Person+vs+Nonperson+Conflict

Rayalise sighed as she drug herself up the stairwell that led to her room on the second story of her small home. School had been a drag, like always, and she was looking forward to settling comfortably in her favorite place of solitude with a blanket, a pair of fuzzy socks, and her laptop. She grumbled a greeting to her fat cat as she passed it down the hall to her bedroom, giving it a firm kick when it decided rub it and its shedding self on her jean pantleg. Once in her untidy room, Raya shut the door and flicked on her stereo before snatching a half-empty pringles can. The teenager gave a contented sigh as she sunk into the matress of her bed and popped open the can, twitching her feet to the beat of the heavy metal that rolled from her stereo. Rayalise used her toe to click the volume up a few notches on the machine as she reached into the can. She gave a jolt as her hand closed over something warm and... alive. Raya flicked the can once in alarm, disgusted at the thought of a mouse //in her pringle can.// A small mass and a few chips flew out of the can and spilled over the floor.

To her slight surprise, it was no mouse.

A small creature sat disgruntled on her wooden floor, disdainfully pushing a pringle off of itself as it rubbed its tiny rump on which it had landed. It was a creamy off-white color, with long, droopy ears and wide, expressive lavender eyes that looked around in annoyance at its rude upheaval. Its little nose wrinkled as it made an odd, high-pitched sound. Rayalise blinked at the tiny, fantastical creature. It stood on its stout little legs, brushing pringle crumbs off as it continued its strange muttering. Raya slid off the bed, and took the oportunity to lift the small creature by its long white tail. It squirmed in protest, swiping at Raya with its tiny, four-fingered hands, all the while snarling at the girl. Its dark, speckled brows knitted in frustration as the creature crossed its thin arms over its small chest. Rayalise briefly gave the thing a blank, bored look before carrying it towards the window. Its little body swayed as she opened the latch, and tossed the creature from her second story window. Sighing, she plopped onto her bed and flipped open her laptop. She began to log onto a popular video game as a white and lavender streak zipped through the open window. Being carried on thin, translucent wings, the mystical pixie-like creature made circuits around her room, knocking over pictures, figurines, and other various items while tossing clothes about in every direction. The small thing cackled its little laugh all the while. Rayalise ignored it.

Seemingly frustrated by the lack of attention the little terror was receiving, it crash landed onto the foot of Raya's bed. Chattering and spitting, it crawled across the bedspread up towards Rayalise. She ignored it once more when it peering at her from behind her laptop. Its lilac eyes glared at her for a few moments, its small lower lip stuck out in a pout. It made a disdainful noise as it watched her fingers clack over the keys for a few moments. It made faces a face at her before slithering onto the keyboard. It stuck its little arms onto its hips as it stomped around on her keyboard, imitating the noise made by her typing. Raya cocked an eyebrow at it as she paused to watch it perform its contemptuous dance.

"You're getting on my nerves," she said flatly. The little imp stuck his tiny purple tongue out at her as it scrunched up its face. "Shoo," she grumbled as she fanned her hand dismissively at the creature. It spun its tail and waggled its rump at her.

Lifting laptop and imp, Rayalise sighed through her nose as she made her way to the door. She hoisted the creature up by its tail before setting the laptop down and continuing out of her bedroom and into the hallway. The imp crossed its arms and glared as he bounced along for the ride. The impudent look fell from the tiny creature's face as Raya sat down on the top of the steps beside her fat cat.

"Gin, what's this?" Raya crooned, swinging the little imp in front of the feline's face. Its golden, slitted eyes followed the swinging pendulum of a snack. The cat's tongue swiped over its lips once as its tail flicked back and forth. It meowed expectantly. The imp gave a frightened screech, its ears flat against its head as it scrambled to climb up its own tail and cling to Rayalise's fingers. It quivered and shook as the chatter of distress issued from its small form.

"Not so terrible now, eh tough guy?" Raya smirked, patting the cat's head before rising and strolling back down the hall. She set the imp on her bedside table before settling back onto her bed with her game. "No more shenanigans," she muttered to the creature, "Or you'll be sorry you look so tasty to my cat." The imp shrunk in fear at her words, quivering in a huddled ball on her table. It gave an apologetic squeak before slithering off of the table and onto the floor. Raya shot it a glance as it plodded over to a half-eaten pringle, and began to drag it towards the bed. It disappeared momentarily beyond her sight before fluttering up beside her. It shuffled ruefully across the bed and onto the side of her laptop, gazing up at her with big, watery eyes. It made a sheepish noise as it presented her with the half-eaten pringle. Raya's eyebrows lifted in surprise at the peace offering. She shrugged.

"Thanks but you can keep that," she murmured, patting the small thing on the head with two fingers. It chattered in reply as it scrambled across her lap and onto the pillow beside her, the pringle tucked underneath its arm. It settled in a similar sitting position to Raya as it munched noisily on the chip, watching her laptop screen with wide eyes. Rayalise turned her head to look down at the creature. It looked up at her in response. It gave a small squeak, its inflection inquisitive. The side of Raya's mouth twitched up in a smile.

"Hey there," she said.

The small thing muttered a distracted chatter in response as it continued to watch her screen. Raya chuckled at the little imp's mesmerized state. Slowly, over the next few minutes, the creature's eyes began to fight to stay open as he watched Rayalise play her game. She glanced down at it every so often, watching its floppy, pointed ears droop and perk as he struggled to stay awake. Its thin, tufted tail twitched back and forth across the pillow it rested on.

"All tuckered out from being a pain in the butt?" she murmured. Her voice roused it, and the little guy uttered a groggy, inquisitive chitter. Its big purple eyes gazed up at Raya. "Hm?" she said.

"//Chiii?"// it managed. Raya paused in her game to study the little fellow. He was sprawled on his back, his spindley white legs propped across the pillow he was sunk into. His thin little arms were crossed over his tufted chest, and his long pointed ears were flopped straight out from his round head. His little pink nose twitched at her as he blinked expectantly.

"I wonder if you have a name, little guy," she said softly. A small sound floated up from its form as it rubbed a tired eye with a tiny, balled fist. Raya kept watching it steadily.

"Can you even understand me?"

It cocked its head sleepily.

"Guess not. Well, for what it's worth... My name's Rayalise." She returned her attention to her game as the small imp stirred on the pillow. "I'd say my friends call me Raya," she whispered to herself, "But I don't have any of those." The little imp was curled up in a small ball on the pillow, its body quivering slightly. It chattered softly as it slithered over to curl up against Rayalise's arm. She blinked down at it as it did so. Shivering, it proceeded to burrow and squirm under her arm, and make itself comfortable in the crook of her elbow. Its little body was soft and warm.

"Okay," Raya whispered, and the creature leaned its small head up against her side to stare up at her with big eyes. She watched its eyes twitch before its mouth opened wide in a yawn, its little face scrunched up as its ears flattened, and its purple tongue curled. It issued a droning, high-pitched squeak as it came out of its dramatic yawn. Raya chuckled as it shook its head in recovery.

"I should call you Scherzo ," she said with a slight smile. "Its a musical term. Very fitting," she explained as the little guy furrowed his small speckled brow at her.

"Don't like that?"

He gave a discontented chatter.

"Alright. That's fine. I think... Alegretto's more fitting," she said softly before returning to her game. From the corner of her eye, she watched the little imp blink up at her, and felt his small form rumble with a thoughtful chatter before his head slid off her side. He stirred once to get comfortable, and was quietly slumbering within minutes. Rayalise concentrated on her screen blankly as she felt the imp's form rise and fall with steady breath. Silently to herself, she bid good rest to the strange, fantastic creature. To Alegretto.

Alegretto woke drowsily to a strange sound. Ears cocked, he lifted his head to glance around the room. He gave an inquisitive chatter as he spotted Rayalise across the dimly-lit room, seated in a chair that was tucked into the corner. She was playing a cello. It had grown dark outside, and the only light came from the lamp perched on the desk beside Raya. Her head was tilted in a way that he could not see her face, her ash-blonde hair falling over her eyes. A deep, haunting melody floated from the strings as she gracefully and expertly moved the bow over the strings in slow strokes. Alegretto's ears were swiveled towards her, to take in every fall and lift of the stirring piece. And the way she played... There was something mesmerizing in the way her strokes held so much emotion. Alegretto's tiny heart shuddered as Raya's sorrowful lament picked up pace and emotion as her bow danced across the strings. Every once in a while, the imp caught sight of her face as she played. He caught flashes of her eyes, closed tightly; a furrowed brow. Her thin lips were an unreadable line. Suddenly, mid-tune, Rayalise stopped. The bow quivered in her slender fingers, and Alegretto peered intently at her from his spot on her bed.

She was crying.

Startled at this realization, Alegretto scrambled to his feet. Before he could move, though, Rayalise slid out from behind the cello. To Alegretto's bewilderment, she swiftly left the room, a strong, blank look on her face. With his small, speckled brow furrowed, the imp chattered uneasily towards the door that Raya had disappeared through.

Rayalise did not return that night. Never giving up the hope that she would, the small imp waited impatiently in her room, pacing ruts into her pillow. He was up until dawn waiting, and eventually fell into an exhausted sleep when she never arrived.

The imp was eventually awakened when she did return.

Alegretto woke with a start from his fitful sleep as Rayalise's body fell against the bed. She was sprawled limply, her face burried in the pillow she clutched, her hair spilling around her face. The imp issued peals of cries as he scrambled across the bed to her. He stopped short as he reached the pillow. Rayalise's face was a mask of pain, her slender features scrunched up. Tears streamed from her closed eyes, and her body shook with sobs as she clutched the pillow tightly. Alegretto's ears drooped as he gazed up at her sorrowfully. Chattering in distress, he waddled towards her, climbing over her arm and up the pillow to stand perched, right by her cheek. His wide eyes were filled with her hurt as he watched the tears stream down her cheek, over her nose. Chattering softly, the imp placed both of his tiny hands tentatively against her face, spreading his eight fingers over her soft skin. A sob hitched in her throat as Alegretto buried his small face against her cheek with a sad noise.

"//Raya... Lise...//"

The girl grew silent, and her eyes blinked open. The imp rubbed his face against her cheek once more.

"R... Retto?" she whimpered, her voice shaky.

"Rayalise!" the small, high-pitched voice chattered, with more strength. Raya sat up quickly, swiping a hand across her nose to wipe it as she looked in alarm down at the imp. It stumbled from the upheaval, and scurried to climb up Rayalise's knees to stand perched on her lap, gazing up at her with great concern in its giant lavender eyes.

"My Raya..." its squeaky voice managed as it stomped around on her lap in distress before clutching her shirt in tiny white fists. Fresh tears spilled from her eyes as Raya's heart swelled in the comfort she never before received.

"My Scherzo... My Alegretto..." she whimpered, scooping the small creature up in her hands, and lifting him to press gently against her cheek. He quivered and chattered restlessly against her skin as he pushed the tears away, distressed by their presence.

"My Raya... My Raya..." he kept chattering.