Extended Family
Waking up again, we seem to be outside. Mama is carrying me through what looks like a park, the road is surrounded by beautiful orange autumn trees.
“Look mama, the trees look like Melina.”
“My~ You’re right. Do you want to bring some leaves with you to show Melina?”
“Gao!”
Holding me up high I pick some of the leaves off the tree that have the same shade of orange as Melina and a few different ones as well.
Handing over one of the leaves to mama I say, “Look, this one looks like you!”
“You’re right!” Holding the leaf next to her face she adds, “Look, you can barely see a difference.”
“Giggle Nooo! You look way prettier mama.”
“You think so? I think we look like twins. My~ what will I do if I bring it home and you mistake the leaf for me.”
“I won’t! It doesn’t smell like you and it’s not as pretty.”
Touching her head dramatically as if she just remembered something she says, “That’s right! We do smell different. Why didn’t I think of that? Looks like the leaf won’t replace me after all.”
“Gasp The stupid leaf could never replace you mama!”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“Because I love you so much and I don’t love the stupid leaf!”
Mama gets a really warm smile on her face as she says, “I love you too, Rose. You’re irreplaceable to me as well. Also your birthday is coming up soon. Is there anything you want?”
“I dunno…I never had a birthday before.”
Mama has a bit of a somber look on her face before going back to her cheery self as she theatrically hits her head again, “That’s right. It’s your first birthday after all. Your mama sure is getting forgetful.”
“You’re not sick, are you?”
“No no no, I’m fine dear.”
“Okay, good. You need to stay healthy, okay?”
“Yes, I’ll make sure to eat right and brush my teeth everyday so I’m very healthy.”
“Okay…Good…yawn”
“Are you getting tired again, dear?”
“No…I’m just a lil sleepy…”
“Then why not close your eyes a little?”
“I can’t…I still need to…give the leaf to…”
“Good night, Rose.”
Opening my eyes again I find myself on a furry and soft rug next to a lit fireplace. I can see a ball on a stick being shaken in front of me. It makes a rattling noise.
Then a girl’s voice similar to Scarlet says, “Look Rose!” Rattle rattle “Shaaaa Shaaa!” Rattle Rattle “Are you bored of it now?”
Looking to my right I see a girl that looks like a slightly younger version of Scarlet with long yellow hair.
Scared, I try to crawl away from her but end up with my back to a wall,“Who…Who are you? Where is mama?”
“It’s me, Emillia. Your prima, remember?”
“N-no…I don’t know you.”
“Eeeeh? But we’ve played so much now, do you really not remember me?”
“N-no. Go away! I want my mama!” I say with tears flowing down my face.
“Eh!? Sorry, I’ll go get Auntie right away!”
The girl then yells something in Draconic and leaves the room, shortly after mama briskly walks into the room and picks me up, “Shhh…It’s alright, Rose. I’m here.”
“I was so scared…I woke up and I was all alone with a stranger sob.”
“That must have been really scary. But I was always right here, my lovely little Libella. Also Emillia isn’t a stranger, you know her. She’s your cousin.”
“Cousin…?”
“Yeah, she’s your prima. She was playing with you a lot so I thought it would be fine to give you two some space.”
“Playing with…”
Suddenly flashes of playing and being around Emillia come to mind. She’s been here a few times now together with auntie. Sometimes there was also a boy named Miguel and Uncle Emillio.
“Oh! I remember now! Are auntie and uncle here too? What about Miguel?”
“Auntie and uncle are here as well! Do you want to meet them? They’re just next door.”
“Okay!”
Carrying me to the other room I wave at uncle and auntie, “Hello! Rose is happy you’re here!”
Auntie answers, “Oh? Are you already feeling better, love?”
“Yeah, I was really scared because I was alone with a stranger but then I remembered Prima and I also remembered you!”
Uncle Emillio then walks over to me and brushes through my hair, “Ay mija. I’m glad you remember me, Libella.”
“Yeah! You’re kind and warm!”
Auntie asks, “Oh? And what am I?”
“Loud and fun!”
Auntie puts on a bit of a weird smile and asks, “Am I not kind and warm too?”
and mama adds, “Pfft What can I say manya, my daughter knows you well.”
“Shut up! You’re coaching her to say these things aren’t you?”
“I’d never~ The kid is naturally hilarious when it comes to you, kikikiki.”
“Oh! Mama!?”
“Yes?”
“Did Melina like the leaf?”
“The leaf?”
“Yes, the leaf! Remember we went outside and I found a leaf that looked just like her.”
“Hmm?...Oh! Ah yes, how could I forget, I'm such a clutz. We showed her the leaf together, remember? She was very happy!”
Trying to think back more images flash into my head. This time of the time when we went home and showed the leaf to Melina. She was so happy she cried a little.
“That’s right, I remember! She even cried a little.”
“I’m sure she still has the leaf at home.”
“Then we should go outside and get more leaves that look like uncle, auntie, prima and primo!”
“We can do that next year, dear. The leaves have already fallen.”
“Really? But weren’t we just outside yesterday?”
“Hmm… We did go outside yesterday but the day we went to collect the leaves was a few months ago.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Then…What date is it today?”
“It’s the 12th of November.”
“November? So I’ve been here for half a year?”
“Yeah it should be about half a year now.”
“Then I should probably start to get back soon. Everyone’s probably waiting for me.”
Looking a little panicked, auntie says, “T-there is no need to rush things, right? You’ve just started to relax a little, it’s still a bit too soon to leave.”
“But I should at least start training, right?”
Uncle answers, “That would be no good, Rose.”
“Why?”
“Because training is not relaxing. You need to finish relaxing first before you start training.”
“I see…That makes sense. But what about everyone else, don’t they miss me?”
Mama answers, “I’m sure they do, dear. But they’re also using this time right now to train. They’re actually really busy.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really really! They all went on a journey to get stronger and are so busy they probably don’t even realize how much time has passed. Right, Carmilla?”
“Ah! Yes! Of course. I try to keep in contact with them from time to time and they’re all really busy.”
“I see…So they won’t come for my birthday?”
“...”
“I’ll try asking them, love. But the way it looks right now, only Scarlet is free enough to come and visit.”
“But Scarlet can come? I miss her…”
Auntie looks at mama and she answers, “Scarlet is very busy so she can’t be here all the time but I’m sure she has the time to be there for your birthday.”
“Really!?”
“Yes.”
“Yaaaay!”
“Also, there is something I wanted to ask you, love. If you’re still relaxing during your next imprint, would you like to imprint on your uncle, cousins and me as well?”
Putting my hand in my mouth to think, I answer, “Okay.”
“Really? Are you sure? Don’t you need time to think about it?”
“Nope, you’re all good people and I love you.”
Really happy, Emillia walks over to me and pets my cheek, “I love you too, Rose.”
“Me as well, mija.”
“Me and Miguell also love you a lot, love.”
Giggle
“And what about me, Rose? I know the first time you didn’t choose to imprint on me but would you like to imprint on me again?”
“Yeah! Because I love you the most, mama!”
“Sniff Is that so…Sorry your mama just got something in her eye, can you stay with auntie and uncle while I wash it out?”
“Sure!”
Uncle then picks me up, “Come on mija, let’s look out the window together, maybe we can still spot some leaves.”
“Okay!”
“Look, see that bird over there?” Uncle says pointing at a navy blue bird on a tree branch. Its tail feathers sparkle and look like the night sky.
“That’s a nightswallow. It’s technically a monster but it’s completely harmless.”
“Woah…Really?”
“When it wants to run away, sleep or hunt it can actually cast a conceal spell on itself and become invisible. We got really lucky to see it while it’s undisturbed.”
“So cool…Do you know a lot about birds, uncle?”
“Well…Not to sound arrogant but I do know quite a bit about them.”
“Really!? That’s so cool!”
“Oh? You think so?”
“Yeah, can you teach me about birds too?”
“Of course! If you want I’ll even take you birdwatching sometimes.”
“Sure, that sounds fun! Oh, oh! I have a question.”
“Ask away, Libella.”
“Are Ha Haa’s birds?”
“Ooooh that is actually a very interesting question! You see it’s currently a highly debated topic in taxonomy, which is the study of putting animals and monsters into different groups to see how they’re related. Of course at first you’d think if it has feathered wings it must be a bird but…”
Listening to uncle explain is really fun but also exhausting so I quickly fall asleep again.