Nova Peak It's like an apple of temptation

Simmik's early rogue behaviour had clearly cut the mother deeply. Taikon nodded as Takiyok told this story, finding it difficult to fully understand the pain of a child leaving, but likening it in his mind to disloyalty and betrayal. Very lucky, he followed, nodding with a knowing expression. Any number of things could have happened to a girl at six months old. Taikon recalled what his mother had done with such girls; if they were pretty, they were often kept as servants of the royal family. If not, they acted as slaves to nobility and were sometimes traded for other goods from neighbouring peoples.
Some were treated well. Others, not so much. Regardless, such girls never knew a lick of freedom until their lives were spent.
Taikon nodded, knowing that such a girl would have a lot of growing to do yet. Yearlings were always of the mind that they had everything figured out. From his own experiences, he knew this wasn't the case. Yearlings were idiots.
Of course, he said when she thanked him. He rose from his spot and came closer to her, dropping his head to gently groom the back of her ear. It was a brief, tender touch. He sat beside her so they were lightly touching, settling back down. Who knew so much crap could be rattling around in both our heads, he said, a thin smile creeping over his face. With that, he rested his head on his paws, unwilling to leave her side.