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 Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:05 pm
He really was cute. Alek found himself fascinated about how babies always seemed so innocent and adorable - even though they could turn into something completely different when they were older. The thought made Alek chuckle bitterly under his breath. Leave it to him to think of how badly everything could turn.
Ashierra's cooing made Alek actually pause in playful shock, "Good gods! Was that Ashierra who just did that?" He asked rocking Reed back in his arms. "Too bad you two are too young." He commented as seriously as possible to his son, "Else that would be a memory to hold onto since it's a miracle of the ages."
Ross pouted lightly before giving up his hold on his mommy's hair. Instead his little arms tried to wrap around her neck as he burrowed closer to his mommy's warmth. Though his gaze did turn bewildered as he heard his daddy's sudden out burst. But all he did was laugh at his daddy's funny face as he made noises to his brother.
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Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:27 pm
Ashierra turned her head to give Alek a withering look. "Don't push it." She scolded him, leaning to pick up a stuffed cloth block that had different colors on each square, holding back a groan as her stomach tried to object to the sudden movement. Sighing, she held the block up for Ross to see. "My stomach's getting better. Maybe I'll be able to go with all you boys for a walk soon."
Reed flicked his ears curiously and tilted his head when Alek spoke loudly. What was the noise for? Speaking of noise- He lifted his head to look at his brother, giving him a little smile. He made a little one-syllable noise in return before nuzzling against his father's chest again.
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Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 4:27 pm
"Ah, now 'mommy' is back to normal." Alek commented to his sons before grinning at Ashierra. His hand patted Reed's hair before he scratched behind his son's ear. "Maybe." Alek replied with a faint frown. Though he knew it still might be a while before Ashierra was at perfect health. So he had time yet.
Ross grinned at his brother. Faintly he purred at seeing his mother hold up such a funny object. His arms stubbornly reached out for it as he kept staring at it with curiosity.
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Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 6:23 pm
Hiding another groan as her stomach settled, Ashierra waved the toy in front of Ross playfully before giving the toy over. "A walk would be nice... Heck, getting out past the gate would be nice." She didn't like being locked up inside for so long, but recouperation kept her from walking very far, the healer having resitricted her to the yard and no further. If she could just hold it down a while longer, do what she could to pretend the dizzy spells were gone, she could be free again... and not worry Alek so much.
Reed's paws kneaded claw-free against Alek's chest, pleased to have his ear scratched. Looking up at Alek, he too frowned. Was daddy sad? With a little smile, he tried to turn, reaching his hands up to climb onto his father's shoulder and rub his head against the adult's neck in a very cat-like manner.
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Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 10:17 am
"I know." Alek looked sympathetically at Ashierra before giving her a thoughtful glance, "Tell you what - if you feel good tomorrow we can walk down to the beach." Blinking in surprise Alek looked down at Reed before rubbing his head affectionately, "I'm sure you would like to play in the ocean, right?"
Letting out a soft mew of protest Ross reached for the toy and clutched it to his chest when his mommy did finally give it over. Purring in pleasure he cuddled against his mommy and curiously gnawed on the soft fabric.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 10:30 am
Ashierra looked over in surprise. The beach? She moaned softly. When was the last time they had been to the beach? "That sounds wonderful. Does it really have to wait until tomorrow?" She asked with a wane little smile. Yes, it would have to wait. Besides, who knew what would happem within a day? Maybe she would be feeling well enough tomorrow. "I bet they would enjoy the trip too." She said, refering to the two little kittens as she stroked Ross' cheek with her fingers.
Content with Alek's affections, Reed slipped back down into his father's arms. When his eyes lit on the toy his brother held, he looked up with a pleading face and pawed at Alek's chin. He wanted something to play with too!
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:13 pm
"Yes." Alek gave a soft laugh before kissing his mate, "Just be patient. In a couple of days I'm sure you'll be bouncing all over the place with the boys." His gaze softened as he reached for another cube like toy from the shelf and handed it to Reed. "Yes I'm sure they will."
"Meh!" Ross giggled as his mother touched his cheek before yawning sleepily. The poor kit was exhausted. Yawning once more he snuggled closer to his mother and started to fall asleep. Though if he had any idea about what was going to happen in the next couple of weeks he definitely would have tried his hardest to watch his daddy better!
-----------------whee time flies! A couple of weeks later---------
Waves crashed against the beach as the male cattaur stared across the dark waters. He had been standing there for what felt like forever. "I need to get moving." He repeated to himself again, but the replaying memories of the past couple of weeks kept him rooted to the spot.
Ross splashing in the waves with his mother and brother. The picnic that was nearly stolen by the tide, the one that had been stolen by the seagulls. Sighing he shook his head. Those were happy memories - but what about the boys' future? Ashierra's future?
Clenching his fists Alek forced himself to watch the dark tendrils of magic that curled along his skin. If he stayed, then what would happen to them? Letting out a curse he wiped his eyes. He couldn't stay any longer.
Picking up his pack, Alek started off down the shore away from the faint lights of his home and didn't stop walking until the early afternoon of day. Pushing himself past the beach and into the forests towards the mountains where he stared at the first torn note that he had rejected. It wasn't the only rejected one, but he hadn't known what to write. I love you but don't come after me? It's the best for all of us. It's hard but I have to leave, Ashierra. Take care of Reed and Ross. He chuckled bitterly. No that note wouldn't work.
In it's place on the kitchen table was a note with only two scribbled words -
"Don't follow."
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 6:13 pm
A bird landed and chirped cheerily on the window ledge, only to find its self being knocked off by a thrown pillow and it flew away indignantly. Just inside the window, Ashierra groaned and rubbed a hand over her eyes. Reed had kept her up a little late the last night complaining of a belly ache, and after that she had fallen asleep right next to the boys' beds as she brushed their hair soothingly. She looked in surprise at how bright it was and pushed herself up. Was it so late already? Why hadn't Alek woken her sooner? Sure, sleeping in was nice, but they always had things to do.
Carefully pushing herself up from the floor, she smiled at Reed, who had apparently been watching her sleep, scratched his ear, then turned to get food ready for him and for Ross. In the kitchen, she didn't give the paper on the table much mind as she searched for Alek while getting the meal prepared. Where was that man? Already working outside? Her little peeks out the windows revealed nothing though. An errand in town then? He could have told her if that were the case.
Shaking her head, she called the boys and turned to put the plates onto the table, where she finally read the little note. If she hadn't been already setting the plates down, they would probably have fallen to the floor.
Reed purred to himself as he rolled around on the bed, batting at dust that sparkled in the rays of light through the window. Ashierra's call perked his ears. He smiled and proded his brother playfully before climbing to the floor, eager for the late meal. He reached the door when the clatter of plates loudly hitting the table sounded and he blinked in wonder at his mother. Even from behind, she almost didn't look like mommy. She was ridged, and her skin even more pale than usual if that was possible. She didn't look like she was alive at all, not one bit of muscle even twitching while he watched. Reed didn't like what he was seeing. He looked back at Ross and gave a tiny, worried little mew.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 6:25 pm
Yawning sleepily Ross followed his brother slowly towards where he had seen mommy go. Jumping at the sound of the plates hitting the table the baby took a step back before bravely peeking around his brother. What was going on?
Worried he mewed back to his brother before latching onto his arm and taking a tentative step towards their mother. What was wrong with her? And where was Daddy?
Curling up against a secluded tree, Alek closed his eyes and tried to sleep. Exhausted as he was from his quick and sudden journey from home the cattaur just couldn't seem to sleep. Too many thoughts about home running through his mind. But at least he knew that they would be well taken care of. Alek nodded as he reminded himself of the supplies he had left along with the bag of gold.
He sighed one last time before finally letting sleep take him. No matter how much he left behind for them leaving was still harder than he thought. But it was for the best after all. Right?
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 7:08 pm
The gentle sounds of her sons echoed loudly in her ears, but she couldn't remove her body from looking at the note. Don't follow... This wasn't finding Alek dead, or near death. This wasn't even a ransom note. This... this implied something far worse.
Why... After everything... All they'd been through... Did it really mean so little? So harsh were those two little words that her mind couldn't even figure out how to respond.
Her breath escaped shakily between her lips finally, the stale air disturbing the paper slightly. "Boys. Eat please." She said flatly, turning from the paper to look out the window as she tried to think, searching for that familiar coat of orange fur. It had to be a joke. She's slap his head off for it, but it had to be. He wouldn't leave, not his sons. Not her...
She made her way slowly through the house, not noticing that at least Reed hadn't moved from the doorway. Alek had to be here... Reaching the bedroom, seeing where she and her mate had slept, where he'd stroked her hair while she was sick, where they'd talked about the arrival of their sons and about caring for them, she also saw the little things missing. It wasn't a joke. Her body went from ridged steel to wet noodles and she fell half onto the bed only to slide to the floor in a mess of silent cries, for the moment overwhelmed by what she was feeling, a mix of emotions far worse than anything she'd ever felt before.
Small ears flat in his hair, he clung right back to Ross. Nothing was right about this. He felt a little hope when Ashierra breathed again, but her voice scared that away. That wasn't mommy's voice either. It was too... empty. It was downright scary, even scarier than when she yelled. He stood rooted in place, afraid to go anywhere near the table. It had made her different, how did he know it wouldn't change him too? Or his brother?
When Ashierra didn't return from the big bedroom, he looked at Ross in fearful confusion. What should they do? Mommy was scary, and daddy wasn't there. Why hadn't daddy heard the plates and come to look? He would have fixed mommy. He looked at the open bedroom door. They would have to fix mommy it seemed... Slowly, keeping as far from the table as possible, and with one wistful look at the food it held out of his reach, he crept toward the other room, clutching Ross' hand.
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 4:35 pm
Ross was truly scared. What was going on here? The baby whimpered and clutched tighter to Reed. Looking towards the table he nearly took a step forward before realizing his brother's intention. Creeping after his brother he froze to see his mommy on the floor. Why was mommy so sad? Swallowing back his own cries, the kit let out a tentative mew and his free hand reached out straining towards his mommy.
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:23 am
Hearing the small sounds of her sons again, Ashierra was barely able to lift her head to look over her shoulder. Alek was obvious in both boys, and it sent a spike into her chest. Oddly, instead of causing more pain, that spike released her from whatever had taken hold. Her cries went silent and her dull eyes brightened angrily. She had her sons to take care of! She couldn't waste time feeling sorry for herself. She hated pity, and hated self-pity even more. They needed her. But they also needed their father.
She wiped her face and pushed to her feet, driven by her sons. She quickly went over to them and pulled them into her arms. "I'm sorry." She cooed, trying to calm their frightened little faces. "Mommy's okay. She just... it's okay." Holding the boys, feeling the warmth of their bodies gave her strength and directed her mind. She wasn't going to let Alek get away that easily. To hell with his note, and to hell with him. If nothing else, she would find him just to kick his a** for trying to hurt their boys.
"Tell you what. We're going to eat breakfast, and then we'll get ready to go on a trip. How does that sound?" Fear bubbled in her stomach, of worries never spoken. While Alek worried about his own dark magic, Ashierra was worried that one or both of the children might have inherited it. Was would she have done if she was there alone when they showed that kind of darkness? Only Alek would know how to deal with that, and she wasn't about to wait for the magic before looking for him for the answers.
Reed also reached for his mother like Ross was, holding out his hand. Would cuddling help her feel better? He was so relieved when she finally moved, when he saw her body go from mechanical back to muscular, he let go of Ross and held out both arms. Even the look of determination and anger on her eyes was more familiar and comforting than that blank stare from before. They had fixed mommy!
A barely there purr started in his chest as he felt her skin warm as he cuddled against her, giving Ross a happy mew. When she started taking them to the table though, he clutched Ashierra's shirt and shook his head. He didn't want her to touch it and change again!
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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 4:28 pm
Yay! Mommy was feeling better again. Ross frowned when his brother let go of him, but then wobbled over and clutched happily at his mother's leg. Now all that was missing was daddy! Speaking of which - the baby's ears twitched as he looked around. Where was Daddy?
He forgot about his daddy when he saw the table. Instead he looked over at his mommy. Would she be okay here? Last time...but he shook that away once the food came into view. He was getting awfully hungry. With a mew Ross reached out towards the table.
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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:35 pm
Ashierra set Ross in place, holding Reed tightly and speaking softly as he continued to cling. The boys would be confused enough with Alek go... temporarily misplaced. She couldn't let it overwhelm her. And she had some planning to do. Her appetite had sunken in the bedroom, but she sat down with Reed in her lap and her own plate to force something down.
"We'll go to town and buy some comfy walking supplies, traveling food..." She talked outloud about what to buy and how to prepare. Alek hopefully couldn't have gone far in one morning, but they had both traveled a while before coming here. It wouldn't be hard for him to keep moving. She looking around the space she had been calling home. Alek had picked the house for them... It was already empty.
She turned her focus back on the boys, talking a little more to sooth nerves.
Reed didn't want to sit at the table!! He curled into a ball and closed his eyes as Ashierra sat with him. When nothing seemed to change, he opened his eyes and sighed softly in relief. Smelling the food in front of him, his tummy growled and he started to purr again, pulling food into his mouth. Something still wasn't quite right, but to a baby, eating when his tummy was hungry was top priority.
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Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 5:20 pm
Purring loudly Ross started to reach for the food and shoved as much as he could into his mouth. Meowing happily he swallowed and kept going until he was full. With a purr he grinned up at his mother with food decorating his face.
Though now that he wasn't so hungry the little kit was curious - where was daddy? Shouldn't he be back by now? Frowning he meowed his wordless question to Ashierra.
((Time skip to Ashierra chasing Alek with the boys as children??))
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