<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://s300.photobucket.com/user/SociallyToxicBeauty/media/f9baa897-e285-4e2a-92b5-e0eb263a67ea.jpg.html"></a><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/f9baa897-e285-4e2a-92b5-e0eb263a67ea.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/><span style="color: #408000"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Alida</span></span></span></div><br/><br/>Alida had gone off on a ramble, as usual, about the things in her world that she thought Izu might like. One such thing was a type of green herb that was similar to one from Izu's homeland. In fact, Alida was positive it was the same plant, just a bit larger and little more potent than Izu's world.<br/><br/>She had seen Izu partake in this herb, though he didn't do so often. She was in the middle of explaining where they could get this plant already prepared for consumption when out of no where a creature nearly collided with Izu. Izu, of course, had manuvered quickly to get out of the way, but it cost him his footing and he began to tumble off the side of the Ent. Alida had reached out to grab him, even diving towards him as he went of the side. Their fingers brushed briefly as she screamed Izu's name, her heart trying to claw its way out of her throat. She had tried to fly up to go after him, but her left wing was still not strong enough. The ent seemed to realize the situation a little too late to do anything, though it did quickly throw out potential vines to catch Izu.<br/><br/>The creature that almost hit Izu seemed to lack any care about what was happening, though it was likely because he was not aware that Izu knew how to use his wings yet. Alida began to yell for the creature to do something! Catch him! The creature finally listened to Alida's pleas and went after Izu, catching him rather quickly and setting him upon the ground safely. Alida, meanwhile, had started to climb down as quickly as possible, jumping the last few feet or so.<br/><br/>She closed the distance between her and Izu, checking him over for injuries as he tore into the creature in front of him,<span style="color: #BF0000"> "You goat hoofed---!"</span><span style="color: #408000">"Izu! Calm down, please!"</span>Alida was trying desperately to recover from the mini-heart attack Izu's fall had induced.<br/><br/>His attention finally turned to her,<span style="color: #BF0000"> "Alida! He nearly collided with me up there! You saw that, right? Tell me you saw this thing nearly hit me." </span>Alida nodded her head in agreement and began to reply,<span style="color: #408000">"Yes, but Izu, he still helpe--"</span><br/><span style="color: #FFBF40"><br/>"Not a thing, my name is Hest...and you show gratitude exceedingly well..." </span>Hest said in a bored, sarcastic tone. For once, Izu seemed to lack a retort and Alida couldn't help the tiny blossom of amusement from crossing her face.<span style="color: #FFBF40">"And you are Izu, right? And she is Alida...Where do I know th--"</span>Hest uncrossed his eyes when Izu's finger dropped and he looked over to Alida,<span style="color: #FFBF40">"Oh. I am out here because of you..." </span>The girl looked at him confused for a moment, then he explained,<span style="color: #FFBF40">"For something called a...kitten..." </span>Alida perked up,<span style="color: #408000">"You mean you're gonna get Marmalade for us?!"</span>Hest bypassed the question, blurting out his own,<span style="color: #FFBF40">"Are they tasty?" </span><br/><br/>Alida's mouth dropped open for a minute, unable to fathom the idea of anyone trying to eat Marmalade, especially an adorable creature like Hest. Izu, as usual, felt that the dark question was rather hilarious, if his choking laughter was any indication. Alida, for the moment, decided to ignore the gruesome image of Marmalade being food. Instead, she would focus on Hest. She had never seen a creature like him in her or Izu's world. He had such a wondrous coat of fur, though it seemed his wings were all of feather. He was so fluffy all over and Alida had a weakness (and maybe an obsession) over cuddly things. The green haired girl contemplated whether or not to ask Hest if she could pet him. Alida's hand, though, had already made the decision to pet Hest before Alida had come to a conclusion. Her slender fingers gently raked through the soft fur on the top of his head as she brought her other hand up to scratch him behind his ears.<br/><br/>How she had gotten from standing next to Izu and looking him over to scratching this unknown creature was not something she could answer.<span style="color: #408000">"Ohhh...you're so soft!!"</span>she exclaimed, then suddenly snatched the creature into her embrace, her face nuzzling his without restraint,<span style="color: #408000">"and cuddly!!"</span>she added with dreamy eyes. If Hest was struggling, Alida was far too satisfied about the furry cuteness of him to notice. He was like a big ol' teddy bear, somewhat like the one Izu had shyly given to her a few weeks ago.<br/><br/>She heard her name in the background, but the fluffiness deafened Alida to all, including Izu.