Eleventh Flower

[heart_of_courage]

It was a nice enough day for a walk, and the seemingly unending chaos of Desai was far from Toboe's mind as he relaxed calmly against a statue in central park. He had snuck out quietly for the day and was enjoying being out in the open air again. He had picked an area near one of the walkways, but far enough away he could enjoy the softer sounds of the park, rather than those of the people around. The calm was peaceful, and the atmosphere was so relaxed he thought he might fall asleep soon.

Sitting up and forcing his eyes to stay open, Toboe rested both his arms on his knees and watched the people walking by. Maybe now would be as good of an opportunity as any to make some new friends. Toboe tried to keep a keen watch for someone not hurrying by. He giggled to himself, glad Tsume wasn't around to tease him, as he realized he was hunting for friends. A much more preferable passtime than hunting for food. Although, it did seem much easier to make friends when everyone thought he was a dog. But it was driving him crazy not having anyone to talk to. Wasn't there anyone who wasn't in a hurry to go somewhere?

Comments

[thisolddog.livejournal.com]

Mihai carried a small bag of groceries in one arm. Old habits die hard, and Kiri had him thinking about supplies for the restaurant even so far from home. He'd never make it back to her, of course, but he hoped that the familiarity in the act of carrying them would help him remember precisely where it was that he took that wrong turn this time. He had a place to stay in this... Desai. Now if only he could remember where that was....

His other arm was wrapped in bandages and in a sling, but it was more of a precaution than any serious injury. So this is Desai as it is normally. Not too bad. And the park was nice. He wandered a little, not really focusing on where he was going. In no rush to get anywhere.

[littlelostwolf.livejournal.com]

The faint smell of food caught the attention of Toboe's nose. It reminded him he hadn't eaten yet today and his stomach growled in agreement. Sniffing at the air, Toboe got to his feet and his nose pointed him straight toward a bag in the hands of an older man walking on the path. Memories of Granny bubbled to the surface and it took all Toboe's attention not to turn back into a tail-wagging pup again.

Toboe sprinted to the path behind the stranger before slowing to a walk, a sheepish grin on his face as he caught up to the man and walked along side him. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to start a conversation that didn't begin with 'your food smells good, can I have some'. That never went over well and always ended in them wanting money. What was he supposed to do? Usually other people started the conversations. Trying to stop his nose from twitching at the smell of the food, Toboe made his best attempt.

"Did you hurt your arm, mister?" That seemed like a safe, non-food related question. this was so much easier when he was a wolf and all it took was a tilt of his head and a wag of his tail.

[thisolddog.livejournal.com]

Mihai did notice the young man approaching quietly (his instincts wouldn't allow him to not notice a direct line of approach), but waited until the boy spoke to offer a smile. He slowed his pace and looked over at the young man. The wide eyes that looked up at him allowed Mihai to drop his guard. Oh well. If an old man had to pay for his trust later, it was his own fault. God, he felt paranoid. All because of a little scrimmage during a time-slip.

Glancing down at his arm in the sling, Mihai chuckled. "I did, but it's not too serious. Old man like me should be more careful."

Was that a stomach growling that he heard? Looking down at the grocery bag in his hand then back to the boy, he added, "But if you would like to help an old man with his burden, I'll let you have first dibs. I can't eat all that by myself anyway."

[littlelostwolf.livejournal.com]

Toboe practically beamed at the older man. Was he really being offered food? His stomach growled again at the thought and he looked down, embarrassed. He really was pretty hungry.

"Sure! Let me carry it for you mister!" He smiled cheerfully and took the bag, carrying it carefully and falling into step with him.

"My names Toboe. Where are you going with all this food? How'd you hurt your arm? You didn't get in a fight did you? I got hurt a few times trying to keep my food safe too!" Toboe chattered along a bit too rapidly. It had been a while since he had really been able to talk to anyone. It seemed there were no wolves in Desai, and most people didn't want much to do with a human Toboe. They much preferred the 'lovable stray'.

[thisolddog.livejournal.com]

Mihai chuckled at the boy's enthusiasm. It was a nice day, so why not spend a little time getting to know a stranger. Besides, this stray didn't look like he attracted trouble like all the others he'd met, which would be a nice change of pace.

"Nice to meet you Toboe. I'm Mihai." He smiled with a little bit of weariness in his eyes. It was these calm moments when things tended to catch up to him. He was glad for the company.

"Ah, the food. A good friend of mine runs a restaurant back home. I saw a few things she might like and thought to get them, but I won't get home to see her for a while. You can help me test them out and see if it's good enough quality for a restaurant. That way she won't get mad at me."

[littlelostwolf.livejournal.com]

"Really? Ah! I... like to try out new foods." Toboe smiled cheerfully at the older man, walking in step along side him with slightly awkward half steps.

Toboe's silver wrist bands clinked in time to their steps and it was joined by a rustle as the curious pup looked at the contents of the bag.

"It smells so good. It must be a nice restaurant. I don't really ever get a chance to eat at those." There was that pizza place with Dante but wolves didn't much carry money around to pay for food. Then again they also didn't usually spend as much time as Toboe did with regular humans.

"But I'm sure your friend will be happy you brought her gifts! Everyone loves gifts."

[thisolddog.livejournal.com]

Thinking about the restaurant, Mihai got a particular look on his face. "It is a nice place. Not high-class, but the owner really knows her stuff." If the kid turned out to be legit, maybe Mihai could take him there sometime. Kiri wouldn't mind a cute kid like him. She'd probably try and adopt him like he was a puppy or something.

Mihai pointed to a clear, quiet spot underneath a nearby tree. "It might be easier if we stop and sit. Make a small picnic out of it, what do you say?"

[littlelostwolf.livejournal.com]

Toboe spotted the tree Mihai pointed out and made a short run to it, circling the tree once curiously before dropping to a sitting position in front of it.

"It's a nice spot! I like it here. This park is so green and cheerful." Toboe set the bag down and looked over to see if Mihai was making his way over. Parks made him want to run, it was hard for him to concentrate.

"I've never had a picnic before."

[thisolddog.livejournal.com]

Mihai followed his over at a slower pace. Ah, kids had so much energy. He rolled his injured shoulder a bit as he walked over, stretching the aching muscles under the sling. In a couple of days, he'd be good as new, but there was a situation brewing in Desai. It was nice to have a day like this before things got busy again.

"It is a nice park. This is the first time I've seen it. Last time I was in this area, it looked a lot different. And it was 1911. Which was strange."

He sat down next to Toboe with a bit of feigned difficulty and leaned against the trunk of the tree. "You know, I don't think I've ever had a real picnic either. So we'll both get to try something new."

[littlelostwolf.livejournal.com]

Toboe smiled at Mihai, resting his arms on his knees. Mihai reminded him a bit of Granny and it made him relax more in the older man's presence.

"This city does so many odd things... it's nice when it's calm like this and we're not being attacked by singing flowers or something"

[thisolddog.livejournal.com]

Mihai raised an eyebrow. "Attacked by singing flowers? I haven't heard that one before."

He searched through the bag and pulled out a crisp apple for himself. He motioned that Toboe could help himself. "Have you been in the city long? I've heard there've been some strange things that happen here."

[littlelostwolf.livejournal.com]

"Well, I've only been here a little while. But for the time I have been here, it's been really crazy." Toboe replied, remembering some of the crazy things that had happened in Desai. "Once, everyone in Desai grew cat ears and tails and acted funny. I stayed inside."

Toboe looked through the bag, pulling out something that actually smelled like meat. He still wasn't used to packaged food and made a face when he bit down on plastic wrapping. He glanced to see if Mihai noticed before unwrapping it and taking a large bite.

[thisolddog.livejournal.com]

"Cat ears and tail? Glad I missed that one. No one likes a cranky ol' tom."

If Mihai saw Toboe's situation with the wrapper, he didn't make any indication. Instead he crunched loudly into his apple and looked out at the other people in the park. This was nice. Peaceful.

"So. Where are you from Toboe? What's home like?"

[littlelostwolf.livejournal.com]

Home... What was home like? Toboe hadn't thought about home for a little while now. An almost regretful look crossed his face.

"It's nothing like Desai, that's for sure. This place is so beautiful and full of flowers. And people here are so much happier." Toboe smiled and laid back, sprawled out in the grass to look up at the clouds. "I do miss my pack though... my friends I mean... we used to run through the snow and the fields together." Sure they fought sometimes, and they had gotten into bad situations, but they had been a pack. And at times, they had been happy.

"What about you? What's your home like?"

[thisolddog.livejournal.com]

Mihai looked at Toboe sadly. He scooted down against the tree trunk to reach out his good hand to pat the boy on the shoulder comfortingly.

"I know a little how you feel. I got separated from my friends for a long time, and that's even before coming to this place. It's hard, being apart from the people you care about. Even if they can be pains in the ass sometimes." He chuckled.

For the second question, Mihai paused. "It's a little sad, back at home. And it's cold. And... busy, of late." He looked up at the clouds that Toboe was watching. "It's nice to be able to relax a little here."

[littlelostwolf.livejournal.com]

Toboe leaned over his knees and watched Mihai, quietly pulling another food item from the bag and munching on it.

"Your home sounds like mine..." Toboe wiped his mouth on his sleeve and looked up again. "I tried to go home once like someone suggested but I can't really. I don't know why." How could he explain that feeling? He had tried it once and he couldn't go through with it. And then the memories of what his last day there had been kept him from trying again.

"Compared to home, this place is paradise... when it isn't doing all those crazy things." Toboe smiled innocently, his head cocked to the side like a dog's.

[thisolddog.livejournal.com]

Paradise was an interesting choice of words. Mihai knew that there was a darker undercurrent here in Desai as well, but on the surface... it was a very nice place indeed.

"I'm not really all that surprised that crazy things happen here. A lot of worlds wash up on these shores. Myself, I just took the wrong train from home and ended up here by accident. I don't know if I could find my own way back if I tried." His voice went to a whisper, and he leaned into Toboe. "I may have taken a wrong turn or two. My sense of direction is not that great."

[littlelostwolf.livejournal.com]

"I just woke up here! I couldn't figure out where I was for a while or how I got here." He looked curiously at Mihai. "I wonder if a lot of people get lost here?"

Toboe fiddled with the silver bands on his wrist, his eyes watching a rabbit in the grass a ways away. "But... this place... people are friendlier to me most of the time here. And so far no one has tried to shoot at me! So I like it here." He gave the old man another innocent cheerful smile, as if they were talking about something far more pleasant.

[thisolddog.livejournal.com]

Mihai perked up at the last comment. "Hey-- No one has tried to shoot me either. That is a perk about this place. When I returned to that place back home, I think it was only a matter of hours before I was getting shot at again. Maybe my luck's improving." He looked down at his injured arm. Maybe not shot, but they did know how to rough up and old man when they needed to. Whoever they turned out to be exactly.

"It could be that things are looking up for both of us, Toboe."

[littlelostwolf.livejournal.com]

"I think so, too. And I've made new friends here! So it can't be too bad of a place." Toboe smiled cheerfully, his arms behind his head. No one had tried to hunt him down yet either, so maybe people here didn't hate wolves as much as they did back home. "I just wish my old friends were here, too."

[thisolddog.livejournal.com]

Mihai smiled, glancing around the park. "Who knows? This place has a strange way about it. Maybe one day a new friend of yours will be able to meet an old one. Stranger things have happened. And recently, at that!" He chuckled.

"You seem to be a silver-lining kind of person. It's nice to have someone like that around to tip the scales."

[littlelostwolf.livejournal.com]

Toboe laughed, nodding in agreement with Mihai. Picnics were a very good thing, he decided. "I don't see any reason to stay unhappy or angry. Things are better when you don't." He responded innocently. He wasn't sure what a silver-lining person was, but it sure sounded like a good thing.