Nerve-wracking was certainly not a strong enough word to describe the emotion welling deep inside Alisha, as her heart beat fierce and her hands trembled - uncertainty and excitement mixed together. At least Katie’s hand was her life line, connecting them and protecting her from the world around them - a world that was new and beautiful and possibly full of dangers. A world she was finally about to see, no more trees nor woods, but what lied beyond them. Hope filled her dimmed soul, and she wished more than anything to thrive in this new place, for her life not to be wrought with pain and loneliness anymore - for happiness and love.

Trying to delay the moment for a bit longer, Alisha said, “So, Max is...a bit, different.”

“They are a complicated mess, and I don’t understand them most of the time, but you’ll get used to them.”

“Yes, they are definitely complicated...but I meant appearance wise?”

Katie looked puzzled for a second before it connected, “Oh, the whole plant thing? Yeah, I’m guessing on Earth you all look the same, here we come in all shapes and sizes and weirdness. Max is closer to a plant form than to a ‘human’, it isn’t their power or anything, it’s just who they are - but there are plenty of people like that. Some are closer to certain animals, some to different deities and beliefs, and the ones more revered in Wyvern are the ones that are connected to the dragons.”

Alisha looked delighted at the information, taking it in with sparkling eyes, she had no doubts that discrimination would probably still be rampant in some way or form even in this amazing diversified planet, but maybe it wouldn’t be as bad - please don’t be as bad.

“What are you closest to then?”

Smirking Katie kissed Alisha’s soft lips and whispered, “To you.”

“That’s...that’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

“Would it change how you feel about me...if you knew what I am, or who I am?”

Katie’s eyes turned somber and Alisha didn’t like seeing her so broken, so different from her confident self - that would brave an army and win out in the end through perseverance and strength alone. Unsure of what to do, she did what Katie did to comfort her in her time of need - Alisha poured every ounce of her love in a tender kiss, as if words would fall short where a kiss would scream loud and clear the truth of her feelings.

“I know who you are, and I will be here to see who you become,” Alisha said grabbing Katie’s face, making her look into her eyes, “so no, my feelings aren’t so simple they could be changed so easily like that.”

Kissing Alisha’s hand, she smiled, “Well, there are things about me that you’ll eventually learn - they might make you hate me. You might want nothing else to do with me, and I will understand when the time comes. If you ever must leave, know I’ll love you no matter what.”

“Promises are easy to make, but hard to keep, but I can promise you this - as long as you hold my hand with the same warmth, I will be with you.”

Katie hugged her; pulling her up and swinging her around as she laughed, pausing for a moment, as they looked into each other’s eyes, Alisha whispered “I’m home.”