Naïkiir and Naïlo

  This is the story of Naïkiir and her brother Naïlo. I wrote it for school. The assignment was to write a story that had something to do with our life, like friends or toys or favorite places. I wrote about this because Naïkiir is like me on a permanent sugar rush with the motto "Strangers are friends you haven't met yet", and Naïlo is like my older brother back when he was mean. Except, y'know, they're awakened leopards that live with elves and druids in a magical forest.

  It's pretty short and goes kinda fast near the end, but I thought it was due in a day and finished it quick. Turned out we didn't even talk about it for a week, but I never went back and changed it.


    Naïkiir trudged through the forest, her head low and her spotted tail dragging through the leaves. They crackled as she walked, the sharp noise reminding her with every step how quiet the forest was today. Normally the trees would be ringing with the laughter and chatter of Xiloama and Liascient. Not now, though. Her two best friends were far away, across the river. Naïkiir had told them to go ahead without her, because she would be doing something else today. Naïlo was going to hunt with her! She had been begging her older brother to do something with her for months, and finally he had given in. Only to cancel an hour before they were going to leave.
    “Tiyaka got someone else to babysit his brothers today!” He had said. “We’re going to the beach to find some cool driftwood. Seeya later!” He hadn’t mentioned how he was breaking his promise to play with her today. It was like he had completely forgotten! She hissed crossly, flicking her tail. He could have at least given her more notice! Then she’d be with her friends. She knew exactly what they would say right now. “He does have a reason.” That would be Liascient. “Tiyaka is always babysitting, and of course he wants to play with Naïlo on his day off.” She would look at Naïkiir ‘s expression and add, “Thats not a good enough excuse, though.” “Yeah, way not good enough!” Xiloama would chime in. “That jerk should’ve gone hunting with you anyway! He knew how much you were looking forward to this!” Naïkiir looked up to agree, before remembering she was just imagining the conversation. How she wished she could really talk to them. They could be anywhere now, though. There was no way she’d be able to find them just by looking, and Naïkiir wasn’t that good of tracker yet. “But wait!” She thought. “I know where Naïlo’s going! The beach! I can find him!” She stopped and took a deep breath, concentrating. There! The salty smell was that way! She started racing towards the ocean. She’d hang around and be annoying until Naïlo had to hunt with her!
    She slowed as she reached the beach, scenting the air. “Yep, Naïlo’s definitely there! And Tiyaka! But wait... Oh no...” She sniffed again, to be sure, but there was no mistaking it. That was Evex! He was a wolf, like Liascient. But they were very different. Her friend was caring, quiet, and graceful. Evex was big ol’ bully. He was one of the most popular of the awakened animals, probably because no one wanted to get on his bad side. The worst part about him, was Naïlo always acted like jerk near him, like he had to prove he was just as tough and mean. No way he was going to agree to do anything with his little sister when Evex was near.
    Naïkiir decided to get closer anyways, incase it was just a lingering scent from the morning. She wasn’t a very good tracker, after all. She crept forward, concentrating on placing her paws gently so they would make no noise on crunchy leaves. She stopped in between two ferns at the very edge of the forest, peering between them out onto the beach. She spotted the familiar, leopard-spotted form of her brother right away, then Tiyaka next to him. And behind them, the big, russet-colored Evex. “Hey, Naïlo, I know what we should do!” He had an evil grin on his face. “We should play a prank on your stupid sister!”
    Naïkiir’s eyes widened. What were the chances she would come at this exact part of the conversation? “Well...” Naïlo hesitated. “Okay. What should we do?”
    “Hmm... what to do...” Tiyaka wondered.
    “We could put thorns in her den!” Naïlo suggested after a moment.
    “Nah, too tame.” Evex shook his head. “We need something better. Something like... putting poisoned thorns in her den! There’s some yew bushes nearby, we could use those!” Naïkiir gasped. Evex was going to try to poison her! Some kind of prank! She could die! At least Naïlo seemed appalled as well, though he tried to hide it.
    “Y- yew berries need to be eaten to be p- poisonous.” He stammered, trying to disapprove of the idea without actually saying he was too chicken to poison his sister.
    “You’re right.” Evex agreed, and Naïkiir could see her brother give a sigh of relief. “We need to put them in her food. Tiyaka, you go get a rabbit or something. Naïlo, help me get the berries.” Naïlo stood still, his face twisted in indecision. If he told them it was stupid and dangerous and that he would tell on them, he would never regain his position as an almost friend to Evex, and that would drastically lower his popularity. On the other hand, they wanted to poison Naïkiir! “Well, what are you waiting for?” Evex asked.
    “Evex...” Naïlo trailed off, then began again. “Evex. This is stupid and dangerous. Naïkiir could die because of this. She could actually die! I won’t help you kill my sister. I don’t care what you say, I won’t! I don’t care if you won’t be my friend, I don’t want you to be my friend. Goodbye. C’mon, Tiyaka.” Naïlo turned and stalked off towards the forest. Tiyaka looked back and forth a couple times, then followed.
    Naïkiir stood up as they approached. Her brother started when he saw her, looking guilty. “I’m so sorry! I was almost going to let him poison you!”
    “It’s okay. I knew you wouldn’t. Sorry for eavesdropping, I’ll leave now.” She turned, but Naïlo held her back with his tail.
    “Wait! I promised I would hunt with you, so we’re going hunting. Seeya later, Tiyaka!”
    “Later,” Tiyaka replied, and started home.
    “Thank you so much, Naïlo! You’re the bestest big brother ever!” Naïkiir shouted, her earlier bad mood a long forgotten memory.
    “And you’re the best little sister. Come on, I think I smell a rabbit.”