Her days were filled with her children. Chakliux had departed for Moonglow, leaving her with a soft explanation and promises of healing. Marina had smiled and kissed him then, but secretly she wondered at his way of always finding another reason to leave. He had not told her that a seal hunter's wife was expected to so often be without her husband.
But Tullik remained, and the children's needs grew with each passing day. Today Marina had taken @Chagak for a small outing to the beach while the other children were occupied, showing him the various shells and ocean flora which routinely washed up on the shore. Feeling mischievous, she lifted a length of kelp from the sand and draped it over Chagak's little head while he was busy inspecting a shell. Then a second across his shoulders — and a third across his back. Maybe it was payback, just a little, for all the times he'd bitten her while nursing.
But Tullik remained, and the children's needs grew with each passing day. Today Marina had taken @Chagak for a small outing to the beach while the other children were occupied, showing him the various shells and ocean flora which routinely washed up on the shore. Feeling mischievous, she lifted a length of kelp from the sand and draped it over Chagak's little head while he was busy inspecting a shell. Then a second across his shoulders — and a third across his back. Maybe it was payback, just a little, for all the times he'd bitten her while nursing.
May 04, 2024, 08:58 PM
The boy rarely got time alone with either of his mothers. Not because he was lost in the crowd, but because he was so often chasing after his siblings. He was a boy who loved his family and delighted in them at every waking hour — it was just that his siblings tended to be up to much more interesting things than the adults in his life.
But a walk on the beach was a welcome reprieve. The boy panted in the heat as they explored, nearly biting his tongue when he suddenly needed to defend himself. He snapped viciously at the intruder, and then again, and then he realized at last who the culprit really was.
"Mama!" he yelled, offended and entertained all at once. His tiny tail spun as he shook the seaweed loose, and then he grabbed a piece and went charging after the woman. He whipped it at her paws — and it made a poor weapon, but touching her with it at all seemed like a victory to the small boy.
But a walk on the beach was a welcome reprieve. The boy panted in the heat as they explored, nearly biting his tongue when he suddenly needed to defend himself. He snapped viciously at the intruder, and then again, and then he realized at last who the culprit really was.
"Mama!" he yelled, offended and entertained all at once. His tiny tail spun as he shook the seaweed loose, and then he grabbed a piece and went charging after the woman. He whipped it at her paws — and it made a poor weapon, but touching her with it at all seemed like a victory to the small boy.
May 04, 2024, 09:11 PM
Marina dissolved into laughter as her prank dawned on Chagak, prancing away but not quite quick enough to avoid the slap of seaweed against her feet. Her son was a fiery boy. She told herself she didn't favor any of her children, yet there was a soft place in her heart reserved for him.
He was so much Chakliux's son. So much her son. Theirs. Marina hopped back and fell into a bow, challenging him now. She would play only gently with him, mindful of how small he still was, but she wasn't unaware of Chagak's penchant for excitement. Her first children had been quieter, but she didn't mind this, either.
He was so much Chakliux's son. So much her son. Theirs. Marina hopped back and fell into a bow, challenging him now. She would play only gently with him, mindful of how small he still was, but she wasn't unaware of Chagak's penchant for excitement. Her first children had been quieter, but she didn't mind this, either.
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »