02-12-04

Characters involved: Taye, Ewan, & Rahier.

Salamandastron: Ewan's Dormitory

Well, there wasn't much time last night to set any sort of bed up for the kid, given that he passed out fairly quickly besides, so little Taye is curled up at the foot of the bed, at least two or three blankets curled beneath him for comfort. In fact, it looks quite like a little nest, with the leveret curled up on his side in the center of it. Beyond that, not a sound is heard from him, not even a snore.

Ewan is on the floor beside him, lying on several blankets functioning as a makeshift palette. He sighs heavily in his sleep, rolling onto his side and unceremoniously clunking his head against the leg of the bed. Ow. A grey eye slips open, and his brow furrows in irritation. It's a moment before he realizes his location on the stone, and notices the little footpaws hanging from the edge of his bed. Oh.

Who's taken the rest of the bed? Rahier, of course! :p The major is curled up in a ball similar to Taye's, his paws wrapped 'round his knees. Being something of a light sleeper, Ewan's head banging the bed awakes him with a start. With a snuffle and a small groan from the discomfort of such a position, Rahier looks to the slumbering Taye, and then peers over the edge of the bed at Ewan. "Morn'."

Taye, for his own part, wakes more from a combination of head-clunking and Rahier's shifting. Eyelids blinking but not opening, the leveret's ears twitch sleepily and he curls up further into his blanket-nest, drawing his legs into his body and arms closer to his chest. Mrr. Nowakey. He has yet to recall the happenings of the previous night, in his current half-waking state.

Ewan rises stiffly into a sitting position, his rigid back in much need of stretching. He does so, languidly, his arms rising above his head. Finally, the buck's eyes open fully, and he peers at the child with a miffed expression. Instinct kicks in, and he collects Taye from the bed, drawing him to his chest. "Mornin', Rah."

Rahier pushes himself to a sitting position, propping his back up against the wall. "Mus' be tuckered out," he notes, of the leveret. "Poor guy." The major watches Ewan collect the child, with one tipped ear.

Too groggy to realize the signficance of being picked up, Taye's head lolls back a bit as he is lifted, but it soon enough settles against Ewan's shoulder. But.. huh. His little ears twitch slightly at the various voices, and especially the male one coming from just by his head. Er. One eye slowly peeks open and he squints around at what he can see and after a moment his head slowly lifts aaaaand... there's an Ewan face. Blink. Eyes widening, Taye nevertheless says nothing, though he goes to immediately worrying at his lower lip. Habit of his.

Ewan still is lost in ignorance of how to be a proper father. He doesn't even know Taye's name. Though, he can manage to brush his paw across the little one's forehead in what he hopes is a comforting manner, a gentle smile on his muzzle. Son! His son!

Rahier leans forward, crossing his legs and resting his chin on his paws. Quiet kid. Hrm. Rather than interject once more, the major just sits. Equally quiet.

Quiet, indeed, but not mute. "Where mama?" This is spoken softly and without much hope, as if the kid understands more than he should.

"She's gone." Ewan says, softly, trying his best not to injure the child with his words. Not any child, but his own. He's already beginning to grow fond of the dibbun, and it has only been a day.

Well, injured or not, Taye simply nods, lips pressing together in a small frown of resignation as he lowers his gaze to the buttons of Ewan's tunic. "'Kay."

"What's your name, little'un?" Ewan asks, beginning to adjust to the strong protective feelings he harbors for the dibbun; and liking them. He feels the same for Rahier, but Rahier is his own person, and Taye is.. a baby. Woo.

"Taye." This is nearly whispered it's so quiet, and the leveret reaches out a small paw to one of Ewan's buttons, which he proceeds to worry at. Apparently, if he's worrying at -something-, be it himself or something else, he's happy. Or at least moderately entertained.

Ewan beams with pride. He has a name! ... Yeah. "Taye. I'm... Ewan. Your Da'." The buck is reluctant to set the dibbun down; it's like having a new, and special best friend -- or toy -- no one wants to set them down.

"Mama says... Mama says Da' is evil." Blue eyes that are so pale as to be almost gray venture a look upawrds at Ewan. ".. You evil?" He looks skeptical, as if to say, 'I don't know -what- to think, mister, so -you'd- better know.'

Rahier hasn't moved. He's just... staring. XD "Taye," he muses, to himself. So the kid's got a name. ;p But, uh. Don't wanna interrupt their moment, and all that.

"Ah'm not evil, Taye. I... Y'mum never told me about y'." He winces visibly, as speaking the words seem to make them all the more hurtful-- even to him.

Taye says, "She said.. said it was.. -yer- fault." Pause. Further explanation needed there, kiddo. "'Bout me." This is said softly but matter of factly. "'Bout the burden." And he's back to staring at the button as his fingers fiddle with it. Then, after a moment of this he speaks again. "Down?" He wiggles very slightly.

Ewan frowns, darkly, the mention of Taye's mother and her actions less than encouraging. "You aren't... a burden, Taye. Not to me."

Taye only wiggles again in response and he casts another flickering glance upward. "Down?" After all, kids only want to be held for so long.

Ewan sighs and gently places the child on the floor. He retreats one step, two, and folds his arms across his chest, eyeing the wooden door and pondering -- seriously -- what lies beyond. With all this tension, leaving and never returning was beginning to, scarily, sound appealing.

Not privy to Ewan's internal thoughts, Taye simply takes a moment to look around the room and once he is satisfied, he begins exploring more actively, by way of wandering around the room, touching this and that as he goes. Then, there's a question. "Where this?"

"Taye, this is my room, in Salamandastron. It's a big mountain that I live in with other hares." He crouches on strong knees, dipping to eye level with his son. "This hare is Rahier. He's your uncle, and my best friend."

"Hey," responds Rahier. One ear waggles to the side, as the major grins and tosses a small wave to the leveret. "Y'were from Halyard, righ'? I go up there every once in awhile." It's necessary to share that. ;p

Meeting Ewan's gaze quietly for a moment, Taye suddenly smiles, very slightly and very shyly, and then he looks to Rahier with that same little upturning of his lips. "Hallard?" He -knows- that place. "Mama there." The smile widens ever so slightly at his display of knowledge.

Ewan grins broadly, his head bobbing in a short little nod. "Yes, Halyard. We live in Salamandastron, now. You'll be a brave warrior one day." What kid doesn't dream of being a brave warrior? "Rahier is a Major. He's more important than your Da'."

But mama's gone to sea! XD So Rahier doesn't comment. "Oh, aye, we got plenty o' warriors 'round here. Y'dad's a runner." And Rahier's an officer, of course. The buck can't keep himself from grinning widely, once more.

"Da'.. runs?" The little smile fades to quizical uncertainty. "Run.. where?" Too much information, eee! Taye looks from Rahier to Ewan and then back, his brow wrinkling cutely. "Don' get it."

"I deliver important letters." Ewan nods enthusiastically, his chest swelling -only- slightly-- he's proud of his job, but much more of his sleek physique. Woo. "And I can touch tape in any challenge that involves racing." He grins that adorable grin of his, one eye closing in a knowing wink.

Rahier laughs, shaking his head at Taye's confusion. Cute! "An' I give him letters t'deliver. Works well." A grunt, and Rahier hops to the edge of the bed, letting his legs dangle to the floor.

"Ohhh..." Taye murmurs this softly, and offers up that little smile again, unable to restrain it in the face of Ewan and Rahier's cheerful front. Squee. He shifts his weight from one footpaw to the other thoughtfully for a moment, and then his head tilts. "I stay here now? With Da' and Rahi?"

"Of course." Ewan says, softly, unable to stop looking at his son. /His/ son. A chip off the old block in many ways, apparently, Taye is. The buck ruffles his dibbun's headfur, grinning.

Rahier places his paws on his knees, chuckling. "Aye, y'home's th'mountain, now." The buck glances from Taye, to Ewan. "What 'bout gettin' him a bed, or summat?" Headscratch. So Ewan doesn't have to sleep on the floor again. XD

Ooooh, a bed? Taye's ears perk as he looks once again from one buck to the other. Iiiinteresting conversation afoot. But, of course, after a moment he's distracted by a little rock on the floor and he toes at it with a foot.

"Ah should get someone to build 'im one." Ewan grins and plops upon the bed beside Rahier, his paw amiably upon the major's shoulder. "Would you like that, Taye?"

"We should stop by th'crafts room. Get a nice one done up f'him... all f'his own." Rahier watches Taye, leaning just slightly closer to Ewan as he sits. "That'd be grand, aye?"

"Bed? Fer me?" He looks to consider it, one finger-tip going to his chin as he thinks. But, really, there's no question. He nods. "'Kay... Bed." Nod-nod-nod. He then turns away from them and goes back to searching the room.

Ewan leans against the other buck, as well, their embrace subtle, but definately there. "Yes. A bed f'you. Hop up here on th'bed, Taye." Ewan grins and rests at ease, beginning to grow adjusted. Having a kid isn't really that hard. Or so he thinks.

If there's anything out of the ordinary about this closeness, you wouldn't tell by Rahier. What's to hide? It's Ewan's kid. Or something. :P "How old's he, 'bout?" The question is a curious one, general. He follows up with a second, looking again directly to Taye. "Y'know how old y'are, Taye?"

Just as this question was asked, Taye was in the process of reaching out for a quill pen on Ewan's beside table, but as he hears the words, his paw jerks back and he brings it in close to his body, biting down at his lower lip as he turns 'round. Sadguiltyeyes, directed to the floor. "Old 'nough t' know bettah..." An old line, well-practiced.

The frown returns to Ewan's face; the buck is beginning to get an idea of how Taye was treated by his mother. "Taye," Ewan turns and digs around in a satchel beside the bed, producing, of all things, a rubber ball. He's always been fond of bouncing it against the stone and trying to retrieve it. "Wanna play with this?"

Taye still looks repentent, but after a few more seconds of shifting his weight, he steps forward and holds out his paw, hopefully. "'Kay.." He studies the ball, eyes going 'round and wondering. The Greatness of the Bouncy Ball.

Ewan places the bouncy ball in his son's paw, grinning stupidly. Bonding! "D'ya wanna go play or sommat?" He's beginning to feel like a kid himself, and he can't say it's a bad thing.

".. Can we?" Cheerfulness and shy together make such a cute combination, and the ickle one looks down to his paw, studying the ball with great interest. "Where we go play? Too cold outside." Emphatic nod.

"In here, of course!" Ewan chirps, scooping Taye up and laughing. "You take it," he pauses, and holds out the bouncing ball, "and throw it against the wall," he tosses the toy at the stone, "and catch it." It rebounds, Ewan dips, and snatches it from the air. "'S fun!"

Fun, indeed. Taye watches this process with eager impatience and he bounces lightly on the balls of his feet, holding out his paw for the ball. "Me turn? Me turn?" Hee.

Ewan beams. He's a natural. The buck extends the toy for Taye, palming it lightly. "Don't throw it very fast at first, it might hit you in the face." He laughs, faintly, and retreats a few steps, ready to catch it should it fly past.

And fly past it will. Dibbuns are not often known for their coordination. However, when he throws it, his face scrunched up in conversation as he does so, it doesn't hit him in the face but instead bounces directly over his head. Of course, he tries to grab it before it flies over, but he only succeeds in stumbling back a few steps and into Ewan's legs. Which leads to a giggle from him as he braces himself by holding onto the backs of Ewan's knees. His neck cranes back and he peers squintingly up at an upside-down Ewan. "I misted it." Mist-ed. Yes. Because that's how one says 'missed'.

Rahier had scrambled out of the way initially to avoid getting bonked by any missed throws. XD Now he's keenly watching, rather amused, as the ball flies over Taye's head. "Got it!" announces the major, as he hops up from his perch and snatches the errant ball out of the air. Because Ewan -also- missed it, yes. :p "Quite th'throw." A snicker, and he drops the ball from his paw, letting it bounce in place.

Ewan falls backwards due to the impact of the anklebiter upon his knees, which was a rather unexpected collision, indeed. He laughs and rubs his rump, which took the heat of the -nasty- fall, a broad grin on his easy-going face. "Good catch, Rahier. And, Taye, that's the best I've seen lately! Quick thinking!"

Taye echos the sentiment, with a grin. "Good tatch, Rahi!" Of course, this is said from where Taye sits on the floor, as well, between Ewan's ankles; he fell when Ewan did. He turns 'round and smiles at Ewan, most of his initial shyness having disappeared.

"It was, if'n I do say so myself." Rahier snickers and bounces the ball once more, before tossing it in a slow arch through the air, aiming to have it bounce off the top of Ewan's muzzle. Quick thinking indeed. XD

Rahier's aim was sound. It smarts Ewan sharply, richocheting off like an echo. His nose wrinkles in discomfort and he grins, clutching Taye affectionately with his footpaws, easily dwarfing the small dibbun.

Meep. There goes that giggle again, as Ewan clutches at him with footpaws. Eee. Taye wiggles around, little paws grasping at Ewan's ankles. "Leggo, Da'!" Of course, its said jokingly, and he doesn't much mind the playful affection.

"Never!" Ewan says, lifting Taye from the floor and into his strong arms. He falls onto his back and proceeds with to tickle the unfortunate child; indeed, he is a natural. Ewan's not unseasoned in the art of playing with a leveret, and his own makes it all the more fun.

Rahier snickers, pumping his fist in victory. Perfect shot. XD "Bullseye! Gotcha, y'blighter." The buck makes his way over to the pair. If Ewan's gonna tickle the kid, Rahier's gonna tweak at the runner's ears. Bap. XD

Ewan may be experienced with the art of -playing- with leverets, but how will he react to the sudden and audible stomach rumbling. Hee. Taye's giggling stops and he smiles shyly. "Sowwy.. tummy's talkin' at me." He places a paw to his stomach and looks down at it, scoldingly. Silly stomach, making all that noise.

Ewan raises up, Taye in tow, and starts off for the kitchens, offering Rahier but a: "C'mon, Rah," though quiet and distracted.

Quiet and distracted? To -Rahier?- To say the major looks a little put off would be accurate. ;p If he's only an afterthought, then he won't be following. Hmph. Back to his own dorm.

Ewan turns, in question, having noticed the neglected -- and expected -- presence of his favorite buck. "Rahier!" He calls. "C'mon!"