Island of Sanity

[dis_courageous]

Dragonroost Isle rose out of the sea as a living volcano, sleeping, but with a fire in it's belly that warmed the rock-hewn nesting caverns of the Rito no matter the weather. A true island paradise for an airborne people, all spires, stone and strong prevailing winds, hot thermals rising off the deep-heated rock that made flying a pleasure. Palm

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[gogopowersuit]

"Komali?"

Samus had somehow found her way to his room. She wasn't entirely sure how, but she got lucky and found him early on in her search. Her nightmare had worried her more than she cared to admit, and she wanted to see him. She wanted to make sure he was okay.

"I've been looking for you," her voice was a mixture of things. Relief that she had found him, genuine concern about his well-being, and a hint of an almost apologetic tone. She was shaken by the events that had occurred in her nightmare, so she couldn't imagine how Komali felt.

[dis_courageous]

Komali sniffled, and peered up at her through his bangs. Seeing who it was, he lifted his head and wiped his face on the sleeves of his christmas tunic.

"I had a bad dream," He explained, and sniffed again with eyes that were puffy and bloodshot, "I don't like it."

[gogopowersuit]

Samus sat down on the edge of his bed, offering a sympathetic look, "No, nightmares aren't fun. I had one, too."

[dis_courageous]

After a moment of thought, he uncurled a littler further and scooted over until he was beside her, "You get nightmares?"

[gogopowersuit]

She nodded, "I do."

And more often than she cared to admit, but the more recent ones had been particularly striking.

[dis_courageous]

"I'm scared of dragons," He told her solemnly, and suddenly there was a little birdchild leaning against her side. It was lonely here, with the wind and the sea-birds. There were no simulations of Rito to give even the robotic impression of habitation, and Komali found he just wanted to be held.

"At home, a dragon lives on top of the mountain. I'm supposed to climb up an' face him, but..." A soft sniff, the last of them as he trailed off, looking at his feet. It was so very quiet.

[gogopowersuit]

Her arm slipped around him, holding him, before she really thought about it. It was a kind of instinctive action. She wasn't sure what compelled her to do it (and it was an awkward motion for the hunter), but what's done was done. She settled in soon enough.

"Sometimes we have to face our fears. It's very difficult, though."

[dis_courageous]

He pressed just a little more against Samus' side. How long had it been since someone had actually wanted to hold him? The nightmare still chilled the roots of his feathers and he shivered, but it was fading. Samus felt... Safe.

"I thought you weren't scared of anything."

[gogopowersuit]

She offered a small smile, "I try not to be. That's part of my job, to take care of the scary stuff so others don't have to deal with it. But sometimes even I'm afraid."

Like in her nightmares.

[dis_courageous]

"Wow..." the return smile was hesitant, but eventually widened into a bright grin, "You're really brave!"

He hopped up- literally hopped, because the bed was taller than his legs were long, and put both hands on Samus' knees, looking up at her happily, "Hey, do you want to see the island? This is my island, where all the Rito live!"

[gogopowersuit]

"Sure," she gave a slightly bigger smile as she stood up, "Lead the way, Komali."

[dis_courageous]

Seizing Samus' hand, he led her around the interior structure, with it's spiral ramp and mail-sorting room, explaining the message- and package-delivery-based economy of it. He showed her the gliding stones and told about crazy Orvil who'd decided he wanted to be a Rito and dressed himelf in a false beak and sleeves painted like Rito feathers- and who'd nearly drowned trying to learn to fly.

He showed her the bomb-flowers, and told the story of the time the pirates had shown up and scowled at them, but hadn't dared lay a hand on a single feather because of they knew Lord Valoo would roast them if they did.

"...After that we didn't see any boats for a long time," He finished. They were standing on the sand, looking out at the ocean and the simulated horizon, "Quill told me that the islands had all got together and promised to protect us, because we're the only ones who can carry the mail."

[gogopowersuit]

Samus listened diligently, taking note of the different aspects of Rito society. They were quite different from the Chozo. In her own universe, the Chozo took the duty of being the protectors; the Rito, obviously, did not. Regardless, she felt a sort of kinship with them and their small island.

"It's very peaceful," she stated simply when he was done, "It must be nice to live here."

[dis_courageous]

"Yeah, sometimes..." He trailed off, kicking idly at the sand "After Grandma died, it wasn't so good. Lord Valoo became angry. You can hear him roaring no matter what, even in the middle of the night."

Little Komali never knew the role his people had as guardians as well as messengers. They were not the the warrior Chozo, but descended from the reticent Zora, who lived apart and guarded deep secrets and places of power.

[gogopowersuit]

"Was your grandmother a very important person on the island?" she asked.

[dis_courageous]

He nodded solemnly, "Uh-huh. It was he duty to speak with Lord Valoo and interpret his will."