he didn't know whether
@Shenanigans shared his love of exploring, but at any rate, he invited the girl to come scouting along with him, as he was feeling much improved from his injury. being cooped up for too long had always led to depression, and the fresh air was a boon.
limping only slightly, he sucked in the cold air, his fur rippling (if he were human, gooseflesh would have erupted long before now). he had his eyes set on the lowlands beyond the caldera; he'd heard that it was a home to the pack, once, and was curious to explore.
and swamps were most palatable in the winter, when everything had frozen over. too warm and the bugs and frogs and all manner of biting things would come out.
whether or not ani was with him, he moved on, heading toward the fen.
It was good to see Adi back on his feet, though the limp earned a concerned glance every now and then as Ani loped alongside him toward the fen. She didn’t know what awaited them but she was happy to keep him company.
Daddy Adi,
she piped up after a stretch of companionable silence, the pet name rolling off her tongue without a second thought, what is that thing, anyway?
Ani questioned with a light laugh, pointing a toe at the object wrapped around his neck.
he was so happy to have her by his side, happy.
i don't know, bachchi,
he replied, shrugging. one day, i was awake. . .and then suddenly fell into a deep sleep. the next day, this thing was here.
he turned toward her, head cocked. what do you think, hmm? what could have done it?
beyond the gods? but he did not wish to impose upon her his scattered spiritual thinking.
instead, he moved forward, through the fen, tail motioning for ani to follow him.
Maybe a fairy of some kind?
Ani suggested with a lighthearted wink.
She no longer knew if she believed in such things, though it was still fun to play make-believe sometimes. Ani wondered what Mama Maia would have to say about it. Surely she would come up with a whole backstory about the peculiar collar, its origins and its purpose.
You say strange words sometimes,
she pointed out conversationally, how come?
a fairy. that was as good an answer as any, and he shrugged, chuckling slightly.
then she asked about his speech, and his smile grew wide and genuine, golden gaze meeting hers with the utmost warmth.
that's the language of my mother's family,
aditya explained. long ago, my ancestors came from a far away place, and brought their tongue with them. it's different from the language you're used to.
he paused to step over a decaying log, carefully maneuvering the slippery surface, slimy and slightly frosted over. i called you bachchi and beti,
he continued. that means 'girl child' and 'daughter.'
adi glanced over at ani. do the caldera wolves have any interesting words?
His face lit up at the question and Ani quickly realized she had touched on something very important to him. Her smile mirrored his own as he spoke enthusiastically about his mother tongue. Her cheeks ached when Adi translated the pet names.
I’m not sure,
she replied to his question, bounding over the same log with ease and sticking the landing, but I want to hear more about yours. How do I say ‘father’?
Perhaps a title from his native language would serve better than “Daddy Adi.”
Before Adi could answer her, Ani frowned suddenly and looked down at her feet. They were sinking into the ground, which was moist and spongy. Weird! She had never experienced anything quite like it. She bent down to sniff, drawing the scents of damp earth and moss into her nose.
he was about to answer, too, when he noticed her glance toward her paws, sinking into the earthy loam. even now, the swamp sucked all comers into its grasp. not yet cold enough for it to be frozen completely over, perhaps.
step forward, bachchi,
aditya instructed, doing so as well. keep moving. the swamp will not take your step if you continue on.
once they'd moved, he glanced over and smiled. i never had a father, ani,
he explained. not one that i knew, anyway. but i've been told my family's word for father is babuji.
but— but 'ji' is so formal. it's a mark of respect,
he went on. please, dear, just call me. . .baba.
She did as she was told, though she glanced over her shoulder with an inquisitive look on her face. What made the ground so soft? And what did he mean when Adi said the swamp would take her step?
Ani faced forward, attention returning to the man as he explained how he’d never had a father. This earned a slight downturn of her mouth. She was lucky to have an abundance of them.
What about… Babadi?
she suggested with a grin.
he mouthed it slowly, then said aloud: ba. . .badi. . . baditya. oh,
aditya replied, and smiled. even if that wasn't what she meant, it was still clever. his smile grew into a grin. if you like, beti.
aditya clambered onto a log and gestured for her to do the same. this tree trunk was not as rotting as others, though coated in frost, and he found his footing easily enough.
one day i'll have to go and tell your mother you're okay,
he remarked, with an apologetic glance. she'll be happy to hear it.
and reunite with another child.
hadn't it been easier when he'd left them all behind?
easier, but. . .
She did like it. And he didn’t seem to mind it. Ani bobbed her muzzle sagely, determined that this would be her title for him from now on.
Ani didn’t hesitate to follow him up onto the log, though her footing wasn’t so sure. She rocked forward and back a moment until she found equilibrium, shooting her Babadi a sheepish grin.
It faded into a thoughtful smile when he mentioned her mother. Ani wanted Tytonidae to know she was safe and sound here, living a good life. She would love if her birth parents would both settle down in Brecheliant with her and the rest of her adoptive family.
How far away is she?
Ani wondered.
far, beti,
he admitted softly, eyes softening, growing sad. i will have to go soon. before the winter truly comes.
to leave her behind. . .
he inhaled, let it out. watched the leaves at his paws stir at his breath, only slightly; if he were to blow and cast them across lands to tytonidae. . .
one day, maybe, i will bring her and your brother here,
aditya said, his voice fervent—but he couldn't promise anything. but i must go. . .soon. i am sorry, ani.
If she’d entertained any thoughts of accompanying him, they were quickly dashed by the word “far.” Ani wouldn’t mind going with him but she couldn’t simply leave everyone here in Brecheliant. She would miss her Babadi while he was gone but she could bear it, unlike the thought of being parted from Eljay, Maia and her siblings.
It’s okay,
she said quickly, flashing him a quick smile. I would like that: if you brought them here,
Ani continued, eyes sparkling as she mused, Then we could all live together, one big, happy family.
She gazed off into the fen, suddenly recollecting that Brecheliant had lived here once, long before she was ever born. Mama Maia had mentioned her sister, Wren. They’d actually founded the pack here, if memory served. Ani wondered if her auntie’s ghost lingered in this place.
We should look around some more,
she said, gaze finding her Babadi’s face before she bounded off the log, eager to keep exploring.