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Athelstan was a name that meant 'Noble Stone' fitting that it should be the name of the one that led the group that Ryhdderch belonged to. They lived up in a nice area where the soil was fertile, the sun smiled down upon them, and the water was easy to bring into their many crops. It was a wonderful area that had belonged to the group for a good among of time. Athelstan was old, one could tell by the grey in his hair, fur, and thick beard as well as by the wear and tear on his horns and hooves. Old but well respected and he was one of three that were sitting to one side of the room, all three facing the four figure who was looking more then a little uncomfortable and there between them all was something so simple, a Foto picture that while rather blurry was the reason for this rather rushed meeting.

Ryhdderch was feeling more then a little uncomfortable as those before him were quietly discussing both his Fate and that of whatever creature might be within the Foto waiting to manifest itself. While he wanted to tell them that it was nothing, that there was danger at all, and that he saw it be summoned forth from a calm looking landscape that the 'Magic Door' had been displaying he told them the truth instead. He told them about the stormy weather, about the rain and lightning that had filled the doorway, and even about that roar that sounded just before the Foto came into creation. He couldn't leave out any details about the scene, about where he'd been, and who he'd met with... just in case any of it might have run a bell to any of the ones he was speaking too.

"It is most out of ordinary the way this one will be birthed into our world but there is no need for haste in sending the being away before it even has that chance." The woman to the right of Athelstan, also the Master Healer and Midwife to the village said in a thoughtful manner. The way she saw it the being that was within the Foto was the same as a baby in a woman's stomach, it was waiting to be born and who were they to judge it before it had even taken a first breath?

"That roar can't be ignored so easily, what if this creature that comes forth from the 'Foto' its a flesh eater? Or worse it looks upon our people as a food source?" The second man said, sounding very unamused by the situation. It was easy to read another when they came to the village and asked to join the group but a mere picture? And one that was blurry enough that the being with could hide itself from view? He did not trust it as easily as Dianthe did but then again they were of vastly different fields of expertise. This fact was not lost on him and he had started to wonder if that were the point? Perhaps it was the reason behind Athelstan calling the two of them here to sit at either side of him for this judgment. It would make sense that he would listen to their debate and yet hadn't said a word himself seeming only to be observing for the moment.

"Even if the child eats meat we will not judge it, after all some of those in the village do as well and we raise food for them to eat or hunt for them do we not? The same could be done for this one and I would be inclined to believe that the Caster Wylde would not be so cruel as to send some sort of 'Minotaur-Eating-Monster' home with Ryhdderch." She had not met him herself so she couldn't be positive but the description of him and his ways from the younger bull was enough to convince her of things.

For once it would appear that Duilius had little to say though he still seemed to be giving the Foto a look as though he thought they should burn the object and just be done with it. He wouldn't argue such a point as it seemed far to violent to voice out loud and the last thing he wanted was to be compared to the Minotaur of Greece since he was far more dignified then those Labyrinth dwellers. He was merely one who was charged with keeping their rag tag group of farmers safe.

Duilius, Dianthe, and Ryhdderch all turned their gazes then to Athelstan to wait, watch, and see what happened from there. He pushed up to his feet when all eyes were on him and moved forward slowly and carefully picked up the Foto off the ground and held it out to Ryhdderch, "This being whether a mere child or a danger is a responsibility you picked up young one, it is on your shoulders and conscience everything that happens after this moment. Know though that the village is here beside you as we are all with all new Fathers." He murmured, his voice never rising above a certain level that one would use in polite conversation, "Do take care in not visiting any more strange shops in the future without permission though, Ryhdderch."

The other Minotaur flushed a bit under his fur as he took the Foto from the elder's hand, "I will do my best to remain more cautious in future travels, Elder." He assured the older male, he couldn't say that he had ever expected to have someone to care for so early in life and the idea of perhaps another child... no, that was far to much to even think on. He looked the blurry Foto over before rising to his feet, "I think I will head to my hut and see if its ready for another to live there."

The trio exchanged looks before nodding, "Do try to clean it up a bit, children are small and the mess at your place... well it isn't Ryhdderch." Dianthe said in a mother way then gave a wave as the youngest among them headed out with the Foto in hand, "I think he will do already even if he is young yet."

Duilius shrugged while Athelstan merely nodded, they were both rather curious to see what came forth from the Foto and what the future held for that being and young Ryhdderch as well.

POOF! A Toddler!

The sound of thunder that been the first thing that drew Ryhdderch out of normally deep, peaceful sleep... he looked a little bit dazed as he lifted his head off the pillow that he'd been face down in, lifted a large hand to scrub away the drool, then blinked, "Wha...?" Thunder? It wasn't supposed to rain, was it? Not that he knew of and the woman here in the village that predicted the movements of the weather was rarely if ever off he thought to himself when he heard the sound again. He pushed up to his feet and took a couple steps toward the door as though he meant to check outside to see if it were storming when movement caught his attention. He jerked his head around and he found himself watching the Foto where it was shaking wildly on the ground near to his bed where he'd laid it down last night. He was watching it before he passed out as though he thought it were going to do something special... and now it seemed to be doing just that. The massive minotaur knelt down next to it and seemed to be at the ready, one had to be ready for anything given he had no idea what was going to come bursting forth from the blurry Foto. Would it be just a child as Dianthe had thought or something more dangerous like what Duilius had predicted?

He wasn't sure if he should be shocked, confused, disappointed, or delighted when the rather small being burst forth from the Foto. It was... just a child, a small human child at that who seemed to have nothing special about him other then as strange, almost reptilian third eye in the palm of his left hand that he seemed to be having a starring contest with. All three eyes blinked and turned slowly to looking up at Ryhdderch in a steady gaze that seemed to speak very little about what the tiny boy might be thinking, he seemed to be hiding everything behind those chocolate colored eyes of his, "Ahh... hey there kid, glad to see your not some sort of Minotaur-Eating-Monsters like Duilius thought you might be." He told the kid, giving him a huge, toothy smile and then reached out to pick him up off the ground with one had as a human might do with a small kitten before he sat him down on the already warm, over sized bed that he slept on, "Here, you can take over this for the night and in the morning I will find you a bed of yor own, sound good?"

The boy merely starred at him before he crawled up to the pillow that seemed to be almost as big as he was and he made his way up on top of it much like one would do when playing king-of-the-mountain before he looked around to survey the room that he was in from the higher up perch. The place was very... plain, wasn't it? He took in the fact that aside from the bed there was little furniture but a lot of junk laying around. Clothing was strewn about as well as though the big man he was with had no idea how to wash clothing. He blinked his eyes before they turned to look at the man in front of him from hoof to head, he was... just plain huge! He starred up at the massive creature that was smiling at him in a happy manner in which made him seem... less frightening then his size alone would. He tilted his head to the side as he study the coloration of the guy. Just two colors a dark brown and a lighter brown that was bordering on an of fwhite, again plain to look at.

He gave a bit of a yawn as he found coming forth from the Foto had been more exhausting then he'd expected it be. He let himself slump over onto his side on the pillow and continued to just stare at the one there in front of him. He didn't blinked, didn't speak, didn't do anything to give anyway any sort of errant emotion that he might be feeling. He didn't seem highly emotional, didn't seem even slightly so... he was quiet as well which had Ryhdderch already considering a visit to see Wylde, worried that maybe there was something wrong with him. Had his manifestation from the Foto gone wrong? His his voice still trapped inside the blackness of what remained of the Foto perhaps? He reached down to retrieve it, shaking it he looked over on the front, the back, then the front again before he set it aside where it would be safe. The best thing to do was to seek out Wylde if possible and see what the guy thought of the situation at hand. If anything had gone wrong he would surely know, right? He was a magic user after all...

Though perhaps he should give the kid time, he had just been born after all and he might be rushing things a little. He knew so very little about children and he shouldn't rush him, he was like the plants growing in the fields, nothing ever came of them if one tried to rush the work. He shook his head to clear it before he sat down on the bed and laid on it so that he could be comfortable without using the pillow which was already occupied, "We will go and visit the Elder in the morning, so he can see what you look like and that your not a danger." He told the small boy though got no real response, not that he had expected one. Yes, Athelstan would know what to do so he would ask him once the sun rose, for now he was going back to sleep... see if he could get that nice dream going again.

Meeting Two and a Name

Ryhdderch lifted a large hand up to tap it against the entrance to Dianthe's home and there was a call for him to enter a moment later. He slipped inside to look around, let his eyes adjust to the slightly darker atmosphere, then walked over to where the woman seemed to be waiting for him. He gave a smile before he carefully set Rong down on the table before her, "He manifested himself just this morning, he as already met with Elder Athelstan." He told her before he took up his seat on the floor on the other side of the low table.

Dianthe looked the small boy over before giving him a smile, "Well now, aren't you a tiny little thing?" She said with a soft chuckle and reached a hand out to smooth back his hair which seemed to pop up back into place in its somewhat wild looking style the moment her hand was removed. This caused her to laugh lightly, "He is a cute one, so let me guess Athelstan wants a clean bill of health on this one?" That he was born in such a strange manner no doubt put the man a bit on edge about what the child was and how he came to be.

There was a nod from the minotaur male, "I believe so, can't be to careful I guess since he was just born into the world." Regardless the fact that the boy seemed to be of the similar age to a toddler he was still fresh to the world and had to be treated as such, "After this we will need to fetch some breakfast, I am starving and I am sure he is as well... wondering what it is he will want to eat." He mused to himself out loud.

Dianthe was quietly inspecting the boy checking his height, weight, all done by eye and by lifting him up gently and all the while Rong seemed never to protest. Instead he seemed to be watching her as closely as she was watching him. It was a simple enough inspection of his health, mostly things that could be looked over in ways done using the five senses. There were no complicated machines here to run other sorts of tests with as there were in more complex and high tech villages, here things were a lot more simplified. She gave a smile once she was done and gently ruffled his hair, "I do believe that he is doing quite well." She murmured, sensing that something seemed a bit... off with him but she wasn't to concerned. If the Elder had allowed him to come to visit her then she was sure he sensed it as well but saw it as nothing to throw up an alarm over.

"Now... what he needs is a name." She murmured, reaching down to cup his chin gently and tilted his head back so that their eyes could meet. She tilted her head to the side and was quiet for a long moment. She finally gave a small nod of her head, "I see... Rong, is it?"

Ryhdderch blinked a couple times, "Rong?" He asked, sounding a little on the curious side as to why she would choose a name like that.

She nodded, "A most interesting name... It means 'to Flourish', 'Harmonious', and in some cases 'To hold or to tolerate'. It is a name more of his people then of ours though which meaning applies to your boy that is beyond by ability to guess, young Ryhdderch." She released her hold on Rong's chin and allowed the boy to settle back down on the table, "He is to young yet to assume, I would give him more time." It could be any number of those meanings, perhaps all of them she thought to herself.

Ryhdderch nodded as he lifted his son up into his arms, "The Elder was wanting to see you after we were done here... and unless there is something else I think I will fetch breakfast for the two of us." He said as he rose up to his feet.

Dianthe nodded, "I will head that way then, do come to visit me again soon. I find this boy of yours to be rather fascinating... though I can't yet explain why." She murmured as she ushered the pair out of her place before heading on to meet with the elder.

Ryhdderch and Rong both watched as she headed away before the minotaur looked down at his son, "So, let's fetch some breakfast before we decide what to do with the rest of our day, alright?" With a smile he turned and headed off in search of food, time to figure out what it was that this small child liked to eat.

The Zen Garden

Pumpkin Panic with Rei

A Change in Season

The season of Winter had come and it had gone, it was a bit of a boring time as all of the plants were gone and everything had been buried under a layer of white with the sky masked by gray clouds. Rong hadn't really changed much himself unlike the world around him. It worried his guardian and father figure, there were days the boy would climb up onto the top of the fence and sit there, looking out over the empty snow covered fields and he looked as though he were going through the motions of life. He was... lacking something, as though a piece of his soul or his mind were missing. Dianthe told him that he shouldn't worry to terribly, that Rong was still young yet and that one day he would discover himself and when he did things would be made more clear to everyone around him.

Ryhdderch did his best to follow her advice but there were days that he had to remind Rong to eat else he would likely not do so, days he had to help him to remember to do simple tasks like changing clothing so he didn't wear the same thing for days on end, to clean him up when he got dirty, to lay him down to remind him to sleep. It was like having a doll that lived and breathed at times, he seemed to only really change his attitude at least a little bit when he had been near to Rei'Lar, something about that strange boy had brought something out in Rong that was more alive. He wondered if there some sort of connection between the pair. He needed to find Rei'Lar and his strange guardian Liam once more, to test his theory out, and if he were lucky try to figure out who and what Rei'Lar was. If he knew what the boy was maybe he would be able to find a clue as to what Rong was... and more importantly what was wrong with his son.

Something about the season of Winter had made the boy seem even more doll like, he'd been starring out over empty fields in a manner that at times seemed... almost intent, as though a part of him were trying to will something to happen. For the snows to melt, for the crops to return, if it were either of those things or something completely different the massive minotaur couldn't really be certain. He just knew that boy never seemed to blink when he was starring out over the fields that had once held many crops and would again. When the snows had started to melt away he grew a little more... content Ryhdderch wanted to say. While the changes in Rong's moods, if what he had could be considered full scale moods, were very minuet, but after spending so much time with him the minotaur seemed to be able to see them. It was less that he had any sort of outward appearance of emotion and more like the way he moved around.

"Spring seems as though it agrees with you Rong." He said as he reached his hands out to easily scoop his son up, lifting him from the fence he was currently sitting on so that he could once more perch on his shoulder instead. The boy shifted, lifting one hand to let it rest on Ryhdderch's broken off horn while the other hand, the one with the wide open yellow eye, rested palm up on his lap, "Are you able to... see through that thing?" He asked, looking at the third eye that his son possessed. It seemed to be a strange place to keep an eye. Strange anatomy really... it must be tough to have it in such a place, to risk poking it when he picked things up.

Rong turned his hand slightly as though to look down at it himself and for a moment was starring eye to eye with himself in a strange so of fashion. He starred for a long, drawn out moment, blinked all three eyes, then went back to starring ahead instead of answering the question. Then again when did he? Rong had never spoke a word to this point, rarely made a peep... if it weren't for the fact that he'd heard a sound or two out of him before he'd almost think that the boy were a mute on top of everything else that seemed to be off about him, "We really do need to get you talking." He told Rong, watching him closely, "It would be good for you to learn, so that you can express yourself better. I am sure there is a lot locked away in that mind of yours that would love to come out."

Surely the boy had something going on in his mind, as to what he didn't know... and that bothered Ryhdderch to know end. As the boy's father he should be able to help him, to teach him to speak, to help him to learn, to be there for him. He worried that he was failing the boy at times like this when he tried to carry on a conversation and got no where, "I think we should head for home, its almost time for me to start preparing dinner." He told his son, turning on one large hoof and started back toward home. Once the meal was prepared he would try again to strike up conversation, one of these days the boy was going to answer him back he told himself with a smile. On that day they would be able to talk like a real family did and he would rejoice for having achieved such a victory.

Rude Awakening

Ryhdderch was yanked forth from his sleep by the sound of his child's cries, eyes wide with complete shock as he'd never heard such a sound before and most certainly not from Rong. He was up instantly, lighting one of the lamps with a thick match, then reached a massive hand out to the boy, easily picking him up, "Rong? Rong! What is it? Are you hurt...?" He looked him over, taking in how much he'd seemed to have grown since he'd been put to bed. It was amazing though he couldn't quite be in awe yet as he was to worried to feel anything else at the moment.

As he was picked up the sound seemed to dwindle away into nothing more then soft, shaky gasps and whines, as though he were in pain though Ryhdderch couldn't see any wounds as he looked the boy over for them. Aside from his clothing appearing as though he were a bit tight now he didn't see anything that was wrong...

A moment later the door to his house burst open and Duilius came in, weapon in hand as though he were expecting the worst... behind him was Dianthe who shoved passed him, "Weapons aren't needed here Duilius." She scolded the warrior before hurrying over to the Ryhdderch and his child, "Let me look at him, Ryhdderch."

The tall minotaur looked down at the Village Healer for a moment before he carefully handed his son over, "I don't understand what happened... he does not appear to be hurt, Dianthe. He was suddenly just screaming..." His ears twtiched rapidly forward and backwards, looking a bit on edge from the sound. He'd wanted to hear something from his son but never something like that... he now found himself feeling quite guilty over wishing to hear his voice. His ears sagged, as did his tail as he waited for word from the woman who'd laid Rong down and was carefully examining him, "He is... will he be alright?"

"I believe so." She said as she looked to Duilius, "If you would be so kind as to fetch me a shirt from Gyuri's youngest?" It would still be a bit big on Rong but would be a more comfortable size then the one that he was wearing.

The soldier looked displeased with being assigned such a task but moved to do it anyway, Dianthe was the village Healer and one was supposed to obey her words as readily as they would obey the words of Athelstan himself since she was such an important woman. Not to mention that crossing her meant crossing someone that had the knowledge of all herbs and their side effects which could cause a man a very uncomfortable time as the last suitor that wouldn't leave Dianthe had learned when she filled his bed with leaves that left him itchy for days.

"I do believe it was this sudden growth spurt, Ryhdderch, it was a great amount of growth suddenly and it much have hurt him something fierce." She reached into a small pouch at her side tearing off the smallest bit of one of the leaves and gently placed it on Rong's tongue, "This will ease his pain, make it so that he is able to sleep again." She explained when she noticed the look of concern on the younger bull's face, "Once he awakens again though I would ask that you bring him to me, so that I can better look him over. If you would do that for me?"

Ryhdderch was instantly nodding his head, "Of course, anything you wish Dianthe so long as you can make certain that he will be alright." He told her.

"I will do my best, as I always do Ryhdderch but one cannot rush the body to be well again when its been put through something painful. You just need to make sure to look after him and do everything I tell you to do once I am able to go through and give him a better physical, alright?"

He gave another quick nod, "Of course." He didn't mind doing everything and anything she asked of him if it meant that his son was going to get better, being the Healer he knew that her orders would be for the best of his son after all. He turned his head as he heard hoof beats, seeing Duilius had returned carrying a small shirt in his hands... though when he handed it over and Dianthe set to helping Rong out of his to small clothes and into the new shirt he saw that it seemed quite... large compared to the boy. He had grown so much and yet he was still so tiny compared to the rest of the village, even the children. As Dianthe stepped back he was able to get a better look at the boy who was, now that the leaf had started to take effect, asleep once more.

"He is alright for now then? Should I stay up and keep an eye on him?" He asked of her.

"You still need to tend to the fields tomorrow, Ryhdderch. Do get what sleep you can." She told him, giving his hair a gentle stroke before she turned and headed out of his house, "Come along Duilius."

The soldier gave Ryhdderch and his strange but now once more silent child a long look before he left along with Dianthe leaving the two along once more. The tall bull looked down at his son, carefully stroking back his hair, "You try to sleep deeply Rong and we will go and meet with Dianthe again tomorrow." He said reassuringly before he put out the light and then laid down next to Rong once more. Now that the boy was bigger he would soon be needing a bed of his own since he'd be old enough that he wouldn't need his father looking after him constantly. That was something he'd need to look into soon he thought before he was once more dozing off, though he slept very lightly this time around just in case Rong needed him again.