|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 12:55 am
I was scared. I have never been scared before, but I was scared of Kari. She turned into a full-grown Ancient while I was watching. She looks older and more powerful now. That doesn't scare me as much as her changing did. There was a lot of light and this very creepy howling noise. Erin would have cried.
Mum read over one of my other journal entries, and she is upset. She says that I'm not a little girl anymore, and that it makes her sad. I wonder why. I couldn't be any other way, but she says that she wants me to be little and play. I don't want to play. I want to read my book and practice with the swords.
Because Kari is grown-up now, Mum and Dad and Nieva can leave the rest of us at home with her. She is easier to be friends with now. She isn't as grumpy, and she will spend more time with me. I have gotten better at working with the little Legos. It is actually kind of fun, but don't tell Mum that. She might laugh.
~Kayce
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:04 am
Nereida approached the house cautiously. Was this where Kayce lived? It was big! Well, best finish what she came for, she thought, looking down at the envelope in her hands. It was just plain and white and found in Silverah's stationery drawer, but it'd do. She ran up the front walk, set it down, and ran off.The envelope has the name "Kayce" printed on it in childish script. It contains a quick note of explaination (written in the same handwriting - it is apparently Nereida's,) that this is the shark tooth used in the epic battle with the sea monster and the shark tooth itself, which is about two inches long. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 9:18 pm
I got a note and a present from Nereida. She gave me the shark tooth she used when we fought the monster at the beach. It is quite nice. Mom showed me how to loop a leather thong around it, and it makes a very nice necklace. It is also a good weapon. I will never feel as though I am unarmed. I have my dagger, my shark tooth, and my swords, whenever Mum and Dad finally decide to let me use the swords. They still say I'm too young, but I think that they are wrong. I know that they are dangerous and not to be played with, but they think I am still a little kid. I'm not.
Kari and I get along better now. She said she will teach me to play chess sometime. I don't know what that is, but it sounds interesting. She also promised to teach me how to make the braided and beaded necklaces. It looks difficult.
I haven't been sleeping well. I keep waking up in the middle of the night for no reason. I get tired a lot. I try not to tell Mum about it. She just gets worried and then makes a big production out of it (that is what Dad said about it). It will pass. At least when I sleep less, I have the weird dreams less.
I am going to go race Rudolph in the backyard. He won't be faster than me for much longer.
~Kayce
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:36 pm
And Why Does She Need That?? For an evening in the Raikes-Layden household, it was remarkably peaceful. No loud screams, no crying, no sounds of breaking objects, no sounds of flying objects hitting walls or other things... yes, it was quite the quiet and calm evening.
Which usually meant that something was not right.
Amyla was unusually suspicious tonight. Erin was already in bed and asleep, as was Caleb (for once). Nieva and Kari were playing a quiet game of chess in the living room, Kari winning as always. That left only Kayce and Aiodhan unaccounted for, and each of those alone spelled trouble.
Not that Amyla didn't trust her mate not to blow something up. Aiodhan, though he had his many flaws, was good at heart and sensible enough not to do something dangerous around the children. However, since the shopping trip he had taken earlier that day with Kayce and Caleb, she had been wondering why it was that all three had come back looking quite satisfied.
Caleb's happiness was easiest to explain. She had seen him playing with a new stuffed dog and multicolored ball, and the mobile over his crib now had an extra set of shapes hanging from it. No wonder he was content!
Kayce had come back with only a bag, and Amyla had had no idea what was inside. Aiodhan's bag had been similarly elusive, and she was left to wonder what it was that they had purchased.
Deciding to find out once and for all what was going on in her house, Amyla trudged up the spiralling staircase. Ugh, she needed to work out more. She was feeling tired and fat... again! Hadn't she just burned off all of that baby weight??
"Shhh, your mother's coming!" she heard Aiodhan whisper as she reached the top of the staircase. Just as she spied Aiodhan standing outside Kayce's door, it slammed shut, leaving the dragon-man out in the hallway, looking rather foolish with his hands behind his back and an innocent grin plastered on his face.
"Uhhh... hi, May!" he said cheerfully, giving her his most winning expression and rustling his wings about behind him. "What do you need? Caleb and Erin are in bed already, and I think I saw-"
"Cut the act, Aiodhan. What're you hiding?" Amyla asked, trying to peek behind his back at whatever he was holding.
He moved whatever-it-was away from her gaze. "Ahhh, nothing. Kayce and I were just discussing-"
"Dad, she'll get to see it sooner or later," Kayce said in quite a practical manner, having opened the door an inch so that Amyla could see one blue eye staring out at her.
The woman of the house snorted. "See what?"
Kayce promptly opened the door and strutted out into the hallway. Worn over her pajamas were two shiny black leather straps, running across her chest and back in an 'X' pattern. From the hooks on the straps located near her shoulder blades, it didn't take Amyla long to figure out what they were. They were swordbelts, of course. They were for the short swords that she couldn't wear or use yet.
To top it off, running around one thigh was another strap, and this one held a sheath with her dagger in it. All of the straps were tightened as small as they could be, and all three were obviously just a bit big. When loosened, they would still fit her as she grew. That wasn't what really disturbed Amyla, though.
"And why does she need this?" Amyla queried, watching the fae walk across the narrow hallway and then spin about to face her parents. "It's not like she'll be getting the swords anytime soon, correct?"
Aiodhan fidgeted. "I... well... umm... just thought we could be prepared for when she does! Besides, they're gorgeous, and she's getting much better at her swordwork, and you even said yesterday that she is getting better at communicating... when she does communicate!"
Kayce glanced back and forth from parent to parent, obviously expecting a fight to begin.
Amyla bit back a growl. "I just... well, think it was a little premature. Kayce, just because you have these now doesn't mean you can be wearing them."
The fae managed to hide her disappointment, though just barely. Not wear them? But they were beautiful, not to mention useful! Okay, so they were still kind of big, and the one around her thigh kept slipping down because her leg was still fairly thin. But they couldn't just sit around and not be worn!
"Kayce, they are not to be worn yet. When you are old enough to be given teh swords, you may wear them," Amyla said firmly. She was in no mood to be disagreed with, and Kayce must have seen that, for the fae girl trudged back into her room to remove the swordbelts. Honestly, what had Aiodhan been thinking when-
"Dad, don't you have something for Mum too?" Kayce's voice echoed from inside her room, and the dragon-man standing before Amyla had the good grace to wince.
Amyla raised an eyebrow. "Well... do you?" she asked him, wondering if he had gotten her something as a way to keep her from debating the swordbelt idea.
Aiodhan must have read her expression for he shook his head vigorously. "Actually, those were just a gift. And I got those for her after I got... well... the stuff that I have for you."
Nodding slowly, Amyla gave him a critical look. "I take it that whatever it is... is being held behind your back?"
The dragon-man nodded and produced the bag, grinning sheepishly as Amyla looked inside and caught the store name written on the box inside.
Her eyes widened. "Please tell me that you did not get me what I think you did while you were with the kids!"
He chuckled a bit, stepping forward to kiss her cheek very gently. "Ah, no, I just picked it up, then. It was ordered about a week ago. I would like to see you wear it..." he suggested hopefully, just barely ducking the swat she aimed at his head.
"Aiodhan! What the-"
"Mum, it isn't something bad, is it?" Kayce asked, poking her head back out of her bedroom door.
Not really willing to explain the details of adult relationships and lingerie to a child, Amyla smiled, stepping on Aiodhan's foot as she did. "Ahhh... no, Kayce. Don't worry about it. Your father and I just need to have a little chat..." she said with far too much cheer in her voice, firmly shoving Aiodhan in the direction of their bedroom.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 1:22 am
An Impending Arrival "Okay, did we have another thunderstorm that I didn't know about?"
Kayce glanced up from her beadwork, mildly surprised to hear Kari's incredulous voice from out in the hallway. Seeking solitude and practice in her fine motor skills (Kari called this 'having fun'), the fae had retreated into her bedroom with much hemp twine and many colors of beads. She had spent much of the afternoon on this single necklace and was pleased to deem it perfect. It had only taken her the entire afternoon to make sure all of the knots pointed the same way, both sides were symmetrical, and all of the beads were of perfectly identical shape and color.
She had had relative peace all afternoon... until now. Something had Kari riled, and that alone made Kayce curious. What was her teenaged sister in such shock about?
Getting up from her hemp- and bead-covered bed, she padded over to her bedroom door in her bare feet, sticking her head out into the hallway to investigate the source of Kari's distress.
The source was fairly obvious. Kari was out in the hallway, facing their parents, both of whom were looking distinctly nervous. The green Ancient's mouth was wide open, her yellow eyes fairly bulging from their sockets. "You have to be joking, right? But you just had Caleb... well... I guess it was months and months ago, but can't it wait?" she was asking them in a very agitated fashion.
Kayce blinked. Couldn't what wait? Was something going on? What was this about Caleb? She knew he had been born months ago, but what did that have to do with something waiting?
"I mean... how could you just... just... decide that without talking to at least me and Nieva first! This is something kind of important!" Kari was continuing in a tone of voice that said what she was saying was clearly meaningful.
Overcome by curiosity, Kayce ventured out into the hallway. "Is something wrong?" she asked, hoping one of the three older beings would respond.
Kari squealed in shock and jumped nearly two feet off the ground. Aiodhan started, and Amyla paled noticeably.
"Uhhh... nothing, Kayce. Don't worry about it," Aiodhan said quickly, which was obviously the wrong thing to say. Before Kayce could query again, Kari had squawked out, "It isn't nothing! This is life-shattering!" and Amyla had shoved an elbow into the dragon-man's ribs.
"Dad and I need to discuss this with Kari, Kayce, and then we'll come talk to you in a minute. Just let us get this sorted out first," Amyla said soothingly, which made Kayce feel a tad better. At least her mother would tell her what was going on.
Nodding, Kayce obediently turned around and went back into her room, now ignoring the whispered conversation in the hallway. Curious as she was, she knew her mother would keep her word. She would tell Kayce what was going on. Satisfied by this, Kayce commenced cleaning up her beads and hemp, putting them away on her shelves before seating herself on her bed and toying with the now-finished necklace.
Sooner than she expected, Amyla and Aiodhan appeared in her doorway. "May we come in?" Amyla asked, and upon receiving Kayce's nod of consent, both entered.
Aiodhan settled himself on the floor beside the bed, Amyla sitting on the bed just in front of Kayce. Neither was looking at the other, and neither wanted to speak for a moment or two. Then the words just started flowing from Amyla's mouth.
"Well, I guess the first thing I should say is that things are going to be changing a bit around here," she began, taking a deep breath as if readying herself for a long speech.
Oh no. Not a lecture! Kayce groaned silently, trying to keep her expression as neutral as possible. She hated lectures with a passion. Boring, pointless, dreadfully awful things!
"Ahhh... yes... umm... well, how to put this. Ahhh.... Kayce, there is something... that your father and I need to explain to you," Amyla said slowly, fumbling a bit as if not sure where to start.
Mum unable to express herself? Oh, this wasn't good at all. Perhaps Kayce wasn't in trouble. Maybe someone was sick... or dying! Not that Kayce saw dying as necessarily a bad thing, but it would slightly disrupt the household flow. "I am listening," she said, nodding and indeed listening intently to her mother's words.
Amyla sighed and then began to speak again. "I know you are. It's just... I'm not sure how to explain thi-"
"Your mum is going to have a baby," Aiodhan just spit out, growing quite weary of the drama. Yes, there... it was said. Now for the fireworks...
Kayce blinked. Baby? That wasn't what she had expected. Another baby in the house meant... Mum was busy. Which meant that Dad had to spend more time taking care of Caleb and Erin and less time with sword lessons. Which meant that Kayce had less lesson time. That was bad, definitely bad.
But why? Why did they need another baby? "Why?" she asked.
Amyla turned several shades of red. "Beeeecause... we weren't planning on this, but it seemed like an excellent opportunity. And we have been wanting another child."
"Why? Aren't we good enough?" Kayce asked, more curious than hurt.
"Of course you are!" Amyla said hurriedly. "But... we have only one son of our making, if you understand. You we adopted, and you are our daughter. But you're not of our making, if that makes any sense."
It did make sense. Mum and Dad wanted a baby that they made together. How they did that, she wasn't sure she wanted to know, though. "It makes sense. But I don't want it," Kayce said honestly, glancing back and forth from parent to parent.
Both parents looked rather guilty. "Yes, I think we can understand your feelings, Kayce, but there isn't much we can do at the moment. You're going to have a little brother or sister," Aiodhan pointed out in his tactless way, giving her an apologetic look and shrug.
Feeling a bit miffed, Kayce pursed her lips. "Why didn't you ask if Kari and I wanted one?"
"Mostly because we weren't expecting to get the appointment. And partially because at the mother and father, it is our decision," Amyla pointed out. "I know you don't like it, but this is something your father and I very much want."
"I understand." Yes, she understood. But she still didn't want a baby. Drooling, loud, annoying baby. Caleb was cute and playful and fun. Bitty babies were irritating and smelly and messy and dirty and not-neat. And this all meant less sword lessons for Kayce. She didn't want a baby!
"All right. As long as we understand each other," Amyla said, watching Kayce's neutral expression. This was not sitting well, and the mother knew it. "Well, it's almost dinnertime. What would you like for dinner?"
"I am not hungry," Kayce replied simply, staring at the necklace as she toyed with the beads. She wasn't hungry at all. Her stomach felt all peculiar and knotted-up, and she was not happy, not at all. Her parents must have sensed that for they left almost immediately, leaving her to sulk in peace.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 1:09 pm
I can't believe that Mum did this to me. She and Dad are going to have a baby. They didn't ask me if I wanted a baby. They just walked in and told me that Mum is going to have one.
I don't want a baby. I won't get as much time for sword lessons, and Mum and Dad will probably be too busy to help me with my studies if I need the help. I guess Nieva could help me, but she has been busy with Erin a lot. Babies stink and are loud too. Caleb is at least cute, but newborn babies are ugly and useless. I don't want another brother or sister. I want to at least get to spend more time in swordfighting lessons. But with Dad and Mum both working more, plus the new baby on the way, there is just no way I'll get more lesson time. It isn't fair!
Oh, but I know something that Mum doesn't know, and I'm not going to tell her. Kari, since she is pretty much an adult now, said that her 'maternal instincts kicked in.' I'm not sure exactly what that means, but I know it means that she wants kids. She got an appointment at the same maternity clinic that Mum and Dad just got theirs at, and she is going to have a baby too. I'm not sure when or what gender it will be, but she is going to have a baby. She isn't telling Mum and Dad yet, and neither am I. I think she told Nieva, but Nieva isn't saying a word either. Kari is an adult and just got a job, so she can take care of herself. She is still living here in the house with us, but she helps out a lot more. And she will be a mother! She promised me that I could hold her baby. I think her baby will be nicer than Mum and Dad's because Kari is an Ancient and her baby will be part phoenix.
I'm hungry, so I am going to go make a snack. I'm also hiding this journal so that Mum can't read it and find out about Kari.
~Kayce
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:30 pm
I have not written. Our house is awful now. It is so loud and busy that I have to lock myself in my room or hide in the treehouse to escape. I have two new siblings now, and Kari is about to have her baby too. I want to see her child, but I don't want more kids. There are too many! I want quiet.
One of my new sisters is human, and she is from some other place where there is a great war. She is very snappish and does not like me, and I don't like her. She speaks too much and speaks meanly, and Caleb doesn't like her either. I wish she would go home. I don't want her. Ever since she got here, Dad has been upset because she doesn't like him.
My other new sister is Mum and Dad's baby. They named her Aryana Meline, and she is pretty enough, I suppose. But she is a baby, and she takes up so much time and energy. Dad never does swordfighting lessons anymore, and Kari is too tired to talk much, not to mention Tanith hides down there to get away from Dad.
My skills are improving with the swords, in any case. I practice alone, and I am getting faster. I set up a fake swordsman with wood and a broom handle. It is ugly, but it spins around and makes fake sword thrusts while it spins, so it is good enough practice. I still have trouble with small things, though. The beadwork helps, but I am still having much trouble. It bothers me.
Kayce
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:27 pm
I haven't written in this journal in awhile, and I promised Kayce I wouldn't read anything. She just gave me a nice blank page to record on. I felt some things needed updating.
Missy, the Morgan filly that Aiodhan and I got Kayce some time ago, is growing and thriving. She is old enough to be saddle trained, so we brought her to a nearby stable for the lessons. Kayce didn't like the idea of a bit, so she invented a bitless bridle that Missy seems to take to very well. It's very much like a halter, except the leadrope has become reins, and it is made of studier material. Missy took the saddle very well, so she and Kayce go on short rides every day. They both seem to like it, and Kayce is looking a bit happier now. She has been very cranky since Aryana's birth and Tanith's arrival, and it has me worried. At least this is one little ray of light amongst it all.
Oh, did I mention that Aiodhan went and bought Kayce a new throwing knife and dagger? The dagger is less ornamental than her other one, so she carries it around more. She has also been throwing it and the throwing knife at the target she set up in the backyard. We clearly marked her target area to keep the rest of the kids and the animals and guardians away. She definitely has passable aim, but if anybody ran in front of that target.... well... it would be devastating.
Anyway, I'm going to go nurse Aryana before I settle down to catch up on some paperwork. Kayce and Missy are out for their afternoon ride and should be back soon. It looks like it may storm, so I hope they come back very soon.
~Amyla
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 11:07 am
Kari had her baby. She is a little girl, named Evelia Circe. We call her Evie for short, and I like her. She has wings, red eyes, red horns, red hair, and two tails. I got to hold her earlier, and she was giggling at me. She played with my bead necklace and waved her little wings. I like her much better than Yana.
Since Kari is my sister, Evie is my niece. That makes me Aunt Kayce to her. It sounds strange. Aunts are supposed to be older. Yana is Evie's aunt too, and that is even stranger.
Missy and I have been out riding a lot. She is getting stronger and faster, and I am getting more skilled. I have made a path through the woods, and I set up some little jumps made of logs and stones. They are only about a foot high, but it is fun to go over them anyway. It is nice to go out riding and get away from Erin, Yana, and Tanith. I love riding alone. Missy is good company.
~Kayce
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 11:20 am
A Sisterly Discussion In a household like the Raikes-Layden's, it was very easy for things to go missing. Books often disappeared from somewhere and turned up a week later, shoved between couch cushions. Toys were often recovered from strange places like behind the toilet, or sometimes, they weren't found at all. This was normal. Things just got lost, no matter how organized the house was... at times.
Sometimes, though, the things went missing deliberately. Amyla had placed Eowyn the chip on a shelf in the bookcase in her room, trying to keep the chip somewhere safe while she gave Caleb, Aryana, and then Erin their baths, none of which were easy (or mess-free) tasks. What she had not realized, though, was that Kayce had been keeping a cautious eye on her and the chip, just waiting for Eowyn to be put down somewhere so she could take the opportunity to investigate.
And Kayce realized that her time had come.
She had been curious ever since her mother had brought the chip home. Mum had mentioned something about the name 'Eowyn' being a character from a book. Kayce, out of curiosity, had read the Lord of the Rings trilogy and promptly decided that her sibling-to-be Eowyn was anything like the book-character Eowyn, they would be good friends. Imagine... a sister willing to swordfight, another being (even if it was a robot) who understood what it was like to show an icy face to the world! All right, so Kayce's ice-hearted nature was natural, but then, maybe Eowyn's was too. Who knew?! All she knew was that this sibling promised to be splendid, much better than any other she had.
That was why she was waiting for her mother to set the chip down somewhere. She intended to go pay the chip a little visit.
It took her all of five seconds to climb up the bookcase shelves and pluck Eowyn off. Carefully climbing back down, she slid smoothly down the hall and into her room, shutting and locking the door behind her. The chip felt rather cold in her hand, and she stared at it as she sat on her bed, crossing her legs one over the other to sit Indian-style. Mum had mentioned that the chip was aware, even if it couldn't talk. Very well. She intended to have a good chat with the chip.
"Mum says your name is Eowyn, like the character from the books. You liked to ride horses and fight with swords, but you were beautiful. You were of noble blood," the fae said, cradling the chip carefully in the palms of her hands and speaking quietly right to it. "I think you can hear me now. Even if you can't, maybe it will be stored somewhere in the back of your memory. We are alike, you and I. I can not wait to introduce you to Missy. You will love her; she is a beautiful horse. I love to fight with short swords. We can spar together."
Most other creatures would have felt foolish talking to an obviously inanimate chip, but for Kayce, it was as though she was conversing with another part of herself. Finally, she could have a kindred spirit, one who would understand that she didn't want casual affection. She wanted someone to think and practice with.
"I hope we can meet face-to-face soon," she added before taking a quick glance at the clock. She had time until the baths were done. She could talk to her sister awhile longer.
((Cross-posted in Eowyn's journal))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:38 am
~Reserved for PD with Nereida~
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:13 am
Plotting as a Gang For once, a moment of peace had settled over the three children seated in the backyard treehouse. It was a chilly winter morning, and all three were appropriately dressed to deal with the cold. Both Kayce and Eowyn were wearing jackets and boots, and Dageus.... well... he just wore boots, jeans, and a shirt with a nice large car on it. How he loved cars.
"Mum said Christmas is coming," Eowyn said to break the silence. She and Kayce had left their practice swords inside, and all three children had come to the mutual agreement that this would be their hideout from the rest of the family for the morning. The babies were being fussy, Erin was more cantankerous than usual, and Tanith had had a beautifully explosive temper-tantrum that morning. All in all, none of the three wanted to be in the house that much.
Eowyn's comment prompted a hefty snort from Dageus, and he gave a leisurely stretch, not at all bothered by the slight chill. The joys of being covered in thick fur. "Christmas. Gifts and decorations and bloody mistletoe," the boy grumbled, imitating his parents from the other side of the rift. He always got cranky around Christmas. He couldn't help it; things were just never that fun.
"Mistletoe is poisonous if you eat it," Kayce pointed out with her typical cynicism, not at all liking the sound of this holiday which promoted group gatherings, parties, and other sorts of large crowds.
Eowyn blinked. "But Mum said it's all about giving," she mused, looking quite thoughtful. She had never experienced this 'Christmas' thing before, but it sounded nice. Everyone gave everyone presents, and everyone was happy as a result. It couldn't be so bad, so long as they didn't have any guests over for Christmas.
"Yeah, it's about giving people presents and being nice and happy and a big family," Dageus scowled. If he had it his way, he and his two comrades-in-mischief would be wreaking havoc nearly all the time. He enjoyed wrecking things, wrestling, and just generally being... well.... difficult. A holiday that promoted niceness was just not high on his 'happy list.'
"At least neither of you is going to be forced to go to lessons," Kayce hissed quietly, not pleased about this thought of having to go interact with her tutors, one of whom she absolutely despised. "Lessons plus Christmas decorating."
The other two made faces. No, neither of them had to go through that torture, though Christmas decorating was going to be bad enough. Mum had this thing for decorations, and they had just finished taking things down from Halloween.
"Maybe she'll change her mind?" Eowyn said, mildly hopeful. She could tell by the expressions on the older childrens' faces, though, that this would not happen. Mum never changed her mind about decorating.
Ever.
"We could always rip down the decorations," Dageus chortled suddenly, clapping his clawed paws together with a gleeful expression on his face.
Kayce made a derogatory snort. "Yes, and have our weapons and your cars permanently confiscated. How brilliant."
The wolverine anthro's face fell, and he settled back down to ponder somewhat sullenly. There was just no way out of this.
The silence that ensued lasted awhile as all three tried desparately to think of some way in which to escape this nightmare of a holiday, which included decorations (Eowyn sighed), mistletoe and nice clothes (Dageus looked sick at the very thought), and gatherings of people (Kayce's normally expressionless face looked a tad murderous).
"No ideas..." Eowyn moped, giving the house a sullen look. "Maybe we should just help out and make it get done quicker."
Dageus moaned silently and tilted his head back. That was an awful idea, but they really had no choice. "Mum will make us."
Silent and very still, Kayce pondered for another moment before offering up a better suggestion. "Maybe if we choose something long, we won't have to help with the other stuff."
The two other children looked thoughtful and then glanced back at her. "Like what?" Dageus demanded, sitting fully upright and resting his clawed hands on the ground before him. "Mum won't let us set up the tree alone."
"Or hang up any of the stuff that breaks," Eowyn piped up, knowing full well that their mother did not trust any of them with an even remotely breakable object like an ornament.
A slow (and rather frighteningly wicked) smile spread across Kayce's face. "No.... like the outside lights on the house. And the garland that she wants to wrap around the railings of the front porch."
Dageus was dumbfounded by her brilliance, while Eowyn gave a smug grin. "Yeah, and it's outside too, which means we're away from everybody else," the Kybernetik said, her gray-green eyes alight with new energy. "And it'll take forever!"
"But what about the ladder? Mum won't let me up," Dageus said, looking down at his clawed hands and feet. No way in heck. She didn't trust him.
Kayce gave an impatient wave of her hand. "She'll let me. Besides, it'll take hours to untangle all of the outside lights before we even put them up."
After an additional few minutes of pondering, none of the three had come up with any real problem with the plan. In fact, Dageus even grudgingly agreed that it was 'bloody brilliant.'
"Then let's go," Kayce said simply, scooting over to the ladder to head out of the treehouse. Really, she was amazed with her own brilliance at times.((Cross-posted in Eowyn and Dageus' journals.))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 10:18 pm
I have been feeling strange as of late. Today is Christmas, but I don't feel joyous. I feel... still. It isn't quiet or peaceful inside; it is... just still. I can't describe it. I feel as though something is twisting inside me, and it wants out. I get angry more. Before I was angry, but I would walk away. I fight now. I hit Tanith and gave her a black-eye. I snarled at Mum. I'm angry, very angry. Mum says that I'm growing up and that it's hormones. I don't know. All I know is that I am angry.
I stayed in my room most of the day, after we opened gifts. I got sheathes for my two throwing knives and a set of boots that come nearly to my knees. They're very flexible. I'm looking forward to practicing in them. Dad also showed me how to rig the sheaves for the knives so that they'd fit into my boots. They're all a bit big, but they'll fit properly soon enough.
Eowyn, Dageus, and I have been practicing combat moves together. Dageus gets bored after awhile and goes to wreck things or play with his toy cars. Eowyn is wary of me since I became angry. I learned quite by accident the other day that applying a metal object to my canine teeth (like a file) can shave off bits. I'm trying to make them look a bit more pointed, but I'm doing it slowly. Mum would be very mad if she knew. I like the feeling of running my tongue over them, though. They feel dangerous.
Kayce
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:10 pm
I have neglected my mythology books for so long. I got another one for Christmas, and I sat down and read straight through it. I learned that the Danaans, the cat-kings, were considered 'faerie-folk'. The burial mounds of people were considered doors to the underworld. Death, death, death. So much death. But I find it strangely fascinating, the idea of the mind and body separating.
The carving of the cat gargoyle that Mum put in the jar, it was a Celtic carving. They believed that cats had supernatural powers, and I'm starting to wonder what sort of power I'm supposed to have. I don't know if I really want one, especially if it's something happy or boring, like telekinecy or making people fall in love. Ick. I'd rather just... not have power. If I could get into people's minds, mess with their thoughts... now that would be fun. But I hope Mum doesn't read this, or she'll be very upset. She has been acting strangely toward me, like she thinks I'm (this is the word she used talking to Dad) 'unstable.' I'm not unstable. I'm not.
Kayce
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 11:24 pm
Much has changed recently.
I have stopped my mathematics lessons, and I don't do stargazing anymore. I have found that learning about my past is more interesting, so I do that as much as I can. I am trying to get to more books, but many of them are written in Latin and Greek. I've started trying to learn both, but I often get confused. It is slow, but I am learning. Maybe some of these old records will tell me what I want to know: where we come from and why I am here.
My sword skills are improving. I'm faster, I think. Eowyn grew today, so she and I spent some time fighting with the swords. She is a more challenging opponent now, and her reflexes are much faster than mine, naturally. I'm getting better, though, and that makes me happy. I don't want to ever be unprepared for something. Eowyn looks so different, grown up like this. I wish I could grow a little. I think it would make me a better fighter.
I feel very restless. I haven't felt like this in awhile, but I feel like I need to go do something. I'll go ride with Missy again. I feel better when I'm on her back.
~Kayce
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
