Kin-Kin would always remember that day perfectly.
Torrential rains had finally ceased. There was a coolness to the air that came with the shifting to spring. Apple trees had begun their annual blossoms, flowering in canopies of white lightly blushed with pink centers. The sun was growing warmer, and days were becoming longer, the world awakening once more from the glacial slumber of winter's grasp.
Despite the initial worry, seeing her mother so in pained from the beginning labor, she sat patiently in the waiting room. It wasn't a large hospital, maybe only two floors high. She was donned in her small, green dress and sunshine still heavily embedded into its fabric, her boots scuffed and still a bit dirty.
There was a unique scent in the air, sanitizer and medical supply mixing with the fresh, crisp winds curling within. She kicked her legs back and forth, one at a time, swaying a bit side to side as she engaged herself as best as she could in a chunky book filled with pleasant textures and sounds. There was a water table in a room with tile nearby but she had already exhausted herself with the boats and floating toys within. She still clung tightly to a plastic turtle, that sat at her side while she yawned. A small teepee-shaped tent sat in the corner, inviting and warm.
Setting her reading down, she clutched the turtle again and waddled into the teepee. There was a radiating comfort in its soft walls, the pillows were calling out with their squishy surface. She nestled herself within, covering herself in them completely.
There was a dream. Something akin to falling, dropping into the vastness of stars and space, colors and lines melding and mixing into strange shapes. They kept close, and she did not fear the descent any longer. They became the faces of animals, loving and welcoming. Each had distinct colors and shapes, designs akin to stars and hearts. She recalled clinging so tightly to the one…what was it though? A cat? A dog? A boy? A girl? Whatever it was, it had a small horn atop its bouncy, round face, and never left her side.
There was a shell on her back that had formed. From its tiny exterior, large feathery wings spread from its hard coating, downy and white. Memories formed into a tunnel around her. Remnants of pieces she had come to adore about her life: The spiky mountainous horizon, the wafting scent of fresh bread, the feel of soda pop bubbling up after a hearty meal of pineapple pizza. The touch of rough bark as she climbed up pine, oak and hickory, inspecting every seed and vein of every leaf.
The bouncing of frogs into water, the splash of turtles moving to new logs on lakes, the crashing of waterfalls onto unsuspecting stone below. The dark embrace of caverns, the wonderous shapes and size of flowstone within as bats flit about the ceilings. Her wings spread and shifted, colored now in a hue of neon rainbows.
A heart had floated close by, lost and alone. She trailed after it, but it seemed shy, darting behind a pile of firewood. "It's okay…" She encouraged as the strange animals surrounded behind her. It peeked out, and slowly lingered nearer, entrusting itself to her hands.
She cradled it close to her own heart, whatever remained of it, and with gentle eyes she embraced it. "Don't worry." She whispered with a proud visage, eyes aglow in its radiant form, "I'll keep you safe."
The dream was interrupted, all too soon, by her father's hand nudging her awake. "Kinny…honey…"
"Dad!" She yelped, trying to dig deeper but the floor met her hands. She grumbled, peering up him through the pile. Kenji fought to muster his chuckle. She looked like a small cat, with her yellow eyes peering daggers into him, "I was having a good dream…"
"I'm sorry, sweet turtle. I just thought you might want to come meet your brother."
She popped out of the pile, scattering the pillows about and recklessly leapt from the tent, expression washed in shock and glee. "He's here?"
"Yep. But we have to wear masks. And…he's gotta stay here with mom afterwards too."
"What?" She stomped, frustrated, "I thought he could play with me!"
"Oh Kinny…" He rustled her locks, smiling, "He's got a little bit of time until then, okay? So you've gotta keep him safe."
A flash of recollection filled her eyes from the dream. "Don't worry daddy, I already knew that!"
Kenji cocked an eyebrow, expecting more to her sentence but she simply reached to a tiered stack of containers, opening a drawer to pluck out a face mask. She quickly returned to his side, allowing her hand in his as they left the waiting room. The halls were wide, swallowing her tiny frame, creamy white with reflective linoleum underfoot.
As they quietly made their way through the halls, Kin-Kin looked up at her father, "Why do we have to wear masks?"
Kenji furrowed his brow, trying to think of a way to word the explanation to her, "Well…when we adopted you, it was because mommy was getting sick. We didn't think we could have a baby on our own. So the doctors just want to make sure that your brother and mommy don't get sick from germs."
"Stupid germs." She puffed her cheeks behind the protective mask, "I wish I could shrink down and smack them away, get rid of em for good!"
"I bet you'd make a great germ killer Kinny." He encouraged, "If only you could learn how to get in the bath after trying to catch frogs."
"Bluh!" She made a visceral noise, "Being dirty is so much more fun though!"
"You'll like being clean one day." He vowed, chuckling.
They had to clean their hands well at a sink in between the next room and her mother's area. But quietly they entered.
Rose was holding a tightly swaddled bundle, her face shining in the evening sunlight. Kin-Kin stood, unsure in the doorway. Kenji tugged her hand softly and they meandered closer.
Kin-Kin stopped at the edge of the bed, brought onto her mother's side by a hearty lift from her father. "You need to stop growing so much kiddo. You're getting too big!"
She did not respond, fascinated by the bundle. A tiny face was inside, with dark hair fluffing about on his scalp. His presence was familiar…even if the feeling was distant. Rose softly held Kin-Kin's back with her free hand as her breath caught in her throat, "Kinny, this is your little brother, Korey."
Kin-Kin offered her hand as the he woke up, gazing to her with deep brown eyes, "Hi Korey…I'm Kin-Kin."
He grabbed her finger. Kin-kin felt something blossom, feeling the skin as soft as petal wrapped around her digit.
Korey began to coo, producing a large, toothless grin.
Kin-Kin reflected it, but then changed her face to a more serious expression, "You make sure you stay strong! You gotta be a good playmate with me! I'll show you how things work around here, promise."
The family visited for a while until it was time for Korey to feed. Rose explained the process and Kin-Kin watched with awe. But it took longer than expected, visiting hours were wrapping up. After giving his wife a deep kiss, and saying a small prayer, Kenji began to walk Kin-Kin home. She had begun to stumble, and Kenji was forced to lift her up into his hands, splaying her on his shoulder.
During the long few days of awaiting their return, Kin-Kin busied herself in the spring time growth of the forests nearby.
While searching for mushrooms and various critters under slabs of stone along the lakeside shore, she felt something watching her. Surprised, she turned around and jumped, spreading her arms and trying to seem bigger with a roar. The creature only squawked, cocking its head at her. Kin-Kin gasped as she took the details of this new animal: It was a massive bird with a long neck, standing on two thick black legs with large talons. It had a long beak that shifted from vibrant orange to a gradient of yellow. Big rounded eyes observed Kin-Kin's movements, the crown of feathers at its head bouncing with each twitch. It was relatively motionless until it wiggled about. It had a beautiful pattern of feathers colored azure, jade and its belly was the color of a sunset.
"Are you one of those creatures from my dream? You look like a chocobo!"
The bird cocked its head at her question, only sniffling along her scalp and plucking a lock into its mouth. Kin-Kin giggled as it tugged, "That's not a worm! That's my hair!"
It squawked indignantly, flexing its miniature wings. It grasped Kin-Kin into its beak, effortlessly flipping onto its back and snuggling her as it rocked. Kin-Kin squealed with laughter, tickled by its feathers, "Aw! Do you wanna snuggle?"
It suddenly grasped her shirt into its beak, leaping up to a nearby tree branch. It flung Kin-Kin about, seemingly playing. Kin-Kin could barely contain her laughter as the bird flung her about like a toy, swinging by its beak and jumping about. "I can't fly silly! I don't have wings!"
It had a dejected look, cooing as it let her return to the earth. Kin-Kin watched it as it called out in a certain direction, near the mountain cliffsides. "Is there something over there?"
To answer her question, the bird grasped Kin-Kin and flung her onto her back. After ensuring she was grasping on tightly, it called out once more and began to dash hard against the earth. They rode past the forest, into the open plains. Chocobos called and squealed, jumping from the bird's determined path as it squawked and flared its feathers out.
It was all so thrilling! Kin-Kin whooped as she watched the bird's talons dig effortlessly into the soil, sending out chunks of solid earth behind her with each quickening step, leaving a trail of dust and debris.
Before long the bird began to slow, twisting itself around a maze of stone walls and bluffs. Clambering and sneaking glances around corners, it ensured none were following its path as a strange haze began to settle around them. Kin-Kin began to grow worried, "We're not lost right."
Almost on cue, the bird stopped. It leaned its neck down, letting Kin-Kin slide down. She shakily stood, gasping to the object in front of them. It was a nest with perfectly shaped eggs, all colored a soft teal with pink dots on their shells. The bird cooed as it proudly showed off her clutch, glancing to Kin-Kin for approval. She carefully set her hand on one and gave her a grin, "You've got babies too. My mom just had a baby. His name is Korey. But you're gonna have a whole bunch of them, so they'll all have brothers and sisters to play with! I'm so happy for you!"
The bird nuzzled Kin-Kin too, and she pet her long neck. "Thank you for sharing this. I hope you and your babies will be safe. You're always welcome to come visit me too!"
Kin-Kin still was unsure if she was from a imagined place or not. The bird simply returned her, almost in a flash, back to the lake's edge.
The two parted ways after one last embrace, the bird flocking back to her nesting area. She watched her ride out into the horizon, the lake water quietly lapping about near the toes of her shoes.
To her surprise, Kenji and Rose stepped into her view from the path with a bassinette in their collected grasp. Korey was squished within, beginning to awaken with a sour wrinkling painted on his tiny face.
Kin-Kin approached, and Korey began to cry. It was a heavy one, splintering and pealing into the space between the trees. Kin-Kin pressed her hands to her ears while Rose tried to adjust him. But an idea spring into her head. She unveiled a pacifier. The same one that had been given to her as a gift from her father the day they announced their pregnancy. It had rainbow stripes, just like the ones from the wings of her dream.
"Here…this used to make me feel better when everything was scary." She approached carefully, and he calmed down as his vision focused on her alone. Kin-Kin dangled it, pressing it gingerly to his mouth. His tears ceased, taking it between his lips in a grateful suckle. He clasped her finger into his own chunky hand with an unexpected amount of strength.
Rose and Kenji remained respectfully quiet, watching their daughter handle the situation with a certain whimsical grace, warm smiles gathering. Kin-Kin rocked his container back and forth as he watched her with wide, wet eyes and a soothed sigh emerged him from his chest. A first act of kindness, a hopeful promise for the future.