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 Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 11:16 am
July 11th, 2004 @ 11:25 pm, Sunday Night
Well, the books I ordered came in, and Erae and I have been reading Crown Duel, which he seems to be liking. We've taken a break from the other books to get into the royalty and sword duels and whatnot, and I tried explaining to Erae about the duels.
He didn't seem to get it, so I tried to visually show him, getting two small rulers, and putting one in his paws. I tapped the ruler lightly, and he seemed to get the idea, though had a hard time gripping it with his paws. It ended up on the floor, and he couldn't pick it back up again, try as hard as he might. *sweatdrop*
Well, we ended up going back to the book, as I read aloud to him, pointing out the sword fighting scenes and posing for stances they would have used in the books. He seemed delighted, as was I. I think he was learning something, though I can't tell for sure.
Hopefully later we can sword duel again, so he can get the jest of it.
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Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 11:17 am
July 12th, 2004 @ 6:58pm, Monday Evening
We've been playing Phase 10 all evening, and I've been teaching Erae about numbers. He seems to be getting the game fairly well, but it takes a lot of teaching to teach him the numbers from the alphabet. Not that it's any different, hehee. He can count from one to ten, but he's having trouble with numbers after that. Double ones would be hard to fathom, I think.
At least we're still trying. He's learning, but slowly!
After the game, our brains were kind of mush, so we just rested after that in my bed with him sleeping on top of my legs. He seems to like it there, as it's a nice indent for him to just lay in. What my cat used to do, only I move around and it makes her agitated. XD
Ah well. We had a nice rest, and woke up later for a midnight snack, and then went back to bed. Haha, did nothing much else.
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Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 11:20 am
July 13th, 2004 @ 1:49pm, Tuesday Afternoon
Played more of Phase 10, and Erae seems to be getting more used to the cards. I took him to the shop and he met Sidney there, and tried counting Sidney's stripes, getting to 5, and then 10 with my help. He couldn't count any more after that.
Sidney and Erae seem to like each other enough, but I don't know how often they can meet. So many things have been happening lately, and Erae's life seems to be full of surprises.
During our break of Phase 10, we got out a bunch of beads with letters on them, and I put them out for Erae, asking if he could spell his name. I had spelled it out for him before, and he remembered. I hadn't thought of using beads for letters before now, as I was trying to figure out a way for him to write it out, but it was a new idea I wanted to try. I asked him if he could spell it out. Seeming to think for a moment, Erae looked at the letters, and arranged them - a bit slowly - before he finally came up with E-R-A-Y, then looked at me expectantly. I clapped for him, grinning. He hadn't spelled it right, but he did certainly try. I think I needed to work on the letters a bit more with him, but I don't think he could have spelled anything else, though. Taking the Y away, I replaced it with E, which he seemed to be confused over. "Erae", I said, and he looked up at me. "It says 'Erae'. It can be spelled with this one," I showed him the Y - "But I spell it with an E, because it looks nicer. I'll go over that later for you." Still seeming confused, he looked at the letters and then at me.
I tried.
Hoping to encourage him, I went to the fridge and got out my leftover egg sandwich, taking the egg out and putting it into a dish for him. He seemed to love it, and wasn't so confused anymore, but seemed to understand that I'd go over it later again. Putting the beads away as he ate, I noticed a few other words formed together - mostly the book names of what we've read. Thief was one, as was Dragon and Duel. One that really pleased me was DDR. I grinned, scooping up the beads into the box, and putting them up.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all, teaching him how to spell words.
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 1:12 am
July 18th, 2004 @ 10:05pm, Sunday Night
Today, Erae and I had a tea party. It was rather a blast, because we took a break from everything else around us, and just sorta lazed back. I think Erae needed it because of the fact that both him and I have been working rather hard, and I think he just needed to get away from things a bit. That, and he hasn't been able to DDR at all, since we haven't gotten the new PS2. He's been trying to dance to beats, but... it's just not the same.
Tension Tamer seems to be his favorite, as it's a stress reliever tea.
Haven't been up to much else. Just... lounging. whee
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 1:14 am
July 26th, 2004 @ 12:34am, Early Tuesday Morning
So many things... have happened.
For one, Erae and I were in the shop, and we watched as Iris came in, holding Nayati. First of all, we were both expecting a unicorn, but not a half-human creature. It surprised us both, and we looked at each other, Erae with some sort of yearning and excitement, which made my heart fell. I... somewhat regretted ever wanting my skunk to grow, but I was yearning for it too, even though it hurt.
I loved Erae as he was, but would I love him as he grew? I didn't know what he would grow into, but I hugged him all the same, smiling with an emotion I didn't know. I had grown attached to this little one, but I wasn't sure... I really wasn't sure.
I left it at that, not telling Erae how I felt. What use would there be to tell him of my mixed feelings?
A few days later, It was still on my mind, but Erae and I played with beads with my cousin, enjoying ourselves. She surprised me by making a black and white bead bracelet, matching Erae's colors. I loved it, and thanked her profusely, putting it on my wrist and showing Erae. He beamed at me and nuzzled his DDR necklace, having not ever taken it off. I think he was trying to tell me we both had a trinket of sorts now.
Only time will tell what will happen, I should think. Whatever it may be, I will cherish him just the same.
I just hope that nothing will change between us, and all that we've been through.
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 1:17 am
August 1st, 2004 @ 10:03am, Sunday Morning
Things have become so exciting lately! There were new keys handed out, and four new owners are hanging out in the shop. I got to meet one, whom was a little child with a raccoon plush. She seemed rather skeptical about having her raccoon turn into an animal, but I told her to just wait and see.
Erae tried to say hello, but became rather disgruntled when she called him a 'dirty animal'. I don't think he appreciated that at all, and tried to coax him back into his relaxed state. It didn't work very well, so I figured I had to go before he did anything to hurt others, or something. He got that way when Naraka tried to attack me before (though he pretended to be asleep, I know it), so I figure he's somewhat defensive about his honor, and what he cares for.
I left the shop after giving Chavi an old fairy tale book, one that Erae and I have read through many days before. We both knew the stories by heart, so I gave it to the girl to enjoy with her plush. Perhaps some of Erae's likes and dislikes will rub off on the raccoon through the stories - but I am merely hoping.
After getting home, I got a long drumstick I saved particulairly for dueling with, and gave it to Erae as he sat on the high stool next to the dinner table. "Hold this," I murmured softly, holding my own as he tried to hold it between two paws.
"You can't get so defensive when someone calls you a dirty animal. We need... for you to take that disgust, and hone it into fighting with a sword." Tilting his head, he seemed confused, so I tried to search for better words.
"Ano... uh... you know how you were angry about that girl calling you a dirty animal?" His eyes glared at the floor when I said that. "Well, use that to spar with. That's honing your anger." I pointed to the drumstick he held, and then tapped it lightly with mine. His eyes lit up, and he seemed to get the picture, and - slowly - hit my stick with his.
"Good!" I murmured, then sweatdropped when he lost his balance, let go of the stick, and ended up flying off the stool to cling to my scarf so he wouldn't hit the ground. "Well... next time we'll do it on the floor. But you get the idea! We'll practice more later." Clambering up to my shoulder, he licked my ear as a sign of a 'thank you', I think.
I hope he knows what 'thank you' means. That Chavi girl said it when I handed her the book, but... sigh. I don't know.
We need to do a lot of work on his skills, that we do.
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 1:18 am
August 2nd, 2004 @ 9:23pm, Monday Night
Erae and I were a little tired of reading the books we were currently on, so I figured I'd visit the shop and see if any other owners had any books that were of a different genre besides Science Fiction and Fantasy. Erae hadn't read any real life books yet, and I was racking my brain, trying to figure out what would be good and adventerous for us to enjoy together.
It was lucky for me that DDB was there with her snake - I asked her what book that she was reading to Sidney, and she explained that she had gotten an Indiana Jones novel (to which I asked to borrow later, as they weren't finished with it); Erae instantly spotted Sidney and nearly tackled him as he sat next to him, and they both found out the title, conversing in hand symbols, I suppose. Soon enough, Erae begged for one of the sticks out of my pouch, and I got it for him, after digging through a bunch of threads, a pair of clippers, a pen, and a pencil, along with a tablet of paper. (Always come in handy, really they do.)
Well, Erae took that and posed with it, making sword slashes in the air by holding onto it with both of his paws. He's really taken to swords lately, I think because I made the actual 'stick' lighter, instead of having him use a heavy model of sorts. Watching the two, I noticed that Erae seemed to be asking him if... Indiana Jones fought? With a sword... and the snake shook his head.
But...! Soon after that, they were sparring with each other, Sidney with his tail, and Erae with his stick. I nearly laughed aloud as Erae was nearly beaten by Sidney, but then DDB and Sidney had to go, at which we were both forlorn at. Erae waved 'bye' to Sidney, and seemed excited at their next meeting - I imagine he wanted a rematch. I think those two will grow up to be best friends. So I'd like to hope.
DDB is rather fun to hang around, though I hardly get to come around the shop. I rather wish I could find more time, but with things going the way they are, there's not many to converse with.
Kanth, signing out.
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 1:19 am
August 7th, 2004 @ 3:54pm, Saturday Afternoon
Erae and I haven't been to the shop in a while, but we've been practicing reading and math in the form of buying things. I've been teaching him the value of change, and we both went to the store where Erae had to count out his own change after picking out a few items that he liked. I gave him a ten dollar bill, and he counted out close to the correct change, but got more back than what he thought he had to pay for.
We both ended up getting a popsicle (his was purple, and mine was blue), Erae got a fizzy drink (something that Erae's never had, and thoroughly seemed to enjoy), and a small arrow trinket that Erae had taken a liking to.
We went home after that, watched an episode of Teen Titans (Marvel heroes, yo), then I turned off the tv and set Erae up to play DDR, telling him that the steps he used on that he could also use to swordfight, as well as dance.
... there's an idea. I'll teach Erae to dance next.
... holy ********, I'm turning Erae into a noble. n___n;
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 1:20 am
August 7th, 2004 @ 5:00pm, Saturday Evening
We spent most of the time painting a house, with me doing minimal work because I didn't like the smell of the paint. Erae and I did a little of the trim, and he ended up falling in a paint bucket and coating himself in blue paint. -_- Sometimes I wonder how he can balance on the pad, yet can't on a ladder.
Silly little skunk.
We ended up finishing off the day with a meal of rice and chicken, which Erae absolutely loved. I think he'll like rice as much as I do, so I might have him try sushi soon. He did like fish, so maybe fish sushi will do.
Who knows.
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 1:21 am
August 8th, 2004 @ 11:00am, Sunday Morning
Today was another lazy day, though Erae and I watched Kill Bill and Pirates of the Carribbean. Kill Bill was rather bloody, but it had a lot of sword fighting scenes in it, which Erae seemed more and interested in by the moment. Pirates he liked more than Kill Bill because it had plot, and really wasn't that bloody or raunchy.
I think his favorite was between Captain Jack Sparrow, and Will Turner. I don't blame him; they're both exceptional sword fighters.
After the movie, he was raring to practice swordsmanship, but ended up on his face as he didn't have that good of a balance with the new stick I got him.
I suppose I should have told him it was weighted before he grabbed it, but where's the fun in that?
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 1:22 am
August 9th, 2004 @ 9:00pm, Monday Night
We took a long trip today, Erae and I. We went on the ferry to another place, doing a little shopping around and visiting a bunch of tourist places, travelling to a bookstore (with Erae finding a few books for me to read to him) and Walmart (finding trinkets that I couldn't do without), but mostly window-shopping.
Erae loved all the sights and sounds, as well as the assorted amounts of people who had their arms packed... of all things... with shopping bags. I was amused, because I only had a few things to pack around.
The day was spent basically window shopping, and I never got to go to the arcade to show Erae the different games because we ran out of time. It was rather unfortunate, but we had to catch the ferry.
We spent the way home playing Phase 10. Erae almost has all of his numbers memorized.
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Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 1:24 am
August 10th, 2004 @ 8:33pm, Tuesday Night
After yesterday, I decided to rest awhile - both Erae and I were all shopped out, and decided to watch another movie. I explained to Erae that this movie was an rpg movie, entitled The Super Mario Brothers. I forgot how much I loved the movie, and Erae was quite pleased with it.
Unfortunately, he already knows I have a Super Mario game for Nintendo, and he's been playing it ever since. -_-
Aside from that, I also showed him Sonic the Hedgehog, another game I got. He's an avid game lover, and seems to love anything by Squaresoft, Enix, blahblah and etcetera.
What a day.
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Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2004 5:20 pm
August 11th, 2004 @ 3:45pm, Wednesday Evening
Watched a few more movies, one with more swordplay. While I went to work, I left Erae at home to watch Radio by himself. When I came back, he seemed rather disturbed, but a little happy. I should have warned him about the movie, but I hadn't thought of it of the time.
I ended up explaining to him that some people can be huge jerks, even though others try.
To lighten the mood, I watched Kill Bill 2 with him (with more swordplay, and how she learned to use a sword and fighting style), but he still seemed rather disturbed by the first movie.
I was too, for the first few days.
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 5:24 pm
August 12th, 2004 @ 8:49pm, Thursday Night
We ended up watching Hidalgo, and guess what it had in it. xP More swordplay.
Erae seemed a little down still, but loved the movie. The swordplay was Arabic, and I think Erae's learning the different styles of different swordplay.
After the movie, I taught him a few dance moves, which were very similar to the sword moves. I told him that even the best swordstep moves could be used as dance moves, if he ever wanted to court a lady.
I grinned when he coughed.
We played a small bit of Dance Dance Revolution, and practiced on step moves before I noticed that the key I had hung up in my room next to my mirror was glowing. I turned to Erae, who seemed to have noticed it too.
Walking over to it, I picked it up and put it in my packsack, holding out my arm and letting Erae climb to my shoulders.
I turned off the TV and the PS2 and walked out of the room, headed towards the shop.
It seemed that we had to talk to the shopowners, and find out why the key was glowing.
It was time.
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Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 10:56 am
August 26th, 2004 @ 2:26pm, Thursday Night
Time seemed to stand still after I entered in the doorway. I didn't know what to expect, so I would expect nearly anything to happen.
The only thing I was prepared for was a challenge. What I was met with was challenging, but I didn't expect it to have to include teamwork.
I suppose you learn something new every day... even if you think you know everything.Through the Door... Upon stepping through the door, you hear a loud CLACK. Looking around, you find a 10 by 10 old fashion prison cell... Bars, few ammenities, and outside (just like in any good Western videogame) an old sheriff lounging back with a big scruffy dog. The window is tightly barred and rather small, but a soft glimmer lets you see that the dog has the set of keys around his neck. Hmm... this is going to take a little teamwork to get out of.
Sighing, Kanth rubbed her temples, shaking her head. What had they gotten themselves into? They were in a somewhat small prison cell, and not a very comfortable one at that.
"I know we should have read some of grandfather's old western books, or at least rented a western videogame. Then we could have at least figured out something sooner." Looking around the cell, the girl bent over and moved a bit of the straw in the corner, nearly recoiling in disgust at the sight that lay before her. It was a pile of bones sitting in the corner - what looked to be the remains of a skeleton - the bones tinted a dirt brown color, as it seemed to be packed in the earth.
"Yuck..." She muttered, covering her mouth and looking at Erae. Erae seemed to shrug, staring at her with his intelligent red eyes. Reaching out, Kanth grabbed one of the bones on the top, finding it to be loose, which meant that it had to have been put there recently... "Hope no one minds that I borrow this..." Turning to the bar doors, she stared out to see that the sheriff was sleeping soundly, as she was the only one in there. Well, her and Erae, really.
"Somehow, I feel like Captain Jack Sparrow. What about you? It wouldn't be so bad to be a pirate." Erae sweatdropped while Kanth rattled the bone softly between the bars, so as not to wake the sleeping sheriff. "Heeere, doggy! Come on, sweetheart! You mangy mut..." She muttered the last part after the dog made no movement, just staring at her. Dropping the bone to land just outside of the cell, Kanth leaned against the bars with a heavy sigh.
"This is hopeless."
Turning to Erae, she sat down, looking in her pouch. She had with her Erae's stick that he used for sword fighting, which wouldn't do well in picking a lock at all... a pair of clippers, which she didn't know how to use... a small first aid kit (with a couple of bandages), which wasn't used to pick locks... a bunch of threads, that might come in handy... a pen, a pencil, and a tablet of paper. Looking up, she held up a string for Erae to see, setting it on the ground before him. "Think you can do anything with this? You could work a little too, you know." Grinning, Erae flashed his teeth as he picked up the string with his claws (after a bit of trouble), and looked at the doors.
He seemed a bit confused for a moment, but then his eyes fell on the bone just outside of the cell. Scurrying over to it, he picked it up with both of his paws, and wrapped the string around the end of the bone, holding it out to Kanth.
Taking it, Kanth blinked a few times, then glanced outside to where Erae was pointing, at the dog.
"By God, you're a genius, Erae." Standing up, she glanced at Erae, speaking in a whisper as the sheriff grunted.
"Now. Be ready to take the keys from the dog. I'm gonna lure him over here..." When Erae stood ready beside the bars, Kanth threw the bone out to land just before the dog, getting his attention. Clack, the sound made as it hit the floor.
She started dragging it, and held her breath as she pulled on the string, dragging the bone back... with the dog following.
"He's almost here... almost here... now!" She whispered quickly, yanking the bone back as the dog lunged towards it, and letting out a sigh as the dog ran off with his bone.
The sheriff grunted at her exclamation, sitting up and blinking at her, and she froze, staring right back at him.
Time seemed to stop for a long moment, and it seemed all too long for Kanth to bear, before he fell back down with a thud in his chair, letting out a loud snore.
"Throw me a frickin' bone here..." She sighed. "Please tell me you got the keys, Erae." He stared at her for a moment, before holding up a set of keys with both of his paws, and she nearly whooped again with joy.
"Good job, Erae! Teamwork is what's gonna get us out of here. Would you like to do the honors?" Picking him up after he gave her a quizzical look, she sat him on her shoulder, leaning up against the bars.
"Go ahead and open the lock. I should think any of the keys would work, they all look the same..." After watching Erae struggle for a moment, she finally smiled when he put the key in the lock, trying to turn it - but it wouldn't budge.
"Here, let me help." Placing her hand beside his paw on the key, she gave him a firm nod. "One, two... three... turn!" The door made a loud clack as they both turned it together, and swung open for them both to walk out freely.
"Well, this is it. Good job, Erae. I'm proud of you." Nipping her ear in affection, Erae lay across both of her shoulders, putting his head in her hair as she took a few steps... and then walked out of the door.
I should say that I was rather surprised to see Erae in a childlike form, but I was more relieved than anything. We had passed the test together, and I couldn't stop the glee from spreading to my face.
"Looks like you kept your stick... though I probably should get you a real sword to practice with." Erae smiled, letting out a small, relieved sigh.
"Strange...? That's the word... werd... right? Riyt... Rite... Write..." He pronounced the words on his tongue, seeming rather confused. I laughed a small bit, picking him up.
"We'll practice on your speech, reading, and you get to write now." Prodding his nose, he stuck his tongue out at me, and we made our way home, both rather tired.
"Goodnight?" He murmured as we were walking home, in the dark. I nodded, then realized that he couldn't see - and answered.
"Yes. It's bedtime... and you look as tired as I feel." He seemed confused at this prospect, but I let it slide, and nearly melted when I reached the door.
Because you know what he said to me, since the first time that I became his caretaker?
He called me 'mother'.
And that... is the most wonderful experience I have ever been through. Perhaps now... I can love. I sincerely hope that this is what love feels like... to care for another in such a way that you would lay your life down before them, to protect them...
Is this really love?
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