Noctisardor Bypass there’s nothing left to do now

forward dated to 8/27

There was never a moment of silence in the Redleaf residence. Not when Abel wasn’t napping or having dinner. Making noise was all he could do other than breathe, and breathing was much less entertaining. He couldn’t enjoy the sound of his voice (and he probably won’t once his ears open up) but he liked the way the ground vibrated with every whine he made.

Today however, is strangely quiet. From the moment he woke up, Abel’s mouth had been kept shut. His sense of touch wasn’t nearly as fascinating as the one he’d just gained.  

Abel had been staring at @Indra III for what felt like an eternity. The boy had tried to make sense of his sister’s blurred shape, but it was no use. Maybe he’d have better luck with mom. He lifted his head (a mighty task for someone built like a bobble head) to stare at @Laurel.

Laurel was grooming Indra when she noticed the boy's eyes stare up at her. She stopped mid-lick as she looked at him with his watery little eyes, just staring at his sister. At least he was finally quiet, though. She'd been enjoying the silence, knowing that she should do so while it lasted. Laurel hadn't loved her previous batch of children very much — a lot initially, but after Indra'd passed away, she'd grown to resent them because her sister had resented them; because they represented -- me, dearest? — but she didn't think that she had ever had a child as noisy as Abel was. Perhaps it would've been a tolerable sacrifice if it was Indra.

A moment of silence reigned between them. What're you staring at? she eventually said derisively at the boy. He couldn't hear her anyway, so what did it matter how she spoke to him now? Then Laurel continued to gently lick the top of Indra's head.

Sleep wasn't her favorite thing but it was what Indra needed, badly. The constant colic of her brother prevented the little princess from getting the much-needed rest, and so she had become fidgety and combative in her own right. Thankfully her brother had quieted down for a little bit, giving Indra time to pass out and catch up on beauty sleep. That is, until Laurel grabbed for her and began to bathe her daughter. Not knowing what was going on (only that she was very uncomfortable and very ornery, as this was the first chance she'd had in a while to rest properly) Indra wriggled in her mother's grip and tried to escape.

He felt a subtle vibration come from his mother, but it wasn’t enough to break his concentration. Abel kept on with this unofficial staring contest, and he won in the end. The victory didn’t satisfy him though. Laurel was still an unidentifiable array of colors, and he was determined to decipher her.

As his sister got the bath she didn’t ask for, Abel wormed his way towards Laurel’s face. A closer look at her ought to help.

Abel just kept staring while she started to clean Indra. Indra in turn was fussy, and Laurel softly murmured, Shh, baby, it's okay, and nuzzled the fur behind her baby's ear.

As Abel drew closer and kept staring at her, she frowned and stared back at him again. Indra wriggled away meanwhile, and Laurel said snippily in Abel's direction, What do you want?

They couldn't hear her yet, but perhaps that was why it was so easy to be mean to him. It wasn't like he'd remember any of it, anyway.

She continued to squirm, at least until the warmth of mother's tongue settled against her skin. It wasn't a pleasant sensation being handled, wetted, and cared for against her will; but the girl did not know the world yet. She could not see or hear it, only sense things peripherally. In the next moment her mother spoke and the vibrations startled her, causing a new upset - more writhing, this time with some squeaks and squeals of protest.

Being a nearly blind and deaf ball of fluff had its perks. Abel could continue forward, undisturbed by his mom’s curt comment. Getting forward was a challenge though. He couldn’t get much momentum on those stubby little legs.

With a bit of time (quite a bit) he got to his destination. Then he attempted to prod at any part of Laurel he could reach.

Indra started to squeal and Laurel said calmly, Shh, baby girl, though she stopped holding her down. If Indra wished, she could wriggle free and do as she pleased for now. Meanwhile, Abel did not get a hint and he came closer to her. Laurel watched him as he got closer and prodded at one of her front legs. What do you want? Laurel half-asked, half-demanded as she continued to stare him down. Well, at least he was quiet for now.

No sooner had Indra been given what she desired (free reign), that she felt the void of Laurel's absence. As eager as she had wanted to be away from the claustrophobic feeling of another person around her, the girl had forgotten almost immediately. She did not like the cold that swarmed her as Laurel turned her attention to the boy; the vibration of her voice soothed Indra for a moment, but then she cried out again and wriggled uselessly, pawing the air until she sploot on her belly with her limbs akimbo.

His mission was a success! The boy continuously shoved his nose into his mother’s forearm. The combined sense of touch and sight kept him entertained for awhile, but not too long. He soon grew hungry again, and Abel began to gnaw at the leg with no success. This, of course, caused the screaming to spark up once again.

Indra wiggled away from her and Abel meanwhile was prodding around her leg. Laurel glared at him, and he gnawed at her leg which prompted a snappy — Stop that! Indra started to grow unruly and Laurel instantly pushed Abel aside so she could focus on her sweet girl. Oh, what's going on, baby? she asked sweetly and she moved over to nose Indra's head to see if she would stop crying — if not, she would gently guide Indra towards a teat, hoping that some food would make her feel better.

She winced as Abel started to cry again. So much for the short moment of quiet. Laurel was tired from his constant crying — and Mahler's treatments seemed to only help so much — and the lack of sleep certainly didn't help her mood any. It seemed to be affecting Indra, too. Shut up! Laurel snapped in his direction and she suddenly turned her attention away from Indra, grabbed Abel at his scruff and pushed him to the ground. She knew he probably wouldn't learn, but she felt completely helpless and she and Indra both needed some sleep.

Surely, he believed, his wailing would get him closer to a meal. What he actually received was a mouth full of dirt. The shove was so unexpected, so startling and unpleasant. Abel was shocked into silence for a moment. A new sensation slowly crept down his snout. Warm and throbbing. Abel whined as he helplessly pawed wriggled beneath his mother.

The moment she shoved him into the ground Laurel realised that it was too hard. She frowned as she looked at him; silent for a moment. She knew what was coming, though; she'd been there before.

Just before he started to wail, Laurel reached out towards him. She pressed her nose in his neck and nuzzled and groomed the plush fur gently as he started to wail. The rueful mother whispered softly between gentle, loving nips, Shh, shh, I'm sorry baby. It's okay. It'll be okay. She had to do better, and she told herself that she would do better, even though she knew it was an impossible promise to keep.

The sound of her brother raising his voice was enough to startle Indra, who was less inclined to join-in naturally, and especially so with the warmth still flooding her body from her mother's attention earlier. When Laurel distanced herself enough to tend to the boy however, Indra felt her absence acutely and - pairing with the noises she did not like nor fully understand - it was too much. She tried to follow after the woman with awkward half-realized movements, and when that failed she grew frustrated. Frustrated enough to slap the earth and begin calling out for Laurel herself; soon enough Laurel would have two wailing children to handle.

wrapping this up <3

Her gnawing guilt for hurting Abel was quickly set aside when Indra, too, started to cry. Laurel pushed Abel away and pulled Indra close instead this time. I'm sorry, sweetie, she whispered softly and nuzzled into Indra's fur. I'll never let you get hurt again. Another promise that was impossible to keep. For now, Laurel ignored Abel, whether he would continue cry or not, and focus on making Indra as comfortable as she could.