-10 years, 112 days ago. September 18, 1210-

"Momma don't leave-"

I turned, letting my grip on the thin, wooden door slip. My son stared at me with nervous eyes, ones that screamed 'don't leave me, I want you'. I asked,

"What? What's wrong, Blaze?"

He let out a nervous groan, looking to the side. He muttered,

"Do I have to go to a new gwoup?"

He corrected himself, quickly blurting out,

"Group."

I sighed. This has been worrying him all week. I told him that once he turned ten, he'd be put into the higher school. Thing is, he's been bullied really badly at the current one, so me and my husband decided we're moving to Mystania, the village next to ours. It was actually where I grew up, so I know more people there anyways.

I walked back into the room, kneeling down and sitting on my shins next to Blaze's mattress of hay. He immediately shot up and hugged me, letting me hear his breathing. It quick and deep, which concerned me. I whispered as I hugged him back,

"It's alright, Blazikin- you'll be fine and I know it."

He breathed out,

"No, no, no. I don't want to weave-"

"Why not? The kids here are- very mean."

I wanted to say something else but I censored myself. The kids here are terrible as most of them are an angelic mixette, and then there's Blaze who's a demon mixette. Even a human could understand how that goes wrong. He whispered again,

"What if da kids in da new gwoup awe even worse?"

That worried me too, but I knew about half the parents there. Angelica and Zach Ingloude, Claria and Dector Swola, Tropic and Daniella Bianchi, Luna and Eclipse Inktone, Versonia and Lunik Ghetti, and many more. Most didn't move from where we grew up. If anything went wrong, I could tell them.

"We're going to see one of your new classmates tomorrow, remember? You'll get to meet her and her brother."

"I don't wanna go tomowwow-"

"It'll be fine, I promise you."

He let go of me, leaning into my magenta-pink arm instead. I wrapped a wing around him, giving him a hug. I gently started to sing,

"No matter what, I'll always be there.."

I breathed, and felt Blaze calm down slightly.

"Whether you're sad, angry, or scared."

I gently laid him back down on his mattress, as it was already a bit late for him to be awake.

"Doesn't matter if you cry or fuss, forget all the bad times and unjust."

He sleepily joined me in last few lines. I held his hand as we gently sang together,

"I'll always be there when you need me most.."

I smiled, relieved that he managed to calmed himself down. After the pause, we finished,

"Fun times will follow, remembrance we boast."

Blaze's eyes were halfway shut, exhausted from needless worry. With a slight chuckle, I whispered,

"Goodnight, Blaze."

I gave him a small kiss on the forehead afterward, and I slowly got up and walked to the door. I heard him whisper back,

"Night, Mom. Love you."

"I love you, too."
_______________________________
We approached a house after walking for about an hour or so. A tropical orange hybrid opened the door after my mom knocked. He exclaimed,

"Hey, Victoria! Long time no see."

"Hello, Tropic! It's good to see you agai-"

Mom's sentence was cut short by a multicolored ball of energy barreling out the wooden door. I dug my face into Momma's side, careful not to poke her with my horns, and tightening my grip on her. I felt a finger touch my horns, and a girl's voice shout,

"Ha! I'm taller than youuuu!"

I felt my mom laugh, and she greeted,

"Hello, Mango."

"Hi!"

I wrapped a tail around my mom's leg out of habit, and clung to her tighter. The girl named Mango frowned,

"Awe, don't be sad.. it's okay to be short!"

My mother explained,

"Blaze, it's okay! This is Mango."

Mango repeated,

"Hello!"

I saw nothing but black, as my face was still buried into Victoria's side. I heard her say,

"Mango, this is my son, Blaze."

"Hi, Blaze!"

I greeted back, but muffled out instead,

"H-hewo-"

The man ahead of us, who I assume was Mr. Bianchi, finally asked,

"Well, care to come inside?"

"Oh, sure! Thank you."

As my mom walked inside, I side-stepped along with her, entering the new environment. The way my feet moved, it was a rhythm. Every step she took was every shuffle for me. I didn't want to go. I was too scared. I heard footsteps run up a flight of stairs, and heard Mango shout,

"MANDARIN!!"

I flinched at the sudden noise. My mom explained,

"Blaze, Mango's going to be one of your new groupmates! And so will Mandarin in a few years."

I looked up, and saw Mr. Bianchi's surprised face. He lipped,

"You're moving?"

Momma nodded. Mango's dad saw my face, and gently waved and smiled. I smiled back. I suddenly clawed at my mom's side when Mango sped back down the stairs, dragging her brother in by the arm. She introduced,

"This is my brother. Don't worry, he's also short!"

She wore what seemed to be a permanent smile. It was so constant that it almost seemed fake. She was so positive and chaotic, but seemed calming at the same time. Mandarin waved and muttered,

"Hi, I'm-"

Mango cut him off, introducing for him,

"His name is Mandarin."

She then gave a mischievous look towards Mandarin, who let out a huff of annoyance. He lightly shoved her, which in return Mango pushed him to the ground. I heard Mr. Bianchi sigh, clearly a bit displeased with the way they were acting with company over at the house. Mandarin stood back up, glaring at Mango. Mom then suggested,

"How about you three get to know each other upstairs while me and Mr. Bianchi have a chance to catch up?"

A nervous, sinking feeling in my stomach took over my body. I stuttered,

"B-but-"

Mango, on the other hand, shouted,

"Okay! Don't worry, Blaze, Mandy doesn't bite!"

Mandarin grumbled, and whined,

"I told you not to call me thaaaaat.."

"No."

It was such a simple 'no' it seemed stupid. I let out a small giggle, and let go of my mom. I grabbed onto her arm instead. I was still nervous, and Mom reassured,

"Blaze, I'll only be down here. You'll be okay."

She gave me the sweetest genuine smile I had ever seen. It said, "I love you with all of my heart. Don't you forget that". I took a deep breath in, and let go of my fear. I looked back at Mango, letting go of Mom's arm. I quickly ran to Mandarin, nervous to go towards Mango. I stood next to him and quietly said,

"Hi-"

"Hey."

He seemed a bit confused, but didn't seem to mind me being an awkward idiot. I asked,

"So where do we go?"

Mandarin was about to say something, but before he could, a hand grabbed me from behind and dragged me up the stairs. I let out a startled yelp, which didn't help.

The hand finally let go, and I was upstairs. Mango, the one who pulled me up there, simply explained,

"Upstairs!"

She gave me a small smile, one that was real and inviting. I could tell by now what was real and what was fake. Mandarin stomped up the stairs, and screamed,

"STOP DOING THAT!"

Mango yelled back,

"NO!!"

She followed with a snicker, and stuck her tongue out at him. I let out a slight smile before staring at the ground. I subconsciously groaned out of nervousness, which made Mango concerned. She asked,

"What's wrong?"

She took a step towards me. I mumbled,

"People- new people-"

She looked at me with a confused face, and questioned,

"What do you mean? You're a new people, and you're not scary!"

I shot back,

"Yeah and you're a new people for me too-"

Mango thought for a second, and suggested,

"Well.. we won't be new if we're friends!"

I looked up at her for a moment. I was a bit confused. Why friends with me? Wasn't I evil and bad, or something? After a few more seconds, I asked,

"What's your favorite cowo- color-?"

"Orange!"

I slowly nodded,

"..Mine too."

Mango gasped out of excitement, and let out a "Woah". I stuttered,

"S-so I'm nawt scawry to you?"

She answered like it was obvious.

"No-?"

"But I'm a demon.."

"And I'm taller than you."

She said that triumphantly, like it was the greatest discovery of the century. I reasoned,

"But I'm nawt an angel."

The ten year old asked, and we went back and forth,

"Why's that matter?"

"Because they said I'm scarwy.."

"Why?"

"Because demons are bad-"

"You don't seem bad."

"But they said so.."

"They must be crinds then."

I tingle went down my spine as the word 'crind' was used. She noticed my dislike of the word, and corrected,

"They're dumb then."

I paused, slightly confused as to why she was trying to stick up for me. I had a feeling in my chest that I could trust her. She wanted to be my friend. She wanted to be there for me.

I slowly showed my arm, which had a bruise on it from some kids in the education group. She gasped and immediately hugged me, surprising me. I felt my face get a little hot, and I immediately smiled and hugged back. She really was my friend. She was someone that I could talk to and play with. I can trust her. I whispered,

"Friends."

She giggled and whispered back,

"Friends!"

Her laugh was contagious, and I giggled a bit as well. I let go of the hug, which she let go a few seconds after. I smiled, happy to call her my friend. I turned, seeing Mandarin staring at something out the hole in the wall. Before I could ask what, I ran to him and poked him. I yelled,

"RUN FROM THE LION!!"

Mandarin snapped out of it and yelled after me,

"HEY!!"

I sped down the stairs as I started to be chased and hid behind my mom. I wasn't being chased to get beaten up, but instead it was to just play a game. Until we left, me, Mango, and Mandarin played together. It was probably one of the happiest times of my life! I found the people who really cared about me.

"What happened to you-"

"What?"

"You aren't the same, Blaze-"

"What do you mean? I'm doing what's right."

"It isn't right.. it's one of the worst thin-"

"He can do what he wants, Kakori. Now both of you skiddattle, would you?"

"Who's-"

"WE SAID SHUT UP."

:)