The Selkie looked up, the one with the scratch replying angrily: “No one, that's the bloody problem!”
“Duncan...”, his colleague cautioned.
“Sorry, Misses.”, said hotel worker said, still angry, but not snapping. “Darn thing is a Little Black Fox, a pest. They raid trashbins and the likes, but sometimes, they even intrude into houses!” He glared at the little animal, which had stopped squirming as he had become aware of the waitress holding him tight. “Best to drown them in a barrel!!”
Lise might know these animals: Cel had two of that kind with her in Shella. She mentioned, that she bred and cared for them as an employee of a shop, also rescued them.
“No.”, the waitress said categorically. “They are under Abhcan's protection. And today is the day of the Sacred Spring Festival.”
“Bah! The Vixen can kiss my rear after this!”, Duncan replied, pointing to his cheek, “Besides, whatcha gonna do with it? Snuggle it to death?”
The waitress blushed scarlet as she became acutely aware of the little vulpine quite enjoying itself in her arms, or more specifically between her breasts. Blushing scarlet, her arms relaxed a slight bit.
Lax enough for the fox to give a hearty push and release itself.
A moment later, the action almost restarted – but instead of going for one of the doors, like Duncan assumed, the little vulpine hid behind Lise's legs, looking up to her with big, blue eyes and an expression, which tugged on the heartstrings.
These meanies wanna drown me for trying to get something to eat! Please, Miss, help me!, it seemed to say.
Pina nodded.
“I was actually going to get him...”, she said and pointed to Lorgaire, “...to the Petting Zoo, which they have on the Mion Square. A lot of cute and cuddly animals, a lot of small and big kids wanting to cuddle them and a lot of brushies!”
She grinned, glancing to the kids.
“Might even be something for Billy and Joey as well?”, she suggested.
Mavie nodded.
“High School, shortly before graduation – not bad.”, she said, “If it is anything like my graduation, it will be easier then everyone says.” Rona looked from one to the other, Mavie looking at her with pride. “She's a Cub, in her first year of elementary.”
“But from next Monday onwards, I'll be a second year!”, Rona cheered.
Gwen was almost offended, if she wouldn't have been so happy.
She was not standing alone!
If he wanted it or not, she would have carried the baby to term, no matter what – that was a cultural thing, Selkie did not abort, except under very special circumstances – but he was standing by her!
That made everything easier.
A rush of hormones, which brought tears to her eyes, did not stop her from raising her hand, so that the Grey Wolf did not move. His growl died in his throat.
Still... his hand on her stomach made her crack. Tears began to flow – and she, soon, flew into his arms, wrapping them around his neck and burying her face in the small of his neck.
They were tears of joy.
Leonard blushed slightly.
“T-Thank you.”, he said with a small smile, listening to the melody, “I'm sure, that she'll think something similar.”
It was right then, when the waitress reappeared, smiling as she put the Battered Fish and the porridge with fish in front of the recepients, then a plate with the hefty Selkie-Breakfast in front of Leonard. He grinned, thanked her in Selkie, she replied in the same language and bent down to kiss Leonard onto the cheek.
He blushed, she giggled.
“Good appetite, everyone!”, she added and went off.
Leonard cleared his throat. “Well... if you want to speak your graces, please do.”, he offered and waited in respectful silence.
Branwen came near death again, which caused her sister to chuckle.
“We would be honoured, Miss Gozen.”, the older one said, “By the way, I am Elin. Elin Blaidd, of Tralee Descent. You already know my little sister, Branwen.” Her voice was calm, respectful, mature. “Though we are both Selkie and of the Spiorad Ainmhithe, young by our standards, we will show you around.”
She smiled softly, the animal ears on her head twitching.
“So... what would you like to see first?”, Elin said with a smile.
Kiah smiled and wanted to reply, that he was in, otherwise the door would be closed, as a voice took care of that: “Oh, I am in, young lady.”, the old man, who entered through a side-door, “Honour is good, but honour can not buy bread.”
Kiah grinned, moved forward, into the waiting arms of the old gentleman, who gave her a quick hug, the young woman kissing him onto the cheek. It was as if they were almost family.
“So...”, the old man, white haired and with a long beard, said and looked at Marie, “You look as if you need to wake up.”
“That's what we're here for.”, Kiah confirmed with a nod.
“Yes, I have a few things for that.”, the old man said, then nodded, “Right... Miss, how do you react to coffee?”
Ayden nodded.
“I think, that I read about them once or twice.”, he admitted, “Interesting devices. We used Crossbows as well, although Repeating Crossbows were something we never had. No, our crossbows had one shot and needed to be reloaded after that. Ideal weapons against the horsemen we are so famous for... who used mostly bows.”
He smiled and took out the composite bow, made the string taut and handed him the weapon. As he had taken it, a quiver with a dozen arrows followed, together with a vambrace of leather and a thumb ring.
“Don't know, if you need them, but I would recommend them.”, he said, “Once you have everything on, you can proceed to the gallery.”
Fiona held Miranda a while after her reply, having blushed lightly.
She was, if she was honest, still in that weird phase of her development, when she did not know, what and how she liked, if she liked boys or girls or both... Cel had it far easier. She knew, what she liked and how she liked it, she had her boyfriend, her foxes...
Fiona? A couple of flings, with boys and girls, nothing more, and her Fidchell-Board. The Cubs were nice enough, teaching them was fun, but... they did already call her Fiona-tirim, Dry Fiona (how kids of six Springs came to call her that was beyond her, but she suspected some of the lads, which taught the Cubs as well).
Did Miranda have a chance to change that? Maybe.
Was it awkward right now? Oh, yes. Quite so, in fact.
A minute or two passed.
“So...”, she whispered to Miranda, her face still scarlet, “...still wanna go to that bakery without Kathleen?”
Finnegan laughed out loud, put a hand on both shoulders, amused, not angry.
“Father Finnegan, eh?”, he asked, grinning, “Has been a long time since someone called me that!” He let a beat pass, grinning even wider. “Finnegan or Finny is alright, Kat. I might be an Arcane Priest, but I'm not in an ivory tower!”
Liv grinned as well.
“Finnegan is an Arcane Priest at the Temple I am taught at... and the High Priestess' Right Hand. He, by formality, leads our delegation.”, she explained, “Sorry, should have told you...”
“Ah, no worries from anyone about anything! Today is the Spring Festival, the only thing you need to worry about is who you have the Spring Dance with!”, Finnegan said, then turned, “Come, both of you! Join us on the table! Breakfast is nearly out!”
Liv grinned, took Katherine's hand and softly ran her thumb along it. Everything was fine.
The table was already quite well-filled, a dozen people, most of them Selkie, from an old, ageing Priest to a kid of maybe two Springs, who sat on his mother's lap and was doted on by her and a woman in a tunic underneath a long, toga-like cloak.
She was definitely not a Selkie.
Liv took a spot for both of them next to the two of them, on the mother's other side, and next to Finnegan. Greetings floated their way.
The woman smiled.
“Eithne.”, she said and bowed her head lightly, “Eithne Banphrionsa of the Tribe of Monaghan. I am the CEO of Áilleagán Limited and co-boss of Bicíní Industries with my husband. We produce toys and clothes.” She smiled and pointed to the boy, who was blushing scarlet behind Mona, who rode next to them, keeping pace. “That's my son, Ilia. He's just entering into puberty!”
She gave Jeremiah a wink, mischief in the other eye.
“And you already know Mona?”, she added.
They made good way, the people made was for the horse and the cart, quite easily.
