09-12-05

Characters involved: Taye & Maria.

Salamandastron: Library

Yawning after a long stint of sentry duty, Taye has ended up not in his dormitory asleep but in the library, of all places. Scratching absently at the back of his head, the young buck pauses a few steps into the sizeable room in order to look around.

And of all the people on would expect in the Library, at least nowadays, Its her, that doe that used to be around, Maria, her arms are folded and her face is buried in them, she is breathing slowly, and could very well be asleep. At least when the door closes she does not start.

What to read, what to read...? Taye doesn't expect anyone to be in the library at this hour, so as he heads over to the stacks, the sight of a doe asleep at one of the tables gives him pause. Usually he would just continue on quietly, but... there's something that makes him stop, change course, and approach. Whisperingly, "... Miss? Miss, are ya awake?"

The, well, I guess she is still the librarian, lifts her head and looks over at Taye, "hrm?" she responds quietly, her eyes a little reddened, easily noticeable with her glasses sitting next to her rather then on her. And the slightly wetened fur below her eyes don't give away the fact that she may have been crying. "Oh.. yes.. I am.."

It's not certain which hits him first - the surprise at the crying or the recognition. Either way he stumbles back a step, eyes wide. "I - uh." Blink. "Ma... ria?"

The haremaids reaction is quite depressing, as she closes her eyes and quietly states, "Oh yet another face I should be asked to recognize." She lays her head back down, her ears laying back against her head, "please.. forgive me.. I should, but do not know you." Well, I bet you wouldn't guess it but somethings wrong with that un.

Taye blinks s'more, then takes a couple steps forward. Tentatively, he reaches out to Maria, pat... patting her awkwardly on the back of her shoulder. "It's, um... a'right." Pat... pat-pat.

The memory impaired hare lifts her head up again and blinks a few times, seeming to clear her eyes of any thing more, "So.." she says with a forced smile, "As with every one you seem to know me, so may I ask your name?"

Taye steps back a step as Maria sits up, and he twists his paws together in front of him awkwardly, feeling suddenly like the leveret he was the last time he saw Maria. "Taye. I'm, um... Taye."

Maria pauses for a long moment on this, a long awkward moment, her eyes glued to the young hare. That name Taye, how distant and unfamiliar, to her she's only heard it in the past few days, one of her two children, the oldest, and probably the better, since it may be less hard on him to find out that.. well she has been gone for awhile but she has gotten the impression that she is his mother figure at least, even if he is not hers by nature. A ping of regret would not explain it, its more like a sting, a stab, a cut, deep into her as she tries to come up with words of apology, but merely slides off her chair in an attempt to move towards the young hare, for some hope that she can remember some beast that should be so dear to her but doesn't even remind of an echo. "Taye.." is all she can manage as she lands on her knees, one arm, her right, still on the table.. why cant she remember.

Taye's eyes widen as Maria falls, and he immediately acts, leaping to her aid. He kneels before her, placing a paw on each of her shoulders. "Mum... are ya all righ'? Mum..." The word feels awkward on his tongue. Even as a leveret he didn't really call her that, but it seems... the right thing to do at the moment. "Please, will ya sit?" His brow is scrunched up with concern, and he gives a gentle squeeze to her shoulders.

The doe nods quietly and stands just far enough to slide onto the chair again, "I am sorry.." she says bitting her lip lightly, her ears laying flat against her head, "I am sure this is hard for you,.. but.." she stops and closes her eyes taking a deep breath, "Something happened and I don't remember you.. or Rahier.. or Aralyn.." she blinks her eyes open, having explained this to a few beasts already, she watches the leveret, "I.. I am trying.. but it does not come."

Once the doe has regained her seat, Taye remains kneeling before her, looking up with concern evident in every feature. His eyes tear up at Maria's distress, but as they do he looks down, embarrassed. "Have ya already seen Da'? 'Lynnie?" The first seems obvious since she knows their name. The second, he's just curious.

She looks away looking quite ashamed her self, "yes.." Maria says nodding slowly, her eyes closing once more, "Though.." she pauses and opens her eyes slightly, "I have not seen Aralyn wile she was awake.."

Taye's forehead scrinches up again and he looks back up to the doe, quickly. Whatever he has to say seems very important to him that he say it. "She remembahs ya, y'know. Don't worry. She didn't ferget ya, soooo... y'know. Jus' don't worry about that." He looks back down, even more embarrassed by his fumbling for words. "She'll be, y'know - she'll jus' be glad to see ya. She won't mind." The not remembering bit, that is.

"I am sorry Taye.." she says quietly and stands up, please.. speak with Rahier.. I.. I do not know what to do." She watches the leveret with sad bunny eyes,and reaches for her cglasses setting them on her face, "I need to find a way to remember." she says rather determined sounding.

Taye watches Maria stand and then he, too, stands. Awkwardly at first, then more awkwardly yet, he steps forward and throws his arms around Maria for a quick, almost blitzkrieg hug. He then pulls away jerkily, staring down at his footpaws as he steps two full steps back. "You'll find a way - I know ya will." Another step back. "Um. I should try 'n' get some sleep. 'Night."

Definatly taken back by the hug, Maria sits down again, watching the the teenage hare take a few steps back and then give his proposal of sleep. "I am sorry." she says quietly, looking away, looking to wish she was in a deep dark hole or purhaps wishing that the one in her mind was filled.

Taye shakes his head, his expression breaking out into a grin, even if it is a little sad-tinged. "Don't be. I'm jus' glad yer home." He raises a paw in some sort of wave or other then takes a few more steps back. "'Night," he concludes, then he turns and jogs out of the room. What an... interesting end to the night.