This is a story about Vellatra's kids when they were still small, and a backstory of sorts for Veelia. Enjoy!

Nabikio skidded on the dirt, straining to hear any approaching footsteps.
"Help! I'm frozen!" wailed a nearby child. One of those noki twins, probably. Nabikio edged around a corner and saw him.
"I gotcha," he whispered, wiggling between the kid's legs.
"Thanks."
"Help!" cried the other twin from behind a store booth.
"I'll get him," said the first twin, hurrying over. Nabikio was about to follow when he heard a sob from the nearest alley.
"Who's there?" he asked, walking to the alley's entrance.
"...Nabikio?" came a high voice from the corner.
"Izak!" said Nabikio, recognizing the little simi. "What's wrong?" he asked, sitting down and putting an arm around him.
"I'm so scared," Izak moaned. "My big brother's got the Creeping Horror, and Mom says he could-"
"IZAK!"
Both boys jumped. Izak's father marched up to them, eyes flashing.
"How dare you leave the house at a time like this! You're putting everyone in terrible danger!" He grabbed Izak by the wrist and hauled him away. Nabikio caught one last terrified look from his friend before he disappeared.