[Gift] Heart of Pride -Part 1- maturity

 Xena sits at a cafe as she writes in her journal, chronicling her journey and writing letters to her beloved Lycon, her necklace glimmers. 

   Dearest Lycon, 

          It's been a month since my entry here, into this new world, there are creatures here you would never see in our world. They are called Drakiri. Strange Kirin-like creatures that are like the dragons of our world. I know I rarely write to you, but much has been going on. I have been to places and seen things that only in the movies of our home are possible. The first adventure I had was with April, Fooli, her mate, and Linguini. I call him Pasta in my entries, we were in a huge desert that gave off vibes of the Gerudo desert from that Zelda game we play, there was a HUGE temple that gave me Indiana Jones vibes. April is small but she's super fun, Fooli reminds me of you. Pasta is so cool. There are different species too. April is a sprite, and Fooli is primal. Oak my new friend…you would love Oak…he is just like thorin, proud and brave. He's a winged Drakiri…ill be meeting him after I explore a bit on my own, he says he's looking after some new draklings. There is so much here my love, there's a candy shop down the street I might check out…there's also a massive forest that might be a good place to explore too. I'll talk to you later about my love.

             Your Beloved 

                     Xena

      She closes her journal and walks into the shops. She thankfully has some aurics on her thanks to Oak and his run down of the world. She opens a door into a massive candy shop. 

        A woman with wild white hair streaked with pink and red markings on her face. “Oh welcome, come on in” she smiles. “What can I getcha” she looks at Xena. “I haven't seen you around here, where are you from?” 

         “Not from around here,” she says. She hums what sounds like “The Candy Man can” from Willy Wonka?? 

         “You are quite an interesting character,” The lady says. “Call me Peppermint Bark” 

         Xena looks at the woman. “I'm a Cat gender,” she says. “Ok more spasificly a xenogender,” she says as two others, one with black-blue hair and one with red hair walk in.  

                   The black-haired one sits next to the red-haired one.” you knew I pulled that off” 

                   “Vortex shush,” the black-haired one says. “Peep was watching so, of course, you were showing off” 

                 Theo just chuckles. “Ok who the cat ears girl?” 

                 Peppermint smiles. “That's Xena, she's new here, she's actually about to just tell me about the reason she has her cat ears” 

                 “She a catgirl, nothing more nothing less” Vortex snarks. 

                 Xena walks up to him and slams her hands on the table in front of him, her well-manicured short claws clicking. “Listen smart ass, I'm a catgender, and these ears are the indicators, you can either shut up and listen or you can be a good boi” 

                 Theo looks at Xena and starts laughing. “Vortex usually is the one making snarky and mean remarks.” 

                  Vortex goes to speak and shuts his mouth. “I'm not gonna even respond to that” 

                  Theo looks at her. “So what's it like back home and cat gender? Tell us about it” 

                   They pull up a chair as Xena smiles. “I guess I will say that back home they had something called pride month. It was wonderful. People of all genders and identities came out and showed it off. It was perfect…Lycon used to take me to events around our hometown. He saved me and gave me a chance to show my real self without fear. He always told me that I was his little kitty” she sniffs. “He helped me thru so much without even meaning to.”

            “Lycon??” Peppermint asks. 

            “He was my boyfriend back home. he identified as Biromantic Demisexual.” Xena smiles. “Someday I hope to see him again” 

             “So this person helped you see yourself??” vortex asks her. 

             “He helped me come to terms with my identity,” she says. 

              Theo gasps softly. “That's wonderful” she chuckles. “What?” 

              “Having someone at your side that accepts you for you, splinters and all your parts help hugely in finding yourself out and figuring out who you are” she says. “My strength came from him, even when I knew people hurt me and called me names he was there for me, reminding me that I am much stronger than I tell myself and I have the voice of a lion” 

               “Voice of a lion” peppermint asks. “What's that?” 

                “Means that no matter what you won't lose your voice, and the world won't leave you speechless.” she laughs. “Do you guys have any SOs?” 

                 “SO?” Vortex asks. 

                  “Significant others” she smiles. 

                  Vortex smiles. “I have Peep” he smiles. “She sweet” 

                  Xena smiles. “Use her like a rock in hard times, it comes in handy with me and Lycon” 

                 “Is this relationship advice?” Theo asks. 

                 “Nope just tidbits,” she says. Peppermint starts to sing softly as Xena smiles. “Nice shop, back home the closest place I had was an ice cream place” 

                  “So what do you think of this place” 

                  “Fantastic,” she says. Vortex and Theo watch her. “I'm actually really curious about you guys,” she says. “Like Theo, what is your drak form?” 

                  “I'm a Kelpie '' he transforms into an almost seahorse-like drak. “I'm an aquatic drak” he stands proudly. “I can breathe underwater, I also have a singing ability” she pulls out her journal and starts writing and taking notes. “What is that?” he asks, poking his head over the journal. 

                 “It's my journal” she smiles.

                “Like for stories?” Peppermint asks. “Why would you do that??” 

                “Since I know I will see my beloved again, I'm taking notes for him, that way when we see each other again I can show him the wonders I experienced. Like my first interaction with you guys or me meeting oak” 

                 “So you are like what? Recording stuff that he can see for himself?” Vortex asks. 

                 She ignores the comment as she shows them the rubbing from the time she was in with Fooli and April. “This was from the temple that I explored with April and Fooli. I can't read half of it but Oak is giving me lessons in your language” 

                Vortex looks at her. “You should have learned the language when you were little” 

               “I'm not from this dimension,” she says. “Like this is massive for me” 

               “You mean that you actually have never met our kind?” Peppermint asks. 

               “Back home you are myths, said that when a Kyrin is born a great warrior or ruler is too,” she says. “That's why I'm so interested in you guys, Lycon would love you guys so much.” 

               “Any places you want to visit? Like the forest or underwater ruins??” Peppermint bark asks. 

               “She human Peppermint bark, she doesn't know our world, she has no clue where any of it is” Vortex retorts from his place. “Where's peep? I would love for someone that can actually get me to be here” 

               Xena starts sketching on a map. “Actually Vortex?? Yes? I'm creating a map that can help me find places for when I travel so I may not know the world but I will record it” she shows them the partly filled in map. “See” she shows them the places she's been. 

               Peppermint looks at the detailed map, impressed at the detail of it. “I'm very impressed, the detail is accurate,” she says. “You're doing this so that someday if Lycon comes here you can show him?” 

            Xena nods. “He's a bit of a history and map nerd so I'm doing this so that if we ever do meet up with me, he will be able to revisit the places” she smiles. “Oak has told me that encountering others of his species will be really good in allowing me to see the different sides of draks.” 

            “That's so sweet,” Peppermint says. “There's a forest that I love to get the mushrooms for flavoring” 

            The three smile, and Theo giggles. “To the mushroom forest!!” he laughs happily, prancing. Vortex rolls his eyes as Peppermint smiles. Xena follows them curious about this forest. “Ohhh Xena you're gonna love it, it's so ethereal and cool, but watch out for some spores.” 

          She writes this in her journal. “Ok.” She tries to keep up but can't. “Hey wait up!! You guys are a lot better than me at this” 

         Theo smiles and walks over to her. “You can ride on my back for this” he leans down and she gets on his back. 

          “Thanks, Theo, it means a lot to me” she smiles as they make their way to the forest. “So what is it about this forest that makes it so strange” 

         “It's actually half underground, they have things called gleam blossoms that make the best glowing flavoring for Halloween or parties,” Peppermint says. “I love going there and getting the gleam blossoms,” she says. “They are so tasty this time of year” 

        They reach the entrance as Xena hears the distant ringing and strange ethereal sounds. “I'm getting Skyrim vibes”