"You've just received your paperwork to have the child. The child approaches you, looking very sad, but eager for something. Tugging on your clothes a little, they seem to want something. But what could it be? What item of yours do you give them? You choose an item and hand it to the child. It hugs the item and smiles as a light envelopes the child. When the light subsides, the child seems fine, but the item is gone."
There was a local legend, a rumor at best, of a wild child in the wood near the village. Sulia Wood was inhabited by fae, so maybe it was just one of them. Or maybe it was just a rumor and nothing more. Regardless of the truth, Hísime was in a hurry. She needed to hide. She had no time for such stories, except that she needed to know if anything was out of the ordinary in the wood, such as anyone hiding out, or authorities searching for someone. Not that she would be dense enough to ask those things outright. "Is there anything. Else. I should know? Before I go on that hike through the woods."
"You've heard it all as far as I can say," the innkeeper said, looking up at the ceiling as he wracked his brain.
"Okay, thank you." She took the key for her room; her traveling pack swayed as she put it back on her shoulders and started to climb the stairs. She was rather short but stocky, more than capable of carrying such a large bag. At least that was her opinion.
"You sure you don't want some help with that? Why, it would be no trouble for my son."
"No," she hissed a little hastily. "No, thank you."
"So many thank-you's" he chuckled. All right, you have a good night, now," he chuckled.
In the murky twilight hours before dawn, Hísime set out on her little "hike" through Sulia Wood. The world was silent but for a few early morning risers among the birds. She would use them as a warning to any pursuit. Hísime was a thief, a damn good one. But she had decided that the monastery she had just visited --and robbed-- would be wanting their stuff back immediately, if not sooner. Well that wasn't about to happen, not if she had anything to say on the matter. She was going to keep moving, winding her way through the countryside until she made her way home in Belosh. She expected to be in the wilderness for a good month at her pace. She was more than capable of surviving on her own.
But life has a funny way of turning out differently than one would ever expect.
Sometime later, still before the sun rose, Hísime saw a ghost. At least that was her first impression. As she approached, she recognized a child dancing in the moonlight. Beautiful and ethereal, seeming to glow in the low light, he was oblivious to the world and quite naked. In awe of the sight, closed in; now close enough to imprint the face into memory, he still seemed not to notice her.
"What is your name?" she asked. Her voice seemed to snap him out of his trance-like state and he watched her in shock, then in wonder. It was as if he had never expected to see anyone, ever, in his presence.
Then, a yearning expression filled drained his face of its serenity. He seemed hungry. She had something she could share, a piece of jerky or bread. So she crouched down and set her pack down with a heavy, faintly clanging sound despite being as careful as possible. While she fished that out of her bag, she set aside a cone-shaped censer for burning incense. When she held up the jerky, she noticed the child staring at the censer in curiosity, hunger forgotten.
She held up the censer, a beautiful piece of bronze etched to look like a hill with humans and animals climbing toward its summit. Surrounding all were long trailers of clouds, or smoke, and lapis-and-garnet encrusted peacock butterflies weaving throughout. It was a stunning piece, and one she was tempted to keep instead of sell. She was not surprised that the child wanted to see it.
He reached out to her and the censer, then he took it in hand and began to study its surface. Then a flash of light so bright she could not see and covered her eyes. She thought that maybe they had been spotted. When the light faded she looked about frantically but saw no one but the child. When she was sure they were safe, she turned back to the child and discovered that the censer was gone he was cognizant.
"What is this? Where did you put it?"
The boy shook his head and shrugged.
She put her pack back on and looked around. It was dark so the bronze shape would be difficult to see. The child turned to watch her as she made her progress. Growling, she threw her hands up and sighed. It was then, as color began to flood the world with dawn's coming, that she realized that the boy's wings-- for he was indeed a faerie-- were the wings of a Peacock butterfly. Realization struck her hard.
"You're a meta!"
The boy simply watched her, expression blank. Either he did not know what he was or he was not telling.
"I don't have time for this!" She growled again and turned to go. But she stopped when she felt a tug on her tunic. "You already took my loot, what more do you want?"
Later that morning, the innkeeper from before watched as Hísime returned with the child, who was now fully clothed in the small woman's clothing. "Staying for another day?" he asked with a smile.
"Yes, I... my son here came to get me. He decided he wanted to come with me. So we'll be staying for another day or two."
"Great! I'll just mark your guest down in the ledger."
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2020 8:45 am
"Someone to love"
This woman stole my innocence. Or at least, that is what I tell myself. I have to be careful to remind myself of such things, or I will care too much. I will lose perspective. Hísime stole my innocence.
I do not blame her for Sulia Wood. Sooner or later I would have been given an item by somebody. It may as well have been her, as she has a heart of gold despite her gruff exterior and trade. But I do blame her because she was the first person to catch my eye on purpose. She was the one who awoke me to the world around me. Before that it was so much simpler. All I did was dance. I danced with the wind, the glowing moonlight, and the faeries when they let me.
I don't have any special opinion of that time. Sulia was just the environment I grew up in for part of my childhood. No one cared for me, so yes, I hunted. I hunted with my bare hands and bared teeth. The faeries avoided me and I avoided the other races. Instead of fleeing, I would dance for them until they approached, then I disappeared with an illusion. The animals were just animals, innocent like me. I did not have a flock of birds on my shoulders or fawns dozing at my feet. They avoided me like the faeries did. They knew I was unnatural.
Supposedly, at some point in my life I was "born" in a laboratory. I have no memory of that time. I suppose if I did, the setting and I would have changed. As it was, since I have no memory, I have not formed an opinion. If I were to meet my maker I would waste no emotion on them.
So why don't I waste my emotions on this family of mine? I do not know. Perhaps I really can't. Perhaps I am incapable of such feelings. I hope I learn to love them. Hísime took me in when she did not have an obligation to. She took in Firnriel and even her cousin's meta child, Hendugaul. She called him "cousin." Firnriel is sweet and gentle. And Hen, even though he is stupid and a paranoid brat, I could learn to like or even love him, too. If I was capable.
I guess that's my biggest secret, isn't it? I want to learn to love.
Melomar
Wind-up Waffles
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Melomar
Wind-up Waffles
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Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2020 9:19 am
"About my item"
The hill censer that is my item was ornate and beautiful in many ways. Hísime tells me what materials were used to make it. Bronze was its main composition and that is a heavy but expensive metal. Many etchings and carvings went into its making, too. Bulls, goats, wild cats, and birds were shown to wind their way around the cone-shaped surface. The shape and design are why it is called a hill censer. It is a common theme, for this type of censer. Finally, winding with a streamer of fog and clouds were the butterflies. They made the censer so beautiful. Encrusted with blue lapis and red garnet, the butterflies were clearly depicted as peacock butterflies. These stones make the censer seem to glow while incense is burning.
Incense is what a censer is made for. It houses intoxicating incense that burns within. Imagine the real smoke winding with the bronze smoke around the surface of the hill, the figures fading in and out of focus, and the dimly glittering, bright stones catching the eye, it is as if it burns from the deep earth itself. I don't have to imagine it. I can look within myself and remember it, as if the memory exists within the item.
My item has affected me in ways that may seem ridiculous. My wings became the wings of a peacock butterfly. Rusty red and depthless blue, these colors were not a part of me before. I do not remember how they looked before, though. I simply don't.
I can produce smoke that affects the minds and senses of those around me. I haven't tried to do it much, but I do practice in my room, so the smoke becomes rather heady at times. Sometimes I can trick my siblings into doing something for me, but I am not sure if it's the incense or my natural charm...
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 10:07 pm
Roleplay "Firnriel" Players: Hisime, Cullo, Firnriel (Melomar). Discord RP; file: here Alternately, see below, in spoiler, for entire roleplay.
"You found someone like me?" Cullo tittered, "What luck you have!" The child sat cross-legged in the sparse grass outside their home in Belosh. He rocked forward and back while holding onto his ankles. He wore his usual dark robe with sash belt and sat beside the current volume of his journal.
"Yeah, luck. That's what 't is. Now I want you t' watch over her an' make sure she has what she needs. Don't let 'er misbehave." Hísime could not believe she was putting the care of a tiny child into the hands of another older child who was little larger than the toddler. Any number of problems could arise while she was gone. Why, she could bowl him over if she threw a tantrum.
She spoke with a harsh emotion like anger. He could not identify it. Perhaps she did not like the new child. Cullo waited for more information from Hísime. She was in the bad habit of not speaking her mind and so Cullo was left guessing what he needed for her to say. When it was not presented, he asked, "What is her name?" He thought it a fair enough question considering he was going to be responsible for her. Who didn't know the name of their own sister?
"Firnriel." She stopped her fidgeting with her pack's straps and looked him full in the face. The child had been named on the spot when and where she found her, just like Cullo had. This was close to becoming a habit. "But no more!" She blurted out. "Two children is enough," she continued in an undertone.
"Dead crown. Dead crown? It means 'dead crown.'" Cullo laughed. Why would anyone name a child such a terrible name?
"You will see why I named her that." She slung her pack fully onto her back, making as if to leave. She shot him a look to ensure that he would not move without her notice, then went and disappeared behind the building. She was gone for several minutes before Cullo could see or hear anything.
Perhaps it would make sense, but perhaps not. It was hard to believe, but Cullo nodded in acquiescence. Okay, let's see what the cat brought home, he thought, to turn a phrase. Not that she was particularly catty or anything, that her human side showing quite clearly, but she was gruff to say the least.
"Ere she is. Come on, Firn." The short half-elf woman appeared from behind the side of the house. She urged a little girl out alongside her. Hísime stood at the short end of five feet tall, and the girl reached to her elbow.
The girl crab-walked with her hands gathered together in front of her. She was pale and wore patched hand-me-downs that had lost their color, for the most part. All were a dingy grey-shade of what they once were. Were they old clothes that Hísime had herself worn as a child? Why would she even keep something little better than rags around? So, they were the girl's clothing that she had worn the night they met in the street.
Cullo's first impression was that she was absolutely adorable. She was short and slender with a round little face. Her hair was a messy shag, but Hísime had seen to it that she was clean. And shy, did she ever seem shy, staring down at his feet. His second impression was a vague one that he could not quite put his finger on.
Firnriel's black eyes looked void of expression and shallow, the same way some people's eyes can seem depthless. She stared at a hazy point near the faery boy's shins. Her face was expressionless but worse than that she seemed almost tired. Striking, very bleak. So what had first struck him as shyness might not be anything of the sort.
Hísime, standing a little behind the small child, waved at Cullo. She tried to pantomime proceeding with the conversation. This was him meeting his new little sister. They should build some form of rapport before Hísime left for her intended destination, the Pawnshop she owned and managed downstairs from their small apartment. So her destination was back inside of the building and the children were to play outsideorsomething. But not in the street!
Cullo was quick to pick up the cue. He approached the two females and stopped in front of Firnriel. From out of his sleeve popped a folding fan that he tapped on his chin and nose. Then he tapped himself on the chest lightly. "Hi, I'm Cullo. So your name is Firnriel? That's a pretty name."
She liked it, not knowing what it meant. Hísime had told her, but she still did not understand what "dead crown" was supposed to mean. Firnriel slowly blinked her eyes, and then nodded gravely. But she did not look at him at first. When she did, he would see nothing but pain. The tangent about her name was but a small distraction from her overwhelming grief.
"Are you okay?" Concerned, the faery boy leaned closer, folded fan touching his lower lip. His wings flittered a little behind him. They made little snapping noises as they tapped together.
Firnriel stared at his wings, both seeing and not seeing them. They were beautiful. Deep rust and brown with splashes of black, white, and glowing blue fluttered in and out of her sight. Still staring at them, she shrugged slowly and tilted her head to the side, finally away from him.
She was alive but dead, broken, and it had nothing to do with her ghost lineage.
"Can you show me your hands?" Cullo asked suddenly. He put his fan back up his sleeve and held his hands up in front of him, palms facing skyward.
It was a strange request. But Firnriel unclasped her hands and put them out in front of her. Curious, she mimicked his movements, holding her hands palm-up.
He rotated his hands so that they were palms-down. Each of his hands slid above hers and lowered to grasp one of hers. "I'm your brother now. If something is wrong I will try to help. I will protect you."
Firnriel's brow furrowed and tears welled up, burning in her eyes. "That's what they said," she muttered. She blinked the tears away, seeing them drop to the ground, disappearing into the dry, sandy soil common in the desert of Belosh. She shook her head. "They're gone."
"But I'm not. I want to." Cullo had decided. "I will protect you. Come to me if anything bad happens. Okay?"
Hísime sucked in a breath. She had never seen such a fierce expression on Cullo's face. Never. Always he seemed detached, even apathetic and amused. But this new child had brought out a fire in him that could be formidable one day. For today, it still was striking.
Firnriel, ignorant of that truth, still detected an emotion gripping him as fierce as her grief. She didn't know what would happen from now on; already she had learned that just wanting and just trying did not always get you what you wanted. It didn't get you what you needed. But if someone could protect her, he would. After several moments of deliberation, she finally nodded. "Okay."
Cullo hugged her tightly. He did not ask, he did not warn, he just grabbed her.
And she cried.
And he cried for the first time, too.
Melomar
Wind-up Waffles
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Melomar
Wind-up Waffles
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Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 6:52 pm
Reserved for "Hendugaul"
Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 6:55 pm
Roleplay "The Glimmers of Sulia Wood" Players: Cullo, Fajra, Shilba, Uaithne, Wisteria, Yelena Paragraph Count: - Cullo: 18 - Fajra: 4 (more in her journal) - Shilba: 7 - Uaithne: 18 - Wisteria: 6 - Yelena: 8 (more in her journal)
He found the sluagh boy where he always was, on his front lawn. Uaithne lay on his belly, writing in his journal. Or perhaps he was doing his homework. For that possibility only, Cullo hesitated inwardly, but strode forward confidently. He respected the purpose of homework, but the worst Uaithne could do was decline. He cleared his throat and waited for acknowledgement.
Uaithne saw Cullo's approach but did not respond right away. He could simply be wandering past. He wore the same robes he always wore that nearly touched the ground, and sleeves that could swallow his journal whole. Uaithne had seen the feat performed. The fey stopped in front of him. Uaithne looked up with a faint smile. "Cullo. Hello."
"Hello, Uaithne." Inside his sleeve he gripped his fan, closed. His wings shivered. He was hesitating. "I have something I want to show you. Are you too busy?"
"No." Truth be told, if it was Cullo, the reasoning was probably good. He did not need to deliberate to find an answer. He started rising to his feet, dusting off his pants and crouching down to pick up and put away his journal. It was a zippered binder with many pockets inside.
"You may want to bring that," Cullo suggested. What he had to show might inspire the other boy to write, or draw, what he was about to see.
"All right." His curiosity was piqued. He was ready to go. He did not even tell his father. He caught Cullo glancing at the front door and back at Uaithne. He did not need to tell him anything. Not because Alphege would not worry, but he was getting to that age where he was starting to think independently. He simply did not want to. He didn't want to be told "no." "Let's go."
Cullo nodded. "All right." He lead the way toward the forest.
- - -
The Sulia Wood was not somewhere to go without the presence of the fey. Both boys were fey. All the glamour that pervaded the forest was beautiful, quite literally magical, and it was not lost on Cullo, who liked to take his time and enjoy such things. For his part, Uaithne was being very patient as they meandered the wood.
A bit of anxiety filled Uaithne. Where was Cullo taking him? It must be something in the wood, but what could it be? While that filled his thoughts, he did try to enjoy the scenery. He knew Cullo was the type... Uaithne took a quiet deep breath and looked around. Cullo wore a serene smile. He was enjoying himself. "So, um... do you come to the forest very often?"
Cullo turned his smile on Uaithne. It became subtly different. "I was born here. It is not exactly home. My... playground?" he smirked. His fan appeared, snapped open, and fluttered. "Ah, here it is." His arm opened invitingly, fan pointing the way through to a small clearing. "It will take a bit of time. I hope you don't mind waiting."
Okay, so it was not something that was here. Some kind of animal? He was led to a place to sit. Cullo sat down next to him. So he looked around at the setting. It was beautiful.
The clearing had grass for nibbling, a fallen log with mushrooms and moss in the shade. Ferns grew in the tree branches, moss hanging down. It was picturesque. Small. Secluded. Cozy. Cullo loved it here. Sometimes he had to get away from being an elder brother (parent?) all the time. Then, they came.
A brown deer peeked out from the thicket, silent as the wind through the leaves. Muted. Ears swiveled, eyes shone with intelligence as much as the light. As she entered the clearing fully, she turned off to one side to make way for another. Her sides revealed leaf-like tufts that bore vibrant violet color. She shivered and they sounded like rustling leaves. She also looked directly at the two boys. There was no mistaking that she was aware of their presence.
A second deer entered the clearing, even quieter than the first. He moved like quicksilver and shone as brilliantly in cold silver light. His leafy markings were of deep, warm gold. He walked in the halting way of deer as he watched the boys. He seemed to have some sort of intent. He walked closer, molten silver again, until he was right next to Uaithne. He bent down and took a deep breath.
Uaithne was speechless and breathless. He had never seen a treedeer before, and still had no name for them. His eyes were wide, black-and-white marbles, his body rigid with intensity. This deer was sniffing him and he did not know how to react.
Cullo put a hand on his arm and felt the other boy relax, with an effort. There was nothing to fear. Not from this pair. "You can pet him," Cullo murmured. "He won't bite, I don't think."
"You 'don't think?'" Uaithne snorted and watched the buck shy back a little, but then he booped the boy's chest with his nose. Uaithne frowned as he raised his hand to scratch under the strange creature's chin. "H-ello," he managed. After a few more moments, he glanced at the fey boy. "Cullo, I feel funny."
Cullo could only grin. "That's a good thing, I think. He wants to be your friend."
By this time, the female had finished her snack and she came over to Cullo. She watched Uaithne with vague interest, but when she looked at the fey boy, her eyes brightened. When she reached him she nuzzled his shoulder.
"I think they are glimmers. I have read about them. They are not normal animals. They were created by humans and were given special powers. Now they live in The Wood and nearby. They can bond with someone special. I think they chose us, Uaithne. I was hoping he would bond with you." Cullo looked intently at the silver treedeer, who was pointedly ignoring him.
"Why?" Uaithne's jaw hung open for a moment or two.
"Why not? You are someone special." This time Cullo looked at the brown treedeer. "I've named her Wisteria. The purple flowers fall like wisteria vines."
Uaithne shook his head and looked at the buck beside him. "A name, huh?" After a few moments of consideration, he said: "Silver. His name is Shilba." He looked and moved like molten metal. What better glimmer could he have met out here in the woods?
Cullo nodded. "I like it. He does too," he laughed.
Shilba nodded his head then head-butted Uaithne in the shoulder gently. If they could see it, his tail was wagging too. He definitely liked the name. He could understand what they were saying and the meaning of his name. It suited him well, he thought. But he could not say so. Only pantomime his excitement and interest. Soon he curled up in the grass beside Uaithne. He was content.
The two deer looked up suddenly at a space in the thicket. The boys saw and heard nothing, but the treedeer were ready.
Shilba's cloven hooves seemed to sink into the soil and he became immovable. His body was between Uaithne and the sudden rustling of leaves.
Wisteria butted the abnormally light boy onto her back. His slight fey form was easily hoisted by his robes. Then she was gone, flight boosted by her Super Speed. In addition, they seemed to squeeze between any obstacles as her Barrier adjusted to the terrain.
"Wist--! Stop, what about my friend?" What could have caused her to bolt like this? She would not slow down and it would seem that letting go would be quite dangerous, especially without that barrier to cushion his fall, or stopping him from slamming into a tree. "Please! Let's go back!"
Wisteria snorted without looking back at him. She was not about to stop until they got inside the Sanctuary grounds. It was the first time she had chosen to leave the Sulia Wood since the battle at The Scar. And before that, she had lived almost exclusively there. The trepidation was real and she might have avoided visiting if the situation weren't so dire.
Cullo slammed his fist down on his thigh in frustration and growled. Knowing that she was making the right move given her situation did not help his frustration. What would happen to Uaithne?
The treedeer found the Sanctuary campus easily. It was huge and manicured. It was difficult to travel in this direction and miss it. Once Cullo was safe inside, she took off again. She was going to try to help Shilba if she could. Her Super Speed made her seem like a streak of brown and purple. Soon she would be right back to the clearing.
"Hey! Wait! What about me?" Cullo called after her. As quickly as she had stolen away with him, she was gone again. She had not forced him to stay but she would make it back before he did. He almost threw his fan against a wall. He didn't-- it was a gift from Hisime-- but he was almost angry enough to. Well, this time he was going to fly. Maybe he would get there soon enough to help.
Meanwhile, Shilba, not much of a fighter himself, was nevertheless stubbornly rooted in place-- literally! His head was down low, ready to headbutt anyone that should come at them. And then there it was, all within the space of just a few interminable seconds, the reason for the alarm.
A lion.
The lioness roared at the treedeer, but made no move against them.
Uaithne jumped to his feet, hands on Shilba's neck and shoulder. He did not want his glimmer to die. He stood beside the treedeer and glared fiercely at the lion. He tried to Tempt the lioness. "Leave us alone. Go back."
The green lioness took a step backward. At first she felt a little unsure as a wave of contrary intent washed over her. But then she recovered her ground and took another step forward. Tiny tongues of flame danced about her body like hissing sparks on water.
All right, she was not about to leave. But she was not about to lunge at them either. Even so, he absorbed some minerals from the soil and created a Rock Armor for his arms, legs, and a circlet of stone around his head.
"Nice armor."
Startled, Uaithne watched as a girl appeared in the clearing, approaching just far enough in to stroke the flaming lion's fur. At first she was covered completely in shadow. He could see her silhouette and pale hair, but that was all.
A tiny girl, she stepped into the light and stood confidently with her arms crossed as she sized up Uaithne with a practiced eye. Her expression screamed, "I could take you." With all that stone armor, he looked like a little boy in a Halloween costume. It was not carefully crafted or balanced like a good sword was balanced. He did not stand like a fighter. Just a scared little boy.
The scared little boy got into what he thought might be a good stance. He didn't really think about it. He just hunched his shoulders and tensed all his muscles. He was ready to fight for his life.
The little girl, blonde and with huge orange eyes, flinched. Leave them alone! They did nothing to you.
Uaithne saw the flinch. Should he fight first? No. Wait and watch. You can do this.
What do you think I was going to do? Beat the crap out of a little brat like you? I could if I wanted to, but why? The girl stepped off to the side, revealing as it finally stepped into the light, that more than half of her body was giant spider. And to a knowledgeable eye, a jumping spider at that. Aggressive. Angry. Athletic.
Uaithne was a sluagh. His people were not regarded by others with much kindness. In fact, this spider was about as scary as he should seem. That is, if anyone knew about their rumor and myth. Thus, a creature of the darkness, he recognized a kindred spirit in the spider, even if they were on opposite sides of a ring.
I... don't know.
Oh, I won't hurt them. Disgust was written all over her face.
Shilba glanced at Uaithne briefly. Was he watching the same show? Why all the delay and hesitation?
The lioness likewise looked a little uncertain, this time thanks to her bond.
Wait. If that lion was with that girl, then the lion is a glimmer. Maybe she is a student at Sanctuary. "You! You're from Sanctuary, aren't you?"
"Riiight..." Caught off-guard, the girl followed his interjection slowly.
"Then we shouldn't be fighting. We're both... out for a stroll, right? So leave us alone, or join us. We don't want to fight." The boy stood upright again, loose-limbed. He was doing his best to convince her without using a little Temptation.
Wisteria returned to the clearing at that moment, a flash of color and leaves. She did not bother to try to lighten her steps. Suddenly the boy was surrounded by allies. Wisteria snorted. There was no sign of Cullo, nor fear in any fiber of her being. Done with her mission, she was back and ready to fight.
The spider-girl sighed in disgust. "Fine! I'll go." And with that, a wave seemed to pass through her body and she shivered. Stricken, she glanced at Uaithne; she looked like she wanted to tell him something, but thought better of it before turning to the lioness. "Let's go, Fajra." And just like that, they left.
Uaithne could not help but wonder what she had wanted to say. A simple apology, or something else? They could have stayed longer.
Sometime later, Cullo appeared from above the treetops, which had seemed like the fastest way at the time. He fluttered down and landed near the rest. He managed a sheepish grin. "Looks like I missed all the fun. I would have helped if I could."
"Wisteria is a good friend." Uaithne grinned at the young doe, then turned back to Cullo. "You are, too."
Shilba stepped around behind Cullo and headbutted him toward Uaithne and Wisteria. Then he proceeded to push him along by the small of his back. It would seem that he would take no answer but "yes." Only when they had closed the distance did he lay off. As rough as he was, he had been careful about the fey boy's flame-colored wings.
"All right, I am now sitting, will you join us, Shilba?" he asked with a grin.
The silver-and-gold buck grasped a mouthful of grass then curled up beside Uaithne. While he munched, the boys were able to relax finally. Now that Cullo had completed their group once more, all was right in the world.
"So, what did I miss, anyway?" Cullo listened intently, eyes widening and jaw dropping with shock as Uaithne filled him in on the details. Who would have thought he would make a good storyteller?
