thehometree | Glimmer, glitter, shine...

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Glimmer, glitter, shine...

One by one, new adventurers now arrive in the Tree. As one gain wings and rises to the second floor, another light brings in the next person. Soon, a steady stream of people from all kinds of worlds, times and realities come to join the others. Whether confused, angry, excited or scared, your arrival is welcomed with nothing but joy as the fireflies and glow worms descend to greet their new friends.

The Tree offers no explanation and no reason, but the truth is undeniable.

As you will soon realize, it isn't easy to be tiny.

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There's another shorty in the tree that Nai has just run into. Link himself has been looking at the various people that have just arrived and wasn't expecting to have anyone literally run into him. More importantly, he's kind of surprised that everyone was wilfully walking around with their wings out. Even he hadn't been that bold to walk around as a wolf all the time... Link was about to apologize himself because he wasn't entirely sure whether the boy ran into him or if he had almost run over the other but stopped when he noticed the look on the pale haired boy's face.

There was a moment's pause before he knelt down slightly and asked if the other was all right. Considering how cheerful and harmless everything here was, Link thought it a bit strange that a young boy looked so concerned.

"Uwaa!" is the response from Nai once he hits yet another person, but at least he doesn't tumble back this time. In fact, that person—a young boy like him—was kind enough to ask if he was okay. Nai offers a flustered look as he nods a few times.

"I'm okay." He grips his gem tightly in his hands, but then realizes that the other boy doesn't have any wings of his own. Maybe he's dropped his gem, like Nai's done more than once? His head tilts curiously.

"You don't have wings?"

Link spots the gemstone in the other boy's hands and smiles a bit. Maybe he was holding on to it for reassurance?

There's a slightly confused look before Link stands up and reaches behind him into his pouch to retrieve his own stone. His own moth wings - a dark grey, almost black, pair of moth wings with strange green patterns and a fur collar across his shoulders - reappear when his fingers come in contact with the gemstone even before he holds it out for the other child to inspect.

"It's easier to walk around without," he says by way of explanation. "Unless you want to fly."

Nai brightens in wonder as the boy's wings unfold before him, just as beautiful as everyone else's. They're not the same type of wings as his—even Nai can tell that much—but they're lovely all the same.

Though it should be obvious, those words make him nod his head a few times. "Mhm, flying is hard...I keep falling a lot. I didn't have wings before I cam here...they're really pretty, but I can't stay here."

There's a soft laugh when he sees Nai's expression. It reminds him a lot of Colin and the other children of Ordon... Which makes him a little homesick in the process. He left due to some feeling he couldn't name, but Ordon was still his home.

He was going to offer some words of support when he hears about the other's attempt at flying but that's put on hold when he hears the rest of what Nai had to say.

"... Where were you from?" 'and where do you need to go?'

"I was in Vantnam with Gareki and Yogi. We were shopping!" That short appearance of a smile fades into another worried look. "But then I came here and I don't know why. They're not here either, I can't find them. I'm supposed to stay with them always."

While it doesn't answer where he's from, it was where he was previously and where he'd like to get back to. If his friends aren't here, they must still be in Vantnam waiting for him, and surely surprised at his sudden disappearance. Unintentional or not, he can already hear Gareki scolding him for running off on his own—the biggest rule he could break. Thinking about it makes him a little sadder.

"Ah-" Link looks thoroughly confused by the names that the other boy was using. 'Vantnam' must be a place and Gareki and Yogi names of people but it's still a lot for Link to take in at once. But the worried look on the other's face conveys enough information. They must have been friends (or they might have been guardians, if the 'stay with them' is any indication)

It's a good thing that Link honestly isn't the most pedantic individual. He doesn't even seem to mind that the location Nai mentions isn't where he's from because, honestly, isn't that the same thing? It isn't as if Link was familiar with Nai's world enough to differentiate North from South and vice versa. Details! Who needs them?

"They're your friends?" he stops to consider what he wants to say... It's a lot harder with a young boy he's unfamiliar with than it is with the children in Ordon, or even other children around Hyrule. "If they're your friend, then they'll understand."

Nai nods confidently, in contrast to the uncertain way he twists the hem of his shirt because he's still somewhat worried. But when he looks up and takes in those words, a small smile creeps up on his face.

"Really? ... Okay." Such simple words are enough to calm him down, at least for the time being. If he stays in one place, they'll be sure to find him soon enough. "Are you looking for your friends too?"

He really is just a child. Link's glad that Nai looks a little calmer, even if this situation looks like it one they will be stuck with for some time.

"... My friends?" The Ordonian paused to think about it.

"We've been through a lot recently," he starts, "But they should still be at home. And that's fine with me."

His wings shift slightly as he talks. But he doesn't seem too troubled by the idea of being here on his own... Or being so suddenly pulled away from his friends and his home. After all that has happened, it would be for the best that everyone got to rest and not worry.

"Oh...that's good. But you won't be lonely?"

If Nai could be sure of where Gareki and Yogi were, he'd feel much better, but that wouldn't change the fact that he's separated from them and he doesn't know how to get back home, or if he even can. This older boy would be much stronger than him if he could handle this sort of situation—not that Nai understands the concept of bravery, but still.

He looked a little sad at that.

"A little," Link admitted, "But we're all here, so we aren't really alone here, are we?"

There's an implication of making new friends and meeting new people. That was what happened when he was thrown into Hyrule soon after discovering how the children and Ilia had been kidnapped. He'd met all sorts of people and was-- Well, one could hardly be left alone when one's shadow had become the temporary home of a shadow dweller, could they?

... He still missed Midna's company.

"Are you lonely?"

That gets a little smile out of him as he nods a few times. "Yeah, there are lots of people here." They may not be his friends but they aren't bad people, and surely one of them must have an idea as to what's happening.

He lowers his chin for a second, thinking back on a particular person when he's asked that question. "Yeah...but it's okay. I'm going to look for everyone. And maybe they'll find me first." He looks back up and smiles again.

Link returns the smile and reaches out with his free hand to ruffle Nai's hair encouragingly. That's the spirit. A little bit of courage goes a long way when thrown into something strange and new without much by way of warning.

... Oh, wait a minute-

"My name is Link," and the hand that was ruffling Nai's hair is held out for him instead. Once they exchange names, they won't be strangers anymore, right? Making new friends!

His chin ducks from the gesture but the sensation is nice enough to get a little chuckle out of him. Then he looks up to see the offered hand and meets the boy's eyes. Oh, introductions!

"I'm Nai!" Now, what to do with the hand. He stares at it for a moment before seeming to realize something and then blurting out: "I won't get lost."

That's why Link is offering his hand, right? So Nai can hold it and not be separated from him?

Oh- Well, this was different. Link blinks in confusion before laughing. Maybe it simply isn't a common greeting for Nai's realm? He shakes his head ('not quite right') before he takes Nai's hand for a simple handshake. There we go.

"It's a way of greeting people."

Among others, but considering Link himself wasn't exactly the most talkative person...

Looks like he was wrong—nothing new—but he does eventually return the handshake after he's done admiring Link doing the same to him.

"Greeting...okay!" And the smile's back, and he even throws in a 'Hello!' at the end. It feels good to learn new things and he'll be sure to use this greeting again in the future.

Link returns the 'hello' with a nod. It's nice learning new things, isn't it? This might get them into trouble later on down the line, but for now there doesn't seem to be any harm in it. At the very least, Link hasn't seen or heard of any unsavoury types around here yet.

Proper introductions now dealt with, Link stands up again as he tucks his gem away into his pack. The wings likewise disappear as soon as the gem leaves his hand. Now then...

"How do you feel now?"

Hopefully a bit better than he did when they first ran into each other.

He'll be happy to know that Nai is indeed feeling a little better. Even if there aren't any familiar faces here, he isn't truly alone and that counts for something. And now there's one less person to call a stranger.

"I'm still a little sad...but happy too. Because of Link." A strange combination, to Nai, but it's the only way he knows how to describe it.

He has to admit he's a little surprised by that extra bit tagged onto the end but so long as the young boy didn't feel quite so lost then it doesn't really matter, does it? Still, Link could understand the mixed feelings: being so far from home yet still capable of making friends.

"If you need help, don't be afraid to ask."

Link's fairly sure most people would be willing to lend a hand.

He's so quick to place his trust in others and quicker to open up and look at people like they're already his friends. To him, all it takes to make a friend is to enjoy their presence. Now he nods with a warmer smile.

"Okay, I won't be. Link can ask me for help too." How exactly Nai can help anyone can vary from situation to situation, but hey, the offer is there.

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Glimmer, glitter, shine...

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