I know this tune. Mother's tune. Am I dead? Of course not. I wake up to a blue sky, white clouds, and two single birds flying side by side. I look to my left and see dark green nourished grass. Flowers parted them from each other. I look right to the source of the nostalgic music to see her sitting there, arranging a bouquet. I try to get up and she notices me, and scolds me for being so reckless. Obviously I can tell Father got the same treatment. I feel sore from the training. We laugh. I love her laugh. I close my eyes for a bit, and she stops her chuckles. All is quiet. I open my eyes. She isn't there. The soft grass is gone. The blue skies and clouds vaporized away. The river, he trees, the mountains in the far distance. All gone. Then I, lying in pitch black, open my eyes, and my vision steadies. The light stings them. I see a blurred figure looming over me.
"M…Mist?" Ike mumbled.
"Hey, you're finally getting through, you lucky man. Looks like ya survived the desert!" said a jumpy girl whom he mistaken as his dear sister, except she had a tail, constantly swishing, and cat-like ears perked up.
"…Who? Where-?" he began, only above a whisper. His voice felt rough. He started to feel the fatigue and tried to shake it off. He felt helpless.
"Chill, rest up. I'll get my older sister. She knows the scenario better. Nina, by the way." The girl reassures him. Why am I here? Did I pass out from the heat?, he thought.
"…Ike," he mumbled, and then he drifted into slumber.
----
"Woke up?" piped Seth.
"Yea. Didn't say much though."
"What did he say?" asked Mira asked, who at the time was out with Seth to get fresh bread, while Nina missed out by staying with her mom. Luck came that she was around so the man wouldn't be that confused on why he was in a half empty house.
"Well, like I said, not much. I think he mistook me for someone else. He said his name was Ike though," she explained.
"Ike… And you told him to get some rest?"
"Yea, pretty much." Her sister lazily responded, the realized, "Crap! Then he should be getting up any minute!" Nina darted across the courtyard of the house, into the clinical section. Seth and Mira walk towards more slowly, but still pretty quickly. By the time they got there, the man, Ike, was awake with their dear mother trying to convince him to stay in bed. Seth clutched his sister's hand and slipped behind her.
"Ah, leave all your work to your bedridden mother, heh?" she joked.
"Mother don't say that…" Mira replied apologetically.
Their mother just smiled shaking her head, "This is Ike. Ike, this is my eldest daughter, Mira. You've met Nina. Seth is the one hiding behind Mira." She introduced them.
Mira just smiled nodding to him, "How're you feeling?"
"Better, because of your hospitality." He said in a low voice. She could hear the weakness in it. "So, why am I here again?"
"Well, you're lucky that Mira and the others were out in the field that day." Her mother smiled.
"Actually, Sasha's was the one who decided to jump out of a tree, into the lake. So we decided to go out in the field where she could dry up." Mira stated.
"More of she decided to challenge me to a race and that's where we found you." Nina stepped in grinning.
"She jumped in the lake?" her mother said with a worried expression.
"D-d-don't worry! She's perfectly fine!" Mira stuttered.
"You know, hanging around with those eagle tribes, that panther's built for flying…." Nina muttered.
"Alright, enough. Everyone out," Her mother said when she saw Ike's confused expression. "And you get your sleep."
Mira nodded leading Nina and Seth out.
Sigh… so bored…
It was the next day. Nina was sitting on the couch trying to think of something to do. Normally she would be in town with Mira and Seth, but her mother was feeling very sick that morning and Mira told Nina to stay home and take care of her mother.
She did as she was told. Her mother was upstairs in bed asleep. And now Nina sat there with nothing to do… Seriously, how can mother run a clinic? Just staying at home keeping an eye on sick people. I couldn't do that. Not that Nina didn't care for sick people. She just couldn't stand sitting home doing nothing, while her patients were asleep. Speaking of patients… Nina got up heading for the room where Ike was.
She opened the door a creak and saw Ike sitting there. He looked better, but he was just sitting there in bed staring out the window.
His head turned when he saw the door open. His stare made her cringe a little. Should she go in? He had already seen her so there was no point in backing off now. She took a deep breath walking in.
"I take it your bored as well?" She asked walking in.
"Uh… yea I guess…" he replied shrugging.
"Well duh you probably are just sitting there in bed." Nina figured puling up a chair and sat in it backwards.
"I mean I could never stand having to lie in bed for a long period of time."
"Then how do you sleep?" Ike asked amused.
"Well that's different." Nina shrugged, "I mean like laying in bed when you could be out training or something."
"Your just like a friend I know back at home." He chuckled shaking his head.
"Really? Your from the west aren't you?" Nina asked.
"Yea, the continent called Tellius." Ike nodded.
"Hmm I figured, cause when we found you, you were all covered in sand with scratch marks over you." Nina explained.
"Yea… I traveled from Tellius wanting to explore more places." He explained, "I traveled through the desert. Unfortunately I had misjudged the distance and pack less then needed."
"Well you got really lucky then." Nina smiled.
"Yea I sure did. How did you guys find me?" he asked.
"Well Sasha, a friend of mine, need to dry off after swimming in a lake. So we decided to go out in the field. Out there she challenged me to a race, I being a cheetah, was winning of course and that's when I saw you lying there." She explained.
"Oh yeah, that's when you called me the 'dead guy'," Ike added remembering.
"Oh yeah… haha sorry that was just an overreaction." Nina replied rubbing the back of her neck.
"Heh what ever. So you're a laguz?" Ike asked referring to the ears and the swinging tail.
"Yep a cheetah to be exact." Nina smiled proudly, "All of us are, well except for Mira that is…"
"She's a branded." She lowered her head.
"What's wrong with being a branded?" Ike asked.
"N-nothing, nothing at all. It just makes her kinda feel left out. Living with a bunch of cats you know."
"I see… A close friend of mine is one." Ike nodded understanding, "Well are there more of you? Other laguz species I mean?"
"Oh yeah! Definitely." She replied, "There're Eagle who live in the country called Alderon, which is Northeast from here. They are huge birds. They are really strong, one swipe from their talons, and you're dead. Right next to them is the country, Lekoira, where the swans live."
"Swans?" Ike asked confused.
"Yep they're pretty white birds. They don't really fight, but their songs are so pretty." She explained, "Then there're the Otters, who live in Valentior, which is west from here! They are big furry creatures that travel mostly in water. If you ever go there, make sure you know how to swim.
"Don't they have boats?" Ike asked.
"Yea they do, but just to be safe." Nina replied shrugging.
"This is the country Brevior, Where we cheetahs and panthers live." She announced swinging her arms around.
What's the difference between the two race?" Ike asked.
"Well Panthers are big black cats. They're bigger than us cheetahs. Most of them are black but there are others like gray and dark blue or green. They normally keep to themselves. They are the strongest out of the two cats, but us cheetah's are way faster. We can travel up to Alderon, which is a ten day travel from here on foot, in about five days."
Ike blinked, "That must be fast then." Most of them weren't that different from back home. The eagles were relating to the hawks same with the cheetahs and tiger, who related to the cats and tigers. The swans were what interested him the most. They were just lie the herons. It made him wonder… Did they all live in one place before?
Nina just nodded enthusiastically.
"Then there are the Salamanders-"
"Oh those… I think I know who you're talking about." Ike groaned, "Large scaly lizards that can burrow underground and breathe strange breaths?"
"Yep those are the ones." Nina nodded.
"I figured… I came across three of them in the desert." Ike explained.
"Well that explains the scratches. Watch out for their breaths, most of them contains poison." Nina warned.
"Well that's a little to late." Ike stated.
"Yea well in the future I mean. You got lucky that mother had an antidote for that." Nina replied.
"So you're mother is good at herbs and healing?" He asked curiously.
"Well duh! That's why we own a clinic." Nina swung her hand around indicating the room. Ike watched as she bounced in her chair.
"You're a hyper one aren't you?"
"Haha you could say that, but I take it as a cheetah that's meant to be running." She grinned.
"Cheetah meant to be running huh? Yet you're sitting, well bouncing, here talking to me." He smirked.
"Well I could have just taken care of Mother and left the house leaving you bored." She started, "But I figured 'Nah why do that?'"
They heard the front door open and footsteps entering the house.
"That must be Mira and Seth." Nina clapped her hand together. The door to Ike's room opened and in walked Mira with Seth hidden behind her.
"I was wondering why it was so quiet out there." She smiled walking in.
"Yea I figured Ike would be bored and decided to keep him company." Nina replied smiling like she accomplished something.
"I hope she didn't annoy you to much." Mira joked turning to Ike.
"Oh no she was fine. I actually enjoyed the company." Ike responded.
"Haha that's good to know. How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Better, those herbs your mother gave me yesterday helped a lot." He replied.
"Except they probably tasted horrible." Nina made a scowl. "I had to eat some when I accidently ran through some poisonous plants."
Ike nodded, and was amused by the fact that he could see that happening.
"Well of course the ones that taste the worse are the ones that help the most." Mira suggested.
"Yea that's true." Ike nodded.
"Don't worry, within a couple of days, you'll be able to walk again." She assured him.
A couple days had passed by. Ike was starting to get better, though he was still weak from the poison. He heard some talking outside. It sounded like Nina, the hyper one he had named her, constantly jumping up and down. She reminded him of Mia, always looking for a challenge. Then he heard someone shushing her. That was probably Mira. He was surprised how she manages to keep her under control. He heard Nina's volume lower. He noticed Mira was a very busy person. Constantly in town buying things and when she was home she was always helping out her mother and taking care of her two siblings.
There was a knock on the door and in Mira walked.
"Good morning Ike." She greeted him with a warm smile.
"Morning." He grunted sitting up in bed.
"How are you feeling?" She asked walking over to the side of his bed. There was a bowl in her hand.
"Better, but I still feel nauseous." He replied.
"Well that's probably from lying in a room for the last couple days." Mira stated with a smile, "Why don't you come with us to town today?"
"Am I allowed to?" Ike questioned.
"Of course why not? You were the one who came to explore new lands. Your not exploring much by just lying around here now are you?" She replied continuing to mix what ever was in the bowl.
Ike felt relish, Finally I can get out of bed!
"But first, you have to drink this. Your favorite." She smiled handing him the bowl.
"Great…" Ike groaned. He heard the sarcasm in her voice. He took the bowl looking at it with a frown. It was the same blue liquid.
"Don't worry its not that bad. I added a little sweet in it so it wouldn't be as sour." Mira assured. Ike just looked at her. She just shrugged giving him a sympathetic look. Ike just sighed drinking the herb. He grimaced as the sour taste went down his throat. She was right. It wasn't as bad. But it was still sour.
"Well?" she stifled a smile.
"G-great." Ike coughed out.
"Well at least you got that out of the way. Come. Everyone's at the table waiting for you." She indicated out the door.
"Huh?" he gave her a puzzled look.
"Don't you want to eat? You might want some real food for once." She smiled expectantly.
Ike was about to reply but his stomach beat him to it letting out a loud growl.
"See you stomach agrees." Mira chuckled.
"Yea… I'll be out in a second." He stated with a nervous smile.
"Good." Mira nodded, "You should change before you come though. There are extra clothes sitting on the table. Just leave your extra clothes in a pile." With that Mira left for Ike to change. Ike grunted as he got up.
"Ahh this feels good…" he sighed stretching. He felt the nauseous that was there moments ago disappear. These guys are good. They manage to heal the poison in him in days with out a staff or anything.
"Well better not keep them waiting." He walked over to where Mira said the extra clothes were. He picked it up looking at them. He smiled as he looked at the tunics. They looked like the ones that he wore when he was younger. Only instead of the blue and yellow theme, it was red and black. He looked and saw he had matching pants to go with it.
He took off his vest that he wore and put on the other clothes. He looked at his vest with a frown. There was a rip in the side where he was attacked by the salamander had slashed him.
He changed into the rest of his clothes. Surprisingly enough they fit him fine. The only thing he left on was his headband. That he didn't feel like taking off.
Ike walked out of the room welcomed by the aroma of food. He heard his stomach give out a growl. It was a long hallway. There were a lot of rooms. It looked like some sort of clinic, that explains the smell of herbs. He walked out to find Mira, Seth, Nina and their mother in the kitchen.
"Yay! He's here!" Nina cheered as he entered the kitchen.
Ike smirked walking in, "Morning." He greeted them all.
"Good morning Ike, My, you were right Mira. He fit right into those." Mira's mother noted looking at his outfit.
"Haha I got lucky I guess." He shrugged.
I hope your hungry." Their mother stated as she placed something on the table.
Seth who had seen him first looked at him nervously hiding behind Mira who was at the time placing something in a plate.
"What's the matter Seth?" she asked looking down at him. Seth didn't say anything. Mira walked over with a plate. In it were a couple eggs along with strips of Bacon.
"I hope you like eggs and bacon." She smiled placing it on the table. Seth trailed off to hide behind his mother.
"Seth why don't you sit down?" Mira indicated the table. Seth just shook his head hiding behind his mother.
Mira just chuckled, "Don't mind Seth. He's like that with any new person." Mira apologized.
"Don't worry it's fine." Ike shook his head looking at Seth.
They ate in silence. Well it would've been silence if Nina weren't around. After breakfast Ike had gone back to his room. He looked through his pouch to see if anything was missing.
"Ike!" Nina called out running into the room.
Ike just put away his bag.
"Come on Ike! Mira and Seth are waiting!" She called to him jumping in his doorway.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming," He sighed, getting up
She led him out to where Mira and Seth were waiting.
"Ready to go?" Mira asked. Ike nodded.
"Alright lets go." She smiled as they headed outside. Ike took a step outside and breathed in the fresh outdoor smell. He looked around. It was a large field the grass was tall swishing back and forth with the wind.
"Ike are you coming? Lets go!" Nina dragged him out of the door down the path.
"Whoa whoa calm down." Ike chuckled he pulled her back and ended up lifting her in the air.
Nina yelped as she hung on.
"Hey the view is much better from this height." She remarked looking around.
Ike just placed her on the ground, "You're a weird one." He muttered shaking his head. Nina just grinned as the two caught up to Mira and Seth.
"Well looks like you and Nina are good friends." Mira noted.
"Haha Ike's a cool guy!" Nina announced.
"Umm thanks…?" Ike responded unsure.
Mira just laughed shaking her head, "Come on, we need to get going." She stated turning quickening her pace.