“Leuka, don’t you get lost now!" <font color = #2E8AF1>“Mom, I have maps and stuff, I’ll be fine…"</font> “Are you sure you don’t want to even try for Janardan?" <font color = #2E8AF1>“For the last time, no, dad. I’m good. Bye now."</font> “Bye, sweetie…" The lanky teenager turned tail on her parents at last, the pair of whom stood waving from their handsome, stately house. Sure, their daughter had not been as bookwormish, proud and elegant as they had hoped (rather, she had been comical, popular and dedicated to odd interests), but they hated to see their only child go, and mom sniffed loudly as Leuka Spry headed down the road, out of sight, and into the sunset. It was still sunset by the time Leuka grew weary, and dragged the haversack from her back to throw down at her heels as she sat on the side of the pavement. She ran a handpaw over her face to unstuck the gleaming white hair from her brow, then rested her chin on her wrists in a very “now what?" fashion.
Khuta, as usual, was having a stroll with his guitar slung over his shoulder and tucked neatly between his odd wings. He seemed to be taking some interest in adventuring many parts of Ramath. He didn't know why, but perhaps this was just a passing phase... or not. He passed many nice houses. He wondered when he'd get one of his own instead of staying in the small dorm of Janardan. But he should be grateful anyway. He knew lots of pendragons who slept in the streets. Speaking of them, he seem to have stumbled on one now. But this whitish pendragon seemed to well kept to be sleeping in the streets. Perhaps she was lost? "<span style='color:gray'>Hey,</span>" he said as he reached her. "<span style='color:gray'>Lost your way? I don't really live here, but perhaps I can help.</span>"
Leuka raised a handpaw in a ladylike fashion to her mouth in order to stifle a yawn. She blinked up at the sunset for a moment, then turned, startled, as a tall, thin figure headed down the otherwise deserted street. <font color = #2E8AF1>"Hey,"</font> she offered in return, more aware than ever that she was sitting on the edge of the sidewalk looking very lost. <font color = #2E8AF1>"Nah, IÂ’m not lost, IÂ’m just kindaÂ… wondering, you know."</font> The young pendragon blushed slightly, realising that this was a rather stupid thing to say. But, sharply, she continued, <font color = #2E8AF1>"Wondering where to go, I mean."</font>
A puzzled frown managed upon Khuta's face. "<span style='color:gray'>Perhaps to bed? You look sleepy.</span>" he smiled a little. "<span style='color:gray'>Or maybe you're new around here... aren't you?</span>" Then, remembering manners, he extended a paw. "<span style='color:gray'>I don't know if you'd be freaked out with my outward behavior, but I'm gonna introduce m'self. I'm Khuta.</span>"
Leuka smiled very genuinely (I bit too genuinely, maybe, because it flew from her face rather quickly), and she shrugged slightly. <font color = #2E8AF1>"No, no; I live around here. Well… lived. I’ve kind of… moved out. Want to, erm… get a bit of travelling done."</font> Without wasting time wondering whether or not this was a stupid thing to say, Leuka took his hand in a swift handshake and, on an afterthought, decided that it would be rude to allow him to pull her to her feet, so remained seated on the edge of the sidewalk, now feeling rather chilly. <font color = #2E8AF1>"Leuka."</font> She answered, not feeling freaked out in the slightest. After a pause, she continued politely. <font color = #2E8AF1>"So… what do you mean you don’t ‘really’ live here? Are you staying with someone? I’ve not seen you about before."</font>
"<span style='color:gray'>Travelling, huh?</span>" Khuta nodded. What are the odds of that? Another pendragon has a wanting for adventure. Khuta felt a little rude to talking to someone when one was sitting down. So he took a seat instead. His two tails now grazing the ground. "<span style='color:gray'>Hope you don't mind.</span>" "<span style='color:gray'>Well I come by here once a while. Sometimes I come by to visit a friend. Mostly to get some of my music done.</span>" Khuta replied her question. He ran a hand through his bangs without even realising it. It has become a habit."<span style='color:gray'>I live in Janardan. The dorm's small but the school's great. Where do you study?</span>
She nodded, wondering if she should feel proud or not – travelling, yes. Was travelling her soul mate? No, that was alchemy. Leuka smiled very slightly as Khuta took a seat beside her, feeling very companionable. <font color = #2E8AF1>"Music?"</font> She raised an eyebrow, and glanced at the guitar case strapped over his back. He suddenly seemed quite impressive. <font color = #2E8AF1>"Cool. Janardan Academy seems…"</font> Leuka looked thoughtful for a moment, and wrapped her handpaws round her knees. <font color = #2E8AF1>"Well, both my parents wanted me to go there. I just finished high school over…"</font> she leaned back and looked around her for a moment in the sunset light, then gestured somewhere north, <font color = #2E8AF1>"Over there somewhere. I don’t really know why I kinda wanted to avoid Janardan. Maybe they’re, like… well, the kids there seem to have potential and everything, from what I’ve heard. I didn’t want people to expect too much of me, I think."</font>
Khuta nodded. "<span style='color:gray'>Yeah, music. But currently still stuck on what to write on.</span>" Then it was Khuta's turn to raise and eyebrow. "<span style='color:gray'>Janardan?</span>" he chuckled. "<span style='color:gray'>If you think Janardan's hard, try Dragonbach. Man, the pressure!</span> He shook his head at the memory of his last school. Something about his past was nagging at the back of his head. He knew what it was but he didn't want to go there now. He looked over to where Leuka was pointing at. "<span style='color:gray'>Are you still gonna continue your studies?</span>"
Leuka nodded comparatively at Khuta’s words, gazing at him in interest. ‘Stuck’? She looked ahead once again, squinting at a streetlamp; she could very much relate to being stuck. <font color = #2E8AF1>"I don’t know much about getting into schools and stuff. And most of the good ones are so far away."</font> Well, it was true, but there were other reasons too. <font color = #2E8AF1>"Nah, I left. I’ve got other stuff to concentrate on than education, I guess."</font> Leuka shrugged, then smiled at him apologetically. <font color = #2E8AF1>"What about you? Near graduation?"</font>
"<span style='color:gray'>Hmm... graduation. Haven't thought of that.</span>" He said and ran his hand through his messy hair again. "<span style='color:gray'>Yeah... I'm going through graduation soon. Hopefully what I do is worth it. Like you, I have things more important than education. I just got into Janardan 'cause I thought I hadn't anything useful to do.</span>" His eyes took its adjustment as the sun sets down and the streetlamps flickered on. <span style='color:gray'>Hey do you want to go for some coffee or something? I don't know about you, but my butt is getting cold just sitting here.</span> he said.
The teenager chuckled, guessing that it was best not to take KhutaÂ’s joking words entirely seriously. <font color = #2E8AF1>"You like Janardan enough to stay there forever, eh?"</font> she teased, for some reason cheered up about her wish to avoid further education. It seemed very restraining and, like Khuta had said, the dormitories were probably really smallÂ… Leuka needed her space. She turned back to him, suddenly feeling very, very coffee-thirsty. So much for being off the island by morning. <font color = #2E8AF1>"Yeah, okay then."</font> She grinned, trawling through her memory in search of a coffee shop open this late.
Khuta shrugged to her comment about Janardan with a smile. This soul beside him was lively. After a few moments, she'd anwered his question about coffee. "<span style='color:gray'>Great!</span> he said, jumping up. He offered a paw to help pull Leuka up. "<span style='color:gray'>I've got the cash for coffee for both of us, but I don't think Ajita has the place.</span>" He looked around his surroundings. "<span style='color:gray'>But I do know there's a place which never closes... somewhere out there. A friend of mine took me there once before. It's kinda far, though. Up for a good walk? Or fly?</span>"
With a pretty grin and an energetic twitch, she took his handpaw gratefully and allowed herself to be pulled easily to her feet. <font color = #2E8AF1>"Somewhere out there..."</font> Leuka repeated in a mock-mysterious voice. <font color = #2E8AF1>"And thus begins the adventure for an open coffee shop."</font> For some reason she was feeling exceptionally good-natured, and quite confident as usual. Yet her eyes widened at talk of flying, and she cast a glance over his wings. <font color = #2E8AF1>"Yeah, I like walking, but you've gotta be kidding about the flying thing..."</font> She smiled nervously. Perhaps there was some mysterious way to be taught the act of sprouting wings from ones shoulderblades?
Khuta grinned. He knew very well that the stranger in front of him cannot fly, neither can she grow wings there and then. But the thought of it was quite amusing to him. Perhaps he should ask a friend of his whom is very good at growing extra limbs...? Nah... he'd less faith in his friend than he is about his ability at finding the cafe he'd only been to a couple of times. "<span style='color:gray'>Well, if you're not too heavy, I can carry you there.</span>" he said. "<span style='color:gray'>Of course, incase you're not planning to break my back and/or fall off me during the journey, you'd rather walk.</span>" Though the answer would be quite obvious, he looked at her expectantly while waiting for her choice.
Shortly after appearing amused, Leuka gave a look of offence to the winged guy, <font color = #2E8AF1>"Break your back, eh? Oh, thanks!"</font> But she was smiling (rather mischievously, albeit), and had already begun walking. <font color = #2E8AF1>"C'mon then."</font>
Khuta followed as she began walking and soon was walking by her side. Flying would be a much better way to travel for Khuta for it would be easy to find the cafe. But alas, his new found friend can only walk. Feeling a little worried that he might get lost, he tried to remember as much as he could on which route his friends had taken him when they were travelling there the last time. He guided Leuka out of the neighbourhood. He took a route where he knew led to the city. But from the city on, he didn't know which way to go. Ah, but he'll solve that when they reach the city. Now it was the time to calm his nerves. "<span style='color:gray'>Where are you staying now since you've left your old home?</span>"
Leuka contemplated his next words for a short while, whilst gazing about her. The night was getting on a bit now, but her sharp eyes didnÂ’t deceive her, and the teenage pendragon could easily make out the shapes of lofty buildings as they drifted by. <font color = #2E8AF1>"Mm, I donÂ’t know,"</font> she replied, waving a vague handpaw, <font color = #2E8AF1>"Maybe random motels and inns and stuff. Mum and dad left me with a handsome bit to be getting on with."</font> Subconsciously, she readjusted her backpack in which was squeezed a hefty purse. She hadnÂ’t really thought about lodgings on her travels but thenÂ… she didnÂ’t really care. Sleeping under the stars was good enough for her. <font color = #2E8AF1>"RightÂ… which way, dÂ’you think?"</font> She asked Khuta clearly, pointing out the vivid and empty crossroads that sprawled ahead of them. She had followed her nose so far, believing this to be a way into a shop-littered area of town, but now she wasnÂ’t so sure.
"<span style='color:gray'>Uh-huh...</span>" Khuta said distractically as Leuka talked. They'd past few mainstreets, a couple of shortcuts (which were quite familiar), and now, they were facing empty crossroads. Finally, he gave up on trying to find the cafe on foot, where he cannot see which way he was going. "<span style='color:gray'>Hey could you wait here a moment? I'll be right back...</span>" he trailled off as he opened his wings and took flight in the air. It was interesting how a creature with wings that do not match can fly as straight as he. But his wings, it seemed, were made so that both the leathered and feathered gave equality aerodynamically. Therefore, he could fly like any normal winged species. He flew higher, higher until he passed the tall buildings and he could perfectly see which road leads where. His eyes searched for the cafe as well as for the shortest route to it. Once satisfied, he began to decend and soon was back beside Leuka. He gave her a sheepish grin before gesturing an arm towards the north. "<span style='color:gray'>This way.</span>" He started walking and then took a right turn, 2 left turns, pass several blocks, turned left again and ta-da. There it was. A small cafe with a sign bearing the words "Taffy's". It was no bigger than a cottage but jammed packed with pendragons. It was made of bricks and lighted well, colourful too. Behind it, a forestry had grown thus having many small visitors night and day. "<span style='color:gray'>Knew I'd find it.</span>" Khuta said. It seemed as if he was talking more to himself than to Leuka.
Leuka watched the winged pendragon bluntly, feeling very much that he was showing off. <font color = #2E8AF1>"Yeah,"</font> she said absent-mindedly, wondering why he thought he knew the place more than she, seeing as young Leuka had lived there all her life. <font color = #2E8AF1>"Right, shall we go in?"</font> She asked rhetorically as they approached (Leuka leading the way as much as the other), pushing the door open and walking inside. All the tables were pulsating shockingly with jabbering people, which was odd seeing the lateness of the night. She hesitated for a moment, then gestured towards the bar where an old bartender stood leering at them through one eye.
Khuta followed the femme and stood beside her after she opened the wooden door and walked in. It was quite dim inside. Orangey light filled the room and red and blue designs covered almost every part of the cafe wall. It was ment for a romantic setting but the interior designs give it a little jazz look. On one end of the cafe, a rather small stage was set. It was excactly enough for a set of drums, a keyboard, and a couple or three people to be on it. "<span style='color:gray'>Herm... I wonder where old Gargentue went? Doens't look like he's working tonight.</span>" Khuta said while peering over people's heads. He shrugged then nodded to Leuka as she gestured towards the bar and headed for it. The bartender nodded to both of them as a greeting. "Brought a friend, eh? That's right, m'lad. Don't, for even a second, think that I've fergotten yer." the bartender added after noticing Khuta's surprised expression. He finished wiping a glass he was holding. "What's yer poison for tonight?" Khuta took a seat on one of the empty barstools and hold on to another stool for Leuka in case someone else takes it. The bar was getting more customers by the second. "<span style='color:gray'>Coffee for both of us, if you please.</span>" Khuta replied with a smile. The bartender nodded and set off to prepare hot coffee. "<span style='color:gray'>Need any food inside that stomach of yours?</span>" Khuta asked Leuka.
