I like Butter

Writers: Emma, Paula
Date Posted: 3rd January 2006

Characters: Miranek, Aivorn
Description: Miranek takes his youngest son to see the Hall canines
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 9, day 3 of Turn 3

Aivorn had taken the hold's canines for a long walk. Especially those canines that lived in kennel were delighted with a change to run free and chase critters (and occassional ovines.) Even the most freedom-crazed still obeyed instantly the master beastcrafter's sharp whistles. When they returned, they found the hold's courtyard filled with small children.
Children all wanted to pet and play with the canines. Aivorn allowed it, but stayed to keep an sharp eye on children and canines. He instantly intervened if the romping around got too rough.

"I like that one Da!" Valnek said, pointing at a small puppy. The canine in question had golden hair, and floppy ears, and truly was adorable, especially to a small child. "He's lovely."

"'He' might be a girl," said Miranek gently.

"It's a him. We call him Butter," Aivorn told.

"Can I pet him? Please Da?" asked the youngster.

"If Master Aivorn says you can," replied the healer, acknowledging the Beastcrafter.

"Sure you can, if yo do it nicely, not like him," Aivorn replied and pointed. He stepped to intervene. "Don't pull his ear, lad. Would you like it if I was trying to rip of YOUR ear? Play nicely or don't play att all,"
he scolded a boy who had been too rough with one of the canines.

The boy ran off to pet the animal, clearly besotted with him.

"He likes that one," said the healer stating the obvious. "Do you know who owns him?"

"Well, no one particulary, he's hold's property. We're training him to be a herder," Aivorn answered.

"It's just Valnek there, well he's been nattering at us to get him a puppy, or a kitten. He want's a pet, because the people in the cot next door have a puppy."

"Well, pets mean responsibility. You just don't get one because someone else has. Most of these live ten to fifteen turns and they need to be taken care.
Trained, cured when they get sick and loved." The master beastcrafter's voice was serious. He hated to see people take pets and then abandon them when they became difficult.

"We had a long talk about that last night. He knows that he'd have to look after it, we told him we would help, but that he would have to feed it, walk it and make sure any pet was okay."

"How old he is?" Aivorn wasn't very good at quessing children's age. He could tell how old a runner was just by looking at it but children? "The novelty soon wears off when he have to take it out in a cold rain or his mam yells because the dog threw up on carpet."

"He's five, but his older brother, who's nearly eleven is just as keen."

"Well, they your children, and you know best if they can handle being responsible for other living being."

"Ranval, my elder boy can, he's a good lad. Got a good head on his shoulders."

Aivorn just nodded. One of the canines was exhausted with the play and came to sit with Aivorn. He scratched it's ears almost absently.

"If you know of any puppies, I'd appreciate it if you could let me know."

"Well, except for Butter and his litter there's no cubs at the moment. But there will be few in a few months."

"Valnek?" Miranek called his son over, the lad was entranced with the pup.

"Da, did you ask him? Can I take him home?"

"Lad, that pup is lived whole his life in a kennel, he's not exactly housebroken," Aivorn warned.

"Awwww," the little boy looked crushed. "What's that mean?"

"He's a working dog, not a pet. But he's young and can be trained. You have to ask what your parents think."

"Not a pet? Are all of them like that?"

"Yes, all of these are work canines. But if you're patient, some of them will have litters soon and you can pick up one of them. Then it can become a pet," Aivorn explained.

The lad nodded, "I can wait."

Aivorn looked Miranek questioningly. It was his decicion after all, as a father.

"Then we'll wait."

Aivorn nodded. "Ginger, Butter's older sibling, is going to have her first litter in few sevendays. The pups should look much like Butter. I send you a word when they born and you can come to take a look and maybe reserve a pup for yourself. Then it takes 8 - 12 sevendays more before the pup is old enough to be separated from it's dam."

Valnek looked so excited. "Can we come back then? Da? Please?"

"Yes, and we'll bring Ranval as well."

"Well, that's settled then. Now I have to take this pack to be fed," Aivorn said and whistled. The canines gathered around him.

"Say thank you to the Master for letting you see the canines."

"Thank you Master Aivorn," said the little boy.

"You're welcome, laddy." Aivorn smiled at the boy. Sometimes he wished he had sons too. Not that he would have changed Aishara to anyone but he would have liked few more...

Last updated on the January 3rd 2006

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I like Butter