a nervous tic motion of the head to the left

Theodoric Martin · 10-19-2010, 09:42 PM

[html]

sure! does the 12th or 13th work? (wc: 453)

About a week had passed since Theodoric had become a Gatlvska in the AniWaya tribe. Other than unpacking his looms, however, the Scottish luperci hadn’t done much weaving yet. There was much to be done: turn an empty hut into a home, help with the harvest, and enjoy the last bits of warm weather. While he was trying to make it to the working fields daily, the majority of his time was spent at his new home in the village. He’d spent the first day cleaning the slightly neglected building from top to bottom (he was a bachelor, but he was a fastidious one), and in the following days made what repairs he could (he wasn’t a carpenter, but he knew which end of the hammer to hold).

By now, he had unpacked all that he had brought with him and made the things that he could. There was now distinction between kitchen, workroom, and sleeping quarters. A sturdy post for the eagle owl Wynne stood in the corner of the main room, and a thick blanket made from the Martin clan’s signature weave hung across the doorway. The overall effect was somewhat austere and definitely lacked a lady’s touch, but it was comfortable enough.

Theodoric began the day by writing long overdue letters. His script tended to be ill-formed and his vocabulary somewhat terse, but he wrote willingly enough. The Martin had few friends and family that would miss him, but those that did would at least be sincere about it. His younger sisters especially ought to know he was safe and sound – and if they could get him a shipment of wool before the weather turned, all the better. At this point, Theo hadn’t yet considered how the letters were to be delivered, but that would be a task for another day.

His correspondence completed, Wynne made it known that the simple viand she’d eaten at breakfast had not satisfied her hunger. In response, Theodoric laced a leather bracer on his left wrist, threw on a cloak, and carried the owl outside. She took off hunting, her wingbeats silent in the autumn air. He followed at a distance, eager for the excuse to stretch his legs. By the time the duo reached the Adagio Creek, the bird was on her third vole of the day. While she fed in the treetops, Theodoric made his way to the river’s edge; he had always enjoyed watching the flow of the water. With some surprise, he noticed another AniWayan at the waterside. “Hello,” he called out in greeting. “I hope I’m not intruding?” If Theo hadn’t expected company all the way out here, perhaps this fellow hadn’t either – and maybe that was the point.

Login




Remember me Lost Password?