Killua lay on the mossy rocks sucking in air, soaked to the bone. Luckily the temperature down here was warmed to perfection, so he wasn't chilled to the bone as well. Gon was in a similar state. They were both completely exhausted after two straight hours of horsing around. Killua had to admit that he was a little concerned about all their stuff having been just left up there.
I mean… sure we're in the middle of nowhere and it is likely that no one will stumble across it, but still, if that happened then that would totally suck ass.
It wouldn't be too hard to climb out. but then again it would be very slippery, and their shoes had been left at the top of the now-confirmed-to-be-400-foot-drop.
"Hey, Gon, how're we gonna get out of here?" Killua asked in between breaths.
"Uhhhhhh," the other boy started steaming at the ears.
Of course, leave it to him to dive headfirst into a situation without giving a single thought as to the consequences. Luckily he has me here. It's annoying to always be the one to think things through… but I don't hate it. This situation is aggravating, but only slightly. It will be challenging to climb out, but fun all the same. I don't regret it.
Killua found his mind taking similar paths relatively often as of late. He was beginning to enjoy life rather than endure it, and he owed it all to Gon.
The silver haired boy looked beside him, to where his friend was lying.
His tan skin was glistening with water, and he was practically glowing, both figuratively and literally. He was glowing with his usual Gon glow, but this time it was amplified by the reflection of all the glow-stones against his soaked skin. The other boy was built like an ox, yet still managed to be lean and lithe. He had his metabolism to thank for that, he could eat for hours on end and not gain a single pound.
Killua, on the other hand, could eat for hours on end and lose several pounds.
Gon's skin was laced with muscle, and its reddish-tan hue made him look like some sort of mythical creature… which was not entirely inaccurate. His usually spiky hair was now floppy and hanging down into his eyes.
He looked like a completely different person with his hair down.
Killua sat up to look at Gon's feet, which had caught his attention.
"Gon, what the hell is wrong with your ankles, man?"
The boy in question sat up and laughed in embarrassment. "Er, I'm not entirely sure, they used to look normal but ever since about a year ago they've looked like that."
Gon's ankles looked normal from a distance, but up close it was clear that they were slightly warped on the inside, warped at the bone structure itself. The skin around his ankles was slightly discolored, and was a little uneven. Strange shadows were cast across his skin, and it was clear that whatever was going on under there was not something of typical humanoid body structure.
Killua grabbed his foot and inspected it, Gon watched him, not surprised that his foot had been grabbed in the slightest. Just a show for how much he trusted the Valkyrie.
"The hell? It looks like the bone structure started to change, then stopped abruptly before the change was too far to be painful." He rotated the tan boy's ankle. "It still moves like a typical ankle, but you can feel that the bones are slightly displaced and thicker than necessary in some places. Do you remember what happened right before your ankles changed like this?"
"Uhhhhh," Gon started smoking from the ears again.
"You forgot. Didn't you," Killua said with a face of exasperation.
"Uhhh, yeah," he said sheepishly, eyes closed with his hand behind his head.
Killua set his foot back down. "Well, the only explanation I can think of is that it has something or other to do with your blood make-up, and we are on this journey to find out what that is… so it's nothing to worry about, we'll figure it out sooner or later," Killua said with a nonchalant wave of his hand. And I'm being genuine with the impassive attitude this time.
…
Gon's embarrassed and uncomfortable vibe melted away into one of pure joy, and he felt his chest turn all warm. His eyes went all big and wobbly, and he flung himself at his friend.
"Killuaaaaaaa," he whined as happy tears gathered in his eyes. "You're the best friend ever," he declared with his head buried in the Valkyrie's chest.
He smiled to himself as Killua started sputtering in embarrassment, "I-idiot! How can you just say stuff like that-"
"But it's true!" Gon exclaimed with a grin as he looked up at Killua through the mop of hair across his brow.
The silver haired boy's cheeks tinted pink, and he shoved Gon away, "Yeah, yeah I'm the best, just don't be all clingy, will ya?"
Gon snickered, not insulted in any way. This was just how Killua was, Gon knew that he wasn't actually upset about the sudden embrace, he was just embarrassed.
Gon watched as the other boy stood up. He was skinny, yet well toned. His skin was shockingly pale, and stood out like a single snowflake on asphalt against the dark colored rocks and mosses around them. The tattoos of vines twisted across his spine, around his shoulders, down his arms, and around his hips in a filigree pattern, the pitch black against his pale skin creating even more contrast. The tattoos all rooted at the same place: in between Killua's shoulder blades.
For such dark tattoos emanating such strong energy, Killua's wings must have been incredible.
His tail was long, and pitch black. It was of a silky texture, and looked waxy and clean in the silvery-white lighting. It was reminiscent of a lion's tail, wiry until the tip; although rather than a tuft of fur, Killua's tail possessed a razor sharp barb. His ears were long and pointed, longer than and thicker than an elf's ears, yet with the slightly floppy appearance like a rabbit's.
Gon had been pummeled the first time he'd made that comparison though, so he knew not to bring it up to Killua (for his own safety).
Killua's ears pointed backwards, parallel with his skull, however he was able to flick them when necessary. The center of them was slightly fluffy; not hairy, but the skin ended off in a sort of fluffy way… if that made sense. With his silvery-white hair soaked through, it had become a gray color, and was slicked to his skull. Killua's wet hair fell into his eyes and down his neck to almost brush his shoulders. Gon hadn't realized that his hair had been so long, it poofed and twisted into itself so much that it was impossible to tell.
The Valkyrie suddenly shook himself off like a cat, all the way down to the tip of his tail. He sprayed water in all directions, and Gon squeaked in surprise as he was pelted with droplets. Killua's hair - now somewhat free of its watery prison - had started to stick up just a little bit, it was still wet but dividing into strands that would dry as fluffy waves.
Gon followed suit, and stood up… though he didn't shake himself off. He wasn't agile and almost feline like Killua was. If he tried to do that he'd just look stupid, as well as likely put a crick into his neck. Before he could suggest that they go explore the rocks around them, Gon felt a shiver run up his spine.
Someone was approaching.
He had always been able to tell when a person or even just an animal was coming, it was just something he could do. He called it his "sixth sense." Whenever danger was near or a new entity, a shiver would run up his spine. Depending on the manner of the approaching whatever-it-might-be, the shiver would feel different. This shiver told him that several small beings were approaching, that they meant no ill intent, and that they were overcome with nerves.
Gon turned to look in the direction they were coming from. Killua gave him a questioning look, then noticed it as well a split second later. Gon felt his Dragonite friend stiffen, and he glanced out the corner of his eye to see Killua's face contort into one of anxiety. He twisted his tail around his waist in an effort to hide it away (it did not do much, due to the fact that they were dressed only in their undershorts). The Valkyrie squirmed in discomfort, crossing his arms awkwardly over his chest in an effort to conceal as many of his tattoos as he possibly could.
Gon's heart went out to his friend.
He couldn't stand to see him like this, Killua's shame and anxiety about his species truly was ingrained into him. It would take some adjusting to truly be comfortable with who he was, and Gon would make sure that he was there to help.
The horned boy stepped closer to his friend so that their shoulders brushed together, he heard Killua breathe in, then felt him relax. The touch meant: "It's alright, you can relax. Don't be ashamed, you can let them see. I'm right here with you. Wear your features with pride."
Killua slowly unwound his tail from his waist, and lowered his arms casually to his sides. His hostile and anxious aura melted away, leaving one of only slight discomfort. Gon stayed close, and kept their shoulders in contact to help ground him.
Then, a cloud of tiny, winged humanoids appeared from a relatively large crevice between two of the rocks making up the walls. They were small, each one no longer than Gon's pinkie finger in size, with sparkling wings similar to that of a dragonfly. They had an array of different skin tones, from the lightest cream to the darkest brown; however, they all had hair of the same silvery palette. Some were male, some were female, some were in between, and they all dressed in waxy green clothes clearly crafted from the heart shaped leaves that grew down in the basin. The most surprising revelation of all: they were carrying Gon and Killua's packs!
The two boys shared a quizzical look.
"You talk!"
"No, you!"
"Outsiders, I can't believe outsiders are here!"
"We need to make a good first impression!"
"I'm nervous, what if they don't like us?"
"They look strong, we are fortunate that such a perfect pair came down here."
"The pale one is so handsome~~"
"So is the tan one, look at his cute little horns!"
"Should I have dressed more formally? I should have dressed more formally!"
Gon quirked an eyebrow at the cacophony of whispered comments coming from the group of humanoids. Once they got within a few feet they all simultaneously shushed each other, and then came the rest of the way quietly. Once they were up close, Gon was able to ascertain that the group was at least 60 in number, and that they were fairies!
A particularly regal looking fairy-female drifted to the front of the group. She had silky, shoulder length silver hair that was flawless and straight, with plum colored eyes and lovely chestnut skin. She wore a wreath of leaves upon her head, made from the mosses and berries around them. She wore a tube top paired with a long skirt that fell to her knees, and was barefooted, and she wore armbands of a silvery metal around her upper arms.
"Greetings, newcomers, my name is Ophelia, and my companions and I make up the Sleekweath Clan. We welcome you with open arms to our community, and we hope that you find our Garden pleasing."
"You're fairies!" Killua suddenly exclaimed.
Ophelia seemed to relax a little, along with several of the others. "Yes! We are," she said with an air of relief, clearly glad that Gon and Killua had been able to tell their species, and likely as well that they hadn't been mistaken for pixies. Pixies were known to be hostile, unwelcoming, and carnivorous. The two boys would have reacted violently had they been pixies, and clearly this Clan did not have the stomach for such things.
"So this is a Fairy Garden!" Killua exclaimed once again.
Ophelia smiled and nodded.
"Fairy Garden?" Gon asked, looking to Killua for clarification.
"Yeah," he responded, "Fairies live in groups called Clans, much like other species. They reside in special areas called Gardens that are well known for their ethereal beauty," Killua said while gesturing around them. "But they're really hard to find, so it is considered a show of good fortune if you are able to detect one. Not just any species has the ability to sense Fairy Gardens! Gon, you must be some sort of badass!"
Gon smiled shyly at the praise, and put his hand behind his head, "Wow, I guess so!" Any hint at what his blood was a mixture of was a welcome one. "I've never been to a Fairy Garden before, this place is so cool!"
Ophelia blushed at the compliment, "Th-thank you so much! We are truly glad that you enjoy our Garden!"
Killua murmured so only Gon could hear, "Fairies are a shy and secluded species. They rarely come across other species cause they hide their Gardens so well. Each clan has been in the Garden for as long as they can remember, and they are completely separated from the rest of the world. Therefore they are always welcoming to outsiders, who are new and to whom they are curious. Their goal is to have their Gardens in top form, so that outsiders find it welcoming and pleasing to the eye. The reason this place is so incredible is because the fairies care for it daily."
Gon gave a tiny nod of acknowledgement. He sure was glad Killua was there to explain stuff to him! He would have been completely confused without the knowledgeable Valkyrie there.
"We are ecstatic that you have found our location, and we welcome you as honored guests," Ophelia said with a delicate curtsey, the rest of the fairies followed suit.
"That means they like us, we made a good first impression. That's good, this way they'll help us out and treat us like royalty. Fairies hold very high regard for any outside species that is able to locate their Garden, especially if they take a liking to that outsider," Killua murmured.
"We retrieved your travel packs for you, so that they wouldn't be left unattended, if that's alright…" Ophelia trailed off, and gazed into Gon and Killua's eyes nervously. Clearly they had known that the gesture was overstepping their boundaries, and were concerned that it had been the wrong move.
"That's great, actually! Thank you!" Gon said with a grin.
Ophelia smiled and seemed to open up, "We are glad we could be of service to you! Let us give you a proper welcome! Would you come this way?"
"Sure," Killua said with a smile in his voice.
The two boys followed the fairies across the maze of mossy rocks, until they reached an outcropping in the wall. Vines hung from the overhang like a curtain, coming a forth of the way down to the ground, and giving the space inside a cozy appeal. Inside was a low set table crafted from the trunks of the trees that grew out from the wall. The table had a spread of delicious looking foods, from berry pies to sashimi.
The inside was lit by tiny fairy sized lanterns occupied by tiny little flames. The stone walls were decorated with various vines sprouting flowers of all shades of purple, and the floor was of the thickest, and softest moss Gon had ever felt under his feet.
Ophelia and her companions gestured for Killua and Gon to come in with welcoming smiles, and the two boys sat down across from each other at the circular table. The table was low to the ground, and they sat down on the cushy moss.
"This is our traditional welcoming feast, please enjoy!" Ophelia said with her hands gathered at her chest and a sparkling smile.
The two young men dug in, chattering about all things under the sun as they ate. The food was soooo goooooodddd! Gon loved eating, and this was one of the best meals he'd ever had! He told the fairies as much, to which they blushed and smiled shyly at the praise.
Gon would often try something delicious and force Killua to try it, he would also invite one of the several fairies around him to try it as well. Gon made friends quickly, and soon he was chatting up a storm with the fairies, some sat on his shoulders, and some braided beads and flowers into his hair.
Killua was more reserved than Gon, but once some of the more forward of the fairies struck up conversation with the boy he opened up. Currently Killua was telling a colorful story about a particularly interesting night at the Clawthorne, and the fairies hung over every word. They sat on his shoulders and in his hair, and the Valkyrie even had his tail held out like a bench for them to sit on.
After the meal the boys were led to a different outcropping, where the fairies outfitted them in clothes made from the leaves in the Garden. They gave Gon a pair of shorts and some sort of arm-sleeve things that extended from his elbows to his wrists. They dressed Killua in a pair of tight shorts that fell to his mid thigh, with a loin-cloth-skirt thing over it along with a decorative sash.
Next the boys were given a full tour of the Garden. During the tour they were able to taste the berries (which tasted AMAZING), climbed across the rocks, swam some more, climbed some of the trees growing out the side of the basin, and ended off sitting on the highest of the rocks.
Gon glanced at Killua, who was arguing light heartedly with a fairy-male named Zamir. The two of them had really hit it off. Zamir was a vitiligo male with bright green eyes. His hair was silvery like all of the Sleekweath Clan members, however his hair was under toned with black. His two toned skin made for an ethereal appeal, and his dragonfly wings were particularly intricate and beautiful.
Zamir was barely as long as Gon's pinkie finger… yet… why did he feel this way when he watched Killua give the fairy his full attention? What was this overcast feeling that lightly crossed the back recesses of his mind whenever Killua laughed at Zamir's words?
Gon brushed the feeling off. He didn't like to be upset.
Wait, so this is an upset feeling? Why?
Before Gon could start smoking at the ears the twin fairies Aspen and Azure caught his attention. "What is it, Gon?" Aspen asked. "You look troubled," Azure stated with a kind smile.
"Oh, it's nothing," Gon said with a winning grin, brushing his feelings aside. There was no reason for him to feel this way, Killua was making friends and there was nothing wrong with that! If anything he was proud of his best friend for opening up so fully to these fairies, especially considering the miniscule amount of clothing he was wearing, and how that led to all of his Valkyrie features being exposed.
Aspen and Azure gave him a twinned quizzical look, then shrugged it off and sat on either of his shoulders. The two of them gathered some of his coarse hair (which had gone back to sticking straight up now that it was dry again) into their tiny hands and began braiding beads into it.
The twins had copper skin and dark, almost black eyes. Their hair was side shaved and silvery black, and what was left was chin length and curly. The two of them identified as agender, and had told Gon that he was the only one who could tell them apart. He didn't understand how it could be so hard to tell, they were so different!
"What's your favorite color?" Aspen asked.
"Green!" Gon answered enthusiastically. "What about you guys?"
"Purple," the two responded simultaneously with smiles in their voices.
"What's the most fascinating thing you have ever seen in all of your travels?" Azure asked next. The conversation continued that way. Aspen and Azure were both so zen, and their presence was so incredibly relaxing. Gon loved being in their company!
The night continued on until eventually Gon and Killua turned in for the night in the outcropping laid out for them by Ophelia, Aspen, Azure, Zamir, and the others. Laying on a bed of the softest moss Gon had ever encountered, the two boys looked at each other, and burst out laughing.
"This day has been the coolest!" Gon giggled.
"It really has~~" Killua said before crossing his hands behind his head and closing his eyes. Gon followed suit, and made himself comfortable in the moss and under the lichen blanket. The two boys passed out side by side, now recharged and more than ready for their trek through the mountains.
