. Several moments passed before she spoke again, “You know all I wanted was to watch the fireworks after the festival.” Looking down, the child was still squeezing Zira's fingers with her slimy, sticky ones. “And yet here you are, a little one clinging onto me as if I can help you. Just so you know I have never dealt with anyone as young as you.”

Muna looked up at Zira the look of concentration faded, the child started scrunching up her nose. “Wait!” Zira called out and knelt down next to the child, her efforts to startle the child from her pending tears failed, Muna wailing loudly beside her. “Wait... don't cry, the nice Jariven man went to get something to help.” She looked around panicked, those around her now sparing a glance toward the Kander with the child, but none offering to help. “Where is that darn Jariven? I thought he was going to help,” she grumbled under her breath.

“Well, that's no way to thank someone for their help, and the name is Dameen, sounds better than calling me by my race.” The second phase Jariven said as he walked up to her, a bag in hand. Zira appreciated that he was careful to announce himself before he approached her where she could see him coming. “Come on, let's get her changed. How would you feel sitting in your own mess?”

Dameen watched Zira fumble through trying to change the child's diaper before he took pity on her and changed it for her. The mess was gone and Muna in a fresh diaper all as Zira watched in awe. “Where did you learn childcare?”

“Not that it concerns you, but I have three younger siblings.” Dameen buttoned up the child's clothes and pushed her toward Zira. Not knowing what to do, she stared bewildered. Muna curled against her neck as Dameen settled the child in her arms. “You hold her here.” Positioning her arms as a seat under the child's back side, “Just like that.” He frowned slightly as he looked at Muna; her thumb was back in her mouth. Dameen tugged on her hand, pulling her thumb out of her mouth, “You know, little one, sucking on your thumb is not good for your incoming teeth.” He smiled at her and pressed lightly on her nose, getting a giggle instead of the scream Zira was sure she would have gotten.

“What now?” Zira asked, looking to see if she could see any new Hisanni in the area. Two young girls, both with light blue hair were holding hands wandering through the streets. A young man with pale green hair walked past, eyeballing her and the small child.

“Let's go this way, I thought I saw a group of Hisanni.” And with that they threaded their way through the people gathered for the festival, heading in the direction Zira had come from earlier.

They hadn't taken more than fifteen steps when Zira let out a cry. The child now gripped a handful of her light pink hair with a tight grip and was pulling it where the hair was not meant to go. Dameen turned to look, surprised at first, then let out a small chuckle. “Let go,” Zira started, trying to loosen the child's grip with no success. She could feel the moisture from her drool now coating the piece of hair. She swallowed hard, “How can such a small thing have such a tight grip?” She grumbled as she failed again to loosen the child's fingers. It was then that she realized Dameen had gone silent. When she looked over at him, she found the gray skin on his face had started to take on a pink hue, and his features indicated he was trying very hard not to laugh. “Stop laughing and come and help!” She cried out and some of Dameen's laughter escaped. “Is there a release button somewhere to get her to open her fist?!”

Dameen failed to hold it in; he burst into laughter before he finally stepped forward to help. Muna was watching him, grinning, jerking Zira's hair to and fro, as she grumbled with each tug. “Now now, little one, you should let go of her hair,” Dameen had composed himself but just barely. Zira could see a tear forming at one of his eyes. She rolled her own, then winced as the child gave an enthusiastic tug leaning back with her hair. “Come here little one,” he extended his hands toward Muna. The desired response was ignored by the child, instead she smashed her head back toward Zira's face, catching her on the cheek before hiding in her neck.

“Ouch,” Zira complained, the child's hand still threaded through her hair, but her other one now gripping partially around her neck.

“No need to be shy,” Dameen coaxed as he rubbed Muna's back. “You can see more if I'm carrying you,” he added.

Just then a woman's voice called out “Muna!” and the child sat back, her grip still firm in Zira's hair. Zira instinctively stepped back and put her other hand around the child in a protective manner, her own pain forgotten. Dameen had shifted between Zira and the voice that had called out.

A young Hisanni woman pushed through the crowd, her hair the same lavender as Muna's. At her side was a Hisanni with pale green hair. Zira recognized him, he had passed them some time ago. The lavender haired Hisanni woman looked around panicked before she caught sight of Muna cradled in Zira's arms. She rushed forward, but when she grabbed for the child, Dameen stopped her. “You're the child’s mother?”

The Mother glared at Dameen then looked back at Muna, “You don't think this Kander is, do you?” She grumbled, glaring at Zira. “I should have you detained, kidnapping a child is frowned on.”

“You don't think...” Dameen started, but Zira put a hand on his arm to stop him, when he looked at her, she shook her head slightly.

“You should keep a better eye on your offspring,” Was all she said as Muna was wiggling and reaching toward the woman, having finally released her hair. Zira extended the child toward her mother.

When Muna was safely in the mother's arms, she shot another glare at Zira. Before she could flee, Dameen added, “Your child wandered off. You should be thanking the 'Kander' not sneering at her. She could have left the child unattended for anyone to pick up,” he paused a moment then continued. “Or do you really think there aren't child stealers out there? You owe her your gratitude, not your scorn.”

The pale green haired Hisanni nodded his agreement before the mother turned to Zira and mumbled, “Thanks.” And with that she turned and fled, the pale green haired Hisanni on her heels. When Dameen shifted to follow, Zira grabbed his arm again.

“It's a normal reaction.” Dameen looked at her with pity for a moment.

“I suppose so.”

Zira watched as Muna's mother hugged her child tightly and moved away from her and Dameen as quickly as she thought polite. When they were out of earshot, she asked, “You were here to attack me, weren't you?”

Dameen chuckled, “Yep.”

“Then why didn't you?” Muna and her mother were now being embraced by a Hisanni man that Zira assumed was the child's father.

“If you had abandoned the child, I would have continued to stalk you quietly. Until you were somewhere safe for me to attack.”

“Is that so?” After the silence dragged on a moment, and Muna's family was no longer visible, Zira added “Do we need to go somewhere quiet?”

Dameen laughed again, it was a hardy laugh, Zira pictured this man laughing as his second nature. She regretted that she might have to kill him. “Come on,” Dameen placed a hand on her shoulder, directing her back toward the square. She stiffened slightly but let him direct her through the crowd. When she looked over at him, she was surprised to find he still wore a smile.

“You know I could just open a portal,” she mentioned as he directed her around a group of citizens enjoying a meal at a food cart.

He looked at her then, “What for? I thought you wanted to watch the fireworks, and I know the best place.”

That night Zira and Dameen stood on a rooftop overlooking the lake just beyond the buildings. When the first firework bloomed in the sky, its glowing ashes falling toward the land, Zira finally felt content. “Beautiful,” she spoke softly and Dameen, close enough to hear, laughed.

END