Pure Moonlight (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"She might not remember what I say or exactly what today was like. But years from now, she'll feel the pull to come back and sit in this same windowsill and watch over the garden again. She might not know why, but it'll feel right," Ghell murmured. "Just like I did with you when you were a toddler."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm proud that you're my Da." She murmured softly, kissing his cheek again before she rested her head against his shoulder. "You think about everyone else before yourself...even the tiniest of cubs."

 

[KieranSoares]

"And I'm proud you're my cub. I thank your father all the time that he gave me this chance that I thought I lost so long ago, both for cubs and a love for the rest of my life." Ghell laid his head against her own, taking her hand and laying both their hands together against Katya's blanket.

 

[heartofcourage]

Telma relaxed against her father as they both held Katya. She was such a quiet little girl that Telma often forgot about her while Timmal was much more active. It seemed that she would always have her Grandpa to remember her, however.

"Come on, little cub. Let's go pick some berries and give them to Loki." Telma said with a grin, continuing on the tradition that Ghell had started with her when she was a tiny cub.

Telma moved through the open window and scooped Katya into her arms, moving towards the blackberry bush. She picked a handful and then quietly made her way to where Loki was roosting. She murmured a few hushed words before she placed the fruit in a branch near him, allowing Katya to watch the old crow.

 

[KieranSoares]

Loki shuffled along the branch a few strides, but he stopped short to stare at Katya. When a younger crow tried to take the berries, Loki flapped his wings and let out an annoyed caw, making the nearest crows flock away from his gift. He knew Telma, but this tiny thing was so strange to him. Assuming the tiny stranger was safely kept in Telma's arms, Loki folded his wings like a stately gentleman straightening his coat, and began gobbling up the berries whole. Ghell watched quietly from the window, a soft smile on his old face at the wonder Telma still held and the new curiosity Katya was experiencing.

 

[heartofcourage]

Katya watched the old bird with the curiosity of a newborn, cooing softly as the bird ate the berries whole. Telma was happy that she could share this moment with her daughter, something she and Ghell had done so many times in the past.

"Arin will be mad she's missing this." Telma said towards her Da, giving him a smile. "She loves Loki."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She'll have her chance later today if he's still around," Ghell assured her, rising from the windowsill and coming to join them. Loki didn't mind his approach even though the other crows were skittish. When he was finished, he hopped on a closer branch, studying Katya like he was considering whether she was a welcome addition to the family who owned the garden.

 

[heartofcourage]

"She's my cub." Telma said with a smile towards the old bird as if he would understand her words. "Her brother is sleeping. He might scare the whole lot of you off with his screaming. Katya is much more calm."

 

[KieranSoares]

Loki cawed in answer, puffing out his chest as he stood up straight and turned his old eyes to his flock who were all staring at them. He cawed at them as if to tell them to mind their own business, and several flew off before Loki himself took off to the roof to look over the rest of his domain.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Don't worry, Katya. He can be a cranky old man sometimes." Telma murmured as she kissed her cub's forehead. "Just like your grandpa. He's one of the best men you'll ever meet, though."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I only turn into a grump when you cubs or your mother get into your moods. Katya's been an angel," Ghell insisted, leaning down to kiss Katya's forehead. "I have a feeling Timmal's going to be a troublemaker though. Let's hope he doesn't take too much after his soon-to-be-uncle Jan."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Or Taqu'un when he was younger." Telma said as Katya squirmed in her arms when her grandfather pressed that kiss to her brow. "Timmal is much louder, but she likes to move. She might be my runner when the moon is full."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then maybe she'll be the one to keep up with Ruben before long. He's always so busy that the cubs will have to run after him everywhere."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I can barely keep up with Ru." Telma said as she walked to the shaded bench she had helped him build one summer and sat down with a sigh.

She was tired but determined to push on. That's what mothers did, even when they had one baby more than expected. "I think we'll just sit here a while and enjoy the weather."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ghell joined her with a concerned gaze. "Are things alright between you and Ruben? I know you've had some disagreements about the cubs."

Ruben was incredibly dedicated to his family, but it was perhaps too much so. He had a soft heart for the twins' crying especially when they had to sleep on their own. But he also was insistent that they start learning early how to work some things out for themselves. He didn't deprive them of anything they needed, but he was eager to see them explore their world and understand it. Thus far, despite being still infants, they were keeping up with him and he was endlessly patient and very concerned with their future in a dangerous world.

 

[heartofcourage]

"We've had some rough spots. He wants to let them learn to be independent already and I just want to cuddle them." Telma admitted, cradling Katya a little bit closer as the little girl yawned wide and curled up in her mother's arms. "When they cry in their cradle at night, he won't let me go and get them unless something is seriously wrong. Da, no mother wants to hear their baby cry. It makes my heart ache so fiercely."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ruben takes after Selena," Ghell reminded her. "And he watched her raise Luna to be independent and strong on her own like Selena was forced to be. He's thinking ahead. Maybe a little too soon and too far, but there was a short time when he couldn't stand to let the cubs cry either. He's worried about their future. He's never gotten over what happened to Luna."

 

[heartofcourage]

Telma was quiet as her Da mentioned what had happened to Luna. She looked down at the white cub in her own arms and tried to imagine what she would have done if her daughter had been taken. She wasn't sure that she would have survived.

"The likelihood of that happened to Katya is very slim." Telma said softly, glancing at her Da. "And I want to enjoy my daughter and son as much as I can while they're still young. If that means picking them up at night when they cry, then I suppose I can handle my mate's frustration."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Just remember that you both have different ideas about what makes a good parent, and understand that he's preparing for the future while you're tending to the present. Don't hold his worry against him." Ghell kissed her cheek and left her side so she could spend a quiet moment with her daughter. Even though Telma and Ruben were unshakable as a couple and as parents, Ghell still worried sometimes about their disagreements.

 

[heartofcourage]

Arin was chomping at the bit to go outside, her inner wolf craving sunlight and the lush green of her father's garden. She begged to be taken but the answer from everyone was that they were going to wait for the healers to come. She was sullen and grumpy by the time they did arrive.

"Can I please go outside now?" Arin asked the group once more as they focused on her healing leg.

 

[KieranSoares]

Mariko's patience was endless despite Arin's constant questioning as he studied their stitching and her healing carefully. "You'll find nothing ever happens fast enough if you're too impatient," Mariko murmured calmly before beginning to rebandage her leg carefully.

 

[heartofcourage]

"She's been in enough pain it woke her up." Katina said to the healer, ignoring the worried and dirty look that Arin have her. "The herbs will dull it slightly but she's still sore."

"It's no worse than it's always been." Arin insisted, glancing towards her Da for some backup.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It shouldn't be," Mariko told Arin quite directly, then looked to Katina as he stopped his bandaging to take a closer look. "It might be a small infection. With such a big operation, it's not uncommon."

Ghell didn't take Arin's side on this one, knowing her health was on the line, but he smoothed her fur back to assure her he understood. Mariko searched each seam of stitched carefully until he found the source of the problem above Arin's knee. "I believe a bit of bone came out of place. Likely from moving too much." He looked up at Arin with a soft warning, "This is going to hurt, dear, but it'll feel better in a moment." Once she was ready, he manipulated the still-broken bone back into place quickly and carefully before rebinding her leg and setting it into a sturdier cast that allowed absolutely no movement.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I tried not to move." Arin said, near tears as Mariko warned her of what he was about to do.

She was scared, letting out a cry as her Da held her still. She shook her head, looking up and begging him with her eyes to not let this happen. As Mariko worked to get the bone back into place quickly, Arin whimpered and snarled, sobbing at the pain and frustration that she felt and found she couldn't express easily.

 

[KieranSoares]

Once it was done, Mariko laid his hand over Arin's. "I'm sorry, dear. That should relieve the long-term pain. I'll make up some tea for you and then if you're still up to it, you're free to go outside." His own expression was calm but ever so slightly pained. He didn't like it any more than she did.