Submission (#1291) Approved

[341 words]

It always begins with "Hallo", doesn't it?

Koji must be frowning more harshly at the situation than he thinks he is, because one of the Mymbers crowding around him furrows a thick brow over beady, dark eyes that soften. Its rooting plate shifts, tendrils intertwining with themselves and unwinding just as quickly; and from its mouth comes another series of mumbled words— albeit more carefully enunciated ones. It comes further out of its shell to pantomime something, but…

… all he can really offer in response is the shake of a bowed head and his departure, but Jinn— (Wonder how Kusanagi is doing these days?)— takes its chances patting at the Ketixi's much larger shoulder to keep his attention on the group. He (barely) manages to retract his rejoinder of a snarl, yet still the congregation grows ever-so-slightly more hushed and visibly recoils in uncertainty. Most put six mole-claws up as a peace offering; a few youngsters duck low, as if about to burrow in place and loaf.

"Sorry," Jinn mumbles among the others.

Too harsh. He's too on edge.

Koji sets his jaw with a heaved sigh and winds his shoulders back. "No, I apologize."

The Chasm— so coincidentally— groans around the movement; yet the gathering grows more relaxed, chattering and gesturing more easily. One angles a one-fingered salute in his direction, then forms an angle between forefinger and thumb, hooks its middle and forefinger with the rest in a loose fist, and—

Viridescent eyes blink fast in recognition, and he rocks onto his haunches to free both hands. As they spell out 'N-S-L?' and point at the signing Mymber, Koji urges them on. "You— you. Keep fingerspelling."

The diminutive mole-bear mumbles compliance, eyes widening. Its signing grows shakier with the excitement and praise of its studies in Nsk-sign apparently having paid off, but— 'H-O-R-S-E-M-A-N NEAR.' It reconsiders, rooters twitching. `W-A-S.'

Oh. Koji sets both forepaws back to the ground.

Oh, what a perfectly good reason to be pulled aside, then.

"... and not anymore? It's scarcely been five minutes."