The Six Sectors

Chapter Fifty-Three - Aerizat

"How do you even know that name!?" I exclaimed, surprised at Herizo's use of my first name.

"I-" Herizo paused, blinking. "That's an amazing question.."

What in the name of the Six Sectors.

"Well, what do you want?" I asked, taking a sip of apple juice. Yes. Apple juice. It was my preferred drink.

"I'm not allowed to say hi?"

"Oh, so you're about to do something stupid, okay," I said. Herizo just blinked.

"How would you even come to that conclusion?"

"Every time you come to me to say hi something inevitably goes horribly wrong. I mean, you once left a burner on and ended up burning a pot."

"... Oh my gosh you're right-" Herizo said, grabbing a cookie from the snack table.

"Of course I am." I said.

"Well, I guess I should go then?"

"If you want. Now I know you two are there," I said, turning over to look at Cicada Greenleaf and Zion Acqua. Cicada frowned.

"Aw man!" He whined, just as something tackled him.

"Is that a griffin?" I asked, looking at the something. The tiny thing looked up, wagging it's lion tail. It squawked.

"Aww! It's cute!" Cicada said as he got up.

"Adorable," Zion agreed.

"Where are his parents?" I asked worriedly. Griffin's didn't usually just leave their children to roam until they were older. The griffin squawked, curling up in Cicada's arms. Cicada shrugged.

"Dunno." He lifted the creature and looked it over. "He's got a belly wound. Maybe a fight?"

"That doesn't sound good," Zion stated.

I took a few steps towards them. I looked at the griffin, and sure enough, there were signs of a battle. Yet, the griffin wasn't being violent or protective. In fact, he seemed quite calm, if not happy. The griffin looked at me and cooed, it's yellow eyes blinking. There was something hidden in his feathers, tied to him with a ribbon. I slowly and carefully reached my hand out towards the item, and untied it from him. I made sure not to frighten or anger the griffin, it was important to keep him calm until we figured out what was going on. The Griffin cuddled up to Cicada, as if it was in fear of something and needed comfort.

The action surprised me a bit, as they were two completely different species, and the griffin was but a child. Although, I had been surprised by the group, the group that stopped the ruthlessness of Ijetix, more times than I could count. I looked down at the item I had grabbed. It was a note that read-

This is Aquila

Please take care of him, as I, his mother, cannot

Aqui, I hope you find a loving home

I blinked. This explained it, well, at least explained why the griffin was alone. Or, Aquila.

"His name is Aquila," I said.

"Aw, cute!" Cicada nuzzled him. "Hello little Aquila!" Aquila squawked, snuggling back. "Can we adopt him, Zion? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?" He made puppy dog eyes at his husband.

"... Are you certain this is a good idea?" Zion asked.

"He does need a home," I stated. Of course, I wasn't going to force them to do anything, but if they wanted to I'd help them.

"Yeah, besides, who else will? We don't want Dr. Hanity getting her hands on him." Cicada scowled. "Besides, this little guy likes us! I say we take him in and give him a life he can cherish." Aquila suddenly glowed and was replaced by a small boy, in a feathery outfit. He looked to be 2, at most.

Zion looked at the child. "Awwwwwwe," He said, obviously thinking the kid was adorable.

He wasn't wrong though.

"Give it a few days," I suggested, "Keep him around for a little bit before you decide. You just got married, don't just jump into things too fast."

"Right." Cicada nodded, being more gentle with Aquila. "Thank you, Aerizat." He bowed to me.

"Of course," I said. I had to admit, I'd gotten a bit biased towards these kids. Yeah, they are technically adults now, but they're still kids to me.

Even though I'm only five to ten years older than them.

"DYNIKTO FRITKOS WHAT THE HECK-"

"AUNTIE LOOKIE I INNA TREE!!"

"DYN, GET DOWN OTHERWISE YOUR MOM IS GONNA MURDER MY GAY A- BUTT!!"

"NO!!"

"DYNIKTO KAINE FRITKOS I SWEAR TO THE GHOSTS ABOVE-" Dyn, sure enough, was stuck in a tree. The 3-year-old was just like his aunt, getting into trouble in the most unlikely ways. Dyn stuck his tongue out at Tehya.

"YOU'RE NOT MY MOMMY!!"

"NO BUT I'M YOUR AUNT GET DOWN!"

I sighed and trotted over, my hooves pushing down the grass and leaving imprints in the ground. I looked up at the small boy.

"Dyn, could you please get down? There's snacks down here," Yes, I was bribing the child with food. Yes, I could have probably done something else. But I was not in the mood.

"No!" Dyn giggled. Tehya sighed.

"Not gonna work, Aerizat, Vize does that one all the time." She said, putting her hands on her hips. "This is why I'm not the best babysitter. DYN!!"

"Nanananana!" Dyn blew a raspberry at us and Tehya growled.

"Okay you listen here you little-"

"Well, good luck with that," I said, turning away. Tehya nodded.

"Thanks for trying, Aeri." She kept yelling at Dyn, Dyn kept defying her. It was like a game.

"... It's Marion, actually," I said, walking away towards Herizo. What can I say? He was my favorite. I guess me and the other leaders are on a first name basis now?