OOM: In Gotland with Bodhi and Galen

[ostro_goth]

 It is the very height of summer now, so the fields are turning golden, the young animals in the meadows are nicely grown and running around when they are not stuffing their faces with the abundant grass, and the people are busy in the gardens and in the workshops and among the granaries.

One of the children points up at the procession coming down the barrow-hill, and then everybody is running up to meet them.

Comments

[galen_erso]

"Valeria," she calls, "bring the bread and milk; the cats are here."

She climbs in, and her twin sister soon follows, with a small jug of milk and a little basket of sweet bread with dried fruit and nuts baked in.

[imthepilot]

Kyber perks up at the implication of food, mewing pleadingly. "I think that was for us, spoilt one." He bobs Kyber on the nose.

"Are we being rude by staying in bed, Myrtia?"

[galen_erso]

"No," Myrtia says as Valeria settles among the cats as well and offers the bread to the human occupants of the alcove. "Both my dad and the king are still asleep, and they are snoring like bears."

"Too much singing last night," Valeria says, wisely. "But the king doesn't snore like a bear, more like a lion."

"You never heard a lion," Myrtia retorts, taking a bite of the bread.

[imthepilot]

"Neither have I. What does a lion sound like?" Bodhi lets Kyber sniff the bread, just so he can decide he doesn't want it. It saves time fighting him for it.

[galen_erso]

"I haven't heard a lion either," Myrtia says, but Valeria says, "It's a huge cat with a shaggy mane!" and then makes a growling generic monster roar that causes the cats to give her a stare.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi chuckles, stroking Kyber's ruffled fur. "It's alright. She's not going to eat you." Kyber doesn't seem at all convinced

[galen_erso]

Myrrh stands, stretches and licks a paw, thus declaring the the would-be lion doesn't scare her at all. She usually has scarier things than that free with her breakfast. Valeria roars again, a little bit more convincing.

"Lions," declares a sleepy male voice that could be a hoarse Teja or a squeaky Adalgoth, from nearby, "why lions? It is but morning."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi lifts an eyebrow at the girls, dropping his voice conspiratorially. "I won't tell them if you don't."

In a somewhat more normal voice. "The girls were explaining how big cats can get."

[galen_erso]

"Ours are no lions," the man, more likely Adalgoth, says.

"And you have not seen sabre-toothed tigers," Teja adds, sounding just as un-awake. "They are to lions what lions are to house-cats."

The girls are impressed. The cats are completely unimpressed.

[imthepilot]

"They sound like Nexus. I've never seen one in person but they're twice as long as Teja is tall and have a tail like a double whip."

[galen_erso]

Kyber climbs into Bodhi's arms, and Teja chuckles darkly from the next bunk. "It is not the tails that would have me wary."

Beat.

"There is a child here."

A very young giggle follows.

[imthepilot]

"We have a pair in here too." He kisses the top of Kyber's head. "And apparently all the cats."

[galen_erso]

"I have a little Totila, and no cats, not even Nahts," Teja says, then gives a yawn. "And we sang long, last night."

Totila giggles; apparently, there is a pun in there, in Gothic.

[imthepilot]

"Three kittens including Nahts, two cats and the twins." Bodhi toys with the new kitten. "Anyone know what this little one is called?"

[galen_erso]

The twins giggle. "Sunshine!" says one and "She came from Agilolf's because his Mama Kitty had thirteen, and Isis still had milk," says the other.

[imthepilot]

"Is thirteen a lot of kittens? Too many to care for?" He pets the little kitten. "Hello Sunshine."

[galen_erso]

"Lots and lots and lots!" the twins declare. "So many kittens!"

Sunshine purrs and rubs her jaw on Bodhi's hand.

[imthepilot]

"Then I'm very glad Isis could help. Sunshine certainly looks like she's growing up good and strong." And affectionate.

[galen_erso]

"Now just look at you all!"

That is Gotho's voice, coming from close by.

"An infinite heap of men, children and cats, all lounging in bed while there is a beautiful morning outside, and breakfast is ready. Would any of you perhaps like a bucket of ice water poured over him for a good wake-up?"

[imthepilot]

There's a swift scampering of small children, scattering cats everywhere and Bodhi laughs, protecting Myrrh as they others bolt. "That was effective!"

He gives her a respectful smile and starts getting up. "Anything I can do to help with breakfast. Other than eat it?"

[galen_erso]

"If you have anything sweet or fruity left from your spread last night?" Gotho says, picking up little Totila from the adjacent bunk.

Teja sticks out his head, for once much less than dignified, and sporting a spectacular case of bed-head.

"Tea?"

[imthepilot]

"Yes to both." Bodhi pulls on his shirt, trying not to grin at Teja's less than kingly appearance.

He turns back to Galen, stealing a kiss. The kitchen calls. And where else would Bodhi be?

[galen_erso]

Where else indeed? Galen watches him go before he gets up and follows him out towards food, plants, and another day of being alive again.-