"My fwozen yogu't!!"

Ashla smiled as she watched a wide eyed Felicity stomp over to the bowl. The cat lept off the table, rattling the empty dish. Felicity raced around the table chasing it, like duck duck goose, as the cat jumped into his mistress' arms. Tail between its legs, Fireleaf licked his lips, adding insult to injury.

Felicity growled, clenching her fists in defeat.

Light footsteps sounded from behind them though. Felicity turned to see the shop keep behind her. As Ashla's face grew more serious again, he took the empty bowl, "Would you like a refill? On the house."

Ashla could tell that Felicity was just melting over the offer, leaning on her side and tilting her head. "You wou'd? Oh, fank you so much!"

The clerk gasped when the teenage girl gave him a side hug. His arms stretched to the side, he glanced helplessly at Ashla with brown eyes.

Ashla managed a smile, "Sorry, she's a bit of a hugger…"

He looked back to a very happy Felicity, raising one hand and awkwardly patting her head.



~~~



As Felicity, once again, started to eat her favorite treat, Ashla watched her. Not a single sound or feeling arose from her stomach. Chin in her palm, she watched her like an inattentive, but protective on moments notice, older sibling. Questions continued growth race through her mind riding broken chariots.

Why had Felicity forgiven her so quickly, or at all? Felicity had every right to hate her, and with her history Ashla was convinced she would, yet… Felicity still seemed to admire her more than before. It brought this weird warmth to her that she had never felt before. What was this? Ashla realized that she was thankful, but still very conflicted. Considering all the patterns of loathing the world spearheaded her with each and every time she flunked, this was just too odd…

How could Ashla possibly believe that her sweet little sister was lying though? Felicity showed her nothing but respect and compassion, aside rare moments of typical teenage attitude under stress. Felicity was almost just as neurotic as she herself was. It confused Ashla. Felicity was so…

Ashla watched her. She was packing her mouth full of her dish of sugar. She was obviously affected by its chill, wincing as she crunched frozen strawberries, but she was enjoying the delicious flavor. How she could enjoys strawberries with bananas though, was a question for another day.

Today's question: Felicity's innocent nature. Felicity was still young. Yes, she obviously had grown. She looked a little less like a child and a bit more like a young woman now, showing signs of physical maturity. Her eyes still shone with youthful energy, however. The two peridot gems in her pupils were even more wild and free than before. Further more, the half-neanderthal was stupidly naïve. She was incredibly trusting, taking the words of others for immediate granted and following those she trusted into the depths of the Tular Plains. Ashla had not experienced that since before the death of her uncle, one of many tragedies in her life. What was it like to believe in others? Even believe in herself? At this point, Ashla found such mindsets foolish.

Felicity, however, appeared to be just fine. Aside trusting others, she gave them something to trust. She was sincere and hardworking, sometimes blunt, and it was delightful. A select few in the world showed traits like that, and Ashla realized she was not one of them. The young woman tilted her head as she finished off the scraps of her dessert, loudly scraping the sides of the bowl in a way that made Fireleaf sit up in her lap, pulling back his pointed ears.

Ashla lowered her arm, head up as Felicity pulled the spoon to her mouth again. Ashla finally spoke, "Fel, how old are you now?"

Felicity froze with the spoon still in her mouth. After a moment staying in the comical posture, she slowly pulled the metal spoon from her mouth. "Sixteen."

Ashla's eyes widened, "Wow, I'm old…"

Felicity started laughing, not chuckling, laughing. She put her spoon down, her face wrinkled in her loud giggling. Bending over, she brought her other hand up to eye, wiping off a tear of joy, "You'e too funny, Ash!" As she continued to laugh, Ashla genuinely smiled in joy. Felicity continued to confuse yet still brighten her half-elf mind.