Helping his mother move the Sheron back to the ranch was not the least-advisable thing that Raemos had done in his life. It was, however, close, and it had nothing to do with the trouble it was giving him.
“Go.” he demanded of an obstinate Sheron that had decided to stand still, despite the rest of its herd swarming around it, “Go, already.” he shoved at it.
“Moooo.” It didn't budge.
“Come on!” he said, irritably, slapping it in the rear.
“Moooo.” it said again, staring at him with it's dull black eyes and chewing contentedly at its cud.
“Why won't you move?!” he said, giving it another shove.
“Do you mean... Mooooove?” asked Sonia, her eyes glittering with good humor. Raemos glowered at his mother.
“No, I do not mean 'Mooove', but does it matter?!” he gave the Sheron a final shove and walked over to join Sonia. “Either way” he said plaintively, “She isn't moving, Ma.”
Sonia snickered. “Well sure.” she said, giving him a knowing wink, “Let me give it a try.”
With a warbling whistle and a nudge with her herding staff, the sheron soon obediently returned to it's herd, swishing its tail along the way. Raemos glared at it as it merged into the brown mass of stinking animals, and then turned away, wiping his hands on his working clothes with an expression of chagrined disgust.
“What, Raerae?” his mother asked teasingly, hands on hips and a big grin on her face, “Too fancy for our Sharon? Or did you lose all your ranching skills when you took up that fancy Guardian training?”
“Ma... I'm not fancy.”
“Sure you're not.” she said, “You just dress in nice pressed uniforms and walk around like you have a stick strapped to your back.” she chuckled, “I'm just joking, Rae, I wouldn't have you any other way. But you have to admit, thats what it looks like.”
“What what looks like? Ma, I was never very good at herding.” he said.
“Yes you were.” she said, amused, and he had to admit that, long ago, he had known how to herd. He'd known how to herd, to feed, and to care for the animals on the ranch, and he still did. But it was as though he had only read about them in books, and was doing it for the first time. It didn't feel as natural as it once had. “You used to be able to help your father get the kargoths and kugel under control, do you remember that?”
They both looked to the front of their little group, where Mallew was guiding them home. Yes, Rae remembered. He remembered that life of his childhood, when things had seemed so different, so innocent.
Sonia gave Raemos a pat on the back. “Don't worry about it, Raerae. You'll get back into practice in no time...” she giggled, “And then you'll have to re-learn all of your fancy sword and magic tricks!” she darted away, still laughing, leaving her son to shake his head and smile, despite himself.
