Chapter III
"Nee-san! Nee-san!" A little chestnut-haired girl came charging into the storage house, plait flying behind her, eyes sparkling. "Nee-sa-"
"I'm here, little one, there's no need to yell." The soothing tones of the Rau'Raychi clan leader echoed smoothly through the warehouse passages, and the child fell silent, wide purple eyes glowing with happiness.
"Why the yelling, Brim-chan? You're not normally this loud."
"Ceras is better! Her leg's healed!" The ten-year old bounced up and down, beaming at her friend.
The bat-hybrid smiled fondly down at her charge. Brimstone had changed since she had been discovered by the Rau'Raychi clan, gradually becoming more open and cheerful, eventually gaining a Dog totem; loyalty and honesty. Since being given such a thing, Brimstone had also taken to keeping several of the animals around her, and was often surrounded by a barking pack of them. She had also picked up Shepf's habit of spontaneously speaking foreign languages, though she sometimes got it wrong.
"That's lovely to know, Brim-chan. I do like huskies, so that's extra-special to me." Shepf draped an arm around the other's shoulders, and steered her inside, delighted with the progress in Brimstone's personality.
Smiling and laughing, they continued through the corridors.
"Solo-nee?" a voice piped up, as the little girl clambered onto the sofa.
"Yes, Brim-chan?" Shepf turned her face to look at the child, now a strong and healthy eleven-year-old.
"Solo-nee, I was wondering...what will my clan name be?" Shepf choked on her tea, fangs clacking on the edge of her cup. She certainly hadn't expected the girl to ask that! Clan names were given when a child was twelve years of age, or on initiation if the person was already older. This name was what they would be known as to the rest of the world, their true to be reserved for use only among family and close friends. She shuffled her leathery wings, nervously.
"Well...I'm not sure yet, Brim-chan. What would you suggest?" Often, the child's wishes were taken into consideration, and Shepf was anxious to hear Brimstone's opinions on the subject. They were sure to be interesting...
"Well…" Brimstone bit her lip, frowning slightly. "You remember when Suzaku-nee said that I was a mini-you?"
"Vaguely…Yes, I remember it. Why? Are you suggesting your clan name to be 'Mini-Solo'?" Shepf teased her ward, smiling.
"No, but…how about 'Duo'? Solo, Duo…would that work?" The child bit her lip, staring up at the girl who had raised her for most of her life.
Shepf cocked her head to the side, and stared at the girl for a moment, before smiling broadly, revealing fangs like daggers.
"That's an excellent idea…Duo-chan…I'll plan the ceremony right away!" And so the bat-hybrid bounced off, a wide grin on her face, humming an odd tune to herself. The newly-christened Duo watched her go, a bemused smile on her face.
END CHAPTER