KOA
There's far less hustle in the Nest than might have been expected, though perhaps that's not actually surprising. Most people are at home or the docks, focused on packing up their homes and moving their families. Still, enough soldiers mill around to keep Koa occupied, hurried greetings and well wishes and hugs exchanged with everyone he passes. It's still so surreal, so strange: he feels more like he's preparing for summer vacation than a mass evacuation, because forever has always applied to Stormbreak's presence, not its death.
Koa's halfway down the stairs when he catches his name again, this time in a voice that's bright and breathtaking, achingly familiar. He'd been closing up a passing conversation with someone on the level above, and has only half-turned toward his cousin when Kaisel crashes into his arms, arms which had opened before his thoughts could direct them, that would always be open for his kin.
"Kai," Koa breathes into the mop of dark hair, his grip fierce and crushing as he pulls the boy in tight. From his shoulder Pipsqueak croons a greeting note, hop-flying over to wrap herself around Kaisel, her anxious purring causing her coat to shimmer as she crawls unapologetically (and probably not too comfortably) onto his head. His steady voice cracks a little as he murmurs earnestly: "It's good to see you, kid."
Breaking the hug, Koa puts his hand on Kai's shoulder, directing him back down the stairs so they can stand on even ground. "Are your folks packed?" He'd checked on them earlier when they'd been starting the process; they'd told him of their plans to go to the Grounds, and Kimo's intentions of joining, at least for a time. To outside eyes Koa is calm and measured, ever the anchor in a storm despite his scruffy countenance, his remarkably ill-suited beard. He even manages a smile for Kaisel, though it doesn't reach the copper eyes that can't seem to keep still, darting about to track those around them, constantly alert and on edge as he tries to track the well-being of everyone but himself.
Koa's halfway down the stairs when he catches his name again, this time in a voice that's bright and breathtaking, achingly familiar. He'd been closing up a passing conversation with someone on the level above, and has only half-turned toward his cousin when Kaisel crashes into his arms, arms which had opened before his thoughts could direct them, that would always be open for his kin.
"Kai," Koa breathes into the mop of dark hair, his grip fierce and crushing as he pulls the boy in tight. From his shoulder Pipsqueak croons a greeting note, hop-flying over to wrap herself around Kaisel, her anxious purring causing her coat to shimmer as she crawls unapologetically (and probably not too comfortably) onto his head. His steady voice cracks a little as he murmurs earnestly: "It's good to see you, kid."
Breaking the hug, Koa puts his hand on Kai's shoulder, directing him back down the stairs so they can stand on even ground. "Are your folks packed?" He'd checked on them earlier when they'd been starting the process; they'd told him of their plans to go to the Grounds, and Kimo's intentions of joining, at least for a time. To outside eyes Koa is calm and measured, ever the anchor in a storm despite his scruffy countenance, his remarkably ill-suited beard. He even manages a smile for Kaisel, though it doesn't reach the copper eyes that can't seem to keep still, darting about to track those around them, constantly alert and on edge as he tries to track the well-being of everyone but himself.
Let me go, I don't wanna be your hero
I don't wanna be a big man
Just wanna fight with everyone else
I don't wanna be a big man
Just wanna fight with everyone else
Code stolen from Queen Sky
