NOX
Life with Ki has taken more adjusting than Nox anticipated. It's been three weeks, and he's quickly learned that a kobold hatchling is a far cry from most any other child. There's no true comparison. At the moment it's more like trying to raise an impossibly smart kitten than an elf or human child.
By the end of the first week, he was forced to board up all the holes. Ki was apoplectic. She wailed and tantrumed around the hut. She would sulk and pout at him anytime he looked at her.
It's not her fault; it's too dangerous. He doesn't want her breathing the ancient insulation he's filled the walls with. There are also many sharp nails and things to cut herself on.
Of course, by the end of the second week, she just carved brand-new holes. He was honestly too impressed with how quickly and quietly she'd done so he wasn't truly annoyed. The tales of Kobolds' ability to burrow are more than talk.
His solution was instead to find some old drain pipes. As they are metal, she's unable to carve through them. In short order, he's shaped the old pipes for the new holes. He's dulled and rolled back the edges to make them extra safe, then slid them through. She can still move with ease from room to room, but she can't get into the walls themselves.
It's now the end of the third week, and this seems to have settled the matter. Ki has discovered that the insides of the pipes are slippery. This means they make excellent slides.
He's reminded of this as Ki skids into his knees as he kneels on his meditation mat. She's timed his meditations perfectly.
"Hello, Ki," he greets her without opening his eyes.
"Hehlloh," the literally pint-sized being hisses back, her tail flipping back and forth to indicate she's pleased with herself.
Hello, he translates in his head.
She's learning, but slowly. He's not trying to push her, but he does his best to talk around her all the time. He describes everything he's doing in detail. He takes care to repeat himself, to help her connect the word with the object or action.
He's aware she may never fully grasp Common. It's not a cognitive issue; Kobold mouths aren't properly shaped for humanoid communication. Dragonborn can do so, but they have been properly interacting with humanoids for millennia.
He's been reading up on kobolds since the little imp came into his life. Little is truly known about their culture. They keep to their caves, disdaining the towering humans who drove them from their homes. He can't blame them.
Perhaps when Ki is older, he will take her into the mountains to look for more of her kind. The sensible part of his mind tells her that he should seek her tribe. She belongs with her own, the voice tells him.
Yet, a deeper, if more rational, part of his mind tells him otherwise. They are fifty kilometres from the foothills of Sunosera's Maw; the mountain chain the kobolds now call home. How did Ki, at her size, get here?
It's a mystery, and one that fills him with foreboding. He opens his eyes and gazes on the child getting to her tiny feet. He tries to hide his pity. He fears greatly for what happened to her tribe.
"Hungry?" Nox asks, knowing full well the answer.
"Less, Noksss!" Ki half hisses, half squeaks.
Yes, Nox! He chuckles and rubs his thumb on the top of her smooth head. She titters her telltale kikiki and clambers up his robe to his shoulder.
He rises and she slips into his collar, wrapping herself around his neck like a warm, scaly scarf. Her warmth surprised him at first. Being reptilian, his first thought was she would be cold blooded, but she clearly creates her own internal warmth, and her appetite is far too strong for an ectothermic organism.
She smells fresh and clean as her head rests on her tail beneath his chin. Now that she's not eating mice and living in the walls, he's been able to clean her properly. Baths have been a major adjustment as well.
His hands twitch a little, still remembering the scratches she gave him the first few trial baths. Tiny or not, her claws are sharper than razors.
Once she finally got in the sudsy sink, she became delighted. Then she decided to try eating the soap bubbles. Failing that task, she opted to drink the water instead. After a night's vomiting, it took another week to re-convince her bathwater is safe.
He heads to the kitchen. He's unable to help smiling at the ceiling lamp. Sometimes when he passes, he thinks he can still see it swinging slightly.
Life with Ki may be taking some adjusting, but already he can't imagine being in the hut without her. When she naps, the silence grows heavy on him. How has he been so lonely for so long and never noticed?
He's almost to the kitchen entrance when his sharp ears detect the patter of feet approaching his door. His smile only grows. He supposes it is time for introductions.
He has told Jilaotto of Ki. However, he wanted to let Ki totally settle in the house before bringing in anyone new. Since then she has pestered him almost daily.
"Messer Nox," she calls through the door as she knocks enthusiastically.
The moment the girl begins knocking, Ki slips from his neck down the back of his robe. Her claws dig through his undershirt, straight into his flesh. He grimaces and closes his eyes, forcing himself not to start or show she hurt him.
He takes a breath and opens the door for Jilaotto. The girl beams.
"Hello, Jilaotto," he greets her kindly.
"It's been three weeks, Messer Nox!" She bounces eagerly on the balls of her feet.
She's sweaty and her hair's dishevelled; her face is more copper than normal. She must have run the entire way. Her expression is so determined his resolve falters at once.
"It has," he tells her. "But you must calm yourself, first. She's very excitable."
"Where is she?" Jilaotto asks, leaning side-to-side to peer past him into the hallway.
"Presently she is afraid and digging her little claws surprisingly deeply into my back," he mutters, his lips still tight from the tiny pricks of pain.
"Oh, sorry!" Jilaotto gasps, ceasing her bouncing at once and looking guilty.
"It's okay, you're excited," he smiles stiffly. "Catch your breath, and I will take her into my study. She feels safest there. It is best to move slowly and calmly. Let her get used to you."
"Like meeting a new puppy or kitty?" Jilaotto asks.
"I... something like that. But she's not pet. She's a child, just as you once were."
"Sorry..."
"It's alright. Are you calm?"
Jilaotto's hair bounces as she nods. He raises an eyebrow.
"Okay, maybe a couple more minutes," Jilaotto mumbles, hanging her head.
"It is her snack-time. There are some meat-sticks in the icebox. Fetch her one. Offering her food will help."
"Okay..." the impatient twelve-year old sighs, her forked tail thrashing the path in agitation.
Nox's apprehension rises, but this will have to happen sooner or later. Ki's first encounter with a bath had not gone well, yet she came around. He heads down the hallway.
"Ki..." Nox whispers gently as he closes the door.
Ki begins climbing back up. Mercifully, she's calmer, and ascends slowly, able to keep her talons out of his skin.
"You're okay," he coos softly, using phrases she understands.
He holds up a hand for her, which she promptly climbs onto.
"You're okay," he repeats.
He carries her to her pillow beside the music box. She hops down into it, sitting, clearly calming.
"You make new friend," he says, keeping his words simple. "Jilaotto."
Ki tilts her head back and forth as she listens.
"Jilaotto," he says, smiling to show the word pleases him. "Can you say it?"
Ki opens her mouth. Her little tongue flicks about, her lips wiggling as she tries to remember how to move her mouth to pronounce the sounds.
"Jiyawddo."
"Yes, Jilaotto."
"Jiwaddo."
That may have to do...
The knock on the door is gentler this time. Jilaotto clearly listened. His apprehensions lessen.
"You may come in."
The door cracks open slowly. One of Jilaotto's horns and silver eyes appears in the gap. Ki tilts her head side-to-side, studying the newcomer.
"Oh she's so little..." he hears Jilaotto gasp under her breath.
"She is," he replies gently.
"And..." Jilaotto pushes the door open wider. "Is that the dress to my old doll...?"
Ki is indeed wearing the old toy clothes. It's still tattered, but much cleaner than it was.
"I thought that's where it came from."
Jilaotto fully enters the room. She's holding the meat-sticks, which immediately catch Ki's eye. The pint-sized draconid's tail begins twitching and thumping on the pillow eagerly. Jilaotto giggles a little at the excited gesture.
"Dad and Mum made me get rid of the doll..." Jilaotto informs him, sullenly, "said I'm too big for one now I'm helping in the shop."
Nox sighs. What the hell is wrong with humans?
"Well, it has helped out Ki then, hasn't it?" Nox smiles looking for a silver-lining for Jilaotto.
"Guess so," the girl shrugs a little.
"Here, sit in my chair."
Jilaotto moves cautiously to the soft seat. She sits, the meat in her lap. Ki climbs onto Nox's shoulder, peering past his chin to keep the treats in sight.
"Ki, this is Jilaotto. She's a good friend."
"Jiwawddo," Ki tries again.
Jilaotto giggles.
"I think that's as close as we're going to get for now," Nox chuckles. "Ki. Do you know my name?"
"Nossh!"
"See?"
Jilaotto giggles again. Ki moves to his other shoulder, even closer to Jilaotto.
"Where did she come from?" Jilaotto asks, holding out a stick.
She starts as Ki's nimble hands dart forward and pluck the stick from her fingers. Ki zips back to Nox's opposite shoulder, beginning to gnaw on the treat furiously.
"Now, now," Nox mutters, scooping Ki up and placing her on his lap instead. "No need to be shy."
Ki ignores him, continuing to eat, cooing with delight.
"I'm not sure," Nox returns to her question "I know some kobold still live in Kannak... but as far as I'm aware they have no ties to the mountains. And no mountain kobold is ever going to leave them for the city. So it's doubtful she was part of any caravan moving through between the mountains and Kannak. Even if she was, the pack would be tearing the countryside apart trying to find her."
"Yeah?"
"Family and the pack are intrinsic parts of kobold society. A separated kobold tends to go mad with grief and loneliness."
"Then why isn't Ki?"
"Several reasons, I'm sure. Mostly, I believe she's too young. Which probably means that it's, at least partly, a learned behaviour in kobolds."
"Learned behaviour?"
"Not instinct," Nox explains. "Take birds. Birds do not teach their young how to build nests. They just know how to do it from birth. They may need practice once they begin, but the instinct to make it and the general idea is already there."
Jilaotto nods slowly.
"Also, because she's so young, I think she's imprinted on me a little. She views me as another member of her pack, if not her parent."
The pair fall silent, watching as Ki eats.
"So... what..."
"As I said, I don't know..." Nox sighs. "But I'm afraid..."
"Something bad?"
"I think something very bad," Nox replies.
Jilaotto's a smart child, and mature for her age. He doesn't need to sugar-coat things for her.
"Whatever happened... I think her entire pack was lost. Or perhaps their nest was raided by a beast, and they think Ki was among the hatchlings taken."
"Are you gonna go look for them?"
"I've considered it... but who would watch Ki?" Nox rubs the top of his head. "Your parents have many lovely qualities but I'm doubtful they would accept caring for a kobold in my absence."
Jilaotto twists her lips a little.
"She's too young to take with me... and by the time she is old enough, trying to re-integrate her into her culture will likely be impossible."
"I could watch her..." Jilaotto offers, pouting.
"I bet you could, though I doubt your parents would approve yet," Nox smiles sympathetically.
Ki starts sniffing and looking to Jilaotto again.
"Ah-ah," Nox tuts. "We ask if we want more."
"Jiwawoddo," Ki hisses. "Ki mowre?"
"How do you ask?"
"Peez?"
Jilaotto holds out another meat-stick. Ki ascends to his shoulder and onto the stand beside the chair. She sniffs the treat before reaching out her tiny hands and plucking it neatly from Jilaotto's fingers.
"She's so precious," Jilaotto squeaks under her breath.
"She'll warm to you properly the more you're here," Nox explains.
"What does her skin feel like?"
"Much like a snake or lizards," Nox tells her frankly. "Ki?"
She looks up at him.
"Do you want scratches?"
The tiny child's eyes pop open.
"Skashes?"
"Yes, Ki. Jilaotto would like to give you some scratches."
Ki turns her wide, eager eyes to Jilaotto.
"Trust me, even more than food; you give good 'skashes' you will be her friend forever."
"A friend would be nice..." Jilaotto mumbles under her breath.
"I think Ki would enjoy that, too," Nox smiles.
Ki tentatively climbs onto Jilaotto's knee.
"Just like this," Nox explains, holding up his hand and wriggling a fingertip. "Up and down her back and neck. She also enjoys her cheeks."
Jilaotto nods. He can sense her tension, afraid she'll do it wrong. Ki arches her back, her head between her knees.
Ki shivers and coos with delight as Jilaotto begins giving little scratches with a fingertip just behind Ki's head. Jilaotto is beside herself, trying to contain her delight.
"Definitely different than an actual baby," Nox chuckles.
"Very," Jilaotto whispers, moving her fingertip up and down Ki's lightly ridged spine.
"She'll grow quickly," Nox continues. "The books I've found say they mature much faster than you will. It won't be immediate, but she should catch up with you in a few years."
"How does that work?"
"Kobolds are little, even when all grown up. They need to grow quickly, otherwise lots of things in the mountains want to eat them."
Jilaotto's eyes bulge in horror at the prospect.
"Nothing around here," Nox raises his hands. "Such beasts were driven from this area long ago; same as the kobolds. She's very safe, here."
"Ki safess!" Ki beams up at Jilaotto.
"Yes, Ki very safe," Nox smiles gently.
The trio fall silent as Jilaotto continues to give Ki little scratches. Her brow furrows time to time, clearly thinking.
"Do... you have a needle and thread...? I could fix her dress for her..."
"Of course," Nox nods. "That would be very kind of you."
Ki blinks, looking up at Jilaotto, then down at her dress.
"Fiss dess?"
"Would you like that?"
Ki doesn't respond. Nox is sure she doesn't entirely understand the concept or what is being said.
"It's in the bedroom. Ki, do you remember washing dress?"
Ki mimes scrubbing with her hands.
"Wass, wass, wass."
"Yes, exactly," Nox smiles. "Jilaotto will make dress nicer."
"Ki ssee?"
"Ki can see," Nox nods.
Ki scampers up to Jilaotto's shoulder in the blink of an eye. Jilaotto jumps a bit, but relaxes. Ki's distracted at once. She begins sniffing Jilaotto's cheek, then her horns.
"Horns," Nox smiles. "Just like Ki will have."
"Ki haff?"
"Someday."
"Ki haff?"
"Not yet, Ki."
Ki's distracted again by Jilaotto's hair. She gives her kikiki titter of delight and dives into the flowing ebony locks. Jilaotto gasps and goes rigid.
"Tickles. It tickles!"
Ki jumps out the other side on Jilaotto's opposite shoulder, turning and burying herself back in the hair. Nox's heart rises into his throat as he watches. Jilaotto's never had a true friend. It's not just being a tiefling, it's also having to help in the family shop. Seeing her take to Ki, and Ki take to her in return, fills him with a joy he's not felt in years.
"Ow, ow, pulling."
"Careful, Ki."
Ki pauses. She'd been just tossing and turning inside the hair, almost tying herself in knots.
"Give Jilaotto an owie."
"Owie?" Ki pouts.
"Yes, owie's are bad."
"Owie bad," Ki nods. "Ki sowwy."
Ki stops struggling so much, but still remains buried in Jilaotto's hair. The young tiefling rises gingerly from the chair, not wanting to dislodge the tiny kobold.
"The sewing kit is in the top drawer of the wardrobe," Nox tells her as she starts making her way to the door.
She looks as though she's trying to walk with a priceless vase balanced on top of her head. She needn't be so careful, but he appreciates her efforts all the same. She's in more danger of Ki falling as she plays in Jilaotto's hair and using her claws to-
"OW! HOW ARE THEY SO SHARP?!"
Nox sighs.