HOME | DD

Description
Axolotl packed everything at an agonizingly slow pace. From the corner of his eye, he spotted one of his clawmates begin to walk in and began to pack faster, but he quickly relaxed when he realized it was only Shoal, come to get his things to leave as well.

"Summer should be fun, huh? Getting to go home and see everyone you've missed, family, friends...." Axolotl started, trying to spark up a conversation. One last moment to speak to their friend before leaving for a couple of months. Well, unless Shoal was still going to come visit Axo later in the season, and they weren't going to count letters because they knew from speaking to Iri that way in the past several months that it wasn't the same.

"Yeah, fun," Shoal said, sounding a bit forced. Paired with the wry smile on his face, Axolotl knew that somethingw as wrong, but he didn't dare ask what, not wanting to dredge up any bad thoughts in what could be their last moments before not seeing each other for a whole five or six weeks.

"So, what are you looking forward to when you go home?" Axolotl asked instead, pulling down a scroll on biology, then deciding that he should probably leave it for the library, since, well, that was where it came from. They probably didn't stock copies for dragons to just take. Still, he placed it on the scroll rack tenderly, hoping it would be there when he got back.

"I think I'm going to explore a new reef, maybe," Shoal responded after a moment, putting away the last of his belongings. "It seems like it's been so long since I've actually seen a live ocean fish, too. What about you? Wanna walk out to the entrance with me?"

"Sure," Axolotl agreed, slipping the last few personal scrolls he had into his satchel. They hesitated before nodding, looking up at Shoal with a smile. "Sure! I'll follow your lead." They gave a mock bow, allowing him to walk out before them, which made the SeaWing chuckle. He mocked puffing out his chest and holding his head high, shuffling out of the room. Axolotl glanced back at the room, now empty - their other clawmates having already left - and trailed after Shoal.

There was a period of silence before Axolotl said, "I think I'll be most grateful to see all the birds again. They were so colorful and pretty. Also, Iri has like two sloths and I loved those things. I should introduce you to them sometime. They're like, the best company to keep in the rainforest." They felt guilt crawl under their scales again, knowing that they had no intention to go home, but they didn't want to make Shoal disappointed by telling him that.

Shoal snorted, then gave Axolotl a curious look. "What are sloths like?"

"Like I said, I'll show you sometime. Who knows, a sloth might just choose me over the break, and I'll come flying back to school with one cradled in my arms." Axolotl grinned and shrugged their wings, knowing they probably wouldn't have time for any sloths to come crawling onto their shoulders.

The two chattered away, but just like that, they were at the entrance of the cave system, the main hub, where several other stragglers were hugging friends goodbye or making prolonged conversations with loved ones.

Axolotl glanced at Shoal, not seeing anyone else around that she knew, and gave him a feeble smile. "Well," she started, then didn't say anything more.

"Well," Shoal sighed, looking out into the sky. He wore that same unreadable expression from earlier, but once again Axolotl chose not to pry, especially not now, not here. If Shoal wanted her to know, he would say something.

"Time to go home, I guess," Axolotl hummed, looking away. "I hope I'll see you again next year! Don't forget to write and tell me whether or not to expect you in the rainforest at the end of summer. I'd love for you to get to meet Iri and - and Bat!"

They would collect their mail once they got home. In the meantime, Iri would be able to keep it safe for them.

"I'd like that. I'll keep you updated," Shoal said with a small nod. "I wish you could breathe underwater. I'd love to actually be able to show you my home too. It's so beautiful - everybody who can't see it is really missing out." He heaved another sigh, then took his turn in following Axolotl as the RainWing made their way to the edge of the ledge that jutted out from the entrance. "I'll see you, then."

"Yeah, I'll be seeing you." Axolotl put on the most brilliant grin they could muster, then flashed a pattern on their scales in bright orange, just as Shoal had taught them. Be safe! Fly straight! Have fun! Will miss you!

Shoal beamed and flashed back similar remarks, and then they both took off, going in their own directions.

They were going to miss him, and sweet Glaze, and silly Dama, along with the rest of their clawmates and friends. Even some of their teachers. They were definitely going to come back for a second year - why wouldn't they? - but they didn't know Shoal's plans yet for sure. They could always change. And Shoal was the best friend she'd made at the school - what if they had to make all new friends?!

They took a deep breath to calm themself, then looked behind them, making sure Shoal was out of sight. He was still a green speck on the horizon, so they flew for a little ways more until they couldn't see him, then they wheeled around with a new destination in mind.

Axolotl thought they could use some new Possibilities right about now.

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Part 2 | Part 3

WWWWWWWWOW IVE HAD THIS PICTURE DONE FOR LIKE TWO WEEKS BUT THAT WRITING WAS PAIN TO MANAGE TO GET OUT TBH

anyway this was supposed to be for the first weekly prompt but here it is two weeks late or more and my axo baby is leaving school for the semester and hes Sad

theyre up for RP in possibility! Currently theyre working a job there as a waiter to help pay rent at this little place thats owned by one of Iri's friends who left the rainforest, who also helped them obtain their job. they wont be in possibility for too long because theyre going back to the rainforest by the end of the summer to make sure theyre there in time for shoal, but atm they plan to stay in possibility for a little over a month.

art and axo
shoal
wof tui t. sutherland

Description
Axolotl packed everything at an agonizingly slow pace. From the corner of his eye, he spotted one of his clawmates begin to walk in and began to pack faster, but he quickly relaxed when he realized it was only Shoal, come to get his things to leave as well.

"Summer should be fun, huh? Getting to go home and see everyone you've missed, family, friends...." Axolotl started, trying to spark up a conversation. One last moment to speak to their friend before leaving for a couple of months. Well, unless Shoal was still going to come visit Axo later in the season, and they weren't going to count letters because they knew from speaking to Iri that way in the past several months that it wasn't the same.

"Yeah, fun," Shoal said, sounding a bit forced. Paired with the wry smile on his face, Axolotl knew that somethingw as wrong, but he didn't dare ask what, not wanting to dredge up any bad thoughts in what could be their last moments before not seeing each other for a whole five or six weeks.

"So, what are you looking forward to when you go home?" Axolotl asked instead, pulling down a scroll on biology, then deciding that he should probably leave it for the library, since, well, that was where it came from. They probably didn't stock copies for dragons to just take. Still, he placed it on the scroll rack tenderly, hoping it would be there when he got back.

"I think I'm going to explore a new reef, maybe," Shoal responded after a moment, putting away the last of his belongings. "It seems like it's been so long since I've actually seen a live ocean fish, too. What about you? Wanna walk out to the entrance with me?"

"Sure," Axolotl agreed, slipping the last few personal scrolls he had into his satchel. They hesitated before nodding, looking up at Shoal with a smile. "Sure! I'll follow your lead." They gave a mock bow, allowing him to walk out before them, which made the SeaWing chuckle. He mocked puffing out his chest and holding his head high, shuffling out of the room. Axolotl glanced back at the room, now empty - their other clawmates having already left - and trailed after Shoal.

There was a period of silence before Axolotl said, "I think I'll be most grateful to see all the birds again. They were so colorful and pretty. Also, Iri has like two sloths and I loved those things. I should introduce you to them sometime. They're like, the best company to keep in the rainforest." They felt guilt crawl under their scales again, knowing that they had no intention to go home, but they didn't want to make Shoal disappointed by telling him that.

Shoal snorted, then gave Axolotl a curious look. "What are sloths like?"

"Like I said, I'll show you sometime. Who knows, a sloth might just choose me over the break, and I'll come flying back to school with one cradled in my arms." Axolotl grinned and shrugged their wings, knowing they probably wouldn't have time for any sloths to come crawling onto their shoulders.

The two chattered away, but just like that, they were at the entrance of the cave system, the main hub, where several other stragglers were hugging friends goodbye or making prolonged conversations with loved ones.

Axolotl glanced at Shoal, not seeing anyone else around that she knew, and gave him a feeble smile. "Well," she started, then didn't say anything more.

"Well," Shoal sighed, looking out into the sky. He wore that same unreadable expression from earlier, but once again Axolotl chose not to pry, especially not now, not here. If Shoal wanted her to know, he would say something.

"Time to go home, I guess," Axolotl hummed, looking away. "I hope I'll see you again next year! Don't forget to write and tell me whether or not to expect you in the rainforest at the end of summer. I'd love for you to get to meet Iri and - and Bat!"

They would collect their mail once they got home. In the meantime, Iri would be able to keep it safe for them.

"I'd like that. I'll keep you updated," Shoal said with a small nod. "I wish you could breathe underwater. I'd love to actually be able to show you my home too. It's so beautiful - everybody who can't see it is really missing out." He heaved another sigh, then took his turn in following Axolotl as the RainWing made their way to the edge of the ledge that jutted out from the entrance. "I'll see you, then."

"Yeah, I'll be seeing you." Axolotl put on the most brilliant grin they could muster, then flashed a pattern on their scales in bright orange, just as Shoal had taught them. Be safe! Fly straight! Have fun! Will miss you!

Shoal beamed and flashed back similar remarks, and then they both took off, going in their own directions.

They were going to miss him, and sweet Glaze, and silly Dama, along with the rest of their clawmates and friends. Even some of their teachers. They were definitely going to come back for a second year - why wouldn't they? - but they didn't know Shoal's plans yet for sure. They could always change. And Shoal was the best friend she'd made at the school - what if they had to make all new friends?!

They took a deep breath to calm themself, then looked behind them, making sure Shoal was out of sight. He was still a green speck on the horizon, so they flew for a little ways more until they couldn't see him, then they wheeled around with a new destination in mind.

Axolotl thought they could use some new Possibilities right about now.

________________________________________________

Part 2 | Part 3

WWWWWWWWOW IVE HAD THIS PICTURE DONE FOR LIKE TWO WEEKS BUT THAT WRITING WAS PAIN TO MANAGE TO GET OUT TBH

anyway this was supposed to be for the first weekly prompt but here it is two weeks late or more and my axo baby is leaving school for the semester and hes Sad

theyre up for RP in possibility! Currently theyre working a job there as a waiter to help pay rent at this little place thats owned by one of Iri's friends who left the rainforest, who also helped them obtain their job. they wont be in possibility for too long because theyre going back to the rainforest by the end of the summer to make sure theyre there in time for shoal, but atm they plan to stay in possibility for a little over a month.

art and axo
shoal
wof tui t. sutherland