Page 12 of Celestia, Year Four

Two seconds passed and she slowly got into standing position on Odion's lap, who was currently arching an eyebrow at her. Momo turned around to face Odion before placing her head against his chest, like she was hiding.

"She is," the woman answered as she walked towards Odion. He quietly stared at Momo who was trembling.

The woman picked Momo up from Odion's lap. "Bi?"

The woman didn't reply and took two steps to stand at my side. She dropped Momo on my lap, and Momo froze in shock.

"She doesn't bite. Stop hiding," the woman coached.

I looked down at Momo and she slowly turned her head to meet my curious gaze, her spiraling eyes staring at me like I was about to eat her.

Why is she so afraid?

Deciding to go with my instinct and dying urge to hold her, I reached out and picked her up from my lap, lifting her to get a better look at her.

"BI-BI-BIBIBIBI," she stuttered. Momo’s trembling seemed to double, showing her increased nervousness, and little buds of black water began to pool at the outer corners of her eyes, almost like a cute chibi on the verge of crying.

This familiar is based on someone's imagination… must be for her to look between a cartoon or anime and a ragdoll.

To me, she looked absolutely adorable, and though I was trying to hide it, I couldn't stop the broad smile that formed on my lips as I lowered and cradled her into a warm hug.

"You're so cute, Momo. Hello. My name is Celestia."

There was something about her that reminded me of Arielle.

Maybe because she, too, was a familiar, but her apprehensiveness and trembling reminded me of the night I'd met Arielle in the rain and how she seemed so vulnerable.

I didn't want Momo being afraid of my judgment. She was super cute, even if it was in an eerie way that not many people would easily accept.

"Bi...Bo?"

I lifted her back up to look in her eyes, her tears rolling down her cheeks as she blinked a few times to stare at me.

"What did she say?" I asked as I glanced toward Odion and the woman. Both of them wore loving smiles, which left me a little clueless.

"And why are you guys looking at me like that? What did I do?"

Odion chuckled. "Momo is my familiar. She was nervous you wouldn't like her because she's 'scary' looking to a majority of people. Aside from us, you're the first to call her cute."

"Momo's very sensitive. The few shifters that have interacted with her by chance have always been afraid or rejected her. Shedidn't want to be rejected by Odion's Queen, so she wanted to hide away, but she also wanted to help out. She asked if you meant what you said." The woman explained.

"Meant what I said? That's she's cute?" I furrowed my brows and looked at Momo.

She nodded her head slightly. "Bi!"

"I meant it. You are cute, Momo. Very cute. Your dress is pretty, and your pigtails are nice. Hmm. Now that I think about it, we should get you cute bows. Anyways, no one should have been meanto you like that. I'm sorry they hurt your feelings. Don't listen to them. I like you." After I explained, I gave her a teeth-glimmering smile.

"Bi… Bi… Bo..." Her lip began to tremble and more of her black tears fell. "Booooooo."

"AH! I… uh… what did I do? I didn't mean to make her cry. Don't cry, Momo." I freaked out and lowered her to rest against my chest, her head on my shoulder as I rubbed her back while she continued to cry.

"The last two weeks she's been all scared you wouldn't like her. She's never had anyone instantly like her since Odion. That was years ago when he'd first arrived here." The woman smiled softly.

"She's crying because she's really happy, my Queen." Odion grinned. "Looks like she's going to be attached to you."

"Hmm." I continued to rub her back soothingly.

"That's fine. She's adorable. Reminds me of Arielle. Where is she? Actually, where is everyone? Or does that fall into the 'make sure the fuzzy mind is gone' category?"

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