<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://s300.photobucket.com/user/SociallyToxicBeauty/media/5d741913-5214-4aef-8677-bf3a2c5711a8.jpg.html"></a><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/5d741913-5214-4aef-8677-bf3a2c5711a8.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><span style="color: #408000"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Alida</span></span></span></div><br/>Alida waited patiently for Izu to take in what she had said and she quietly monitored his reactions. It was then she was hit with a rather large reminder through Izu's emotions---hard enough to where the image of Marmalade flashed through her mind. Izu was quickly trying to shut down the emotion and distract her, but it was too late. She sat up quickly,<span style="color: #408000">"Oh no! We can't just leave Marmalade!" </span><br/><br/>Izu was becoming frantic in trying to regain Alida's attention, lamely sputtering out,<span style="color: #FF0000">"M-manuscripts?" </span>Alida didn't respond as she had begun to babble on,<span style="color: #408000">"He is going to think we left him! Oh no, oh no! That's why he was upset this morning! He knew we weren't going to come back! He probably thinks we abandon him!"</span>she cried, covering her face with her hands.<span style="color: #FF0000">"You don't have technology here, that's right..." </span>Izu said, obviously trying to figure out a way to pull his mate out of her panic-induced tirade,<span style="color: #408000">"You and Zoltan have to go get him! He can't just be---" </span><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"><br/>"Or clothing, now that I think about it..." </span><br/><br/>There was a very obvious shift in Izu's emotion. He had gone from clearly trying to distract Alida from his poorly timed reminders to something a bit more sinister.<span style="color: #FF0000"> "So, am I expected to just walk around naked too? Are <span style="font-style: italic">you</span> going to be just walking around naked? Like, for anyone to see...?"</span>Izu's brow furrowed and Alida couldn't help but give a small gulp at the possessive line of questioning.<span style="color: #FF0000">"Call me crazy, Alida,"</span>he continued,<span style="color: #FF0000">"but I don't think I'd react well to some random Joe walking up on you, nude. Even more so if he's walking around sporting nothing but fairy wood."<br/></span><br/>It was nice to know he had similar feelings of insecurity as she did.<br/><br/><span style="color: #408000">"You would not have to be naked if you did not wish. My people might think it odd if you are not, but they would not care,"</span>Alida explained, casually not mentioning whether or not she would remain naked.<span style="color: #408000">"I am not really sure who Joe is, though. I have never met anyone in my world by that name nor have I ever heard of fairy wood,"</span>she assured him very seriously. Sometimes Alida still did not catch onto Izu's sayings and expressions.<br/><br/>He looked around the room in some concern and she followed his gaze only briefly when she realized he was examining the scarred walls. It was obvious the charred parts of the walls had been thoroughly scrubbed, but there were still dark blotches and deep cuts in the wall. She had been in her room when the attack occurred and had managed to dodge quite a few obstacles to escape.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">"More importantly, is it safe for everyone to just be naked...?" </span><br/><br/>Alida's mind stuttered for a second, trying to shift from her memories back to the present. When she registered Izu's words, she gave a full laugh,<span style="color: #408000">"I do not believe Zoltan would have brought me home if he felt it were unsafe...It is far more comfortable to shed these unnecessary garments. I believe you might get used to it if you try it...You already know how I feel about these items you call clothes." <br/></span><br/>It was then that Zoltan had decided to show up, giving only a short knock before he walked in.<span style="color: #FF8000">"I was hoping to find you two here, Princess Alida. How are you feeling, Prince Izu?"</span>Zoltan asked, though Alida was mildly irritated at his formality. He really was trying to push too much onto Izu in her ever so humble opinion. But that was how the King was supposed to be, right? Her father certainly used titles, even with his own children, so perhaps Zoltan wasn't doing it to annoy his younger sister.<br/><span style="color: #408000"><br/>"Did you find anything?"</span>the girl finally prompted, brushing some of her hair out of her eyes. Izu was supposed to have cut it later that week, though that was likely not going to happen now.<span style="color: #FF8000"> "Ah, yes...I haven't found much...just that Prince Izu is likely to remain like this. It does not seem to be something reversible...We can discuss more later. There is supposed to be a festival tonight welcoming you home...and now to also welcome the new Prince." </span><br/><br/>Alida frowned at the idea of a festival. She certainly loved festivals, but she had just gotten home. She hadn't even had a chance to leave the main palace tree to look around. Not only that, but what of Izu? If they were truly celebrating him becoming the new Prince, then shouldn't they ask his say in the matter? She fidgeted as her mind went back to what it meant for Izu now that they new this was indeed a permanent thing...which brought her back to...<span style="color: #408000"><br/><br/>"Marmalade! You need to get Marmalade! I will not celebrate anything until I have my kitten back!" </span>Zoltan seemed surprised by the sudden request,<span style="color: #FF8000">"I don't know that it is a good idea, Alida---if it is an animal you speak of, then certainly it will manage to surv---"</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #408000">"NO!"</span>Alida cried out, stomping her foot.<span style="color: #408000">"He is more than an animal! He is a part of our family!"</span>she insisted, becoming more and more upset by the minute at the idea of Zoltan just allowing the cat to stay there.<span style="color: #408000">"We have taken care of him since before he could even take care of himself! You can't just leave him there! You and Izu have to go get him!" </span><span style="color: #FF8000">"Alida be reasonable!" </span>Zoltan implored only to be met with his usually composed sister shaking her head vigorously into the negative. How much had being with humans affected her? This was not the same Alida from before, that was for sure. She seemed far more emotional than he could ever recall and he found himself panicked at what to do. Seeing his sister crying pulled on his heart more than he thought it should.<span style="color: #408000"> "Y-y-you c-can-tt leaveee h-h-immmm!"</span>she sobbed out, her shoulders heaving with every breath she struggled to take.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">"Alright! Alright! Shh. Alida, please. We'll get this Marmalade you speak of, won't we Prince Izu?"</span>Zoltan said as he looked up to his sister's mate with eyes that screamed for help. Surely the man knew how to handle Alida's new emotions better than he could.