A Visit to Avista

      My Petpet, on the other hand, was a different story. During my time as an apprentice Ward, Quinn and I had come across a Petpet trafficking ring. The conditions were deplorable and we were able to get justice for the mistreated Petpets. One of those happened to be a mutant Ona. Unfortunately, he was too young to be released.

      The problem was that he had a severe mistrust of Neopets (and who could blame him?). I could relate to the little guy and I had become the only one that he trusted. Since finding him a home elsewhere would be a very tall order, I wound up keeping him. I named him Fiend and he became my faithful and fierce companion. This wasn’t a problem in the Haunted Woods.

      But, taking him out into the greater Neopia would be a challenge. I couldn’t leave him because no one else could (or would) handle him. He had to come with me. So, I prepared myself and him as best I could, taking every precaution to keep both him and the general public safe. This included a muzzle, a secure collar and chain, a stainless-steel travel crate and sedatives from his veterinarian.

      Waiting on the station platform in the Haunted Woods was no problem. I had made sure to put his muzzle on him and while holding Fiend in my arms helped keep him relatively manageable he still growled a fierce warning to anyone who got too close. Eying him warily, the other waiting passengers gave us a wide berth. I had taken the further precaution of purchasing two tickets so that we would have a little more room to ourselves. I settled him in the seat next to the window, taking the aisle to help keep him contained and separated from passing traffic.

      Trusting that we were relatively settled for the duration of the trip, I removed Fiend’s muzzle so that I could give him one of his favourite toys: a long, thick, fake hollow log filled with treats. It kept him occupied for at least an hour as he worked on it. After that, he fell into a restless sleep, growling to himself. He did that even back in the Haunted Woods and I wondered if that was something he had always done or if it was a result of his early life or perhaps a combination of both. I wondered if he would ever fully break free of all the bad he had experienced or if it would always be a part of him, no matter how distant that time became.

      Fiend awoke from his nap a couple hours later. My mutant Ona contented himself with looking out the window at the passing scenery. We had made it through the mountains and were traveling through Avista now. It seemed to be mostly open countryside interspersed with woodlands. We had a couple more hours to go but thankfully, the remainder of our train ride was relatively uneventful.

      Before exiting the train, I placed Fiend’s muzzle back on him. We were entering a completely new and unfamiliar city and I didn’t want to take any chances. As soon as I had gathered my duffel bag and his travel crate (it had wheels), I decided it would be safest for all involved for Fiend to be in his travel crate so I could focus on navigating my way through the bustling city of Lune. I picked up a map of the city along with a booklet with streetcar routes. Already foreseeing the difficulty (and irony) of transporting Fiend’s travel crate, I had chosen a hotel that was within walking distance of the train depot.

      Half an hour later, I was checked in, allowed Fiend to stretch his legs after our long journey and resettled him back in his crate with a refreshed treat toy. I exited my hotel room, making certain to leave the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign clearly visible. That taken care of, I left the hotel and hopped on the nearest streetcar. The anticipation and longing that I had kept in check for so long was rising within me. After being apart from my sister for three years, I was finally just moments away from being reunited with her.

      I took the long walk up the gravel drive of the school grounds, barely noticing the manicured lawns and elegant fountain that stood in front of the staircase that swooped up to the school doors on either side. I jogged up the stone steps but paused just outside the carved wooden doors that served as the entrance to straighten my trench coat and run a hand through my thick black hair, settling my sudden case of nerves. I stepped through the door to enter a grand lobby with marbled floors and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. A grand staircase led to the floors beyond. And, front and center of the room was a reception desk with a faerie Lenny giving me a disapproving look.

      I was completely out of my element here but I wasn’t about to be turned away. I strode confidently forward and stopped at the desk.

      “May I help you?” the faerie Lenny asked, managing to somehow peer down her long beak at me though she was seated and I was standing. Were all Lenny secretaries the same? I wondered.

      “My name is Kylleon Kane. I’m here to visit my sister, Katelyn Kane,” I said.

      “Very well. I’ll notify Miss Kane that she has a visitor,” the faerie Lenny said. “You may take a seat over there,” she told me, waving a wing towards a white settee with gold accents.

      I walked away from the desk but didn’t sit, restless and not wanting to risk dirtying the spotless furniture. I didn’t have long to wait before I heard a still familiar tread coming down the stairs. I turned to see Katelyn walking down the stairs.

      When our eyes met, she forgot all decorum and raced towards me. She didn’t far, before the secretary corrected her.

      “Miss Kane!” the faerie Lenny chided. “Control yourself!”

      Katelyn stopped at once. “My apologies, Miss Sweet. It’s just I haven’t seen my brother in such a long time and I’ve missed him dearly.”

      “There is no excuse for unseemly behaviour. Remember you are a young lady and a pupil of this school. As such, you are expected to behave in a manner befitting that background.”

      “I understand, Miss Sweet. It won’t happen again.”

      Miss Sweet sniffed and returned to her paperwork.

      “Come on, Kylleon. Let’s take a walk so we can catch up properly,” Katelyn said to me, looping her arm through mine.

      I followed her willingly and felt the tension leave my body as we left the judgy secretary behind.

      As soon as we exited the building, Katelyn wrapped me in a tight hug and I returned her embrace. We held each other for a long time. It felt so good to have my sister in my arms again. It had been far too long and I vowed in that moment that I would never let so much time pass between visits again.

      At last, we pulled away to look at each other, though we still kept our arms entwined.

      “You’ve grown so much,” I said.

      Katelyn was a faerie Wocky, three years younger than I was. She had bloomed since I’d seen her last. She had grown taller, though she still only reached my shoulder. Her eyes were bright and she held herself with remarkable poise for someone her age. Just by looking at her, she seemed to bear no marks of our harsh upbringing.

      “So have you,” she said, taking a step back to get a better look at me in trench coat, plain trousers and sturdy shoes.

      For the first time, I wondered what she saw when she looked at me. Though, I didn’t ask. Instead, I looped my arm through hers as we walked the school grounds.

      “Are you happy here?” I asked.

      Katelyn had written and assured me over the phone that she was safe and well. I could see that she appeared to be thriving. But, I still felt the need to hear it directly from her.

      My sister looked up at me with the sweet, gentle smile I remembered. “Yes, I am.”

      I heaved a sigh, releasing the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. I was relieved to hear and finally see for myself that Katelyn was alright.

      “And you? Are you happy?” Katelyn asked me.

      “Now that I’m here with you, I am,” I said. Then, realizing that wasn’t the answer she was really looking for, or the full truth, I elaborated further. “I wasn’t for a long time, you know. I didn’t even know what happiness was, let alone that it was something I could have. All I knew was what I didn’t want.” I felt the bitterness of those years rise up and Katelyn’s hand pressed my arm. Much as I didn’t like the thought, she knew exactly how I felt.

      I took a deep breath before continuing. “I didn’t know it at the time but things started to change when I met Quinn.”

      “Your Ward mentor?”

      I nodded. “He gave all of my anger and frustration somewhere to go.”

      “He gave you purpose.”

      A smile flickered at the corner of my lips. “Yes. I didn’t have to be the obedient son that Father wanted. I could just be…not good, perhaps but just me. Quinn taught me that I, who I was, was enough.”

      Katelyn came to an abrupt halt, making me looking at her. “You are good, Kylleon. Maybe not in the eyes of our parents but you are a good brother to me and a good Ward, from what little you’ve shared with me. You truly care about your work and making a difference. You wouldn’t have spent a year patrolling the Woods border while Faerieland was recovering if you didn’t. That makes you good in my eyes and I won’t hear anyone say a word to the contrary, including you.”

      I listened to my sister’s declaration in silence, amazed at the passion in her voice and expression. I had never seen her so, not fierce, precisely, but bold.

      “This school has been good for you. Its helped you find your voice,” I said, as we continued walking. “I couldn’t be prouder of you and who you are becoming.”

      “I’m proud of you, too, brother.” Katelyn’s sweet smile was back.

      I knew I could leave Fiend alone for long periods as long as he was kept contained and occupied. So, there was nothing stopping me from keeping me from catching up with Katelyn. I was able to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening with my sister.

      She gave me a tour of the school so that I could see where she spent the majority of her time. I had not had the opportunity to ever lay eyes on the original facility so was glad of the chance now. As I had already seen, it was a large, well-kept, elegant place. They had clearly come through the move across the continent without losing any of the appeal they had had in Faerieland. It was far too opulent and grand a place for my taste but Katelyn seemed right at home.

      While there, I also had the opportunity to meet some of her school friends. Due to my own unconventional adolescence, I had little to no experience with teen girls. Some of them were shy and others were brazen but all of them seemed rather immature to me, all giggles and whispers and meaningful glances. It was a relief to finally leave their company.

      “Are they always like that?” I asked, wondering what Katelyn saw in them besides.

      “No.” Katelyn’s lips twitched in amusement. “They were only acting that way because they liked you.”

      “What?” It was my turn to halt abruptly. I was completely baffled by what I’d heard.

      Katelyn laughed. “That’s how all the girls act when there’s a cute boy around.”

      I pulled a face. “Please don’t call me cute ever again.”

      “I didn’t say you were cute. I said my friends thought you were.”

      I snorted, not seeing the humor in the situation.

      “And speaking of cute boys, there’s someone I want you to meet,” Katelyn said, urging me on.

      I gave my sister a penetrating look. Before I could press for more details, we approached a yellow Wocky who appeared to be waiting for us.

      “Kylleon, this is Declan Leclair. He lives here in Lune and we’ve become friends,” Katelyn introduced us.

      There was something about the way Katelyn had hesitated over the word ‘friend’ that I didn’t like. But, I was going to hear her out.

      “Kylleon Kane,’ I said, extending a hand to shake.

      “Declan Leclair,” the yellow Wocky said, accepting my handshake and not even wincing at my firm handshake.

      I dropped his hand, begrudgingly impressed. But that didn’t mean he was off the hook.

      “I was thinking we could have dinner?” Katelyn looked up at me hopefully.

      I had been looking forward to sharing a meal with Katelyn, alone. But, I never could deny my sister anything. “Very well.”

      Katelyn beamed at me as we entered a nearby restaurant. I proceeded to learn all about this young Wocky that had managed to gain my sister’s affection. He and my sister had met shortly after her arrival in Lune. They had hit it off almost immediately and had been friends ever since. From what I could gather, the two of them didn’t have much in common.

      But, Declan was kind, intelligent and attentive to Katelyn. It was no wonder she liked him.

      “And the two of you are just friends?” I used the same emphasis on the word ‘friends’ as Katelyn had.

      “Actually,” Katelyn began, exchanging a glance with Declan and he reached for her hand.

      It was a force of will not to stiffen from where I sat across the table from them.

      Katelyn seemed to gather her resolve and looked me steadily in the eye. “Our feelings have grown beyond just friendship. I, we,” Katelyn said, indicating Declan with a wave of her free hand, “want to pursue something more.”

      “But Katelyn wanted to wait until I had met you and gotten your approval. And I agreed,” Declan said.

      “And what are your intentions towards my sister?” I asked.

      “I want to get to know her better. I know we’re both still young. At the very least, we both want to finish school. And, where life leads after that? I don’t know. What I do know is that I like Katelyn, a lot and I want to see where our relationship takes us.”

      I remained silent for a moment, letting them believe I was deliberating. In reality, I had no real objections about Declan. If Katelyn was willing to pursue a relationship with him, I trusted her judgement. Who was I to get in the way?

      “If this is something that you both want, I don’t have a problem with it,” I said at last.

      Declan smiled with relief and Katelyn practically beamed with pleasure.

      The meal didn’t last much longer after that. We parted ways with Declan and I escorted Katelyn back to school. Having seen my sister, I knew it was time to go.

      I hugged Katelyn in farewell and though her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her voice was steady. “Today was wonderful.”

      “I’m only a phone call away,” I said. “And, I’ll be sure to come visit on a more regular basis.”

      “Good.”

      And it was.

      When I walked away, I felt the familiar tug to be with my sister but there was a stronger tug drawing me back to the Haunted Woods. This was a sensation I had never felt before. I suppose it helped that we had seen each other and were reassured that not only were we okay, we were thriving in our respective homes, even if we weren’t together. After everything we had endured over the years, we could finally be happy.

     The End.