The chatbox has been hidden for this page. It will reopen upon refresh. To hide the CBox permanently, select "Permanently Toggle Cbox" in your profile User Settings.
This chatbox is hidden. To reopen, edit your User Settings.
Even this young, Lukos was already showing signs of being as stubborn as he would be as an adult. The second he heard her say, “There are berry pushes down there. They’ll scratch us up if you don’t slow down,” he sped up. The word ‘berries’ was practically at the forefront of his mind, now. The food that Billa had given them had already gone through him and he was ready for more. But Skylla was right. The path, steady and easy up until then, suddenly dipped into steep little rolls, ending at a huge line of bushes at the bottom of the hill. Lukos didn’t know it was quite that much of a drop and barrelled onward, even with Skylla digging in her heels and pulling on him. He was two years older and bigger than she was.
“We’re safe, boy. My mother isn’t following us. Neither is anyone else!”
That much he’d worked out for himself. He took half a second to look behind him, just to make sure she was right. Obviously she was. Now that the captain had seen to it that the boys would be looked after someone else, he washed his hands of them. Children were not what he was overly interested in. It was their potential that he wanted and until they were useful, he planned to ignore them entirely, unless they got underfoot.
“Can you tell me what to call you?” she asked, still trying to pull away. It was tug of war now and he wasn’t about to let go.
“Lukos,” he grunted out and jerked her toward him, only that ended up being the worst thing he could have done. His footing wasn’t as stable as he’d assumed and they both tumbled head over end, rolling into and over each other, hitting roots and rocks all the way down to the blackberry bushes until they literally rolled straight into the bushes.
Skylla had been right. The bushes were full of scratchy twigs and the branches were covered in thorns. He landed half way in the bush and whined. His hair was caught on every twig and branch that he’d touched. Thorns clutched at his clothes and scraped his skin. On impulse, he decided to bull charge his way through the bush, rather than gingerly back out of it, with the result that he had lots of surface scratches, but only on his arms and face. His torso was fine, though now he had a small hole in his shirt.
Sitting on his butt on the other side of the bushes, he examined his stinging hands and then crawled toward the bush again, trying to find berries in the darkness. They smelled too alluring for him to think about the wounds he’d incurred to get them. His stomach was doing all the thinking and he tore fruit from the bushes, stuffing it in his mouth and half chewing before pulling another one and stuffing it in as well.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Oct 17, 2019 20:49:50 GMT
Posted In persnickety. on Oct 17, 2019 20:49:50 GMT
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Even this young, Lukos was already showing signs of being as stubborn as he would be as an adult. The second he heard her say, “There are berry pushes down there. They’ll scratch us up if you don’t slow down,” he sped up. The word ‘berries’ was practically at the forefront of his mind, now. The food that Billa had given them had already gone through him and he was ready for more. But Skylla was right. The path, steady and easy up until then, suddenly dipped into steep little rolls, ending at a huge line of bushes at the bottom of the hill. Lukos didn’t know it was quite that much of a drop and barrelled onward, even with Skylla digging in her heels and pulling on him. He was two years older and bigger than she was.
“We’re safe, boy. My mother isn’t following us. Neither is anyone else!”
That much he’d worked out for himself. He took half a second to look behind him, just to make sure she was right. Obviously she was. Now that the captain had seen to it that the boys would be looked after someone else, he washed his hands of them. Children were not what he was overly interested in. It was their potential that he wanted and until they were useful, he planned to ignore them entirely, unless they got underfoot.
“Can you tell me what to call you?” she asked, still trying to pull away. It was tug of war now and he wasn’t about to let go.
“Lukos,” he grunted out and jerked her toward him, only that ended up being the worst thing he could have done. His footing wasn’t as stable as he’d assumed and they both tumbled head over end, rolling into and over each other, hitting roots and rocks all the way down to the blackberry bushes until they literally rolled straight into the bushes.
Skylla had been right. The bushes were full of scratchy twigs and the branches were covered in thorns. He landed half way in the bush and whined. His hair was caught on every twig and branch that he’d touched. Thorns clutched at his clothes and scraped his skin. On impulse, he decided to bull charge his way through the bush, rather than gingerly back out of it, with the result that he had lots of surface scratches, but only on his arms and face. His torso was fine, though now he had a small hole in his shirt.
Sitting on his butt on the other side of the bushes, he examined his stinging hands and then crawled toward the bush again, trying to find berries in the darkness. They smelled too alluring for him to think about the wounds he’d incurred to get them. His stomach was doing all the thinking and he tore fruit from the bushes, stuffing it in his mouth and half chewing before pulling another one and stuffing it in as well.
Even this young, Lukos was already showing signs of being as stubborn as he would be as an adult. The second he heard her say, “There are berry pushes down there. They’ll scratch us up if you don’t slow down,” he sped up. The word ‘berries’ was practically at the forefront of his mind, now. The food that Billa had given them had already gone through him and he was ready for more. But Skylla was right. The path, steady and easy up until then, suddenly dipped into steep little rolls, ending at a huge line of bushes at the bottom of the hill. Lukos didn’t know it was quite that much of a drop and barrelled onward, even with Skylla digging in her heels and pulling on him. He was two years older and bigger than she was.
“We’re safe, boy. My mother isn’t following us. Neither is anyone else!”
That much he’d worked out for himself. He took half a second to look behind him, just to make sure she was right. Obviously she was. Now that the captain had seen to it that the boys would be looked after someone else, he washed his hands of them. Children were not what he was overly interested in. It was their potential that he wanted and until they were useful, he planned to ignore them entirely, unless they got underfoot.
“Can you tell me what to call you?” she asked, still trying to pull away. It was tug of war now and he wasn’t about to let go.
“Lukos,” he grunted out and jerked her toward him, only that ended up being the worst thing he could have done. His footing wasn’t as stable as he’d assumed and they both tumbled head over end, rolling into and over each other, hitting roots and rocks all the way down to the blackberry bushes until they literally rolled straight into the bushes.
Skylla had been right. The bushes were full of scratchy twigs and the branches were covered in thorns. He landed half way in the bush and whined. His hair was caught on every twig and branch that he’d touched. Thorns clutched at his clothes and scraped his skin. On impulse, he decided to bull charge his way through the bush, rather than gingerly back out of it, with the result that he had lots of surface scratches, but only on his arms and face. His torso was fine, though now he had a small hole in his shirt.
Sitting on his butt on the other side of the bushes, he examined his stinging hands and then crawled toward the bush again, trying to find berries in the darkness. They smelled too alluring for him to think about the wounds he’d incurred to get them. His stomach was doing all the thinking and he tore fruit from the bushes, stuffing it in his mouth and half chewing before pulling another one and stuffing it in as well.
Skylla wanted him to let her go now. She did not want to be dragged down to the bushes, or into them, with the way he seemed to be charging toward them. Her heels hurt from trying to dig them into the dirt and she started hissing at him to try and get him to let her go. At that moment, she didn't actually care about his name. She had fallen into the bushes before. On accident. The little girl was not keen on repeating such an incident, either. Yanking her arm back, she tried to get free right as he pulled her straight to him.
The girl hit him hard and they both went tumbling down the hill. This was more painful than the first time, her arm and her ankle tweaking painfully as they rolled down the hill, over each other, and over a few rocks and straight into the bushes. She landed more into the bushes that Lukos had, her bottom lip trembling at the pain from the scratches and the hard landing. Crawling her way out the other side of the bush before him, Skylla sat on her knees, trying to pull the throns out of her hair and out of her dress.
She flinched each time she plucked one that had been stuck in her skin, muttering obsceneties under her breath and at Lukos himself. Her anger was young, but it was anger. Her temper was unrivaled on the island. Usually, she was the bully. But now there was someone bigger than her and she didn't seem to like that. Pushing herself to her feet, she stormed toward him, bent over the bushes and eating the blackberries by the handful. Picking up some of the rotten ones from the ground, Skylla hurled them at his back, snarling at him.
"I told you to let me go, you jerk!" Skylla screeched at him. "Its going to take Mama days to get all these thorns out of my hair, let along yours, now. Are you stupid? Have you never seen a berry bush before?" the child hurled insults at him, stamping her aching foot on the dirt and ignoring the ache of her other ankle. Utterly furious and sore, and feeling rather ignored after having helped him escape from her own mother, Skylla huffed and started to walk back around the other side of the bushes. "I'm going home. Have fun when it gets cold."
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Nov 12, 2019 13:41:51 GMT
Posted In persnickety. on Nov 12, 2019 13:41:51 GMT
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Skylla wanted him to let her go now. She did not want to be dragged down to the bushes, or into them, with the way he seemed to be charging toward them. Her heels hurt from trying to dig them into the dirt and she started hissing at him to try and get him to let her go. At that moment, she didn't actually care about his name. She had fallen into the bushes before. On accident. The little girl was not keen on repeating such an incident, either. Yanking her arm back, she tried to get free right as he pulled her straight to him.
The girl hit him hard and they both went tumbling down the hill. This was more painful than the first time, her arm and her ankle tweaking painfully as they rolled down the hill, over each other, and over a few rocks and straight into the bushes. She landed more into the bushes that Lukos had, her bottom lip trembling at the pain from the scratches and the hard landing. Crawling her way out the other side of the bush before him, Skylla sat on her knees, trying to pull the throns out of her hair and out of her dress.
She flinched each time she plucked one that had been stuck in her skin, muttering obsceneties under her breath and at Lukos himself. Her anger was young, but it was anger. Her temper was unrivaled on the island. Usually, she was the bully. But now there was someone bigger than her and she didn't seem to like that. Pushing herself to her feet, she stormed toward him, bent over the bushes and eating the blackberries by the handful. Picking up some of the rotten ones from the ground, Skylla hurled them at his back, snarling at him.
"I told you to let me go, you jerk!" Skylla screeched at him. "Its going to take Mama days to get all these thorns out of my hair, let along yours, now. Are you stupid? Have you never seen a berry bush before?" the child hurled insults at him, stamping her aching foot on the dirt and ignoring the ache of her other ankle. Utterly furious and sore, and feeling rather ignored after having helped him escape from her own mother, Skylla huffed and started to walk back around the other side of the bushes. "I'm going home. Have fun when it gets cold."
Skylla wanted him to let her go now. She did not want to be dragged down to the bushes, or into them, with the way he seemed to be charging toward them. Her heels hurt from trying to dig them into the dirt and she started hissing at him to try and get him to let her go. At that moment, she didn't actually care about his name. She had fallen into the bushes before. On accident. The little girl was not keen on repeating such an incident, either. Yanking her arm back, she tried to get free right as he pulled her straight to him.
The girl hit him hard and they both went tumbling down the hill. This was more painful than the first time, her arm and her ankle tweaking painfully as they rolled down the hill, over each other, and over a few rocks and straight into the bushes. She landed more into the bushes that Lukos had, her bottom lip trembling at the pain from the scratches and the hard landing. Crawling her way out the other side of the bush before him, Skylla sat on her knees, trying to pull the throns out of her hair and out of her dress.
She flinched each time she plucked one that had been stuck in her skin, muttering obsceneties under her breath and at Lukos himself. Her anger was young, but it was anger. Her temper was unrivaled on the island. Usually, she was the bully. But now there was someone bigger than her and she didn't seem to like that. Pushing herself to her feet, she stormed toward him, bent over the bushes and eating the blackberries by the handful. Picking up some of the rotten ones from the ground, Skylla hurled them at his back, snarling at him.
"I told you to let me go, you jerk!" Skylla screeched at him. "Its going to take Mama days to get all these thorns out of my hair, let along yours, now. Are you stupid? Have you never seen a berry bush before?" the child hurled insults at him, stamping her aching foot on the dirt and ignoring the ache of her other ankle. Utterly furious and sore, and feeling rather ignored after having helped him escape from her own mother, Skylla huffed and started to walk back around the other side of the bushes. "I'm going home. Have fun when it gets cold."
It was not overly difficult to find the blackberries, even in the darkness. His eyes adjusted easily enough, and though the fruit was cloaked by night, their globular shapes were not. All he had to do was grasp those shapes, taking care to not get stuck by thorns, and he had his prize. Lukos didn’t really care much about Skylla and didn’t look around at what she was doing as she whined at him.
Nor did he immediately turn when the first fruit pelted the back of his head. His mouth was full and blackberry juice dribbled from the corners of his mouth, giving him a grisly appearance. He finally did glance over at her once the third fruit bounced off him and fell with a soft thud on the dirt ground. She was screeching in almost unintelligible rage, but he was nonplussed. She was too little to be of much consequence, even to his eight year old mind.
“You’re stupid!” he snarled at her when she called him the same thing. “I hope she whips you!” He didn’t, really, but he didn’t know what else to say to this strange girl as he ducked another blackberry flying at his face. “Brat!” His sympathy for her hair and her dress was extremely limited. He just spent days on a ship in a cage and he didn’t have his mother here. Her terrifying mother could jump into the ocean, for all he cared.
He glowered at her as she marched with only the self righteous dignity that a six year old could muster, back around the bushes. She really did look like a wild little heathen, with her hair tufted out and sticks and brambles stuck in it. Lukos didn’t stop to consider that he looked the same. His wild curls were filled with thorns and grass and dirt and twigs. “I’m fine right here!” he bellowed at her and then shoved more berries in his mouth. “Don’t snitch on me!” he warned and then hunkered down right there in the dirt, crossing his arms and vowing never to come away from these bushes.
Being a child, he never considered that he could possibly eat all the fruit, or that a person would need more than blackberries. His tummy was now full, his fear ebbed, and he was exhausted as a result of all the terror and horrible experiences thus far. Lukos closed his eyes and was asleep before Skylla made it halfway up the hill.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Nov 15, 2019 16:16:43 GMT
Posted In persnickety. on Nov 15, 2019 16:16:43 GMT
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
It was not overly difficult to find the blackberries, even in the darkness. His eyes adjusted easily enough, and though the fruit was cloaked by night, their globular shapes were not. All he had to do was grasp those shapes, taking care to not get stuck by thorns, and he had his prize. Lukos didn’t really care much about Skylla and didn’t look around at what she was doing as she whined at him.
Nor did he immediately turn when the first fruit pelted the back of his head. His mouth was full and blackberry juice dribbled from the corners of his mouth, giving him a grisly appearance. He finally did glance over at her once the third fruit bounced off him and fell with a soft thud on the dirt ground. She was screeching in almost unintelligible rage, but he was nonplussed. She was too little to be of much consequence, even to his eight year old mind.
“You’re stupid!” he snarled at her when she called him the same thing. “I hope she whips you!” He didn’t, really, but he didn’t know what else to say to this strange girl as he ducked another blackberry flying at his face. “Brat!” His sympathy for her hair and her dress was extremely limited. He just spent days on a ship in a cage and he didn’t have his mother here. Her terrifying mother could jump into the ocean, for all he cared.
He glowered at her as she marched with only the self righteous dignity that a six year old could muster, back around the bushes. She really did look like a wild little heathen, with her hair tufted out and sticks and brambles stuck in it. Lukos didn’t stop to consider that he looked the same. His wild curls were filled with thorns and grass and dirt and twigs. “I’m fine right here!” he bellowed at her and then shoved more berries in his mouth. “Don’t snitch on me!” he warned and then hunkered down right there in the dirt, crossing his arms and vowing never to come away from these bushes.
Being a child, he never considered that he could possibly eat all the fruit, or that a person would need more than blackberries. His tummy was now full, his fear ebbed, and he was exhausted as a result of all the terror and horrible experiences thus far. Lukos closed his eyes and was asleep before Skylla made it halfway up the hill.
It was not overly difficult to find the blackberries, even in the darkness. His eyes adjusted easily enough, and though the fruit was cloaked by night, their globular shapes were not. All he had to do was grasp those shapes, taking care to not get stuck by thorns, and he had his prize. Lukos didn’t really care much about Skylla and didn’t look around at what she was doing as she whined at him.
Nor did he immediately turn when the first fruit pelted the back of his head. His mouth was full and blackberry juice dribbled from the corners of his mouth, giving him a grisly appearance. He finally did glance over at her once the third fruit bounced off him and fell with a soft thud on the dirt ground. She was screeching in almost unintelligible rage, but he was nonplussed. She was too little to be of much consequence, even to his eight year old mind.
“You’re stupid!” he snarled at her when she called him the same thing. “I hope she whips you!” He didn’t, really, but he didn’t know what else to say to this strange girl as he ducked another blackberry flying at his face. “Brat!” His sympathy for her hair and her dress was extremely limited. He just spent days on a ship in a cage and he didn’t have his mother here. Her terrifying mother could jump into the ocean, for all he cared.
He glowered at her as she marched with only the self righteous dignity that a six year old could muster, back around the bushes. She really did look like a wild little heathen, with her hair tufted out and sticks and brambles stuck in it. Lukos didn’t stop to consider that he looked the same. His wild curls were filled with thorns and grass and dirt and twigs. “I’m fine right here!” he bellowed at her and then shoved more berries in his mouth. “Don’t snitch on me!” he warned and then hunkered down right there in the dirt, crossing his arms and vowing never to come away from these bushes.
Being a child, he never considered that he could possibly eat all the fruit, or that a person would need more than blackberries. His tummy was now full, his fear ebbed, and he was exhausted as a result of all the terror and horrible experiences thus far. Lukos closed his eyes and was asleep before Skylla made it halfway up the hill.
Oh, Skylla was absolutely going to snitch on him. His words made the six-year-old girl angry and her mind was already twisting with ways that she could get back at the other boy. She had been trying to be nice and get him away from her mother, and this was how he repaid her? She would not stand for this. The haughtiness in her tone as she threw the words, "What are you going to do about it?" over her shoulder, was so bitter and prominent, one would think she actually could best the boy that was much bigger than her.
But that didn't matter. It wasn't Skylla herself who would get Lukos into trouble. It was her mother. Pouting, her arms crossed over her chest and with barbs and thorns in her hair, Skylla marked up the hill and back into her house.
Billa only glanced up once, having gotten all of the other boys proper food and silently keeping an eye on one of the boys that was much more worse for wear. Galen had been moved to the one small cot in the room and was out like a light, his expression more pained than serene. Skylla paused only momentarily, a sense of fear and dread both gripping at her chest at the sight. She knew what the boy being on the cot meant and her gaze dropped to the floor in an instant.
Suddenly, it did not seem right, proper, or polite to throw a fit about Lukos when one of the boys would likely not see the light of the morning. Besides, Billa was likely to cuff her if Skylla even attempted to act petulant at this moment. Approaching her mother, she stopped at her side, "He's down at the blackberry bushes," Skylla said without Billa even having to ask. "He pulled me into them and now my hair is all stuck with them," she complained quietly, reaching to try and pull one out of her hair. Her mother batted her hand away from her head, sighing deeply as she rose to her feet.
"I'm going to go and get him. You sit here with little Galen. When I get back, we'll get the thorns out," Billa said absently, out of the door and stepping into the darkness before her daughter could protest. Wrapping her arms against her chest, Billa rolled her shoulders against the slight chill of the night. Having walked these same paths over and over and over again, she had them memorized.
Her feet brought her down the hill and around to the other side of the bushes. Spotting Lukos asleep in the dirt, Billa crouched beside him, touching his cheek with the tenderness of a mother concerned for her child. All of these children were hers now. Her responsibility. Hers to care for. None of them had been given the choice in the matter. "Hey you," Billa said in a hushed tone, "Come back to the house. We'll get those thorns out of your hair and clothes and then you can sleep in a bed," she said softly, trying to rouse Lukos as gently as possible.
Her mind was still on Galen and how she really didn't want all of the children to have to witness the next few hours. Getting them all to bed would be better for all involved.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Nov 19, 2019 12:35:34 GMT
Posted In persnickety. on Nov 19, 2019 12:35:34 GMT
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Oh, Skylla was absolutely going to snitch on him. His words made the six-year-old girl angry and her mind was already twisting with ways that she could get back at the other boy. She had been trying to be nice and get him away from her mother, and this was how he repaid her? She would not stand for this. The haughtiness in her tone as she threw the words, "What are you going to do about it?" over her shoulder, was so bitter and prominent, one would think she actually could best the boy that was much bigger than her.
But that didn't matter. It wasn't Skylla herself who would get Lukos into trouble. It was her mother. Pouting, her arms crossed over her chest and with barbs and thorns in her hair, Skylla marked up the hill and back into her house.
Billa only glanced up once, having gotten all of the other boys proper food and silently keeping an eye on one of the boys that was much more worse for wear. Galen had been moved to the one small cot in the room and was out like a light, his expression more pained than serene. Skylla paused only momentarily, a sense of fear and dread both gripping at her chest at the sight. She knew what the boy being on the cot meant and her gaze dropped to the floor in an instant.
Suddenly, it did not seem right, proper, or polite to throw a fit about Lukos when one of the boys would likely not see the light of the morning. Besides, Billa was likely to cuff her if Skylla even attempted to act petulant at this moment. Approaching her mother, she stopped at her side, "He's down at the blackberry bushes," Skylla said without Billa even having to ask. "He pulled me into them and now my hair is all stuck with them," she complained quietly, reaching to try and pull one out of her hair. Her mother batted her hand away from her head, sighing deeply as she rose to her feet.
"I'm going to go and get him. You sit here with little Galen. When I get back, we'll get the thorns out," Billa said absently, out of the door and stepping into the darkness before her daughter could protest. Wrapping her arms against her chest, Billa rolled her shoulders against the slight chill of the night. Having walked these same paths over and over and over again, she had them memorized.
Her feet brought her down the hill and around to the other side of the bushes. Spotting Lukos asleep in the dirt, Billa crouched beside him, touching his cheek with the tenderness of a mother concerned for her child. All of these children were hers now. Her responsibility. Hers to care for. None of them had been given the choice in the matter. "Hey you," Billa said in a hushed tone, "Come back to the house. We'll get those thorns out of your hair and clothes and then you can sleep in a bed," she said softly, trying to rouse Lukos as gently as possible.
Her mind was still on Galen and how she really didn't want all of the children to have to witness the next few hours. Getting them all to bed would be better for all involved.
Oh, Skylla was absolutely going to snitch on him. His words made the six-year-old girl angry and her mind was already twisting with ways that she could get back at the other boy. She had been trying to be nice and get him away from her mother, and this was how he repaid her? She would not stand for this. The haughtiness in her tone as she threw the words, "What are you going to do about it?" over her shoulder, was so bitter and prominent, one would think she actually could best the boy that was much bigger than her.
But that didn't matter. It wasn't Skylla herself who would get Lukos into trouble. It was her mother. Pouting, her arms crossed over her chest and with barbs and thorns in her hair, Skylla marked up the hill and back into her house.
Billa only glanced up once, having gotten all of the other boys proper food and silently keeping an eye on one of the boys that was much more worse for wear. Galen had been moved to the one small cot in the room and was out like a light, his expression more pained than serene. Skylla paused only momentarily, a sense of fear and dread both gripping at her chest at the sight. She knew what the boy being on the cot meant and her gaze dropped to the floor in an instant.
Suddenly, it did not seem right, proper, or polite to throw a fit about Lukos when one of the boys would likely not see the light of the morning. Besides, Billa was likely to cuff her if Skylla even attempted to act petulant at this moment. Approaching her mother, she stopped at her side, "He's down at the blackberry bushes," Skylla said without Billa even having to ask. "He pulled me into them and now my hair is all stuck with them," she complained quietly, reaching to try and pull one out of her hair. Her mother batted her hand away from her head, sighing deeply as she rose to her feet.
"I'm going to go and get him. You sit here with little Galen. When I get back, we'll get the thorns out," Billa said absently, out of the door and stepping into the darkness before her daughter could protest. Wrapping her arms against her chest, Billa rolled her shoulders against the slight chill of the night. Having walked these same paths over and over and over again, she had them memorized.
Her feet brought her down the hill and around to the other side of the bushes. Spotting Lukos asleep in the dirt, Billa crouched beside him, touching his cheek with the tenderness of a mother concerned for her child. All of these children were hers now. Her responsibility. Hers to care for. None of them had been given the choice in the matter. "Hey you," Billa said in a hushed tone, "Come back to the house. We'll get those thorns out of your hair and clothes and then you can sleep in a bed," she said softly, trying to rouse Lukos as gently as possible.
Her mind was still on Galen and how she really didn't want all of the children to have to witness the next few hours. Getting them all to bed would be better for all involved.
Lukos was most pliable when he was drowsy and with his full stomach, he was less ornery. The brush of Billa’s warm fingertips on his cheek reminded him so much of his mother, that in the first seconds that he awoke, he was confused to find branches within his line of sight. He’d half expected to find the walls of the Drakos servant’s quarters and to hear the familiar snoring from the cook at the far end of the row of servants. But he wasn’t on his pallet and his mother wasn’t the one bent over him.
Billa’s quiet entreaty for him to get up was one that he’d have fought if he was awake enough to do so, but the child merely did as he was told. He didn’t like the ground and was shaking from the chill, not knowing that the quickest way to freeze to death was from sleeping straight on the dirt. Gaia did not give warmth. She only stole it. The promise of a warm bed and the cleaning out the sticks and thorns from his hair was enough to get him to his feet. In his sleepy state, he slipped his small hand into hers and let her lead him up the path.
Her steps were quiet and confident - the strides of someone who could navigate this portion of the island blind if she had to, while he blundered along behind her, stubbing his toes and yawning. Billa did not whip him or shout at him and he had half forgotten Skylla by the time they made it around the corner of Billa’s garden. The open doorway and the light flooding out onto the path formed an oblong square. Lukos squinted as he was led into the light and took his hand from the older woman.
The other boys were all lined up in little rows and unlike Skylla, he didn’t drop his gaze when he saw Galen lying completely still on the cot. Jealousy flared in his chest and he glowered but his main priority was to sleep. Wandering to the edge of the room where there was space, he plopped his little self down, simply waiting for a bed roll and blanket to be given to him. He’d already forgotten that Billa had promised to pick through his hair.
A huge yawn dominated his little face and he sat staring, features slack, eyelids drooping, waiting. His eyes slid closed. The warmth of the house and the quietness of it was lulling him back to sleep again and though he wouldn’t admit it, he was feeling much safer than he had been. His fear had been running riot in his system but he’d calmed enough to recognize that Billa likely wasn’t going to eat him. It also was a huge factor that Skylla was visibly unafraid of her mother.
Lukos lay back down, closing his eyes, and was sound asleep by the time blankets even came near him. If thorns were plucked from his hair, he was unaware of it. He did not know that Galen wouldn’t make it and even if he’d been told, he wouldn’t have understood, not really. Children didn’t have the same sympathies as adults.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Nov 30, 2019 22:05:36 GMT
Posted In persnickety. on Nov 30, 2019 22:05:36 GMT
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Lukos was most pliable when he was drowsy and with his full stomach, he was less ornery. The brush of Billa’s warm fingertips on his cheek reminded him so much of his mother, that in the first seconds that he awoke, he was confused to find branches within his line of sight. He’d half expected to find the walls of the Drakos servant’s quarters and to hear the familiar snoring from the cook at the far end of the row of servants. But he wasn’t on his pallet and his mother wasn’t the one bent over him.
Billa’s quiet entreaty for him to get up was one that he’d have fought if he was awake enough to do so, but the child merely did as he was told. He didn’t like the ground and was shaking from the chill, not knowing that the quickest way to freeze to death was from sleeping straight on the dirt. Gaia did not give warmth. She only stole it. The promise of a warm bed and the cleaning out the sticks and thorns from his hair was enough to get him to his feet. In his sleepy state, he slipped his small hand into hers and let her lead him up the path.
Her steps were quiet and confident - the strides of someone who could navigate this portion of the island blind if she had to, while he blundered along behind her, stubbing his toes and yawning. Billa did not whip him or shout at him and he had half forgotten Skylla by the time they made it around the corner of Billa’s garden. The open doorway and the light flooding out onto the path formed an oblong square. Lukos squinted as he was led into the light and took his hand from the older woman.
The other boys were all lined up in little rows and unlike Skylla, he didn’t drop his gaze when he saw Galen lying completely still on the cot. Jealousy flared in his chest and he glowered but his main priority was to sleep. Wandering to the edge of the room where there was space, he plopped his little self down, simply waiting for a bed roll and blanket to be given to him. He’d already forgotten that Billa had promised to pick through his hair.
A huge yawn dominated his little face and he sat staring, features slack, eyelids drooping, waiting. His eyes slid closed. The warmth of the house and the quietness of it was lulling him back to sleep again and though he wouldn’t admit it, he was feeling much safer than he had been. His fear had been running riot in his system but he’d calmed enough to recognize that Billa likely wasn’t going to eat him. It also was a huge factor that Skylla was visibly unafraid of her mother.
Lukos lay back down, closing his eyes, and was sound asleep by the time blankets even came near him. If thorns were plucked from his hair, he was unaware of it. He did not know that Galen wouldn’t make it and even if he’d been told, he wouldn’t have understood, not really. Children didn’t have the same sympathies as adults.
Lukos was most pliable when he was drowsy and with his full stomach, he was less ornery. The brush of Billa’s warm fingertips on his cheek reminded him so much of his mother, that in the first seconds that he awoke, he was confused to find branches within his line of sight. He’d half expected to find the walls of the Drakos servant’s quarters and to hear the familiar snoring from the cook at the far end of the row of servants. But he wasn’t on his pallet and his mother wasn’t the one bent over him.
Billa’s quiet entreaty for him to get up was one that he’d have fought if he was awake enough to do so, but the child merely did as he was told. He didn’t like the ground and was shaking from the chill, not knowing that the quickest way to freeze to death was from sleeping straight on the dirt. Gaia did not give warmth. She only stole it. The promise of a warm bed and the cleaning out the sticks and thorns from his hair was enough to get him to his feet. In his sleepy state, he slipped his small hand into hers and let her lead him up the path.
Her steps were quiet and confident - the strides of someone who could navigate this portion of the island blind if she had to, while he blundered along behind her, stubbing his toes and yawning. Billa did not whip him or shout at him and he had half forgotten Skylla by the time they made it around the corner of Billa’s garden. The open doorway and the light flooding out onto the path formed an oblong square. Lukos squinted as he was led into the light and took his hand from the older woman.
The other boys were all lined up in little rows and unlike Skylla, he didn’t drop his gaze when he saw Galen lying completely still on the cot. Jealousy flared in his chest and he glowered but his main priority was to sleep. Wandering to the edge of the room where there was space, he plopped his little self down, simply waiting for a bed roll and blanket to be given to him. He’d already forgotten that Billa had promised to pick through his hair.
A huge yawn dominated his little face and he sat staring, features slack, eyelids drooping, waiting. His eyes slid closed. The warmth of the house and the quietness of it was lulling him back to sleep again and though he wouldn’t admit it, he was feeling much safer than he had been. His fear had been running riot in his system but he’d calmed enough to recognize that Billa likely wasn’t going to eat him. It also was a huge factor that Skylla was visibly unafraid of her mother.
Lukos lay back down, closing his eyes, and was sound asleep by the time blankets even came near him. If thorns were plucked from his hair, he was unaware of it. He did not know that Galen wouldn’t make it and even if he’d been told, he wouldn’t have understood, not really. Children didn’t have the same sympathies as adults.