Svarik and the company I :)

[Mirach]

"My friends home know a sign language, so if I teach her that, she will be able to communicate not with just me, but more people. I'm still not fluent in it, but I know the basics. Maybe you could ask her to tell us herself what things and feelings she would like to know how to express, and start with that."

[VisAnastasis]

" I will do my best. " demon nodded with respect, and he gently encouraged Xia to speak to him to reveal what things would she liked to learn first.

[Mirach]

Svarik didn't understand their singing language, but he enjoyed listening to it as they spoke.

[VisAnastasis]

It took a little while, as demon didn't rush her, not to make her tense and to make sure she tells him what she desires most.
" There is so many things she wishes to learn and understand, kind guest. " Cernunnos chuckled in the end. " But foremost, she would like to learn to name various feelings. She wants to know how she can tell you how she feels. That is why I think maybe we should start from there - she can show me particular feeling, I can name it to her on human language  we speak with right now, and then, you can show her this sign in sign language for that feeling. Do you agree to these terms, kind young master? "

[Mirach]

"Yes, it would be good if she can express those. I would like her to be able to express her needs as well, but one thing after the other. Let's start with the feelings."

[VisAnastasis]

" Let's do. " critter grinned shyly, and begin they did. As it was important for Xia, he took his time with this sensitive subject, wanting to name feelings she was curious about most accurately he could in human language. At first, it were expected ones - Xia wished to know how to name love, happiness, gratefulness to someone, fondness of something, curiosity, wonder, confusion, protectiveness... But slowly, as they went on, she was growing more distant and vulnerable, and she started asking for ways to express not so happy emotions - how to say and sign worry, fear, panic, pain, loneliness... More words she learned, quieter and thinner her little voice lingered, and Cernunnos was frowning more, growing thoughtful as well.

[Mirach]

Svarik translated the words as well as he could into the sign language, leaving just a few that he wasn't sure about until Erdel returns. As Xia got more withdraw with naming negative emotions, he leaned closer to caress her. "Please tell her that if she wants to make a pause in this and talk about something, she is welcome to..." he said quietly to Cernunnos. 

[VisAnastasis]

Xia nodded slowly when explained, and she was looking before herself absently, as she was in Cernunnos's lap, slowly slipping down and making few still in this form unsteady steps away, as if to distance herself. She lingered quietly for a moment, for support leaning her hands upon the table, as if thinking about something. Only after a moment, slowly and hesitantly, she a little clumsily made a sign for *loneliness* and *confusion*, and looked at king meaningfully, with bathing breath observing if he understood and if her combination of signs made sense to him.

[Mirach]

"You are afraid I will leave you?" Svarik asked gently, looking to Cernunnos for help with the translation.

[VisAnastasis]

Cernunoss translated for him, and once he did, Xia shivered a little, and her eyes weiled up with tears. Hesitantly, she nodded, but she also made a sign for *fear*, and then, she carefully looked at king, and made a sound he used for bears tensely, as if not only asking  if king may decide to leave her one day, but also why he didn't want to keep her that day they met.

[Mirach]

Svarik nodded slowly. "I though she will want to talk about this, and I'm glad for having a chance to explain..." he smiled sadly. "You see, when yokai part of Riversong got free, all I knew about your kin was from the spirits, and from a bad experience... He was also hurt, and his miasma was so strong that without a protective necklace from a friend I would not be able to endure it. He panicked at first as well, and hurt me. Only slowly we got to understand each other better, through a very clumsy translation. I wanted to help him calm and heal with my music, but he thought it's not the music but the instrument that makes him feel better. He made Xia to give me something in exchange for my flute, and I couldn't refuse. But I did not know anything about her then. I thought she was a demonic animal, and had no idea how to care for one, or if she wouldn't be a danger to my friends. I also needed the flute to play for him so he could actually feel better, so I wanted to explain him that he may take Xia back, knowing to care for her better anyways. But he misunderstood my intention and sent her away. I managed to explain him later that I did not mean that, and that I'm worried for her, and he helped me find her. But in that time she alraedy had a bad experience with bears that attacked her and she had to kill them. Please, explain it to her, and tell her I am very sorry for it... I never meant to send her away, I just wanted to help her creator and didn't yet know that she was a sentient being..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Didn't know she was a sentient being? " Cernunnos measured meadow king thoughtfully, looking at him intently for a moment. He said nothing, thought, and then, he turned to Xia, and gently, he explained what he was told to the best of his abilities to an infant little demon, his whistling being but gentle comforting song to her grief.

Xia was silent for a while, not looking at them, before she quietly replied to her elder in their tongue, though she was hesitant to speak with someone else that Svarik of her anxiety and hurt of that day.
" She says she was made with love for you in her heart. She was meant to love you and ease your sufferings. That that is how her creator intended it to be, and that she knew, on same way birds know they are meant to fly. " Cernunnos murmured quietly with his soft powerful voice. " You were hurt, she said, and her maker's sorrow of hurting you and wish to protect and make up for it poured into her and weave into affection. When you wished to trade her back like she was nothing, both her and her maker were... *sad* and * pain*, she said.."

[Mirach]

"I understand that now," Svarik nodded sadly. "But then I didn't know... I saw Riversong attempting to create bugs or birds, never something more. I thought she was an animal like Yiska and Sunshine, but she was much bigger and I didn't know if she was tame and was afraid she might be a danger to my friends. And in that time I was feeling quite bad about not having enough time for those two either. I never asked for the responsibility of caring for them, but I got it and all I could do at the time was shift it to Erdel because there was always some crisis to solve, and I felt guilty for it. I didn't know how I would be able to care for another animal that was demonic, which by then I was still suspicious of, and that I knew nothing about how to care for it. I thought then it would be better if her creator kept her instead of me, and gave me back my flute so I could actually help him. We really didn't understand each other well... But I do not think that anymore... please tell her that. I understand now, and I'm sorry for causing her pain and sadness..."

[VisAnastasis]

Cernunnos explained her what king said, and Xia was silent for a while, thinking about his words.
After a moment, she hesitantly steadied her trembling paws, and she sighed word for *care* and pointed at Svarik, avoiding his gaze still, whistling something sadly.
" She wishes to know if you keep her because you felt guilty about sending her away, or because you really wish to keep her, kind quest... " Cernunnos translated quietly, observing meadow king's features. " You didn't ask for a child, yet it was imposed and thrown upon you with little choice on your side. She wants to know if she is burden to you, young little king. If she is unwanted, she wants you to choose now anew if you want to keep her or not - she only asks for you to reply sincerely... "

[Mirach]

"Please tell her that I know her now, and would never willingly send her away anymore. I had little choice in the matter then, but if I could choose now I would choose to have her at my side, and would thank her creator and her many times for that. I care for her, and want to make her happy. My only concern is that her fondness and care for me might be undeserved, as it was not earned but put into her by her creator... with as little choice from her side as I had..."

[VisAnastasis]

Xia shakily looked at him and made a sign for *confusion*, and confused she did seem indeed. She seemed insecure about sincerity of Svarik's acceptance, not understanding his concerns about her feelings for him, as for her, they were the only thing she was clear about. She seemed on the verge of tears as she hesitantly and clumsily signed *love* and glanced at Cernunnos helplessly, as if hoping he will be able to do something, to explain that what she did not know to explain, that just came naturally to her.
" With all due respect, kind little king... " Forest God told him, leaning to him across the table with a little smile, sad but kind. " By my experience, you humans tend to give your ancestry little credit for your identity. For her sake, could I persuade you to think about her love on another way? You should be a prime example, if I may say, of how much inborn sentiments can shape a person. You carry blood of Solstice in your veins, Solstice who gives light to all and drives great joy from it, and yet you think of your sensitivity and joy when  you are soaked in sunlight as your own.  You carry blood of Gaia, one of the greatest soul healers besides Spirit King Death, and yet you think of your gift to heal as your own, do you not, kind guest? " creature's smile widened with some fondness." Then why do you see differently love to you that is inborn to her, from your love to sunlight or your desire to heal that came from your ancestors? Sure, she can choose to leave you, and you could had chosen not to become healer and not to go out in summer, kind little king... But if some feelings come naturally, why not pursue them? Why shouldn't she indulge herself in loving you, like you indulge yourself in sunlight and healing, kind guest? "

[Mirach]

"I'm not saying that she shouldn't, just that I will try to deserve it..." Svarik said gently. "I'm sorry for confusing her. Please come here already," he smiled at Xia, and made a gesture for love and hug. 

[VisAnastasis]

Fox trembled a little, and tears wailed in her eyes. She came to him, still a little unsteady on this little two legged form, and she came and hugged him tightly with deep longing, maybe a little too tightly, as force of her hug, despite her tiny stature, hurt a little. She was embracing him as if for dear life, and quietly, she started sobbing, but despite lingering confusion, it was more from relief than pain this time, since this once they understood each other better.

[Mirach]

Svarik caressed and soothed her. "It will be alright..." he whispered. "You belong with me, and I wouldn't send you away..."

[VisAnastasis]

Xia didn't understand such sentence still complex for her, but warm and loving tone king used was enough to reassure her. Slowly, she relaxed in his hold, her trust in him mending a little again after they reached a better understanding. Slowly and shyly, she started to nestle around him and she hesitantly closed her eyes, as if trying to make first steps into being more secure with him, instead of somewhere deep down being anxious some wrong move could make him send her away.

[Mirach]

"I think we could make a break, right?" Svarik smiled, and cradled her in his embrace.

[VisAnastasis]

" I think brake would be due. Rest for a little bit, please, kind guests, and I shall make you some tea. " Cernunnos smiled gently, and waved away with his elegant hand, not daring to interrupt and mind the precious scene. He stood up, and went back to the stove, to make a calming beverage for his dear guests.

[Mirach]

"Thank you, that would be most welcome," Svarik replied to him, and then he just continued caressing Xia, humming to her softly.

[VisAnastasis]

While Cernunnos was making them the tea, Xia was enjoying Svarik's care and display of affection. It took her a while, before she vulnerably joined in his humming song, quietly whistling back at him, her thin voice mirroring his, as if, despite not understanding each other, she wished to connect with him somehow, and in this song-like form, it was easier than in unknown words he would speak to her.

[Mirach]

Svarik repeated the simple melody over and over, so that she could learn it and join it easily, and just enjoy their consonance without need to understand any words.