[GrayGriffin]

She was able to crush the bread pretty easily, but all that did was compress it further, making it into less of a slice and more of a small ball. Finally, she sighed and dropped the whole thing into the water. The geese gathered around the quickly-sinking mass, jabbing at it with their beaks, but unable to get more than a few bits from it. Soon, they moved away from it, to Cora and Auris' more manageable amounts.

"Well, fine," said Citra. "I don't need to do this anyways." With that said, however, she remained close by, watching her siblings feed the birds.

{37}

[GrayGriffin]

"You know, we have quite a lot of bread," said Cora. "You can have one of my slices, if you want. Just use your paws like we are and you should be fine."

"Nah. What's the use of having such awesome powers if I don't get to use them?"

"You do get to use them," said Auris, rubbing his ear.

"I mean for stuff other than that! Like, I can't hold more than one thing at a time, and I can't really do anything but move stuff around! Dad can do all sorts of cool stuff!" She paused for a while. "Is it really because I don't have a Psi-Eye marking?"

Both her siblings looked awkward.

{38}

[GrayGriffin]

"It's a distinct possibility," said Auris, after not too long a time. Cora glanced at him, eyes wide. She raised a paw as if to shush him, but he ignored her and continued on. "Really, you shouldn't have had any powers in the first place, seeing how the Psi-Eye marking and psychic powers almost always correlate with each other. Of course, it is also very statistically unlikely for you to not have the Psi-Eye marking, seeing how both our parents have it. Presumably the nature of their psychic powers was strong enough for some psychic power to manifest in you as well, even if it is not as strong or subtle as ours." He said all that as he continued to sprinkle bread into the fountain, not even looking up.

"Is...is that what you really think? You think my powers are lame too?" asked Citra, her voice soft for once.

"Hm?" He finally looked up, and saw tears in his sister's eyes.

{39}

[GrayGriffin]

"Of course we don't think that!" Cora butted in quickly. "Why, how could we think that? We all have our own strengths in regards to our powers, but that doesn't mean yours are actually lesser than ours!"

"I want him to say it," growled Citra. "He said that my powers were weaker than yours! You heard him! You know what he said! Don't deny it!"

"Citra, you really shouldn't get so upset. You know Auris can be-"

"I'll get upset if I want to! If you can rant, so can I!"

Auris was now fully focused on his sister, the bread in his paws forgotten.

{40}

[GrayGriffin]

"Do you know how hard it is being the only one in the house to not have a Psi-Eye marking?" demanded Citra. "Do you know how crushed I was when our markings began to come in and I was the only one who didn't get a Psi-Eye marking? Do you know that, thanks to my genetics, even the Evo-lux Emporium can't help me on that matter?"

"We know that last part," said Auris. "We went to the emporium with you and Dad, remember?"

"Shut up!" she snapped. "You know what I mean!" More heads were turning in their direction now, but Citra cared less than Cora had.

{41}

[GrayGriffin]

"You two are both our parents' favorites, I know that!" Citra continued. "Even though my powers are much closer to Dad's in the first place, he always gives you longer lessons, Auris!"

"Don't be ridiculous! That's just because you got a grip on your powers so easily!"

"Then why isn't he doing more to teach me how to do better fine manipulation? Admit it, they think I'm a disappointment to the family!"

"What-don't say that!" exclaimed Cora. "You know our dads love all of us equally."

Citra snorted derisively.

{42}

[GrayGriffin]

"Even if they do, they definitely don't think much of my powers," she replied. "They've pretty much decided this is as far as I'll be able to go!"

"Well, it was similar for them," said Cora. "Dad and Papa both said that their powers are at about the same level as they were when they first realized them, and that was quite a few years ago. They don't have any reason to believe different of you."

"But they won't even give me a chance!" she snapped, her eyes still full of tears.

"Have you actually talked to them about this?" asked Auris. Citra seemed to calm down, and looked just the tiniest bit sheepish.

"Well...no."

{43}

[GrayGriffin]

"Well, then, you should do that, shouldn't you? Instead of making unfounded assumptions." Citra still looked unhappy, but her expression wasn't as sullen as it had originally been anymore.

"Fine...I guess I'll do that when we go home."

"Good. Do you want some of my bread now?"

"Yeah. Okay." She walked up to his side, and he handed one of his slices over to her. She started crumbling the breadcrumbs into the water, still sightly sullen but quickly cheering up as the geese crowded around to consume what had been provided for them. Cora sighed in relief.

{44}

[GrayGriffin]

Soon, all the bread was gone.

"Well, is there anything else to do here?" asked Cora, looking around. "I think we've made a complete circuit of this whole place already."

"What, are you impatient to go start buying Christmas supplies?" asked Citra.

"Actually, yes, I am. the sooner we get that done, the sooner our parents and us can start the actual fun parts of preparing for Christmas."

"Well...fine, that makes sense."

The trio started back from where they had come.

{45}

[Moving to area 1, campfire]

[GrayGriffin]

"You know, Aruis," said Cora, as they paused by the campfire. "Both Citra and I had some things to rant about today. Do you have anything similar?"

Auris paused, considering.

"I guess...I really don't like how you guys drag me into things. Oh, I liked feeding the geese and the animals in the petting zoo, but it's still really undignified to get dragged around like that. I have my own preferences for recreational activities, and those don't need to coincide with your preferences to be legitimate."

"That was a rather calm rant," said Citra.

{46}

[GrayGriffin]

"Well, I wouldn't really call it a rant. Just more of a complaint, I guess. But it goes along similar lines to what you were ranting about. I guess I'm just naturally calmer."

"What, and is there anything wrong with being passionate?"

"Well, for one, people aren't looking my way right now."

"You think I care about that?"

"Guys, guys! Don't make me be the parent again," warned Cora.

"Fine."

"Fine."

{47}

[GrayGriffin]

"Yeah...I guess we've all given each other a lot to think about," said Auris at last. "We'd better not forget about what was said today."

Citra nodded. "I'll talk to Dad about my training."

"And I guess we'll try to leave you to your own devices more," Cora said to Auris. He nodded.

"I'd appreciate that."

"Well, nothing else to say?"

"Nope."

"Nope."

{48}

[GrayGriffin]

"Good." Cora began walking away from the campfire, waving goodbye to the Sygriff as they left.

"Wait...we didn't find anything, though," said Citra, all of a sudden.

"Oh right. I almost forgot about that," admitted Cora. "But look-" she pointed up at a nearby clock "-our time is almost up anyways. I don't think we really have time left o look for anything we cnant find on our way out."

"Besides, at least we got some refreshments out of it," said Auris.

"Oh, right!" said Citra, opening up her bag. "Who wants candy?"

{49}

[GrayGriffin]

"I do!" said Cora happily, quickly reaching out and grabbing some. She popped one of the hard candies into her mouth and began gnawing on it.

"So do I," said Auris, grabbing a somewhat smaller sample for himself. He also popped a candy into his jaw, although he chose to simply suck on it as he went. Citra went all out, shoving a rathe rlarge mouthful of candy into her mouth and alternating between sucking and chewing.

"I think a song is in order, don't you?" addd Cora. "There's this one Papa was singing..." She cleared her throat, and began, "Silver bells, silver bells~"

Her siblings joined in as they walked off into the distance.

"It's Christmas time in the city. Hear them ring, ring-a-ling, soon it will be Christmas day..."

{50}

[MillietheWarrior]

The next batch of festival-goers had been just lovely! They’re certainly explored quite a bit of the square, and Aura was feeling rather good about the very last bunch of revelers. The little Draculi had since perched itself up on her rump for a better view of the spectacle, and looked highly amused and quite happy with everyone. The Sygriff made her way back out into the blizzard, this time allowing the little Draculi to hold the lamp to guide the newcomers their way. A little bubble of magic protected the feline, though the larger Sygriff didn’t seem to mind the snow that coated her body. She turned her beak into the wind, and watched and waited for the new festival-goers to join them.

Awesome work, everyone! Once again, I’m super impressed and incredibly proud at how much effort you all put into this! I am now opening the last five slots! I want everyone to remember; the grand prizes are grand prizes and are awarded for most effort/top posts, so there’s no guarantee you may be rewarded a TOP prize. However, you still get a prize regardless; you just have to put effort and work into your entries! So far, so good! Keep it up, guys!