Vieraslayer

At last, some reviews! Well, two from the same person and one from another. But I'm a very, very happy and grateful bunny for that. And as thanks, I'll try and make the non-diary chapters longer! YAY! In this chapter, Myko voices a certain desire that scares the other Viera.

I Want a Doggy!

Myko had heard a few stories of the Reena-Kaana from the other Viera. She heard that half-Viera; half-Hume hybrids like herself could keep the monsters from eating the Viera. She also knew that she wanted a curly-tailed friend of her very own. Not a Reena because they were supposedly extinct, but a regular dog.

Jote had told Myko there was no way she was getting a dog. A vicious animal running around, posing a danger to young Viera children? No. It was out of the question.

Myko began following Alja around sometimes. Mjrn was often off these days with Janzyn at the place they shared with their male Vieran roommates Hjen and Pheytah. Hjen was always fighting with Pheytah, and Janzyn and Mjrn would have the place to themselves while Hjen and Pheytah took matters elsewhere. Janzyn and Hjen were cousins. Hjen was the much-younger brother of Jote's late love Gura. Jote didn't want Myko causing problems, and she told her to go play with somebody who wasn't bent on her destruction like Rael.

"Miss Alja?" Myko asked.

"Yeah?"

"Would you be scared if I got a dog?"

"You're still on that subject? Jote said it was out of the question. It would scare little Sylva, that's for sure. And Jote is worried a dog would be dangerous to have around little Viera. She's going to have a baby, and she doesn't want anything dangerous around."

"Vinka wouldn't be scared! She's only scared of Humes, and not having her mother around!"

"Sylva is just a baby. Rael says that I was like that too when I was Vinka's age."

"I don't get it Alja. My doggy wouldn't be vicious! I'd train it! It would be a nice doggy! A Paramina Husky! That's what kind of doggy I want!"

"Myko, when I was a kid, I wanted a miniature coeurl like Whiskers. My mom wouldn't hear of it, and Kira is allergic. I understand how you feel. In fact, I still want one. I am an adult now; I think I'll get one."

"I have to wait decades before I get a doggy! That's the message here!"

"I'm sorry Myko."

Alja left the village with Myko right behind her. She hoped Kira wouldn't mind a visit from her little sister. Kira was about Fran's age, and was known as The Silver-Eyed Viera. She did have silver eyes, but that was because she was completely blind. She had been born that way. She was the reason Rael was afraid to have kids. Rael was afraid one of her children would come out blind too. Kira had run off deep into the Wood and lived alone. Alja and Rael were allowed to talk to her, but she shunned the company of other Viera.

Kira was sitting by a stream. The Wood was her guide. She could almost see using the Wood's voice. There was probably no other Viera so in tune with the Mother Wood in all of Ivalice. The other Viera tormented Kira, but the Wood cared about her.

Kira heard Alja and Myko approach. Her ears pricked. She could smell them too. She knew it was only her sister and a Viera kit that smelled a lot like Fran. Her nose was sharper than that of a regular Viera's, since her eyes didn't work.

"Alja! What is it you want?" Kira called out.

"She could tell it was you?" Myko asked. Alja nodded.

"Her sense of smell and hearing are more acute than ours. We do have strong senses, but since Kira's eyes are useless, her nose and ears are sharper still." Alja explained.

"That is the truth. Now, who are you? You smell somewhat like Fran." Kira wondered.

"My name is Myko Lapin Bunansa, and I'm Fran's daughter. I'm a half-Hume." Myko said.

"I can tell. You smell a little like a Hume too. I know a person by their scent, like a dog would."

"I want a dog. A Paramina Husky to be exact."

"Well, that doesn't sound like a good idea. Dogs and Viera don't mix. You should know that, kitten."

"Don't call me kitten! You remind me of Rael! I don't like Rael!"

"Our sister keeps telling Myko her parents were probably drunk the night she was conceived." Alja told Kira.

"Rael doesn't like Myko? That isn't like her." Kira whispered.

"You and she were always so close when you lived in the village…"

"Ali, I'm not returning. I can't live with other Viera. I am happy living alone out here. I know the other Viera my age used to tease me. I could feel it, even if they were making faces or gestures simply because they knew I couldn't see what they were doing."

"I know Kira. I am not asking you to come back to Eruyt Village. I just need to talk to you. I don't know what to do about something, and you're the only one left I can think of speaking to without leaving the Wood."

"Does this involve the girl?"

"Myko? Not really. I just brought her along because Jote told me to. Mjrn usually watches her, but she's been off with Lord Janzyn a lot lately. Jote can't really watch Myko. I'm sure you know that she's pregnant and she's really sick most of the time. I know Rael sometimes visits you. I'm sure she's told you all this."

"What is it you want to talk about? Is it appropriate for a child to be hearing the things you want to say?"

"Myko is really advanced for her age. I could send her back to the village, but Jote won't like that, and it is dangerous. This is a difficult subject though. I think I should take the advice of old Sylva."

"Jote named her other daughter after Sylva, didn't she?"

"Yeah. It's only right. Sylva was Jote's mother. We just usually call her Vinka though. She's adorable. She has a lot to live up to, considering the fact that one day she will be our leader, just like her mother and grandmother before her. Remember what Sylva always said?"

"She always told Jote and Fran to follow their hearts, and that was sage advice. Our poor mother and Sylva got along so well. Rael and Jote were raised together, and Fran and I. Mjrn and you were both nursed by our mother, since Sylva had died soon after Mjrn was born. We are tied to Sylva's daughters as our mother was tied to Sylva herself. Tell me, does Dana like Myko? It is such a pity that none of us have a daughter Myko or Slya or Vinka's age."

"Dana despises Myko about as much as her mother does."

"That's devastating. And Rael is so worried about having a child that inherits the blindness that I don't know if she'll have another."

"And you can't take care of a child."

"You could."

"That's kind of what I want to talk to you about."

"My dear sister, are you expecting?"

"No. But I think I might be in love."

"Dear Alja! That is so wonderful! Tell me, who is the lucky Viera male? It isn't Lord Janzyn is it? He teases me sometimes. It's all good-natured, but I believe it is meant to get me into bed with him. You know I can't take care of a child. I can barely survive on my own. If I ever left the Mother Wood, I'd be dead within a week."

"It isn't a Viera. It's this cute Hume boy, Vaan is his name. Fran is his friend. She got him into the village. He… he and his friends helped me become a salve-maker. I get these feelings when I think about him. Feelings I've never felt before, for anyone else. I know Viera see love differently than Humes, but I do think it is possible I could be in love. Vaan is young, for a Hume, but I find myself… well, I think I want to mate with him. Jote thinks I'm insane, and Rael thinks I need to get drunk and spend a week with her good friend Mister Rush!"

"Rael is depressed. I can tell. Our sister needs help. She's self-destructing. I'm worried about her."

"She's spending a lot of time with this Rush male too. The same Rush who fathered Mjrn's daughter!"

"Yes. Rael talks about Slya and Rush quite a bit. Alja, you can't change the heart. If you truly and really love this Hume… I think you should go for it. Even though we both know what that means. It means leaving the Wood. I will miss you, but if it is for love, I believe that it is for the best. Maybe you'll even have little Aljas. Does that not sound lovely?"

"Not the part about leaving the Wood, but the part about having babies… yeah. I want to do that. I'd love to do that."

"Then attract the Hume. Bring him to you any way you can. If you don't want to leave, you can just have him leave you with child. The other Viera will hate this idea, but I will still be here to support you, dear sister. And Jote won't let them kill your child or anything."

"I don't think that's a good idea either. Vaan wouldn't want me to have to raise our child alone. I know he isn't like that. What am I thinking? He's a Hume, and I'm a Viera! It would never work!"

Myko spoke up again. "What do you mean it would never work? I am living breathing proof that it does work!" She stated.

Alja picked up Myko. "What did I tell you Kira? Very advanced for her age!"

"Ali, I honestly hope you make the right choice. It's a hard decision, no matter what you choose."

"Kira, I have already sent a letter trying to attract him. I told him that there is something he left here last time he came. It is the truth. He left me in love."