For as long as she has known him, Papa has always told such grand stories of where he had traveled, and what he had seen before meeting her. These tales, in conjunction to her imagination, was her sole means of exploration. There were times where Papa was able to carry her places, but they never strayed too far from their home. He saw something in her that day he had found her, and Papa took her in, nursing her back to health.

Melissa owed him her life and so much more. So tonight, she wanted to tell him a story of her own. After lots of practice, and great amounts of patience, she finally found she can send her spirit to explore. Leaving her body was an odd sensation, feeling light and free. She could see herself, sitting in her chair by the window that Papa had placed her in. How calm and still, at peace she looked. But what to explore?

One of her favorite stories was of a beach that was underground. Papa had once showed her on a map where he had found it. Closing her eyes, she concentrated. First, the feeling of course sand tickled the bottom of her feet. Melissa wiggled her toes, feeling the corrosive grains rub against her skin. Dark amber eyes flew open at the sudden realization. She could feel and wiggle her toes! With excited steps, Melissa rushed forward, until she was ankle deep in the water. In the amazement of her discovery of mobility through spiritual projection, the young half breed was not taking in the beauty of the world around her, nor taking in account possible dangers.

Warm winds blew upon his face as he listened to the calm waves of the ocean. A cheetah like Twa had just arrived to the beach. He had been traveling around Onnen for a while, taking up clients and meeting new people. But with the reveal of an entire different continent, Kagiso wondered if now would be the time to try and leave this land. Onnen was his home and birthplace. However, there were so many others out there who might need his help.

Not to mention that having new clients was always a good idea. And on top of all of that, he would be in a place where tribal bias would not be an issue with clients. A part of him wanted to leave to start a new life. To see this new land and what it had to offer. A part of him wanted to stay here. He would be with the type of people he knew and would never have to worry about not having enough clients.

His arms were propped up on his legs holding up his head as he pondered his predicament. Kagiso enjoyed thinking about his issues and about possible solutions. It was like a puzzle, only with the emotions and events of real life. Both sides had pros and cons. His eyes gazed over the sea and watched the waves move about in their watery dance. Glittering sand from the sun's rays seemed to go far and only vanished when it met up with the water.

Something strange caught his attention. A girl was standing in the water of the ocean. He decided to leave her alone since he didn't want to seem scary or threatening. But he did keep an eye on her in case something happened. The girl was only a child. Her parents had to be here somewhere. Either that or she was an orphan. 

She knew water, and knew how it felt. Often, her Papa would bring a woman up to their home, and then he'd scoop her up. The three of them would walk down to the bathing area. From there, Papa would leave and she would be assisted by the woman with getting into the water for washing. While Melissa can float, drifting in the water, it was quite different to stand and kick at the surface. The tiger-ling giggled and twirled around. ”Papa! … Papa?”

This wasn't her room. No, she was in a cave that had long filled with water. As if the goddess of Earth sculpted this place with her hands to catch the water. The sands glittered in the sun, as did the water surrounding her. What it did not make shine, but didn't hide, was she was not alone as she thought. Papa may not be here, since he was doing something at home, she was, in a sense, here. As was someone new. When was the last time she actually met someone new?

Curious, and almost hesitantly, Melissa began to approach the other being. They appeared to be cheetah, but full blooded feline, unlike herself. She stopped a good distance away, and squatted so she was almost hugging her knees, watching him intently. Would he be like others and seek to do her harm for impurities? Deep amber orbs sought each movement, judging, accessing, looking for the evidence needed to run. ”Hello.” Start simple, build from there. But would even that one word be a costly mistake?

He watched the ocean waves roll in and roll out. Roll in and roll out. It was comforting in a way. The little girl in the water was playing around in the ocean water. Kagiso noticed that the little girl had noticed his presence. She had come closer and squatted on the ground. When she spoke, Kagiso payed attention to her. 

"Hello." He responded with a friendly attitude, "How are you?"

His voice was warm and polite. The twa had orange eyes and a spotted pelt. On his back was a gray backpack filled to the brim with all sorts of things. Swinging the bag off of his shoulder, he opened it and took out a journal and a quill. Pen moving fast as words formed onto the paper. He described in words the scenery so that he wouldn't forget later down the road. On the next page he drew the ocean, the sand, and the little girl who was squatted down in the sand. 

"Do you like the beach?" He asked curiously. 

Kagiso enjoyed the view of the land. It would be nice if there was somebody else who enjoyed it just as much as him. He hoped that he didn't come off as scary. Most people didn't really trust the tribes. Taking a closer look at her, he noticed that she had tiger stripes but looked like one of the humans. Fascinating. Kagiso wondered how much she was bullied because of her looks. 

Melissa could not help the smile that blossomed instantly with his friendly response. For the first time in forever, she had finally found someone nice, or at least so far seemed to be. ”I’m well. And you?” She watched him as he pulled off his pack, hoping she had not assumed too early. However, it was naught but a journal and quill. Just as curious yet hesitant as before, she stood and got closer until she was crouching behind him, watching his scrawling across the page.

It surprised her to see him draw her in his depiction of the ocean. ”This is my first time to a beach. But I do enjoy it here.” Melissa reached down and grabbed a fistful of sand, watching the granules pour from hand to hand. ”The sand is course, irritating if left in the cracks. Not like the fine dirt that coats and stays. The sound of the waves, the scent. Look at the sun glitters off of the water.” She stood and twirled around, arms stretched out as her face gazed up at the sky.

Giggling, she stopped and gazed at the cheetah-kin. As she sobered a bit, she plopped down next to him. ”But You’re pretty too. Your spots, patterns… Contrasting colors. Don’t see too many people at home. Just me and my Papa usually.” She reached out, stopping short of feeling his fur. Melissa pulled her hand to her chest, not wanting to be rude. ”I’m Melissa Jade, by the way. Are you a twa? Is that how you say that?”