Revolutions PV Finished

@Meenauh Silmataurea / @Xailah Alptraum

It was a strange twist of fate: Xailah spoke of the train, and Pericles took a moment to recount its origins, distractedly breezing on about the muggle construction crew which was charmed and the odd plot behind it all. It was an identical story he had told on his train ride to Hogwarts, and here he was sharing it again while leaving. Stories were a good distraction. Yet he too indulged in those ponderous silences, at times content to simply stroke Schrodinger whilst staring out the window. Time flies terribly fast when you're enjoying yourself, and it also flies by when one is still growing. For Pericles, the ride had come to an abrupt stop, and there would be a great deal of dawdling between arriving at the station and his actually exiting the Express. Separations seem especially long to children. He felt much like he did whenever his sister, Abigail, was about to leave for another of her expeditions. Surely she would come home with stories and surprises, perhaps an artifact to awe him. But that didn't make being apart any easier.

Pericles looking at Xailah's extended pinky with a struggling smile. He nodded once, then was hooked with his own to seal the deal, such a binding contract for young wixes. The boy then grinned awkwardly as Meenauh laughed, only for the expression to shatter when she hugged him. Surely he was mature for his age, both in his bearing and mind, though in that moment his boyishness shone through. He threw his arms back around Meenauh with emotional enthusiasm and a creased brow. Both eyes closed tight, and when they opened again, they had grown glossy. Several blinks tried to rectify this as he turned towards Xailah next, silvers trying to stay on golds rather than turning up towards those fuzzy protrusions rising from her hair. The box was accepted with vivid surprise. Pericles listened, standing very still, while his friend wibble-wobbled about the significance of the thing. It was shocking enough to get a present, let alone see Xailah's nerves, though they offered the boy an odd sense of comfort. She looked to feel just as uncertain and unhappy as he did. While he wanted anything other than to see people crestfallen, it was bittersweet to be missed.

The box was opened. A fresh wave of astonishment rolled over the Ravenclaw, then a broad smile sprang into place. He ever so delicately dared to touch a petal, confirming why and how the flower still looked so pristine, taken aback by the sentimentality and beauty of the thing. Pericles wouldn't allow Xailah to finish her overly polite prattle about obligation and proprieties. She was being overly polite in asking, just as he had been overly polite in trying to handshake them both goodbye, so partway through the request he simply slid his arms under hers and hugged his friend tightly. "It's perfect. Thank you." Emotions weren't something to be ashamed of in his household, though a bit of pride had him trying to sniff his runny nose as quietly as possible. Peri drew back, sending a wobbly smile between Xailah and Meenauh, managing to mumble "I'll see you both in September then." The final farewell was given to that fat grey cat he had sat besides for the journey, who he patted affectionately on the side, saying "You'll watch out for them, won't you?" Then he was in the walkway, being swept along with the throng of students trying to churn out of the Hogwarts Express.

When at last Pericles broke free of the crowd, he wove his way easily through scattered students and joined his father, beaming brightly. An eerily long hand came to cup the boy's head, the warlock's cold and cutting features turning warm with a smile. They exchanged short greetings, seeming to say more with their expressions than words, before the boy turned back towards the train and began gesturing towards their compartment window just as he had enthusiastically pointed out of it. Dralt Senior squinted, trying to discern the faces within, and should he meet eyes with either witch, his mouth would coil into something polite while he offered a slow and appreciative nod. One hand held the umbrella aloft while the other sought his son's shoulder. Then they turned together, Pericles offering one last wave back, before the strange gentlemen faded off into the station.

Exiting.

The fates were funny like that, weren't they? While the Pericles touched on the origins of the train, Xailah couldn't help but feel weirdly... nostalgic? Was that right? She didn't know. However, she did know that time was passing at a remarkable rate. She had taken the occasional glance at her pocket watch, during the ride. Each time she peeked at the little hands, she felt her heart drop further... and further. Eventually she would feel as if she had swallowed a stone. The time between the stories, and the linking of pinkies, was a blur. The Gryffindor rubbed at her temples, trying to clear her head. Its okay. You're fine this isn't the end of the world- Pericles would eventually turn her way, glossy-eyed. The antennae on the metamorphs head quivered. She couldn't help but panic, when she watched the Ravenclaw open up the box. She was almost certain that he was going to hate it- but he didn't. Or he was doing a very good job at hiding it. His reaction would actually come as a surprise to the lion cub.

"Ouh-" Oh. Oh okay, they were hugging. "You're going to crush me Pericles- " She murmured quietly with some discomfort. The Ravenclaw was surprisingly strong for a lad his age. Or maybe Xailah was simply just too weak for a lass her age. It was a surprise at first. The hug. She was in the process of asking him, and had not expected him to interrupt mid-sentence. The cubs natural reaction was to flinch away, but after a moment, she very reluctantly allowed herself to fall into the smaller boy. They linked together like two Lego pieces, that just so happened to fit swell enough, despite being two completely different blocks. Her arms would hover distantly around his shoulders, unwilling to make full contact with him. Soft brown locks, and fuzzy antennae would tickle past his pale cheek. She didn't know if he spoke the truth when he claimed her gift was perfect. She was mostly just pleased he didn't toss it away. Not while she was still present at least.

Unlike Pericles, Xailah was generally afraid to express most feelings and emotions. Even now. She often thought they made her out to be weak. But considering her metamorphic nature, it was sometimes hard to hold back nerves. She heard the birds quiet sniffles. They made her smile slightly. There was something terribly humorous about this whole scene, but she couldn't quite put her finger on the reason as to why. Perhaps it was the beautifully obnoxious, theatrics of it all. The elder lioness swayed, in a subconscious attempt to quiet the Ravenclaws sniffling. The little fellers that had sprouted from her mane, patted around the top of Pericles head- gently brushing over his sculpted locks. As expected, Xailah was the first to break the hug. It only lasted for a few moments- heck, maybe even a couple of seconds; but even when they separated she could still feel a phantom warmth radiating from her person. She wasn't sure she liked the feeling. A petite hand would linger on the young wizards arm- it would slide away, after a gentle pat. Xailah would take a small step back, her hand would reach out to find Meenauhs wrist. Both girls looked at the fledgling, and then to each other. They nodded. "Yes. September."

So in two- three months? For children, that was like, forever. The two lions would watch the lad say his goodbyes to the cat that accompanied the trio. Schrödinger lifted his head, and cooed, as if responding to the boy in an affirmative. Xailahs head immediately fell, she didn't have the heart to correct Pericles, and inform him that Schrödinger would not be accompanying the girls to summer camp. No. The cat got to go home. "Mhm. He'll keep the all the ghouls away." She played along, to humor the lad. "Well go on now. Ssshoo." Xailah ushered the boy away. The two Gryffindors would watch their Ravenclaw depart.

Xailah would run to the window, tugging Meenauh along as she did so. She would watch long enough, to make sure Pericles made it safely to his father. The station was packed- yes, but one would be surprised at how easily people could be taken, while so many others were around. The beastling's yellow gaze would eventually wander away from Pericles, setting on the man that walked beside him. Her stare lingered on the older man. Slitted pupils flexed in curiosity. There was something odd about him, but Xailah couldn't tell what it was exactly. The train that separated them, prevented the girl from detecting anything. Sapphire and gold eyes, would meet the tarnished, silver ones of the man. Xailah would dip her head, subtly bowing it, in response to the mans nod. She absentmindedly nudged Meenauh to do the same. It was an action out of habit- it was what she was used to doing when encountering parents, or just elders in general. Bow, smile, curtsey, then remind Meadie to do the same.

The Gryffidor duo would watch both father, and son grow smaller, and smaller, as they made their way through the station. The boy turned, and sent a final wave towards the two little witches. The girls waved back, like a couple of sad, Misfit Toys that had been abandoned in their box. Xailah would then turn away from the pane of glass, to look at Meenauh. The older girl frantically tried to tuck her antennae under her hair, to get them out of sight. "Lets go." The two remaining 'Herberts' would gather their luggage- Xailah would gather her loaf of cat- and then they too, would be off. To summer camp. They had come full circle- they had successfully made one revolution, yet again. The children most likely failed to consider this- failed to consider how important it was. The end of a train ride, was only the beginning of something truly wonderful.