Little girls are cute and small only to adults.

[az_of_the_oz]

Who: Az, Little Mouse, Eliza (and whoever is with her at the time)
What: Asking questions and making new friends
When: February 1st, just after 7 PM
Where: Palace, searching for Eliza

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[spiffeh_eliza]

Oh she'd gotten down to dinner on time thanks to one of the maids still assigned to make sure Kat and Eliza don't get lost and eat every meal of every day. For some reason, both females were terrible at remembering to eat at the right time and ended up in the kitchens at odd times, getting sweets. This time, Katra wasn't with Eliza. She'd left the girl with Sarah for a little bit, wandering off to play with the kitten, and that was the last the girl saw of her guard today.

After dinner, Eliza decided to stay with the cooks to help out a little bit with a cake one of them was making for her daughter's birthday. However, that didn't work out as the little girl had planned, as as soon as Scraps walked into the kitchens, Eliza's attention shifted to the woman. Scraps promptly took Eliza over to the table with a huge stack of cakes and announced that she would teach her how to play checkers.

Excited as ever, Eliza eagerly listened to how to play the game and was even more excited by the prospect of eating the cakes that she won from Scraps.

Of course, Eliza wasn't the best at the game and there was a significant amount of chocolate cakes on the board, but oh, was it ever fun.

Nibbling at her fifth cake as Scraps jumped two of hers and stuffed them in her mouth, Eliza jumped when the woman spoke to Az. Wait! Az was back? And no one told her?!

"Az!" Eliza turned around, nearly upsetting the board they were using to play. Dropping the rest of the chocolate cake, Eliza ran to the woman, practically jumping on her in a hug before noticing the other girl and giving her a small smile. "Az! You're back! You brought a girl with you.. Who is she, Az? Scraps was just teaching me checkers," the girl had too much to tell Az now, "When did you get back?"

[az_of_the_oz]

Az decided to answer at least some of the young Ix warrior's question before she pushed open the door to the Kitchens. "I don't know," she answered truthfully. "Little Mouse, we are going to have to send a message to your mother. I'm sure she's noticed your absence and will likely be very worried." While she could understand the girl's curious nature, as she had been a little girl herself once, and had had DG as a little sister (not to mention Eliza running around), she was afraid that she was going to actually have to act like a responsible adult and not just a wayward Princess.

She nodded, "Yes, I went to Ix to learn how to protect myself when my guards could not. And it was decided, mostly by myself, that it would be better if who I am was not revealed." There was a small wince accompanying her statement, "I'm afraid it is rather dangerous to be me. Especially out from under the watchful eyes here at the Palace." Please do not let her little friend hate her for the necessary deception. Or for what had happened in the past, it would be a painful blow that would never fully heal if Little Mouse could not accept who she was.

Hand going to the doors before them, she pushed them open, the guards behind her holding them open as the four of them entered the as always busy room. And there was Scraps and Eliza, playing...checkers? With cakes? The image made Az smile, a grin that widened when the red-haired woman looked up and greeted her warmly. Especially seeing as the woman's mouth was full with some sort of sweet, slurring her words. "Hi Scraps! Looks like fun, I'll have to try that version sometime."

The blonde across from her whipped her head around so quickly Az thought she was in danger of whiplash, and flew into motion. The little girl, her little girl in Az's mind, pretty much flung herself at the dark haired woman. Beaming, the Princess grabbed her and lifted her off the ground in a fierce hug. She laughed aloud, "Hey Eliza. I missed you so much while I gone." For a fraction of a moment, she revelled in the happy feeling sparked by happy little girl hugging her, of being home.

"I got home just before lunchtime. Said hello to Jeb, and then we fell asleep." Somewhat reluctantly, she set the little being of excitement and happiness back down on the ground, only to find Karma sitting there. Tail wagging, and looking as if she was stifling a whimper, the puppy appeared to be almost ready to burst out of her skin. Az would have smiled, if she had ever stopped, so instead she picked up her fluffy friend and cuddled her. Juggling the puppy, she looked between the two girls. "Eliza, this is Little Mouse, she just arrived. Little Mouse, this is Eliza."