Pouflon prompt: Nature

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To Jafar, nature means change. It makes the trees you saw just months ago unreconizable, and makes the friend you were once so close with suddenly be far ahead of you, changing before your very eyes. Thinking about friends, how long has it been since he last saw Xerxes? They didn't part ways the way he expected, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop thinking about him. Jafar sat up from the soft grass he was lying in. Summer had arrived and everything was covered in it's strong warmth. Not that it bothered him, where he was from, it was far warmer then here in Redwick. And Jafar decided that he would go back today, to the place where he grew up: the Brouzet desserts. He hoped Xerxes was doing okay.

His journey was through endless seas of sand, scorching rocks and finally, the yellow dry grass plains. He still remembered the way, Jafar had been here almost more then he was at home. As he climbed over the grassy hills, he could spot the small shabby orphanege where Xerxes grew up. A lot of young Pouflons were playing around and be generally loud and wild. Jafar could still reconize some of them. Jafar walked up to the house and was greeted by a lot of orphaned kids, and just as quickly they left again, back to playing. When Jafar made it inside, he noticed that not much had changed here. Suddenly, a voice caught him off guard, "Jafar, is that you?!". Jafar turned around and saw Aliya, the woman who runned the orphanege, standing there with a lot of blankets. He politely bowed his head and spoke: "Aliya, it's good to see you again." She dropped her blankets and pulled him into a very tight hug. "how have you been my boy?! Look how much you've grown! Are you hungry, would you like something to drink?" Aliya kept rambling, and Jafar just stood there smiling. He was glad to see she was doing fine, he always admired this woman's strenght and her enormous heart. But he still missed someone. "Where is Xerxes?" he asked her. Her face then suddenly changed. "he's gone" she replied. Jafar didn't understand what exactly she meant by that. He hoped he didn't went to the Dusk fields, that would be his biggest fear. Aliya told him to have a seat, and finally, Jafar got to hear all about what had happened the night before they parted ways.

She told him about the stealing, why he did it, and that she still believed he was a good boy. Jafar just sat there with blank eyes. Everything suddenly fell into place and he understood why Xerxes had rejected him that day. He didn't want to drag Jafar down with him. Despite knowing fully well that stealing was wrong, he couldn't bring himself to hate Xerxes now. If anything, he wanted to go to him and tell him everything was okay. But would his friend still want him near? What had changed?

It was during a spring day
Flowers started to peek out from everywhere they could. The dessert was blooming, and so was someone else. Jafar and Xerxes were always together. When they were very young, they had almost the same height and were evenly strong. Xerxes was a bit older, but the differnce between them wasn't that great. But then, nature decided to pull a cruel prank. Polo breed Pouflons grew very tall, and to get to that height they had to grow very fast in a very short amount off time. And since Xerxes was a little older, his growth spurt came sooner. When Jafar came back to the orphanege again to see his friend, he didn't notice the sudden change right away. But then he had to look up to see his friend, which was very new. Xerxes's legs were much longer by now, his hair grew like crazy and he was already getting some muscles. Jafar didn't think to much of it. Until they started playing and he discovered he couldn't fight Xerxes as easy as before. And when they were running, he just couldn't keep up. Jafar then looked in the mirror almost every day to see if he was growing. But just like his stupid hair wouldn't grow, so did his lenght. And he had to start chasing after Xerxes to not get left behind.

Aliya had pointed Jafar in the direction Xerxes went. For a long time there was nothing but empty plains. Until a large building stuck out. Inside were strong looking Pouflons, and it seemed like this was a knight school. Jafar looked for someone in charge and noticed a man with a lot of glimmering medals pinned to his harnass. "excuse me," Jafar began, "but have you seen a friend of mine? He is tall, has a brown coat and long wild hair." The muscle bound guy thought for a second. "I think I do," he said, "he was here a long time ago, but we kicked him out after discovering he had stolen some money before coming here. Don't want to have a thief in our group." Jafar felt like strangling this man. Xerxes did try to be better and get his life back on track, and this man just pushed him back. He didn't say anything though, he just asked where Xerxes was heading, and left. After all, he was used to chasing after his friend.

It was during a summer day 
The warmth struck everyone hard and most wise Pouflons stayed inside. But kids were not like that. All the younger Pouflons were out playing. It had been some years after Xerxes started growing super fast, but now they were finally about the same height again and the growing had slowed down. Jafar was visiting the orphanege that day, but couldn't find Xerxes. A small boy told him he went behind the house. Jafar peeked around the corner and his mouth almost fell open. Xerxes was kissing some girl. Why?! It seemed like yesterday that they agreed that kissing girls was gross! Or was it last year? When he asked Xerxes about it, he just looked at him with a smile and said: "You are to young to understand." Jafar felt empty then. Did nature had to do this again?! He thought for sure that Xerxes wouldn't change anymore. It seemed like his friend was once again ahead of him, and he had to try to keep up or he would be left behind. 

After days of running through the hot desserts, he finally arrived at his destionation: Velourose. The city was big and crowded. Xerxes had to be here somewhere, but where? There were just so many places to look. He only hoped that Xerxes did manege to get his life back in order after being send away by the knights. After some searching, he noticed he was being followed. Quickly he walked in a alleyway and hid behind a corner. When his follower came around the corner, Jafar threw him agains a wall with all his strenght. The Pouf that had been following him was a plucky and had scars all over his face. He looked very surprised. "Why are you following me?!" Jafar snarled at him. The Pouflon swallowed before asking him "are you Jafar?". Jafar nodded. How did this guy know his name, he wondered. The scarred Pouf said he knew him from Xerxes's stories. But when Jafar asked him if Xexres was around he shook his head. "He left months ago to Chrysanthos, but he didn't return. He schould have been back a long time ago." Jafar had already made up his mind years ago. He would chase after Xerxes. Even if it was to the end of the world.

It was during a autumn day
Everything died and wilted. Jafar did not like this season. And it made it clear that day why. His only brother was moving away. Far, far away. Jafar wasn't one to get sad easily. Growing up around some of the toughest kids he learned that crying was out of the question. But this was just to much. He loved his little brother so much, he always wanted to be a good example for him and make him happy. Jafar didn't visit the orphanege for a few days. He didn't want anyone to see him like this, what a pathetic sight that would be. But he also knew that Xerxes would get worried if he didn't see jafar for a while. Getting all his courage, he went to the orphanege. He only got halfway, up the hills Xerxes was waiting for him. Like always, he had that smile on his face that was only for Jafar. As they got together on top off the hill, Xerxes started looking at him worriedly. "What happened?" He asked. Jafar schould have known that Xerxes by now could read him like a book. "nothing happened", was what Jafar said. But his eyes betrayed him. They already turned reddish and he could feel tears prickling. Xerxes repeaded his question once again, not taking any of Jafar's words. Jafar decided he schould probably just tell his friend and get this over with. "My brother moved away. All the way to Bellacoste."  Jafar layed on the grass now, still fighting his tears from coming out. He was getting ready for whatever Xerxes had to say. But he didn't say anything. Instead, Xerxes laid against him and let Jafar bury his face in his hair. The only thing that came out of Xerxes's mouth was a soft whisper, "It's okay". At that moment, Jafar finally let himself cry. He could feel Xerxes nuzzling his neck affectionally, his warm breath ghosting over his fur. Now and then he would say "It's gonna be okay, I'm here", and he started wondering how this change in xerxes happened so suddenly. This wasn't how he used to be, he was wild and rough and didn't know anything about gentleness or affection. But when he thought back to the moments he helped Aliya with chores, became a lot calmer and acted in a much more relaxed way, like he had everything under control, he realized that his friend has been like this for a long time now. Xerxes wasn't a little boy anymore, he was a man now, an adult. And for once, he was thankfull to nature for this change. 

Jafar managed to get all the way back to Chrysanthos. There he asked a lot of Pouflons if they had seen Xerxes. One would think an odd looking Pouf like him would be remembered, but sadly no one had seen him. But then, one young girl seemed to now him. "He is always looking after my friend, Blanche. Kind of a wierd guy... I believe he dropped him off at school in Redwick just now. It's called Riddlelock. My school is actually nearby! When I'm done there I'm gunna be a- Where did he go?" Jafar didn't let the girl finish her story, he had to be quick if he wanted to catch up with Xerxes.

It was during a winter day
The sun was setting, and despite it being winter, it was still hot and sunny like always in the desserts. The biggest change Xerxes had didn't take years, not weeks and not even days. It all happened over one night. All it took was one mistake, and it almost ended their friendship. Almost. 

He was to late, the school had already started and the parents were gone. But one small pixie Pouflon with a coat like chocolate still stood there. "Are you lost, sir?" He asked with big pink eyes. Jafar kept looking at the tiny thing. Something just felt odd. "Is your name perhaps Blanche?" He asked. And, the boy nodded! This is the boy Xerxes had been taking care of! So he did manage to change his life for the better. Jafar couldn't be happier. "Do you know where he is?!" He quickly asked. "Yes," Blanche said, "he is always a bit late with dropping me off. He just went that way." The little Pouf pointed in the direction of the woods. "Thank you!", Jafar quickly said before running off, he was close now.

And not long after, he could see a brown tail disappearing behind trees. When he turned around, there seemed to be no one there. But then he suddenly felt someone nuzzle his neck. "Hello Jafar", said a warm familiar voice. Jafar turned around and pressed himself against his friend, hugging him. "Xerxes! I've missed you so much! How are you doing?", he asked him. "actually," Xerxes said before taking a moment to think, "I'm doing pretty good."

And after all, nothing had changed between them.

It is summer now.