☾❅Youngling Solo: A Day in the Life of Taaru❅☾
Being a youngling in Zena was interesting, especially when one was also a hybrid living on an animal sanctuary. Since his mother and father were often so busy and his family was wary of wandering too far away from home Taaru often found his playmates via animals. That and his sister, though at times she could be just as flighty as any chiavi with the bite of a raptrix if he wasn’t careful enough. Oh! And big sis Serana was also fun to play with whenever she wasn’t spouting off about how things could be dangerous like playing with some of the weapons from the armory or racing about on Gammu’s back. Big sis Serana also was fond of lists that included all of Taaru’s chores for the day. As the boy had gotten older, he would be ten in a few months, he had racked up some more chores. In the morning he would wake up roll over and then sleepily head down to breakfast. Thankfully he didn’t have to do much of that since he enjoyed Serana’s cooking the best!
Mom’s surprise stews were nice but….well for a normal breakfast it was great to have Serana around. Taaru would scarf down some eggs and bread before taking his plate along with the rest to the kitchen and assist with dishes. When he didn’t wash them then he would help Katori dry them and then leave them out for the next meal. It was hard to dry things after all if you kept them in a cabinet during the winter months so he thought it was best to just leave the wooden and china plates out so that the big fires of the hearth could evaporate any dampness left.
After that he would have some lessons, boring things about reading and writing that his father insisted the twins learn together, and then he would have a free moment for a snack. Normally snacks would involve some fruit or vegetable that he would snag from the kitchen when Serana wasn’t looking and those “snacks” often went into the mouth of Gammu rather than Taaru’s. Because after lessons and a some free time he would help out around the great big barn in the early afternoon. Mama kept so many animals in there! Sometimes there would be a lot of huge mamus like Gammu and other times there would be small strange creatures like his mother’s perzi who would twist around his legs as he walked through the kitchens. She always seemed to know when it was food time! Taaru giggled at the thought before handing her a piece of dried meat, another thing he somehow managed to tuck away in the few pockets inside of his leather jacket. You had to dress warmly after all in the winter months up here~ Though they lived on the borders by Sauti the valley still had a bitter chill coming from the north where the deeper parts of Zena began. Taaru could only imagine what it would be like living out there since he already slept in a massive pile of furs and blankets! The cotton ones from Oba were his favorites since his mama had purchased a few with designs of the foreign country’s animals embroidered along the edges. One day Taaru was determined to go out there and meet his mamma’s family and also the animals that he heard so much about! If Iska was anything like the rest of Oba then Taaru was pumped to see it. He loved action and adventure after all.
“Zy-Zy is lucky that he got to go already.” Taaru pursed his lips at the thought before continuing to the barn. Enough thinking about outside countries it was time to focus on his own life here at home! Who else could say they lived in a sanctuary of so many amazing animals after all? Like Gammu! At the thought Taaru ran to the animal barn, opened the doors and slipped inside. He looked around and spotted his favorite familiar in one of the stables. Being a large animal, he stuck out like a sore thumb, as he was taller than the walls that kept him in his spot. He also, on occasion, when Taaru slacked off about bathing him had a strange odor that was pretty obvious to the boy by now. But thinking about how big Gammu was made Taaru always wonder why he didn't just burst out and roam free. He knew the mammu was strong enough to, but he guessed he liked it there in the barn. I guess I would too since it’s so chilly out. Brr! But others did roam out along the lands and Taaru enjoyed taking his free afternoons to go out and observe the herd as they grazed along the valley.
"Gammu!" He said excitedly. "Come on buddy, let’s get you out of there. We're gonna go play in the snow!" He said as he opened the door to his stall. The mammu walked out, being careful not to rattle his neighbors, and once he was outside, he picked up Taaru with his trunk and put him on top of him. It was something that they had both practiced for months now and Taaru went up with ease. Though as he got bigger the boy had to wonder, would it always be this easy? Gammu is so big though he’s getting bigger too. So surely it would be okay! As he settled on top of his familiar Taaru pointed forward and said "Let's go!"
Taaru and Gammu ran out of the big doors and into the open area around the barn. It was nice and clear since his mother didn't have many patients out and about today. But Taaru wasn’t about going in circles around the paths there. He much prefered the open range of the valley’s fields. So he stirred Gammu on with a yell, “Onwards!” They ran past the side of the mansion, passing by a few sticks, “Oh!” Reaching out he grabbed one and held it proudly, “I’m like a warrior now!” Taaru grinned like a fool before lowering his arm. He could practice with this and be as awesome as Serana one day!
Too bad Tori was doing things with their momma today. If not Taaru could challenge her to another jousting match. When Serana didn’t catch the two of them in the act their battles were pretty fun! He enjoyed imagining how grand his battle with his twin sister could be. Then they could either dismount and let their familiars rest and go back inside for the midday meal, something light that usually consisted of bread and cheeses. After that they would either have more lessons or something else to do with the family. He enjoyed the afternoons when they went on walks to the village. Even if some of the villages had once looked at him funny they had gotten accustomed to the strangeness of his hair and his smaller ears. Though a girl had tugged on them once before and even tricked him into thinking that tugging them over and over could make them become as long and pointy as the rest of his family’s ears. She was a horrible liar. Taaru pouted before reaching up with his free hand to gently poke at an ear. His momma had explained that it was from her shifter blood and after a time the boy had grown used to them. They were cute and the others could just be jealous of how adorable...err masculine he could be with them!
They did get along with the people in the village since momma was such a great healer. All the animals seemed to love her and she had saved a few familiars from the village. As he rode along Gammu’s back Taaru smiled at the memories. One day a boy almost his age had come with his father to the sanctuary to ask for help. Not only had they brought sweets but he had gotten to play with the boy! He had been fun to play with and had come back a couple of times throughout the following months. But they were merchants so they had to travel all across Tendaji and so Taaru could only stay here and hope the boy returned with even more amusing stories of the outside countries.
Thunk! Taaru blinked from his daydreaming to realize that Gammu had walked a bit far while he wasn’t paying attention, “He-hey!” Blinking some more Taaru glanced around to try to find out where they were. Somewhere in a valley? The stream was nearby, but he didn’t remember those trees being so thick and tall. Oh boy. Whistling the boy tugged at Gammu’s fur, “Turn around Gammu. We gotta go home now!” He didn’t like it! As brave as Taaru was he still wasn’t about to get into some trouble especially with his tummy rumbling.
It was dinner time after all and he wasn’t about to miss out on his mother’s special stew! Plus Serana had made some pies this morning that Taaru remembered smelling amazing like. He was eager to try them and could come back here another day. With Tori of course. Always with his sister since he hated trying new things alone.
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