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Bardam's Mettle
Suns turned to moons, and moons turned to two years. The day never came when Miel ran away, though she had thought heavily about it many times during that first year and a half. No one would think it for by the time the next winter had come Miel was a child of nothing but smiles and who worked as hard as anyone.
Jovial perhaps to even a disturbing point for never did it seem to falter, never did that shine leave her eyes. In time she made an almost full recovery from her brush with death...almost.
The pneumonia had left a permanent mark on the Raen, sometimes giving her bouts in which she'd have difficulty breathing--particularly whenever the campgrounds got too smoky.
Yet this never deterred the girl and she found salvation in the form of not only honing her body with training, but in learning the art of conjury from the very Mols that had saved her. In exchange, she taught them to read. Learning to manipulate the element of wind helped her to not only control that around her, but within her as well.
She never did remember her name, where she came from or how she had ended up where she did (or so she says) and while there certainly remained a strange level of distance that she kept with all but Lavanda she had grown friendly and seemed happy with her place among the Kha.
Which is why it was shocking to find one morning, as the first rays of sun were peeking over the mountains, that she was gone.
Buttons — 04/07/2023 8:08 PM
The children woke Lavanda when they realized Miel had left the yurt they had been sleeping in, and to say Lavanda panicked would be an understatement. Rushing from the Yurt before he was fully dressed, shirtless and quickly covered in morning fog, he all but dashed about the camp looking for any sign of the girl and finding none. He checks every yurt, asks every adult, and still cannot find her.
Namuunaa finally takes him by the shoulder before he can dash down in to the plains, and it's only then that Lavanda buries his face in her chest and cries.
Space Coco — 04/08/2023 7:17 AM
Namuunaa holds her son tightly, feeling her heart wrench to see him weep so. She too had grown fond of the little girl that he had saved two years prior but she knew it paled in comparison to what those two shared for each other, however reticent the girl could be to express it sometimes. She had no idea what could have happened. Nothing, not another person nor a beast could have snuck in and dragged her off, for none at the guard had spoken of any strange figures. Which meant she must have somehow snuck past them herself without notice...but why?
She seemed to have finally been settling in, to have finally found her happiness here.
"We'll find her, Lavanda. We will. She couldn't have gotten far. None of the mounts were taken." Namuunaa just begged to the Mother that she was still ok.
Scouts set out and even the Mol were contacted to see if she had gone there who then joined the search, but as the hours went on and the sun began to set Namuunaa became more and more worried until one of the other Khas pointed out something in the distance.
It was a yol. Odd. While not unheard of transport by yol was typically reserved for the Naadam and that was moons off. It would have to be some sort of emergency to make use of the avian instead of a ground mount. Did someone bring news?
"Lavanda. Lavanda, honey. Look."
Buttons — 04/08/2023 10:28 AM
Lavanda had spent the whole day either consumed by tears or patrolling the edge of the encampment, looking for signs of Miel. Pulled away from his repetitive patrol by one of the other youth, he is tucked in Namuunaa's side when she alerts him.
He looks up to the Yol, brow furrowing in confusion. Why would a Yol be coming towards them? Perhaps someone with news of Miel? He scrubs his eyes with his fist, pushing away from Namuunaa's side to great the newcomer.
Space Coco — 04/08/2023 11:24 AM
There's confused murmuring among the tiny crowd gathering to greet the rider, for it almost seems like the Yol is without one. It's only when it gently lands down and Miel stands from it's back that she's finally visible. She's bruised and dirtied but she has a determined expression on as she jumps from the Yol which turns to one of confusion when she notices the stunned looks she's getting.
There's a moment where she opens her mouth, falters, but then fixes her expression once more.
"I. I took the test. So I could be a proper Kha."
Buttons — 04/08/2023 11:33 AM
"Miel!"
The cry is relieved and panicked all in one, the man rushing forward and all but tackling the small girl as he wraps his arms around her tight and holds her to his chest, burying his face in her neck to feel her heartbeat and reassure himself that she's alive and well.
"Mother's bloody tits never scare me like that again. I thought you had been taken, o-or left, and got hurt somewhere, o-or-" He pauses, her words finally registering in his brain. "What do you mean 'be a proper Kha'? You ... you always have been."
Space Coco — 04/08/2023 11:41 AM
Miel is not expecting him to come racing forward like that and when he pulls her in for a hug there's a brief moment of tension before gingerly she raises her arms to drape them around him. She's still as she listens to him, what he says, the frantic and despairing tone of his voice, the way he holds her so tightly, so protectively.
It's.
It's real.
He's being real.
He means it.
How is that possible? Miel had come to accept that the Kha clan and Lavanda had no ulterior motives for helping her, but this was something else entirely. He'd been sincerely worried about her. He....cared.
She blinks owlishly at him and then in a quiet voice just murmurs.
"I'm not Xaelan."
Buttons — 04/08/2023 2:21 PM
"So?" He pulls back a bit, confusion on his face. "You've been with us for so long, contributing to the Clan, helping the young and the elderly, as any one of us would have done. It doesn't matter that your scales are white or your tail is different. You've done as much as a Xaelan, embraced our culture as we embraced you." He hugs her tightly again. "You're family, Miel. You've been family since we brought you in."
Space Coco — 04/08/2023 10:40 PM
It didn't make sense.
She was Doman. Yet despite being Doman never once had any of her fellows tried to help her or Yotsuyu.
Miel looked from him to the small gathering of people around them. There was Namuunaa, Lavanda's mother, looking at her with relief. She stood only a couple feet behind them, looking between her and Lavanda. There were others all with expressions of relief and worry who said not a word, but looked on at them.
She returned to look at Lavanda before he pulled her into another hug and noticed all the signs: puffed face, raw lids, red eyes...he'd been crying.
This time she's too stunned to hug back as it all sinks in.
They cared about her.
"...I"m sorry." She whispers.
Buttons — 04/08/2023 10:46 PM
"It's alright." She can feel the way his chest shudders with his breath, fresh tears of relief rolling down his cheeks. "You're back, and you're safe, and that's what matters."
Namuunaa takes the few steps over to them then, kneeling down to be eye-level with the girl. She reaches up to rub away some of the blood and dirt with her thumb. "Well, dear, you've certainly gone and made a mess of yourself, though given your return I'd say you did worse to your enemies." She smiles. "I was making stew for Lavanda to cheer him up, but now I would say we could have it in celebration, once you have a proper wash."
Space Coco — 04/08/2023 11:17 PM
Tears. There they are.
Someone was crying for her.
Miel looks to Namuunaa and feels yet more guilt when the kindly woman starts to clearn her face. For so long she had turned the older woman away, doubting her more than anyone but no.
She too was sincere.
Miel gave a jerky nod.
"Ok. I'd like that..."
Buttons — 04/08/2023 11:20 PM
Namuunaa gives her a loving smile, before resting a hand on Lavanda’s shoulder. "Gather some fresh clothes and accompany your sister to the spring and wash up."
Lavanda pulls away from Miel with a sniffle, rubbing his eyes before nodding.
Space Coco — 04/08/2023 11:46 PM
Miel is quiet and pensive as always during the entire trip. Thankfully it seemed she managed to heal most of whatever wounds she may or may not having been subjected to, so after cleaning she requires minimal bandaging. On the way back she's the one to wordlessly slip her hand into his, keeping by his side the entire time.
Buttons — 04/10/2023 8:41 AM
Lavanda leads her back to the yurt to gather their clothes, then to the spring. He helps her wash her hair, and scrub at some particularly resilient dirt on her face, before letting her finish the rest on her own. Heading back to camp, he deposits the dirty clothes with the clan's laundry to be handled later, before taking Miel back to the yurt and the awaiting promise of stew. He squeezes her hand tight, intent on never letting go again.
Space Coco — 04/10/2023 1:07 PM
She wrinkles her nose a little when he scrubs at her face but doesn't protest. She's got some rather nasty bruises forming and the blood on her clothes informs the fact that she was definitely injured, but she must have healed herself well for otherwise there are no signs of cuts or injured bones...nothing that would not pass in a couple of days.
When they return to the yurt she only lets go of his hand when she's handed a bowl and then she's enthusiastically but quietly eating. It's her favorite soup--her favorite meal even, and somehow today it tastes more savory than ever.
It's only when she's almost down that she speaks up. With how little people there were at the camp when she arrived, she realizes they must have sent many out to search for her. "Is...everyone alright?"
Buttons — 04/10/2023 1:14 PM
Namuuna reaches over to ruffle her hair - the action clearly passed down to Lavanda - when she hands her the bowl of stew.
Lavanda holds his bowl, but is slow to eat it. Emotions always left his stomach in knots, and the fear he felt all day that Miel was lost to him even more so. Even though Miel was here and she is fine and she's not hiding any wounds from him, his stomach still hasn't relented.
"Turgan will send out word to the others as they return." Lavanda says confidently. "I'm sure everyone will be glad to know you're back, though Geriel will probably be upset he missed arming you for the fight."
Space Coco — 04/10/2023 3:01 PM
That was good. She really hoped that no one got hurt out there looking for her.
At the comment of Geriel, however, she paused. She had never really gotten the hang of the bow so it had been with some guilt that she'd returned the one made for her. While her strength had recovered aiming....was an entirely different matter. Which meant that her primary weapon had been a staff given to her by the Mol Conjurers who had trained her buuut.
"My staff broke. Do..you think she'd want to make me a new one?"
Buttons — 04/10/2023 3:02 PM
Lavands adopts a pensive expression. "I'm not sure she's ever made one before, but that doesn't mean she wouldn't be up for the challenge."
Space Coco — 04/10/2023 3:56 PM
She sets her now empty bowl to the side, wringing her hands a little before forcing them still on her lap. "I'd. I'd like to her her for one then."
Buttons — 04/10/2023 9:10 PM
Van smiles, absolutely elated that Miel was willing to ask someone of the tribe for something. "Sure! Once she returns, and she sees you're alright, we'll ask her. Ok?"
Space Coco — 04/12/2023 8:56 AM
She looks up at him and then nods vigorously.
"Ok."
With no small degree of shyness she scoots over to him to lean against his side as he finishes his soup.
Buttons — 04/12/2023 10:20 AM
Lavanda blinks, looking down at Miel in surprise, before a loving smile comes across his face. "Are you still hungry?" His stew remained largely untouched.
Space Coco — 04/13/2023 6:15 PM
She looked at his still full bowl and then at him, nose wrinkled. "You have to eat too."
Buttons — 04/13/2023 6:18 PM
He reaches out, ruffling Miel’s hair the same way Namuunaa had. "I can never eat when my emotions get the better of me."
Space Coco — 04/15/2023 12:25 AM
Miel feels guilty at this. It must be because of her. She almost says sorry again but that won't do anything so she just folds her arms.
"Then let's wait till you feel better and then you eat!"
Buttons — 04/15/2023 10:51 AM
"By that time the stew will be quite cold, and there's very little worse than cold stew." He laughs a bit, looking down at the stew and absently stirring it with his spoon. "Would you share with me?"
Space Coco — 04/15/2023 7:55 PM
"Really?" She tries to think if she's ever had cold stew but it's hard to imagine that that would make it bad.
But this was also the girl that would eat pretty much anything she could get her hands on.
At the question she nodded. She was still hungry and if it would get him to eat too then it was a perfect solution.
Buttons — 04/15/2023 7:57 PM
Lavanda rests the bowl between them, taking spoonfuls of broth every so often to maintain the illusion that he was also eating the stew. Truthfully though, he's more than happy to leave the heartier parts for Miel.
Space Coco — 04/15/2023 8:36 PM
Young as she is Miel doesn't catch onto what Lavanda is doing. She's just happy to eat and happy to see him 'eating' and her tail flops to the side and then over his with a feeling that she accomplished something good.
"You were right. She does make the best stew."
Buttons — 04/15/2023 8:58 PM
His tail wraps about hers, holding it loosely as they eat. "I told you, she makes the best stew. One day she'll hopefully teach me."
Space Coco — 04/15/2023 9:14 PM
"You make good food too." She insisted.
Unfortunately the few instances that Miel had been in the kitchen proved that...this didn't mean much coming from her. That had been a disaster.
Buttons — 04/15/2023 9:32 PM
"Yeah, maybe, but it's nothing like mom's." He says wistfully, leaving his spoon in the now-empty bowl. "Come, let's do our dishes and then we'll see to finding if Geriel has returned yet."
Space Coco — 04/15/2023 9:35 PM
Miel nodded her head but despite her best efforts a yawn was pulled from her. She had been fighting for nearly an entire day and just had a heavy meal. It was hard not to feel that exhaustion hit her but there would be plenty of time to sleep after they had finished those to tasks. She grabbed their bowls and utensils before he could and sat up, ready to follow.
Buttons — 04/15/2023 9:46 PM
He notes the yawn, standing with a stretch. He was exhausted too, though his was purely from worry. He wonders if perhaps he should suggest seeing Geriel tomorrow? He decides he'll wait, taking Miel back to the spring to clean the dishes up.
Space Coco — 04/15/2023 10:46 PM
She follows after being thorough as they clean. Given it's only their dishes it's quite a quick chore but even so her lethargy shows more throughout it and by the time they finish she's barely able to get back up on her feet.
Buttons — 04/15/2023 10:52 PM
Lavanda smiles, picking Miel up as he often did with her rested upon his hip. "How about a nap, and then we can go see Geriel?"
Space Coco — 04/15/2023 11:12 PM
A nap...sounded perfect. A nap was exactly what she wanted right now and quite frankly she was already halfway there. Were she more lucid she might have said something about getting too old to be picked up but as it were she was drawn to the warmth and comfort that Lavanda provided and instead just leaned in to him and nodded.
"Nap sounds," another yawn, "very nice."
Buttons — 04/16/2023 10:09 AM
Lavanda chuckles, walking back to the Yurt. He puts the dishes away, before finding where his bedroll had been moved and dragging it over near the fire. He opens it, lowering Miel in to it before tucking her in properly. He lays on the ground beside her, curling around her to provide more warmth. His tail wraps about her as well.
Space Coco — 04/16/2023 10:21 AM
She turns to her side curling up into a tiny ball and tucking up against his chest as much as she could. A hand loosely grabs at his top and she's falling fast, exhaustion claiming her.
"Sleep well...brother." She murmurs before sleep overtakes her.
Buttons — 04/16/2023 10:25 AM
He holds her tight against him, protective even as he drifts to sleep himself. Namuunaa comes by, covering him with her bedroll and gingerly lifting his head for a pillow.
Jovial perhaps to even a disturbing point for never did it seem to falter, never did that shine leave her eyes. In time she made an almost full recovery from her brush with death...almost.
The pneumonia had left a permanent mark on the Raen, sometimes giving her bouts in which she'd have difficulty breathing--particularly whenever the campgrounds got too smoky.
Yet this never deterred the girl and she found salvation in the form of not only honing her body with training, but in learning the art of conjury from the very Mols that had saved her. In exchange, she taught them to read. Learning to manipulate the element of wind helped her to not only control that around her, but within her as well.
She never did remember her name, where she came from or how she had ended up where she did (or so she says) and while there certainly remained a strange level of distance that she kept with all but Lavanda she had grown friendly and seemed happy with her place among the Kha.
Which is why it was shocking to find one morning, as the first rays of sun were peeking over the mountains, that she was gone.
Buttons — 04/07/2023 8:08 PM
The children woke Lavanda when they realized Miel had left the yurt they had been sleeping in, and to say Lavanda panicked would be an understatement. Rushing from the Yurt before he was fully dressed, shirtless and quickly covered in morning fog, he all but dashed about the camp looking for any sign of the girl and finding none. He checks every yurt, asks every adult, and still cannot find her.
Namuunaa finally takes him by the shoulder before he can dash down in to the plains, and it's only then that Lavanda buries his face in her chest and cries.
Space Coco — 04/08/2023 7:17 AM
Namuunaa holds her son tightly, feeling her heart wrench to see him weep so. She too had grown fond of the little girl that he had saved two years prior but she knew it paled in comparison to what those two shared for each other, however reticent the girl could be to express it sometimes. She had no idea what could have happened. Nothing, not another person nor a beast could have snuck in and dragged her off, for none at the guard had spoken of any strange figures. Which meant she must have somehow snuck past them herself without notice...but why?
She seemed to have finally been settling in, to have finally found her happiness here.
"We'll find her, Lavanda. We will. She couldn't have gotten far. None of the mounts were taken." Namuunaa just begged to the Mother that she was still ok.
Scouts set out and even the Mol were contacted to see if she had gone there who then joined the search, but as the hours went on and the sun began to set Namuunaa became more and more worried until one of the other Khas pointed out something in the distance.
It was a yol. Odd. While not unheard of transport by yol was typically reserved for the Naadam and that was moons off. It would have to be some sort of emergency to make use of the avian instead of a ground mount. Did someone bring news?
"Lavanda. Lavanda, honey. Look."
Buttons — 04/08/2023 10:28 AM
Lavanda had spent the whole day either consumed by tears or patrolling the edge of the encampment, looking for signs of Miel. Pulled away from his repetitive patrol by one of the other youth, he is tucked in Namuunaa's side when she alerts him.
He looks up to the Yol, brow furrowing in confusion. Why would a Yol be coming towards them? Perhaps someone with news of Miel? He scrubs his eyes with his fist, pushing away from Namuunaa's side to great the newcomer.
Space Coco — 04/08/2023 11:24 AM
There's confused murmuring among the tiny crowd gathering to greet the rider, for it almost seems like the Yol is without one. It's only when it gently lands down and Miel stands from it's back that she's finally visible. She's bruised and dirtied but she has a determined expression on as she jumps from the Yol which turns to one of confusion when she notices the stunned looks she's getting.
There's a moment where she opens her mouth, falters, but then fixes her expression once more.
"I. I took the test. So I could be a proper Kha."
Buttons — 04/08/2023 11:33 AM
"Miel!"
The cry is relieved and panicked all in one, the man rushing forward and all but tackling the small girl as he wraps his arms around her tight and holds her to his chest, burying his face in her neck to feel her heartbeat and reassure himself that she's alive and well.
"Mother's bloody tits never scare me like that again. I thought you had been taken, o-or left, and got hurt somewhere, o-or-" He pauses, her words finally registering in his brain. "What do you mean 'be a proper Kha'? You ... you always have been."
Space Coco — 04/08/2023 11:41 AM
Miel is not expecting him to come racing forward like that and when he pulls her in for a hug there's a brief moment of tension before gingerly she raises her arms to drape them around him. She's still as she listens to him, what he says, the frantic and despairing tone of his voice, the way he holds her so tightly, so protectively.
It's.
It's real.
He's being real.
He means it.
How is that possible? Miel had come to accept that the Kha clan and Lavanda had no ulterior motives for helping her, but this was something else entirely. He'd been sincerely worried about her. He....cared.
She blinks owlishly at him and then in a quiet voice just murmurs.
"I'm not Xaelan."
Buttons — 04/08/2023 2:21 PM
"So?" He pulls back a bit, confusion on his face. "You've been with us for so long, contributing to the Clan, helping the young and the elderly, as any one of us would have done. It doesn't matter that your scales are white or your tail is different. You've done as much as a Xaelan, embraced our culture as we embraced you." He hugs her tightly again. "You're family, Miel. You've been family since we brought you in."
Space Coco — 04/08/2023 10:40 PM
It didn't make sense.
She was Doman. Yet despite being Doman never once had any of her fellows tried to help her or Yotsuyu.
Miel looked from him to the small gathering of people around them. There was Namuunaa, Lavanda's mother, looking at her with relief. She stood only a couple feet behind them, looking between her and Lavanda. There were others all with expressions of relief and worry who said not a word, but looked on at them.
She returned to look at Lavanda before he pulled her into another hug and noticed all the signs: puffed face, raw lids, red eyes...he'd been crying.
This time she's too stunned to hug back as it all sinks in.
They cared about her.
"...I"m sorry." She whispers.
Buttons — 04/08/2023 10:46 PM
"It's alright." She can feel the way his chest shudders with his breath, fresh tears of relief rolling down his cheeks. "You're back, and you're safe, and that's what matters."
Namuunaa takes the few steps over to them then, kneeling down to be eye-level with the girl. She reaches up to rub away some of the blood and dirt with her thumb. "Well, dear, you've certainly gone and made a mess of yourself, though given your return I'd say you did worse to your enemies." She smiles. "I was making stew for Lavanda to cheer him up, but now I would say we could have it in celebration, once you have a proper wash."
Space Coco — 04/08/2023 11:17 PM
Tears. There they are.
Someone was crying for her.
Miel looks to Namuunaa and feels yet more guilt when the kindly woman starts to clearn her face. For so long she had turned the older woman away, doubting her more than anyone but no.
She too was sincere.
Miel gave a jerky nod.
"Ok. I'd like that..."
Buttons — 04/08/2023 11:20 PM
Namuunaa gives her a loving smile, before resting a hand on Lavanda’s shoulder. "Gather some fresh clothes and accompany your sister to the spring and wash up."
Lavanda pulls away from Miel with a sniffle, rubbing his eyes before nodding.
Space Coco — 04/08/2023 11:46 PM
Miel is quiet and pensive as always during the entire trip. Thankfully it seemed she managed to heal most of whatever wounds she may or may not having been subjected to, so after cleaning she requires minimal bandaging. On the way back she's the one to wordlessly slip her hand into his, keeping by his side the entire time.
Buttons — 04/10/2023 8:41 AM
Lavanda leads her back to the yurt to gather their clothes, then to the spring. He helps her wash her hair, and scrub at some particularly resilient dirt on her face, before letting her finish the rest on her own. Heading back to camp, he deposits the dirty clothes with the clan's laundry to be handled later, before taking Miel back to the yurt and the awaiting promise of stew. He squeezes her hand tight, intent on never letting go again.
Space Coco — 04/10/2023 1:07 PM
She wrinkles her nose a little when he scrubs at her face but doesn't protest. She's got some rather nasty bruises forming and the blood on her clothes informs the fact that she was definitely injured, but she must have healed herself well for otherwise there are no signs of cuts or injured bones...nothing that would not pass in a couple of days.
When they return to the yurt she only lets go of his hand when she's handed a bowl and then she's enthusiastically but quietly eating. It's her favorite soup--her favorite meal even, and somehow today it tastes more savory than ever.
It's only when she's almost down that she speaks up. With how little people there were at the camp when she arrived, she realizes they must have sent many out to search for her. "Is...everyone alright?"
Buttons — 04/10/2023 1:14 PM
Namuuna reaches over to ruffle her hair - the action clearly passed down to Lavanda - when she hands her the bowl of stew.
Lavanda holds his bowl, but is slow to eat it. Emotions always left his stomach in knots, and the fear he felt all day that Miel was lost to him even more so. Even though Miel was here and she is fine and she's not hiding any wounds from him, his stomach still hasn't relented.
"Turgan will send out word to the others as they return." Lavanda says confidently. "I'm sure everyone will be glad to know you're back, though Geriel will probably be upset he missed arming you for the fight."
Space Coco — 04/10/2023 3:01 PM
That was good. She really hoped that no one got hurt out there looking for her.
At the comment of Geriel, however, she paused. She had never really gotten the hang of the bow so it had been with some guilt that she'd returned the one made for her. While her strength had recovered aiming....was an entirely different matter. Which meant that her primary weapon had been a staff given to her by the Mol Conjurers who had trained her buuut.
"My staff broke. Do..you think she'd want to make me a new one?"
Buttons — 04/10/2023 3:02 PM
Lavands adopts a pensive expression. "I'm not sure she's ever made one before, but that doesn't mean she wouldn't be up for the challenge."
Space Coco — 04/10/2023 3:56 PM
She sets her now empty bowl to the side, wringing her hands a little before forcing them still on her lap. "I'd. I'd like to her her for one then."
Buttons — 04/10/2023 9:10 PM
Van smiles, absolutely elated that Miel was willing to ask someone of the tribe for something. "Sure! Once she returns, and she sees you're alright, we'll ask her. Ok?"
Space Coco — 04/12/2023 8:56 AM
She looks up at him and then nods vigorously.
"Ok."
With no small degree of shyness she scoots over to him to lean against his side as he finishes his soup.
Buttons — 04/12/2023 10:20 AM
Lavanda blinks, looking down at Miel in surprise, before a loving smile comes across his face. "Are you still hungry?" His stew remained largely untouched.
Space Coco — 04/13/2023 6:15 PM
She looked at his still full bowl and then at him, nose wrinkled. "You have to eat too."
Buttons — 04/13/2023 6:18 PM
He reaches out, ruffling Miel’s hair the same way Namuunaa had. "I can never eat when my emotions get the better of me."
Space Coco — 04/15/2023 12:25 AM
Miel feels guilty at this. It must be because of her. She almost says sorry again but that won't do anything so she just folds her arms.
"Then let's wait till you feel better and then you eat!"
Buttons — 04/15/2023 10:51 AM
"By that time the stew will be quite cold, and there's very little worse than cold stew." He laughs a bit, looking down at the stew and absently stirring it with his spoon. "Would you share with me?"
Space Coco — 04/15/2023 7:55 PM
"Really?" She tries to think if she's ever had cold stew but it's hard to imagine that that would make it bad.
But this was also the girl that would eat pretty much anything she could get her hands on.
At the question she nodded. She was still hungry and if it would get him to eat too then it was a perfect solution.
Buttons — 04/15/2023 7:57 PM
Lavanda rests the bowl between them, taking spoonfuls of broth every so often to maintain the illusion that he was also eating the stew. Truthfully though, he's more than happy to leave the heartier parts for Miel.
Space Coco — 04/15/2023 8:36 PM
Young as she is Miel doesn't catch onto what Lavanda is doing. She's just happy to eat and happy to see him 'eating' and her tail flops to the side and then over his with a feeling that she accomplished something good.
"You were right. She does make the best stew."
Buttons — 04/15/2023 8:58 PM
His tail wraps about hers, holding it loosely as they eat. "I told you, she makes the best stew. One day she'll hopefully teach me."
Space Coco — 04/15/2023 9:14 PM
"You make good food too." She insisted.
Unfortunately the few instances that Miel had been in the kitchen proved that...this didn't mean much coming from her. That had been a disaster.
Buttons — 04/15/2023 9:32 PM
"Yeah, maybe, but it's nothing like mom's." He says wistfully, leaving his spoon in the now-empty bowl. "Come, let's do our dishes and then we'll see to finding if Geriel has returned yet."
Space Coco — 04/15/2023 9:35 PM
Miel nodded her head but despite her best efforts a yawn was pulled from her. She had been fighting for nearly an entire day and just had a heavy meal. It was hard not to feel that exhaustion hit her but there would be plenty of time to sleep after they had finished those to tasks. She grabbed their bowls and utensils before he could and sat up, ready to follow.
Buttons — 04/15/2023 9:46 PM
He notes the yawn, standing with a stretch. He was exhausted too, though his was purely from worry. He wonders if perhaps he should suggest seeing Geriel tomorrow? He decides he'll wait, taking Miel back to the spring to clean the dishes up.
Space Coco — 04/15/2023 10:46 PM
She follows after being thorough as they clean. Given it's only their dishes it's quite a quick chore but even so her lethargy shows more throughout it and by the time they finish she's barely able to get back up on her feet.
Buttons — 04/15/2023 10:52 PM
Lavanda smiles, picking Miel up as he often did with her rested upon his hip. "How about a nap, and then we can go see Geriel?"
Space Coco — 04/15/2023 11:12 PM
A nap...sounded perfect. A nap was exactly what she wanted right now and quite frankly she was already halfway there. Were she more lucid she might have said something about getting too old to be picked up but as it were she was drawn to the warmth and comfort that Lavanda provided and instead just leaned in to him and nodded.
"Nap sounds," another yawn, "very nice."
Buttons — 04/16/2023 10:09 AM
Lavanda chuckles, walking back to the Yurt. He puts the dishes away, before finding where his bedroll had been moved and dragging it over near the fire. He opens it, lowering Miel in to it before tucking her in properly. He lays on the ground beside her, curling around her to provide more warmth. His tail wraps about her as well.
Space Coco — 04/16/2023 10:21 AM
She turns to her side curling up into a tiny ball and tucking up against his chest as much as she could. A hand loosely grabs at his top and she's falling fast, exhaustion claiming her.
"Sleep well...brother." She murmurs before sleep overtakes her.
Buttons — 04/16/2023 10:25 AM
He holds her tight against him, protective even as he drifts to sleep himself. Namuunaa comes by, covering him with her bedroll and gingerly lifting his head for a pillow.