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 Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:08 pm
That's what had landed him the position of wood cutter in the next village over. It was larger by far, with a wider variety of Winter festivities and shops. With such a large boon of taur to host it was easy to land a much needed position, and it was with a light heart that he left from his home in the early morning darkness to meet with the others by dawn's light in the forest.
At first they hadn't expected him to show up; a cattaur with centaurs and cervitaurs! Though the village was a larger mix, most species tended to spend more time with their own, but not Zale. If he could pound his frustrations into the bark of a mighty Oak with his ax then so much the sweeter would be the day. By the end of it he would be looking forward to a hearty meal, a warm fire, and good company. But before all that, he had some wood to split.
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:24 pm
 Bast was in the larger village watching some of the wood cutters' children. She was often employed as a babysitter and enjoyed it immensely. She loved children and they often loved her. The village by now was used to seeing her running around with a large group of children all of different species.
Looking at the children as they worked on some paper decorations for the festival she couldn't help but sigh. How she longed to have her own but of course that required meeting the right guy. She still hadn't found him and was beginning to wonder if she ever would. With a shake of her head she banished those thoughts. Right now was about the children.
"Alright kids. What do you say to bringing the hard workers a nice snack and warm and cool drinks this afternoon?" She asked. She received a bunch of cheers and she smiled. "Okay after this we'll see about getting some food and drinks ready." She said. Later on that morning she'd get enough food and drinks for the wood cutters and take the small group of children she was watching out to the cutters.
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:38 pm
"-and so I says, Woman, why don't YOU try sweeping up around here after a long day a'workin' and then try to keep a smile on."
"And what'd she have to say to that?"
"Kicked me out on my a**, that's what!"
The group of ruckus males guffawed into the trees, scaring off what brave birds that had stuck around through the winter season. Break time had come with much relief for them all; the long hours, and high demand was taking it's toll on the lot of them. Still, spirits were high and moods were light. There was a festival to attend in the evenings!
As per usual Zale had tried to sit alone, but found himself in the thick of it. It was always harder to hear about families, lovers and children when his own home life was such a wreck. Warming, to know so much love existed, but somehow vastly hollow.
"And the wee one, she's as big as me knees now! Can ya believe it?"
"That tall already?" Zale smiled with a chuckle. "What about your son? I'm sure he's growing big as well." That had started an entirely different chapter, one of which Zale instantly regretted as soon as the male started blathering on and on about how his son did this or that.
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:46 pm
Bast led the children with her into the woods where the males were at. They all carried baskets that contained food and some carried skins with drinks. They soon heard the men talking and a few of the children broke away and ran ahead.
Bast shook her head with a grin. "Be careful! Don't drop anything!" She called out. It was loud enough that the men would hear and know someone was coming. It wasn't long before she and the remaining kids walked into view of the men.
"Why hello gentlemen! Thought you'd all like something to eat and drink! Plus the kiddies needed the exercise and wanted to see you." She said as she walked up to them. She watched as each kid handed over a basket to either a father, brother, or complete stranger. She herself handed hers over to a yellow Cattaur. "Hello. Don't think I've seen you around." She said to him, "Hope you don't mind a small serving of stew with bread. Oh and water too."
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:12 pm
Seeing the break of little ones running to familiar voices made him break out a large grin. Even if his own experiences hadn't been the best, he could still appreciate how adorable it all was. A few of the men greeted the child wrangler as she approached, but from where he sat Zale couldn't see her yet. He stretched his paws and stood, moving in to say his peace.
In place of the matronly soul he'd expected to see was a younger red cattauress. "I'm a fisherman, come inland for the winter." He answered simply, with a kind smile as he took the offered basket. "If it tastes half as good as it smells you'll be doubly thanked." He couldn't help taking a peep at the offered, and taking a whiff of the savory smell. Mmm, home cooking!
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:52 pm
Bast smiled at the stranger. "Ah a fisherman. Yes I can see why you've come inland. Winter makes it hard to fish or so I hear." She said. She took a moment to look at the children and then turned back to him. "I'll make sure to pass it on to the one who cooked it. A nice Cervi at the local tavern had some cooking when I stopped by to scrounge up some food. The kids wanted to make sure you all had good food."
She again checked on the kids after hearing a surprised yelped. Apparently one of the dads had surprised his daughter and was now tickling her. She shook her head with a grin and turned to Zale. "I'm Bast. I live nearby and often take care of the children here." She said.
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:10 pm
"If I were a little farther North I might try ice fishing, but it's a little hard on the open sea." He chuckled, moving to settle down with his surprise meal. Zale gave a pat to the spot, "Rest. The kits are preoccupied, and I'm sure you could use it."
Brushing his hands off on his worn tunic as best he could, Zale went about breaking off a piece of bread and dipping it into the warm stew. Eating it reminded him why he personally hated eating fish as much as he did; after a while it carried no flavor, but this...this was rich and warm and...just wonderful. "They really are sweet kids. I doubt I would have been so thoughtful when I was their age." Zale took a drink of the water, and set about eating his meal.
Still, the yelp got him too, and he looked up, only to feel a little weight lift. "Place like this, I'm sure your services are in high demand." Straightening up a bit, he smiled, "My name's Zale, and I can honestly say I'm a little envious of your job. Seems like hard work, but I'd much rather look at their little faces than these guys." He motioned with a thumb to a particular pair of wolftaur brothers, one of which was blowing bubbles in his stew. Even as Zale said it, though, his smile warmed. They were idiots, but they were his idiots.
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Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:21 pm
"Indeed it is. But ice fishing does sound interesting." She replied sitting down where he had patted, "Well it is hard work looking after them but I don't mind. After all it's excellent practice for when I have some of my own someday."
She chuckled at what he said about the kids. "Oh well it took a little suggestion and mentioning they'd get to see everyone where they work. Otherwise I don't think they would have thought of it." She said giving him a quick sly look. She gave a nod. "Yes it is. Especially this time of the year... or well anytime there's a festival about to happen." She said, "Nice to meet you Zale. Oh I'm sure you'd change your mind after you've seen those faces after a particularly 'fun' day." She laughed thinking about one of the days when all of the children had ganged up on her and played tricks and messed with her.
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Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:57 pm
He smiled, but he couldn't tell her that watching after children during the day wasn't the same as having them at night. Holding them when the nightmares came, losing sleep over a fever, worrying over them when you woke up and couldn't find them...Zale pinched off a piece of the bread and dipped it in the stew, soaking it to the brim before plopping it in his mouth.
"A little intervention, eh?" He winked and chuckled. Now that sounded more like kids; eager to help, but concentrated on the here and now. "You've got me there, Bast. I've got a son of my own, and just seeing one little screaming banshee was enough to have me running for the hills, let alone a hoard." The golden cat sat back, enjoying his water now that his meal was over.
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Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 12:54 pm
While Zale finished eating Bast watched the kids. It seemed that most of the men were just about done eating. She'd have to round up the kids soon and take them back to town.
"Ah yes. Just a little push in the right direction." She said with a sly grin, "Oh you have a son? How old? I bet he's as handsome as his father." She shook her head with a laugh. "Oh I don't want a hoard. Just a few of my own. I enjoy to take care of other taurs' children but I would love to have my own." She paused seeing some of the men get up, "Oh don't mind my blabbing on about having kids. I tend to do that. Sorry."
She stood up herself when one of the kids came over to her. "Well seems that time is up. Hm.... maybe I'll see you at the festival in town." She said moving away to gather up the rest of the kids, "Come on kids. Let's have everyone get back to work. Can't keep them for much longer."
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Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:11 pm
Zale chuckled, but not without a light flush to his cheeks. Compliments always seemed to get a rise out of him, whether he liked it or not. He was as transparent as the water he fished in! "A man grown, and adopted, though he's as much my son as if he had my blood. I would have liked to have been with him this winter, but he's a scholar and I'm better suited here." Armaeo had his tomes and Zale...well, Zale had his hands. "You'll make a fine mother one day, Bast. I hope fortune favors you." Or some male.
With his paws under him, Zale moved to grasp his axe and hoisted it over his shoulder. "I would like that. You'll have to let me repay your kindness." A meal for a meal, then? He wasn't completely oblivious to the snickers behind him, but a warning look had the good-natured boys back to work.
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