Without a care in the world, the troubles of what was happening in her life set aside, the young gypsy woman had rolled onto her back, letting the sun warm and dry her body though the air around them was cold. She had no desire for authority, rank, or dominance, and therefore did not see her pose as submissive. Even if she had, she had come to trust that Morrigan would not attack her on the scarce dry spot of the shores. She looked up at her friend, upside down, from her spot and her head quirking oddly against the ground.

She understood perfectly what it was like to leave a family and wander through or to a land. A smile drew slowly on her lips. It was not like she ever left that lifestyle. The way Morrigan spoke so briefly of her time in the swamp it was obvious that home had no claim on her heart. It could have in fact been what drove her away. By the end of her friend’s short introduction, the chocolate girl twisted back onto her stomach and looked at her with a grin that almost never left her face. “My name is Taika, a gypsy of Moladin. My mother and I were travelers, and when I was older I continued to roam. My mother never seemed to want to sit still, and neither did I. As far as learning to play?” She fell silent for a moment. When she had first left her mother’s side, when she had come of age, she had taken a hard look at her life. Seeing through her friends’ eyes she knew the hardships the world would and could bring to someone. Her heart ached as her thoughts returned to Edrick and Neverland. The world seemed determined to remind everyone that there was darkness and despair running rampant. Years ago, Taika had stood at the edge of a cliff. She had been given the choice to jump into the shadows of reality or dive into the skies of shooting stars. In the end he had decided to let the fairies give her wings, to believe in the impossible, and fly amongst the stardust that fell into her eyes. “I have always known how. And I chose to embrace it. Even when I wasn’t considered a ‘puppy’ anymore. I figured there was no reason to give up what made us happy in the beginning of our lives. It was something given to us for a reason.” Taika got to her feet and stretched out, extending her tail and her toes to their furthest reaches. Once her stretch was done, she looked over at Morrigan again. “If travelling still suits you, or you don’t have a place to call home yet, the band is always welcoming to any and all. We go where the howls lead us, if a brother or sister calls. We always give a warm place to sleep at night.” Her grin grew. “Most of us give a friendly smile, too. If that is what you need. I would be delighted if you joined us. Even for a short time.”