What's Your Seal?

[Animegurl5]

"I like this guy... Where ever did you find him, Sky?" Dan smiled with approval as he stretched out his arms.

"I went after him because he smelled like the Master of their house. I wanted to mess with him a little so I started messing with the weather, but mini master here wasn't too pleased. "I maintain that he attacked me first." She smiled mischeiviously as she answered Dan's question.

"Does he have a twin sister?" He poked, earning a menacing look from Skylar.

"Ew, you are so weird." She shoved his arm, causing him to topple over in a fit of laughter. She broke then, laughing until her sides were threatening to tear.

"The sculpture looks lovely dear, like usual." Came a melodic voice from behind the laughing pair, each falling silent as they turned to gaze at the tall woman who carried multiple platters of food. Skylar moved immediately and took the platters from her, setting them down where she thought they looked best.

"Hello Mother. I brought over a friend for dinner. This is..." She was cut off by her mother raising a hand to silence her.

"I am perfectly aware of our guest, Skylar." She stated, looking over at Igneus with a warm smile. "Hello, Igneus dear. My you sure have grown. The last time I spoke with your father was when you were still learning to shift. You are welcome any time dear." She said as she took her seat farther up the table, near the head. The expression Skylar wore on her face was priceless and sent Dan into another fit of laughter. "My goodness, Daniel. Will you grow up, please?" She rolled her eyes, a smile still firmly held in place of the beautiful woman's face. Everything about her was beauty but there was an underlying sensation that the woman was more than she appeared.

"Mother is fire incarnated into a physical form. She can be so kind and so forgiving, warm and inviting. However, if you mess with fire, you are sure to get burned. She can be as crazy as fire as well but the entire time she maintains a beauty that is equally powerful as the element that she connects with. She is truly amazing, and I'm guess that's why she knows you. I'm sure your father would have atleast been slightly impressed." She said, as she took her seat and shrugged.

[selfexiled]

Taken back by the thought that he was already known in the house Igneus forgot his manners for a moment. Suddenly remembering them, he jumped up from his seat and bowed before Sky's mother. "It is a pleasure to meet you m'lady, but please forgive me as I do not remember you and am sincerely puzzled as to how you and 'father' know one another."

[Animegurl5]

"It's alright child, be at ease." The woman said with an amused smile. "As I said, you were quite young at the time so I wouldn't expect you to remember me. When I realized the type of personality my children had developed, I thought it wise to pay your father a visit. As a warning of sorts, I told him that my kids were trouble makers and were always wandering off. So that if anything went missing or if he found any of them on his property he could be at ease that it would be replaced or taken care of." She continued, looking down the table at Skylar who rolled her eyes and made a face back at her mother.

"Careful Sky, your face might freeze like that if you make that face for too long." Dan warned jokingly. He only ended up getting shoved over again by a very angry Skylar.

It wasn't long after that people appeared out of thin air and took their seats, the entire table filling up except for the one on the end of the table. Moments later an elderly woman walked into the room, holding an air of power and wisdom. All the members of the family grew silent as she entered, heads bowing in respect as she took her seat at the head of the entire family. Looking down the row, she immediately spotted the young guest. "Welcome child. I hope you are enjoying yourself so far." Her voice was unusually strong for a woman who had aged as much as she. "Everyone eat and be merry, for we have an exciting day approaching." As if those were the words that everyone was waiting for, each person moved immediately to fill their plates. Laughter arose from every corner, the occasional playful shove knocking down people in a domino-like effect.

"Ok, so I may have lied a bit... Only my brother is unhappy about your arrival." She smiled, and laughed with the group that had just knocked into her. She shoved into Dan sending the momentum back in the direction in which it had come.

[selfexiled]

"Well I'm glad you gave him warning, however, I'm not sure he remembered it. He was in a foul temper this afternoon." Others were arriving ending the conversation. An ancient entered her eyes were like the depths of time for as frail as she appeared there was a palpable power there. Everyone stopped in silence when she had appeared at the table waiting for her permission to continue. Once granted the table erupted with talk and laughter and kind hearted shoves and elbows.

A little bewildered at the sudden activity Igneus took a moment to try and grab food but quickly fell into the rythem of it all. In response to Skylar he said, "Well it's always nice to be welcomed at a table. Should we try to save some for Melody?"

[Animegurl5]

"Trust me when I tell you there will be left overs. Nobody ever finished the whole thing on such occasions." Sky replied, shoveling a bunch of food onto and empty plate. She groaned with satisfaction as she took a bite, her eyes shut and her mouth formed into a smile. "This. is. so. GOOOD!" She took only enough time to chew for proper digestion and to breath, nothing else mattered. Skylar's plate was completely cleared in no time and so she shoveled even more food onto the platter. Dan looked at her challengingly, both staring at each other for a full moment before Skylar spoke. "Oh it is on pretty boy." She smirked before the two began inhaling their food. From down the table, Skylar's mom shook her head.

"Mother, what are we to do with that one? She is simply out of control." She asked, looking beside her to the elder.

"I remember you being the exact same way when you were her age, and I'm sure my own mother would have said the same about me. Let her be a child as long as she can, for growing up comes with a lot of responsibilities I'm not sure she could handle quite yet." The woman replied with an amused smile. "Be at ease my dear Jade, and just enjoy the night's festivities."

"Yes Mother." Jade sighed, returning her attention to the food before her.

[selfexiled]

Igneus couldn't help but laugh at Sky's assault on the food and then the challenge between her and Dan. It had been a while since he'd laughed that much, The Master insisting he take over more and more of the responsibilities of the house. He'd not seen his younger siblings as much as he used to. It was nice to be so free once again.

Overhearing the two women speak about Sky, "I agree with you. One should never be forced to grow up faster than they need too." Suddenly feeling like he'd butted into a private conversation he started staring at his plate and eating the food in mock earnest.

[Animegurl5]

Upon hearing Igneus' voice, Sky looked up and around before shrugging and continuing her competition with Dan. She slid the last of her food into her mouth before stealing Dan's and eating his. "I win." She smirked, a large triumphant smile on her face.

"Not fair, you cheated." He pouted, retrieving his plate from his cousin's hands.

"I did not. I finished my plate first before I took yours. It's not my fault you can't keep up with me." She crossed her arms over her chest, shaking her head. The two cracked up laughing, leaning against the other for support. Skylar's grandmother smiled again, looking over at the youngster.

"No need to be so up tight around us. Unlike in your household, here we value the bonds between us more than anything. If we can't be open with our oppinions then we have no business being in this house." She said, pausing to take a bite of her meal. "Though from your statement, I think you need to take a break and hang out with us. Please will you stay for our tornament tomorrow?" As the words left her mouth, those around her fell silent, the silence spreading across the table as eyes turned to the guest. They waited for his reply, the feelings of excitement palpable in the room.

[selfexiled]

Looking around the room at all the smiling faces, Igneus couldn't help but smile as well. "It would appear that I have little choice in the matter."
Turning to grandmother, "I would be honoured to view your tournament." This seemed to please everyone as there were a few cheers and claps but mostly just bigger smiles and returning to thier plates.

[Animegurl5]

((Sorry I haven't been here for a while... I see that you are marked as 'on hiatus'. I wonder if you'll be coming back soon. On the off chance that you are, I will post any way. :) ))

You could just about pluck the excitement from the air as Igneus agreed to join them for the games. Plenty shouted and clapped, laughter filling the room to the breaking point.

"Oh this should be loads of fun." Skylar smiled, taking another bite of a plate that was yet again full. Dan beside her nodded in agreement.

"Yes, my dear cousin. Yes it shall. I don't think we have ever had an outsider before, you lucky bird."

"Maybe she will even go so far as to let him join in on the games, wouldn't that be delightful?" She laughed, eyes immediately snapping to a relative who had withdrawn an instrument from his belongings. His whole family had brought something out to play, beginning in unison and not bothering with the still noisy crowd. Music, the one thing other than flying that spoke to Skylar. The melody soon had her on her feet dancing with the children. All of the adults laughed and a couple of them even joined in for as long as they were willing to leave their plates.