Mint and Honey

[heartofcourage]

Silas sat the bucket down and pulled on a pair of riding gloves, pulling out a thick chunk of meat to offer to the drake. “I’ve fed him before. It’s not scary.”

Yasmine had to chuckle at the little boy’s fearless nature. He wasn’t scared of anything and it showed as he dutifully took care of the drake that he loved so much already.

 

[KieranSoares]

Troy half-crawled forward, sniffing at the offered meat before sneezing and pulling back, refusing it outright. Instead, he nudged the bucket, seeing and smelling the rice and vegetables inside.

"I'm guessing he was rarely fed meat and now he's grown intolerant of it. It'll be a long road getting him used to it again."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Mama has a horse that can’t eat grain. We have to take special care of him.” Silas answered as he placed the meat aside and offered Troy one of the large potatoes that they had also brought. “We just have to keep trying to learn what he likes.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Troy began picking small bits out of Silas' hands until he grew bolder and took whole vegetables. Despite being unsocialized, he knew to be careful of Silas' fingers. He even let Ria step in and stroke his mane. Alex took a turnip aside to stuff it with some herbs that would help Troy's appetite. And hopefully a bigger appetite would make him less picky.

 

[heartofcourage]

Silas seemed to energize the drake slightly as the beast ate heartily when he grew bolder. When Alex stuffed a turnip with herbs, Silas turned the feeding into a game to get the drake to eat it without hesitation. He would throw the vegetable into the air for the drake to catch them. It made the little boy laugh heartily as Troy gave him a confused look or two before he caught on.

 

[KieranSoares]

Troy seemed to forget his nerves as he caught on to the game, and by the time the turnip came around, he was doing little hops to catch the food. Upon biting into the turnip, he barely caught the bitter herb flavor before he was tossed a sweet carrot and forgot all about it. He didn't quite finish the bucket before going to lay down in his little hay pile, grooming his claws and washing his face like a cat.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Grandma, can I spend the night here? Please?” Silas asked, looking up at Ria with wide eyes. “Please? Mama lets me stay with the horses all the time.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Ria considered the situation for a long moment, glancing to Alex. "Let's see how he feels about us once we finish a little grooming. We need to trim up his mane and claws and get those ragged edges off his horns."

"I need to check his teeth," Alex added. "And if we can coax him into it, a bath and brushing would be helpful."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Horns I will need someone to distract him. Think you’re up to it?” Yasmine asked as she’s pulled out her horn file and a buffing cloth. “We need to make sure that he’s not in any pain as we do this.”

“I help with the horse’s hooves all the time. I can help.” Silas promised in an instant.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll keep him still," Ria nodded. "Smooth them out and take just the sharp point off, Silas. Not unlike what they do with the bulls your father helps with." She was absolutely confident in her grandson's ability and Troy's gentle nature. With a full belly and an understanding that these people were helping him, Ria didn't foresee too much trouble.

 

[heartofcourage]

Yasmine explained to Ria the finer points of grooming a drake before she got to work on Troy’s horns. Silas stood in front of the drake, petting his maw and talking to him to keep him calm. He was doing everything he could for Troy.

 

[KieranSoares]

Troy was nervous at first, but Yasmine's experience kept her from causing any more than minor discomfort. Soon Troy barely noticed his horns being smoothed out, snuffling around Silas to get to better know the boy. Much like an untrained horse, Troy didn't appreciate his back feet being picked up for claw trimming, but he complained far less about his hands. He didn't notice his mane being trimmed, and when it came time for a bath, he just stood in the yard and enjoyed it. For being so unsocialized, he was intelligent and understanding, and protested less than some trained drakes.

Between the four of them, they managed to scrub Troy down til his scales shone in the light of the sunset, the orange clashing beautifully with his electric blue hide. His mismatched blue and green eyes seemed brighter, happy to be clean with a full belly and plenty of attention. He didn't even mind when Alex opened his jaws to check on his teeth.

"You're just like a pet, aren't you?" Alex asked with a smile, letting him pull back once he was finished. "You are socialized, just not with your own kind."

 

[heartofcourage]

“If he needs a companion, we’ll look for one as docile as he is.” Yasmine commented as she packed up her materials and made a list of things Ria would need If she were intent on keeping him. “But we’ll figure that out further down the road.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Silas should do til then," Ria smiled, ruffling Silas' hair as Troy retreated to his hay nest with a yawn.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Please, grandma? Can I stay with him tonight?” Silas asked again, the light bright in his eyes as he looked up at her.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't know..." Ria sighed, feigning indecision. As Silas' eyes grew so big and bright, she cracked a smile once more. "Oh, I suppose. But come back up to the house first and we'll gather up a few things."

Looking to Alex and Yasmine, Ria kissed each of their cheeks and pressed a few coins into their hands. "Thank you both." Before Alex could protest taking money, Ria had already turned away with Silas, closing the barn door for the moment.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Give me your coins and we’ll go buy her the tools she needs for him.” Yasmine said, taking the coins from his hand when he offered. “Then I suppose we should hurry to your mother’s house. It wouldn’t do to be late for dinner.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Viola wouldn't be very happy if we were," Alex smiled easily and followed her lead. By the time they arrived, the table was set and Viola was about to begin serving. Alex opened up the door for Yasmine and greeted his siblings first. Theo came to greet Yasmine with his usual calm, gentle smile.

"He hasn' run you off yet, I see," Theo murmured.

 

[heartofcourage]

“You’ll find that I have very stubborn blood in my veins.” Yasmine said as she hung up her warm cloak before she greeted Theo. “When I know I want something, I will never stop short of having it.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"And I'll gladly thank whoever's in charge for tha'. You an' Alex seem t'have somethin' th'other needs." Theo embraced her before going to help Viola.

"Where's Ma?" Alex asked after looking up from Ruari.

"She's been 'avin' a rough day. Went fer a nap a while ago," Theo murmured.

Alex's brows furrowed and he made his way to Valentina and Theo's room. Closing the door behind him, he saw Valentina half-sitting up trying to muster the strength and determination to get up for dinner. "... Ma?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Valentina looked as if she were in a fair bit of pain as Alex stepped into the room. She glanced towards him a found something inside of her to force a smile for her eldest child.

“I’m alright, bambino. Just a bit under the weather.” She murmured as she forced her legs over the side of the bed to stand on her own.

 

[KieranSoares]

Alex stopped her before she could rise, his hands resting on her arms before he knelt down to look up at her. "I know that look, Ma... I saw it all the time from Gran. Tell me."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Alexander, there’s nothing to be done for this. It’s something I simply have to learn to live with.” Valentina said as he insisted that she tell him what was going on.

 

[KieranSoares]

"That doesn't mean I can't help you," Alex murmured. "... I know you've been avoiding the treatments Grandpa made for Gran."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Because I don’t believe they are helping me, bambino. I’ve been treating myself with some new herbs your father has cultivated in the garden.” Valentina said softly as he gave her that worried and accusing look.