Early in the morning, she had set out, a woman on a mission. Silken had reminded her the previous evening that it neared the anniversary of Wiley's birth, so a present was in order. She had found him having his morning meal with his siblings, and told him that she needed help with something that only he could do. His little chest puffed out with self-importance, he finished eating, jumped to his feet, picked up his wooden lance and pronounced he was ready. Now, she would not dare to take his, but simply gave a firm nod of her head, then told him they needed to tend to something at the pens.On the winding path out to the kaiila pens, Wiley had kept up a steady stream of conversation, dropping not too subtle hints that tomorrow was his birthday. Laughing softly, she feigned great surprise at hearing this news, and let him continue to ramble on, his attention diverting wildly to various things that they passed.
At the pens, she had led him to the area where she kept the colts and pointed one out to him. The young warrior became very excited, climbed up onto the fence, leaned over and watched the colt dancing around. One look at his face, told her that she had chosen well. Leaning on the fence, the talked of his name being Piper, and that he had come from two of her better kaiila. The excitement in Wiley's face was almost contagious. Stepping on the rails, she climbed over the fence and motioned for Wily to follow her. As they approached Piper, his nostrils flared as he scented her, then evidently he caught the scent of one he was not familiar with, and he danced away. Talking softly to him, she approached, put her hand out to wrap gloved fingers into the silky mane, calmed him and brought him back to Wiley, allowing them to get acquainted.
Being Tuchuk, Wiley had no fear of the animal, and for one so young, his touch was amazingly gentle. It did not take long until Piper was nudging that mop of red hair, whether it was from curiosity, or giving into the need to get to know the small human, only one could guess. She grinned when Wiley began to pat himself down, searching for some jerky that he had stowed away under his coat, and fed it to the kaiila. A new friendship had just been forged, one that she hoped would last for many, many turnings.
Finally, satisfied that the two were going to get on fine, she delivered her news to the young warrior, telling him that the colt was his. A gift from his Aunt Cana, to celebrate the anniversary of his coming into this world. When he turned his face up to her, his eyes filled with awe, surprise, and excitement, she would not have taken all the coin in Turia for that moment.
For the next few moments, Wiley alternated between hugging her, the colt, her again, then he ran around in circles, giving that Tuchuk war whoop at the top of his lungs. After he calmed slightly, she then took on the task of explaining to him that she had just given him not only a gift, but the responsibility that went along with that gift. He was now responsible for caring for Piper, but that he would have help from the riders of the clan, and herself of course. Presently she called her younger brother Gabe over, acquainted him with Wiley, and explained that Gabe would be helping him to care and train the colt. A look of seriousness came over that angelic little face as he nodded, understanding what had just happened.
Again, he threw his arms about her waist, hugged her tightly and thanked her. It was only now, that she ruffled that red hair and bent her head to place a kiss to the top of his head, telling him that she now had to return to her duties, but she was pleased that he liked her gift. Turning, he had run off to Gabe and the kaiila, chattering a pasang and ihn. Shaking her head she had walked off, a myriad of thoughts drifting through her head.
Wiley and Piper, storming the gates of Turia...........Skies help them!
At the pens, she had led him to the area where she kept the colts and pointed one out to him. The young warrior became very excited, climbed up onto the fence, leaned over and watched the colt dancing around. One look at his face, told her that she had chosen well. Leaning on the fence, the talked of his name being Piper, and that he had come from two of her better kaiila. The excitement in Wiley's face was almost contagious. Stepping on the rails, she climbed over the fence and motioned for Wily to follow her. As they approached Piper, his nostrils flared as he scented her, then evidently he caught the scent of one he was not familiar with, and he danced away. Talking softly to him, she approached, put her hand out to wrap gloved fingers into the silky mane, calmed him and brought him back to Wiley, allowing them to get acquainted.
Being Tuchuk, Wiley had no fear of the animal, and for one so young, his touch was amazingly gentle. It did not take long until Piper was nudging that mop of red hair, whether it was from curiosity, or giving into the need to get to know the small human, only one could guess. She grinned when Wiley began to pat himself down, searching for some jerky that he had stowed away under his coat, and fed it to the kaiila. A new friendship had just been forged, one that she hoped would last for many, many turnings.
Finally, satisfied that the two were going to get on fine, she delivered her news to the young warrior, telling him that the colt was his. A gift from his Aunt Cana, to celebrate the anniversary of his coming into this world. When he turned his face up to her, his eyes filled with awe, surprise, and excitement, she would not have taken all the coin in Turia for that moment.
For the next few moments, Wiley alternated between hugging her, the colt, her again, then he ran around in circles, giving that Tuchuk war whoop at the top of his lungs. After he calmed slightly, she then took on the task of explaining to him that she had just given him not only a gift, but the responsibility that went along with that gift. He was now responsible for caring for Piper, but that he would have help from the riders of the clan, and herself of course. Presently she called her younger brother Gabe over, acquainted him with Wiley, and explained that Gabe would be helping him to care and train the colt. A look of seriousness came over that angelic little face as he nodded, understanding what had just happened.
Again, he threw his arms about her waist, hugged her tightly and thanked her. It was only now, that she ruffled that red hair and bent her head to place a kiss to the top of his head, telling him that she now had to return to her duties, but she was pleased that he liked her gift. Turning, he had run off to Gabe and the kaiila, chattering a pasang and ihn. Shaking her head she had walked off, a myriad of thoughts drifting through her head.
Wiley and Piper, storming the gates of Turia...........Skies help them!
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