#bug chirps

Mountain

Big on outdoor time and imaginative play. He likes having extra hands in the garden that don’t mind getting messy!

Time with him is a little quieter and more meditative. He doesn’t like things like watching tv and listening to music so much, so does things like put on puppet shows or read from books instead; he tries to give everyone the silliest voices

Monti disciplines with dry humor and tries to give the impression of a suggestion more than a demand — eventually though he will just state to do the thing. He can be stern but not mean, he never raises his voice

Cumulus

The funniest auntie & a partner in crime! If she’s caught on a good day she’ll sneak goodies before meals and/or buy little treats. She’s huge on trinket hunting and is more than glad to teach someone’s the ins and outs

She does crochet and fiber craft so she’s always making and mending things (a little wiggle room on adventures) and likes to have craft options around. She keeps fiber craft for little hands around, too

Doesn’t take things too seriously, Cumulus likes to talk out big emotions and meltdowns instead of automatically punishing them. She’s always open to listen and help solve a problem

Phantom

Fun for late night antics and sleepovers. Phantom is often up late for a multitude of reasons, so he’s often up watching things like MST3K to try and wind down enough. He can quote every episode and likes to join in on the quipping. He’ll sometimes hum lullabies and melodies to songs he half remembers

Builds the best pillow forts! Knows where to get all the good quilts and pillows and chairs for the project! He’ll scribble up signs telling others to ‘keep out’ and ‘beware’. He’s big into fantasy stories so it’s almost always a castle with a keep of treasures, warnings of dragons nearby

He sort of learned to forage from Mountain — “sorta” to mean he knows enough about wild berries and likes to pluck them and eat them (including ones in the garden). He’ll share both the wealth of knowledge and flavor

Sunshine

The coolest big sister in the clergy! Or ‘bug’ sister…she doesn’t mind getting dirty, if it means helping out in the garden, making pies in the mud kitchen, or picking up creepy crawlers to get a closer look. She’s knowledgeable enough and loves to share her factoids about them

Helps teach skateboard tricks and how to ride smooth. She’d find a board that’s just the right size and give little lessons or ride alongs. And incase of falls, Sunny has fun, colorful bandaids to help

A storm of chatter and purrs and laughter filled the communal den to the Ghoul’s quarters, a banner toting ‘welcome home’ overseeing the whole affair. Months of endless touring left the pack more than eager to reunite and find themselves enveloped in one another again. Spitfire and Aether had been attached at the hip from the moment the door opened, and Cumulus planted kiss after kiss on each and every cheek she could get her lips on.

The emphasis seemed to fall on the ‘welcome’ as well, as this reprieve was the first true introduction to new members of the family…at least that’s what Poppa said this was. These new Ghouls? They didn’t look like family, smell like family. Even if they smiled wide and waved little hellos they were still strangers, and that made them…not scary, but something akin to it.

As the elder Ghouls all spoke and greeted one another, Kindling puttered up to hide himself behind Aether’s leg, a large palm gently resting on his head as nonverbal acknowledgement. Poppa was busy talking to the one they’ve been calling or ‘Storm’ — a fitting name. His hair a mused cascade of tight, dark gray curls, a tail that cracked like lightening and a chest-full laugh that rumbled like thunder. It made Kindling flinch and when Aether told a joke the sudden thunderclap of a chuckle sent him tucking in tighter, ears pressed flat and tail tucked between knees.

The larger Ghoul notices this, of course he does, and he shuffles to the side some. “Kinds. Do you wanna say hello to Storm? He and Haze are joining us now, yeah? We have to make them feel welcome.” Gentle words from Poppa who nods his head in Storm’s direction, shifts more.

He’s exposed now, Kindling knows, so starts to shyly fuss at the hair on the end of his tail as he looks up to Storm who crouches and waves a hello, signs out the words ‘nice to meet you’.

But the motion is too sudden, too sharp, and the kit gasps, startled before running off to hide with Cirrus and Aurora as they talk to the newest Ghoulette.

They call her ‘Haze’ and it suits her. Something about her phases in and out like thick fog in the windows, and she’s so close to something like an angel. Cirrus scoops him into her arms and there’s now a better vantage point to take in everything about Haze. A shaved head framed by bangs and a cascade of neat braids down her back, glimmering dark eyes like polished obsidians. Her cheeks shimmer like the backs of jeweled beetles when she smiles at him and flashes long, glimmering fangs.

She waves a little and with a big gasp asks, “who so this? Are you Kindling? I’ve heard a lot about you!” And he hides his face — a smile too big and a voice prodding in a way too familiar. Aurora tuts at him to open up, apologizes. “He’s a little shy,” Cirrus says as she pats his back, firm.

“You want me to put you down, bud?” Kindling nods, and takes off to tuck away in a quiet spot, once his feet hit the floor.

Too big..and too loud. How did she hear about me? Is it bad?

The now muffled chatter of larger voices still weighs heavy, sits in his little stomach and makes it churn…he’s frustrated with this feeling but doesn’t know anything other than to let it be.

But Phantom finds him while sneaking snacks and invites himself to sit, legs crossed, as he offers his plate to share. “What’s up?”

The kit just hums a ‘I don’t know’ sort of sound and his hands start signing, the words spilling between loose fingers and whines and groans. “I don’t like them. The new Ghouls are scary and I want them to get out.” He has to blink back the sudden warmth in his eyes.

“Well that’s not nice,” Phantom frowns around the chips in his mouth, “what did they do that was scary?” There’s a pause and Kindling can’t think, so he shrugs and continues to fiddle around at his tail, pulls at his shirt. Mumbling, “Storm is loud.”; and Phantom nods in agreement.

“Yeah…but Knife is just as noisy when he talks and we love him. And Aether’s snoring rattles the whole dorm!” This earns a laugh. “I get being worried but you gotta give em a chance, squirt, you gotta have a reason to not like them. Is it because they’re unfamiliar?”

Another shrug. Kindling signs, “they’re too much like…like Poppa and auntie Cumulus and…and they’re new. I don’t want them to take your spots like on stage.”

Words escape the quint. A stop and go of false start sentences, things that border on cliches that are too sweet even just to think on. So instead he puts a hand on Kindling’s back in reassurance. “That’s not gonna happen. No one’s replacing anybody and none of us are going anywhere any time soon. It’s ok to be freaked out about meeting new people, but it’s not fair to judge them before you know them, dude. It’s just adding new family! We’re growing and that’s alright, family’s grow…”

Come the next morning, and Spirfire putters in the kitchen, prepping a pot of coffee and breakfast as Kindling sits by the counter and colors pictures. The two go on their tasks in mutual silence until Storm steps in, groggy and eyes closed as he rounds the corner and lets the sun from the window hit him. “Morning,” he signs with lazy hands.

“Hey. Didn’t think you’d be so soon. There’s gonna be a bit before stuff’s ready.” Storm nods an ok, gives a thumbs up before continuing on to ask about how the other Ghoul slept.

Kindling isn’t sure but watches them talk. That feeling starts to creep into his stomach again while he looks Storm over, but does best to ignore it and try to remember Phantom’s words. You gotta give them a chance…Somewhere into the conversation, Haze takes the others by surprise in the midst of the chatter and while grumbling through greetings, runs a glass of water from the facet, she smiles to Kindling and takes note of his drawing.

“Nice work little man. You’ll have to draw me something! Make it extra pretty like me!” There she goes with that wide grin again, dimples framing those shining fangs.

Kindling can’t keep from smiling and blushing light. He turns bashful and nods an ok, laughs before he signs, “I like the pattern on your bonnet.”

“Aw thanks little man. Yknow, I didn’t mean to scare you yesterday. Your mama just talked about you SO much and I wanted to say hi! They all couldn’t stop talking about you.” Storm nods his agreement.

We’re growing and that’s alright, family’s grow…