Etienne had been sleeping peacefully, his thoughts on the life giving liquid that slid down his throat often, that he found he had a sudden hankering for as he woke up. Though how was he to know he woke up, it was still dark as hades armpit here, and he couldn't see a thing. Blind, and deaf and immobile for the most part. What a way to live.
However, the hunger that gnawed at his belly, he was certain he was starving. Though he wouldn't really know what that was either, but it was uncomfortable and he let it be known it was so, and he was cold. He had wriggled and jiggled his fat potato body over to the side of the his siblings and his mother. They were right there, he could feel the warmth radiating from them.
But you think he could move his tiny behind towards them. No, so his cries got louder and he windmilled his paws piteously. Little nub nose in the air, maw wide open with each squall.
He hated being birthed. Why'd they have to go and do that anyway.
Haitian Creole for I am unhappy mother. I can't find french creole, i hope this is okay. If this isn't right what language is closer, as I want him to speak that.
the little boy resembled her more each day.
each time erzulie saw him, she thought of sobo.
and it was baby etienne who charmed a toothy grin from his grandmother now. she lay with her forelegs inside the den, allowing the small active bodies to swarm her limbs.
the boy squalled. she lowered her muzzle to right him, blowing a reassuring puff of air over his tiny folded ears.
A puff of air, blew across his, he didn't know what was up there, but he felt it. His squall stopped mid scream, and he lifted his head again. Searching, sniffing, though there would be no smells, it was instinct to do so. He turned his head this way and that, though it pulled a tired yawn from him, and then his belly again. He fussed once, twice, searching for warmth.
Though for now he was quiet in his search, his body moving at a slow crawl across the floor. He attempted to move the heavy things that hung from either side, and with a loud squeak he rolled to his side again, having over extended his movement. He lay there now, little sides heaving, spent.
she gathered him close and blew solemnly upon his belly. he was an active child, and she expected that etienne might be one of the first to walk. in time she began to clean his mouth and chin of his latest meal, humming as she did so.
it became a long, low song in french as she went, the lyrics punctuated by light laughter to feel the press of his velveteen paws beneath her muzzle.
Suddenly he was moved and then more sensation on his belly. He wiggled, but he found he liked it. And would move every so often. He squeaked, once and then twicce, and more so at each lick. Though it was soothing, if he had known what that was. It was also strange, and he was blind, and deaf.
Suddenly a vibration began in his chest and on his head. He lolled, lifting little nose in the air, punctuating each vibration with a movement of his nose. A yawn split his mouth and then he sneezed. Rear leg kicking, though for him he wasn't sure what it was just something that hung from him moved.
kicking, yawning, sneezing. he was so very sweet. erzulie tickled him a moment longer and then tucked baby etienne into the crook of her arm.
"now then. what song shall we sing, little one?"
he could not hear nor see. she chuckled softly at his antics nevertheless.
Etienne was deaf, mute, and nose blind. But he could feel and despite that he couldn't put the strange sensations to words or actions. He very much enjoyed the vibrations of what he would later learn was singing. So with gentle movements, searching he pressed hinself hard against where the differing vibrations were.
she settled upon a song about a fish and a flower, a fish that looked at flowers and wanted to be one, but when he came out on land, he found that it was the water which made him beautiful.
over and over, hoping to lull the boy to sleep and give his mother a rest from his hunger.
Etienne made a soft little yawn, burying his face and head into his Granmès chest. Seeking out the vibrations that he liked. He slowly drifted off to dreamland, little legs curled tightly, a gentle snore.
fading!
when he was asleep, she cradled him a long while. he was a sweet boy, she decided, heart gone to pieces and feeling softer than it ever had before.
erzulie kissed between his little ears.