We read the letter over and over all throughout the next week, trying to memorize the facts in hopes of getting names and faces right when we met them all.
When the big day came, I was trembling as I waited for Alkuna and Darksunrise to show up. This was it, the big day. Nerrow simply lay calmly on his stomach, his chin pillowed on his paws.
"How can you be so calm?" I asked, turning for the umpteenth time to pace again across the width of the front room. Five steps, turn, five steps.
"I'm not," he murmured rubbing at an eye in a bored way, "But where I came from you learn that to show fear is a sign of weakness. So it's just a habit to pretend to be calm. Besides, pacing just wears you out and you're less ready when the time comes."
Sighing, I stretched out next to him and tried to follow his example.
Just as I thought I was getting my heartbeat to slow down, the door opened and DarkSunrise walked in with a smile at the two of us, "Ready?"
My heart thundered in my chest for the brief moment of fear when Darksunrise took us to the pound and let me go. Then like a bird of prey Alkuna swooped down and lifted me out again, paying the money for the adoption so quickly I wasn't sure she had even checked to make sure she had paid the right amount.
"Terentia," Alkuna said, dropping down next to me and hugging me tightly.
"M-mom," I managed to half gasp as her embrace squeezed the air out of my lungs. I clutched her almost frantically. This was it. There would be no more waiting. No more hoping for a permanent home.
I turned back and for an instant Nerrow and I stared at one another across the gap that separated the two families. I was surprised by the strange sensation of loss that hit me at seeing us apart, and I really didn't like it.
Then Darksunrise smiled at Nerrow, "Ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," he grunted.
I felt another spike of fear as Nerrow was abandoned, and then exhaled in relief as Alkuna adopted him. She knelt and embraced the Darkonite, and he returned the embrace with only a token grumble.
"Are you ready to meet the family?" she asked us with a smile.
"More than ever," I managed.
Nerrow nodded.
Alkuna smiled and the three of us walked side by side through Riverside Valley. She turned away from the river and led me up a smoothly rising hill until…
"Oh my gosh!"
We had stopped at a beautiful two story house built at the very top of the hill. A spacious yard surrounded it and I could see a Chibi Keeto, who must have been Mavhai, playing tag with a Spectrum Kumos; Lacoda. It was like a mansion to my eyes, and I was almost afraid to walk up to the gate; fearing that it was all too good to be true.
"You must be Terentia," I looked up to see a lavender and blue peppermint looking ball of fluff curled on top of the fence. She uncurled and resolved into an Angelic Kerubi with a shy, sweet smile on her face. She turned her head and smiled just as warmly, "And Nerrow! Wow both of you at once, this is great!"
"That's us. You must be Hoshika," I carefully pronounced the name and prayed I didn't mess it up.
"Got it in one. Hang on a sec," so saying she stepped nimbly across the gate and unlatched it with a dainty paw.
Alkuna pushed the gate open gently so as not to dump Hoshika on the ground and paused to let her pet spring to her shoulders. From there Hoshika stretched down, used Alkuna's flattened palms as a step and fluttered down to land next to me. I was surprised to note that her shoulders were a good three inches lower than mine but she walked gamely along beside me despite the shorter legs.
"We've all been anxious to meet you, so I'm afraid you'll have to wait to find your room," she said, her head turning from one to the other as though she didn't know who to look at first, "Otherwise you'll have a Kumos pile of Pets at your door peering in at you!"
She giggled at the idea and I couldn't help but laugh too, despite the startled thought that flitted through my mind; I have a room?
Mavhai nearly barreled into me in pursuit of Lacoda, and then he skidded to a stop with wide eyes, his gaze drinking me in. Then his gaze darted to Nerrow, roving all over his scarred hide in fascination. Suddenly his muzzle parted in a wide grin, "You're here... THEY'RE HERE!" he announced to the yard.
Immediately we were swarmed by welcoming pets, all of whom seemed to be of the same mind.
"Welcome Terentia! Welcome Nerrow! Welcome home! Welcome to our family!"
A lump formed in my throat as I thanked them all. Nerrow made a face at first, and then thanked the eager Pets with short mumbles. Some sat aside and let the more excitable members of the family crowd around and shake my paw. As soon as the crowd cleared they too came forward, much more calmly, to welcome me warmly. Then the crowd rotated and the ones that had surrounded me, traded places to swarm Nerrow next.
The Dark Matter Kumos, Mercolo, came forward finally with a smile, "C'mon. You're probably tired from your exciting day. Let me show you to your room."
I was finally able to speak my thoughts as we made our way beyond the excitedly chattering mob, "I have a room?"
A light laugh at my side revealed that Hoshika was walking on my other side, as calm as ever and still gamely keeping up, "We all have rooms. There are plenty extra to go around too. Mom wants to take in a full set of twenty, but you guys get seniority."
"Speaking of which, aren't I missing someone? Al…Alkuma was it?" I asked as we made our way up the stairs to the second level. Nerrow kept us silent company, either having nothing to say or not sure how to say it.
Mercolo nodded, "You have a good memory. She's off at the Coliseum right now, probably beating the snot out of some poor opponent or other. She'll be back in the afternoon. I'll tell her to stop and say hi. Ah, here we are. I'm afraid it's a bit bare right now since the furniture selection's rather crappy but…"
I swallowed thickly. The room was bare save for a simple Short Bed, positioned so that someone sitting on it could drink in the sweeping view of the river and town from the window.
"It's… It's wonderful," I said softly, and managed a wobbly smile.
Mercolo's eyes drooped half closed and a slow smile spread across his muzzle, "We'll add as more comes out. For now, you should probably rest a bit. Feel free to take a nap. It's been a big day for everyone, but especially for you. Come on Nerrow, your room is right down the hall." Hoshika smiled at me and hopped onto Mercolo's shoulders, trying not to look winded by the walking she'd done.
Nerrow shot a glance at me to make sure I was okay, and then followed Mercolo when I nodded.
I was surprised to find that I agreed with Mercolo's assumption. I just felt so overwhelmed, first with waiting for this whole thing to start, then the heart stopping trip to the pound, then with meeting all my new siblings, and then finding I had a room all to myself in this big house. As the three left me alone in my room…my very own room… I sighed and curled up on the bed, feeling my eyes growing heavy already.
I woke up somewhat later when a heavenly smell reached my nose. I opened my eyes to early evening and the icy gaze of a Galactic Tigrean poking her head into my room.
"Good," she grunted when I blinked and raised my head, "Get downstairs. Lacoda's finished with dinner."
This must be Alkuma. I remembered from the letter that she was usually grumpy so I tried not to take offence from her gaze or tone. Instead I got up, stretched briefly and trotted out to join her in the hall.
"Thanks for telling me," I said with a small smile.
"Meh," was her bland answer, "You meet the rest of the screaming banshee horde?"
I chuckled a bit, "All but you. You've all been very welcoming."
"You'll be bombarded by questions from family members. You and that Darkonite are the first adoptees we've ever had," she started downstairs, leading the way to the dining room table.
"Thanks for the warning," I took a deep bracing breath before we stepped into the room.
A warm glow filled the room from end to end. All the family members were gathered at the table and were chattering with each other, but as soon as we walked in a space was made for me. Alkuma walked away to take a seat next to where I suspected our Mom was going to sit.
Nerrow tilted his head briefly in greeting to me as I took a seat on a chair next to him, and then turned to answer a question from an Angelic Paralix.
Questions flew around the room, directed at me, or Nerrow, or both of us. We both answered honestly as we could. Finally the kitchen door swept open and food was carried out by Mom and Lacoda and placed on the table.
I smiled as Konaro, a Galactic Celinox who sat on my other side, gave me a brief rasping purr and passed me a plate of food to snag from, "Take some from every plate that passes," he warned me with a wry expression, "Lacoda's meals are good enough that most of the time there is no such thing as seconds or leftovers."
I took his advice to heart, and helped myself to as much as I thought I could eat without stuffing myself silly. Everything tasted heavenly. The dinner table was filled with the kind of contented silence that comes with food that tasted so good no one wanted to waste time chatting. As I finished eating and licked my lips in satisfaction, I caught a pair of blue eyes looking into mine.
Lacoda smiled gently at me, "Terentia, would you join me in the kitchen after everyone's done?"
"Sure," I agreed, feeling a brief prickle of uncertainty despite her kind expression.
Once everyone had washed their plates and gone about their ways, Lacoda drew me aside so we could talk quietly.
"Are you settling in all right?" she asked.
"Well it's only the first day, but I'm not having problems with anyone if that's what you mean," I replied, curling my tail around my front paws.
Lacoda smiled, "That's always a good start. We were all told that our newest family member was going to be adopted rather than created. I must say that it aroused everyone's curiosity. None of us are adopted. We've never had another owner before. Can you imagine our surprise when Mom said she'd found two of you? We all want to know what it's like to... well... have another owner."
Immediately I understood and let out a small breath; "Alicookiez was my original owner," I closed my eyes, remembering, "She created me… named me Terentia. She told me my name is Greek for 'guardian', so I always knew that she loved me enough to pick a good name for me. Not every owner is so kind. I've heard stories and seen the results of poor Pets who were created with names that were cruel or insensitive. And I've heard horrible stories of abuse and misery. I've been lucky in that Alicookiez raised me with care and love. She taught me a lot before she was forced to give me up, so when she did I didn't feel as horrible about her as I would have otherwise."
Lacoda's soft blue eyes watched me patiently as I took a deep, shaky breath.
"I won't lie to you… I hated Adopt R Us. I grew miserable by the end of the first day. We don't get to pick and choose among the owners that come to take us, and yet so many are so desperate to have an owner, any owner, that they rush forward the instant someone comes by to look. I've seen many come and go. I've seen owners that were kind, some that seemed scatterbrained, and I've seen some with hard faces and mean dispositions. Alkuna and I are both incredibly lucky that we came together when we did… One man seemed to be interested in me for all the wrong reasons." I stopped and shuddered.
Lacoda leaned reassuringly against my shoulder, "If you'd like, I'll tell the others myself. That way you don't have to keep repeating such a difficult story."
I nodded.
"All right then, in that case, I'd like to change the subject to something a little more cheerful," the timer on the stove dinged and the Spectrum Kumos pulled a tray of chocolate chip cookies out of the oven and replaced it with a new one, "Are there any foods you can't stand? Or are you allergic to anything?"
"I like most foods… don't think I'm allergic to anything. Hate gross foods like liver and eggplant and all that freaky stuff," I mused while Lacoda smiled.
"Then your tastes run pretty much along ours. That's good to know. Anything you like in particular? Sweets? Snacks?"
"Portable stuff; mostly something that takes a while to work on," I thought for a moment, "Kumos, Pie, and Old Wizard pops. Oh and cookies; especially chocolate chips and snickerdoodles."
Lacoda's eyes sparkled with amusement, "Well I can certainly accommodate you in the cookie department. And I can talk Mom into setting aside a pop or two when she restocks. Hmm. I'll have to ask Nerrow what he likes too, I suppose," she flicked her tail as though to add emphasis to remembering the thought, "Oh, and I hope we haven't made you feel awkward or uncomfortable. We're a big family and we sometimes forget that crowds are uncomfortable to some."
"Don't worry about it. It's a little overwhelming at first but I can get used to that."
"Well don't force yourself. And if you feel overwhelmed, don't be afraid to ask for alone time. We all cherish our own individual times as well as our group times," she pressed a cookie into my paw and smiled warmly, "Oh, this is kind of out of the blue but have you picked what you want to change into yet? I'm not trying to push you mind, just…"
"It's okay," I munched on the cookie, feeling a contented rumble rise from my chest as the warm, gooey chocolate chips rolled over my tongue. I licked every finger clean, then blushed as Lacoda watched me with an amused but proud glint in her eyes, "I-I want to stay a Dragarth, but I'd love to be Galactic colored."
"That's a good choice," she approved, "Now you should probably head for bed, dear. I'm sure you could use some time to wind down." She pressed a few more into my paws before turning to scoop the cooled cookies of the sheet with a spatula.
I thanked her for the cookies and padded out of the kitchen feeling warm inside that had nothing to do with the cookies.
A faint scuff of paws on carpet warned me in time to stop even as a pair of yellow eyes merged out of the shadows on the stairs to reveal a concerned looking Nerrow, "Oh… Tia… Did you get lost?"
"Hmm? Oh no, but thank you for worrying about me. Lacoda wanted to ask me how I was settling in and to see if there was anything she needed to know about my eating habits. She's like to talk to you too, if you're not too tired," I smiled at him.
He nodded thoughtfully, "Then I'll do that. You can find your room okay then?" he shot me a considering glance out of the corner of his eye.
At my smile and reassuring nod, he continued past me and ambled into the kitchen. I took a deep breath, taking in the heady scent of baking that would soon become an integral part of 'home'.
