WC:000+
PP with Gemma and Tawny approved beforehand. It's mid-morning at this point.
Matteo would've loved to not work that day. He'd been so busy lately that time with the family was rare now. Alaki wasn't all that free either, constantly working now that he'd made it to his top rank. Camilla was gone most of the day, trying to figure out which rank tier she'd take up. He was left to himself, his job not really requiring he leave the den very often anyway.
Which sucked. Royally. Before, he had to spend time at the Stables every day. Now, he had nothing to do except read, practice and read some more.
Luckily Tawny was with him. He'd found a reason to leave the den at least, so the two had dressed (Teo had requested it of the girl, still not entirely okay with women going nude) and headed out to the storage caves. While there, Teo explained some of the herbs he grabbed to Tawny, though he was sure his babble went over her head sometimes.
On their way back to the den, the two dropped by the kitchen, grabbing some cooked meat for lunch and refilling some bottles with water. It wasn't until Matteo and Tawny were in the main hall that Teo's mood finally caved...
It was Gemma, heading back to her den with Jaden in her arms. She'd spotted him staring and her only response was a cruel show of teeth, a tight grip on her pup and a quickened pace. It broke his heart all over again. The rest of the trip back to the den was in awkward, heavy silence.
He pushed open the door with a loaded sigh, placing his bag down on the table in the living area. Mornings like this... He mumbled under his breath, not at all happy with how easily she'd effected him yet again. The sight of Jaden sparked various emotions and thoughts as it was, but when Gemma's hatred was mixed in, Teo felt beaten.
That same loaded sigh was uttered again as he sat down in the old recliner, the one with a side table and oil lamp beside it. He clicked his tongue softly, looking across at the satchel he'd set down and wondering numbly where he'd be putting everything he'd grabbed. Did herbs need to be kept cool?
