Apologies and Reassurance
Aria flew to Celaien's house. She still felt bad about last night. She hadn't meant to upset him, and hoped the small gift she held would cheer him up a bit. She landed outside a window and knocked.
Celaien perked up from where he was lounging on Cele's computer. A knock? For him? He flew to the window, seeing Aria, and waved fiercely, smiling.
Aria waved back, and crawled under the window. She smiled, seeing how he was smiling, so maybe last night hadn't bothered him too much. "Hi. I brought you a gift to make up for last night." She handed him the tiger striped kitten plushie.
"Oh... you shouldn't have, I overreacted," he said, blushing a little in embarrassment as he took the plush. "This is very nice, though, thank you.."
Aria nodded. "Well, I felt bad, and you seemed too as well...." She sighed, trailing off. What else was there to say? "I just wanted to let you know how sorry I was. I hadn't meant it in the way I said it."
"Yeah, it's okay. Really, I'm fine," he reassured her, smiling wanly. He sat down and stared at the plush for a moment. "Aria... Do you think there's something wrong with me?"
She blinked, sitting down as well. "Wrong with you? Cause you haven't grown?" Was there? Was there some way to stop a feien's growth? "I hope not! I don't know why you haven't grown, cause you're older than Ian, but I don't think there is anything wrong with you. "
Celaien shifted uncomfortably. "I hope not as well, but... it's like you said... Everyone who bloomed around the same time I did has either grown up... or disappeared... Am I not growing because I'm gonna disappear too?" He looked at Aria with fearful, haunted eyes. "I don't want to disappear, Aria! I don't!"
Aria reached over and hugged Celaien tightly. "No no, you're not going to disappear!" She and Ian wouldn't let that happen! "You can't...Ianios and I would be heartbroken. We'll fight to keep you here." She nodded, vowing to do that. "And Cele isn't going to let you vanish either!"
Celaien squeezed back, grateful. "Thank you... I know Ian would be sad, and Cele, too... That's why I don't want to... I don't want people to be sad because of me..." He sighed, then smiled weakly. "Thanks for coming to cheer me up Aria. It really helped."
Aria smiled, grinning really. "Good. Ian doesn't even know I'm here. I snuck out as he was exploring a cabinet in the kitchen." She giggled. "And it's nearly lunchtime, so I gotta get back home."
"Mmkay. I'll see you later then... Thanks for opening the window, too... I can't do it on my own," he said, grinning a little and sticking a tongue out.
She grinned, giving the heat feien another hug. "Well, it wasn't that hard. Ianios would have thrown it open!" She giggled again, sticking out her tongue. "Take care and we'll come back and see you soon!"
"Aa, okay, I'll see you later!" he called back, waving.
Aria waved back and climbed out the window. "Bye!"
