Of the Golden Leaf

Title: Fragment

The shards of wood shattered like glass as she whittled at the long stick of yew. The arrow was finally beginning to take shape in her hands. There was a pile of them on the floor beside her, each one awaiting a simple fletching. There was a child curled up on Forfireth's lap, her small head resting against the woman's belly, and her feet dangling off the knees. She had taken to laying there whenever Forfireth whittled arrows, something about the sound lulling her into a peaceful doze.

Penanna stirred and rubbed her face against her mother's belly as she woke, proceeding to put her tiny hands flat against Forfireth's thighs and push herself to sit upright, feet continuing to dangle.

“Ma?” she chimed quietly, her gaze peering upwards past the shaft of wood to Forfireth's face.

“Yes, dear one?” Forfireth continued slicing slivers of the yew off the branch, carefully turning it as she did. “Baby?” Forfireth smiled warmly and looked past the arrow to kiss her daughter's hair. “Soon.” She lent back up and caught glimpse of the pout on the small face, small limbs wriggling impatiently. “Will you be strong for your baby sibling?” Penanna's nose and mouth wrinkled in contemplation before she cheerfully pressed her cheek to her mother's belly. “I promise!” She replied, gently squishing the round warm belly and fell quiet again for some time, naught but the sound of whittling filling the room.

“Windy?” Penanna asked after a time. She was still young and had not quite mastered her words, though sometimes she surprised both her parents by speaking as if she were many years older than she actually was. 'Outside' was one of the few words that yet eluded her, but luckily her mother knew what she asked. She and the wind were apparently friends. Forfireth smiled and set the would-be arrow and whittling knife into the pocket on her tunic, then gathered Penanna up against her pregnant belly. Penanna grasped onto strands of her mother's long hair while Forfireth carried her outside into the afternoon sun.

Aliond was tending to their herb garden per his usual routine. Penanna enjoyed watching him and foraging anything he tidied up with no fear. All insects and potentially prickly weeds were fair game to her curiosity. Forfireth usually sat out and watched them, but lately she had been spending more time indoors, close as she was to bringing her second child into the world.

Penanna was all limbs as she wriggled herself free of her mother's grasp and waddled excitedly off towards Aliond like a brave explorer. Forfireth was slightly terrified of the day her daughter would discover she could climb trees; if their games were anything to go by 'too high' was not a concept Aliond nor Penanna fully grasped. Forfireth sat herself down on the stone edge of the well and watched her family with adoration.

Aliond's bare feet and ankles were muddied and adorned in strands of foliage, much to Penanna's delight. The child was peeling blades of grass from his dark skin while he chuckled from the ticklish sensation. One tickled him so vigorously that he turned while crouched and lazily attempted to capture her in his long muscular arms, but the child ducked and scurried like a mouse into the herb bush at the base of the golden-leafed tree, giggles giving away her every location. A minute later she strolled out of the herb bush as if she were a lady of leisure walking through Gridania, and presented her clasped hands to her father. There were leaves and twigs aplenty now tucked into her creamy hair, mud smeared her skin and there were grass stains on her pale blue dress. Was that a rip? Heavens forfend, this child is a wild creature indeed, thought Forfireth. Aliond sat himself down on the ground, crossing his legs until his culottes rode up, exposing just how far up his calves the mud and foliage stuck to his skin. He held his hands delicately under Penanna's, ready to accept whatever she had as if it were a precious jewel. She held her hands over his proudly and opened them to reveal a butterfly. She had captured it so gently that it didn't even more as the air shifted around it with the opening of her palms. Aliond beamed at her and turned her around by her middle to sit her in his lap, they admired the butterfly together. Forfireth closed her eyes and listened to them talking; Aliond carefully choosing words he knew his daughter would understand and Penanna responding in the few words she knew. The sun crested over the golden-leaf tree in the garden and the wind picked up, she heard Penanna cheer “Friend Windy!” and opened her eyes in time to see Penanna jumping in her father's lap as golden leaves descended around them. Something a bit sturdier landed atop Penanna's head, she pulled it forth unconcerned and held it out curiously. Aliond chuckled and gathered his daughter up, carrying her over to Forfireth, legs wiggling in the air. “Our daughter has acquired something interesting.” His deep, melodic voice was still as entrancing to Forfireth's ears as it ever was. She held her arms out as he set their daughter down on the grass between them and Penanna presented what had landed upon her head.

“Gift from friend Windy!” It was a branch-end from their golden tree; one twig that split into three, each end holding its own, singular, golden leaf. “How auspicious.” Forfireth chimed, leaning forward as best she could around her belly to inspect the gift. “A lucky branch.” She said and pointed to herself, Aliond and Penanna in turn, verbally counting to three, then pointed to the ends of the twig, counting once more to three. “Make a wish, little explorer!” Aliond held his daughter's middle with both his large hands, his dark hair almost curtaining her from the sun as she looked over the twig and its three symbolically sized leaves. Her small face contorted in concentration as she thought hard what wish to make.

Suddenly her face beamed, and she shook the twig vigorously like a wand in the air, aiming it at her mother. Forfireth laughed warmly, holding her arms wide to avoid being thwapped by the branch-end, and Aliond tilted his head back, chuckling at his child's logic; Wishes meant Wands. “Baby!” Penanna cheered, still aiming the prospective wand at her mother. “Baby, baby!” Both Forfireth and Aliond looked down at her pregnant belly and smiled wide. She would certainly get her wish.

“Wish granted!” Aliond chimed, stilling his daughter's flailing arms with gentleness before he hugged her firmly around her middle. She giggled at first but stopped suddenly, looking down at her hand. Perceptive as ever, Forfireth leaned and took hold of the 'wand' from Penanna and looked at the small hand. “What is it, love?” Forfireth squinted and saw it in Penanna's palm.

“Ah, a splinter in her palm.” They both adjusted, expecting Penanna to begin crying and struggling at any moment while Forfireth set the wand down, and brushed off her fingers to remove the splinter. But Penanna did neither of those things. “I can do it on my own.” She freed her hand from her mother's grasp, stepped back and put her palm to her mouth. Aliond opened his eyes wide but daren't try to stop her. Both parents watched in anticipation while Penanna's small mouth worked at the splinter without fuss, and after a moment, drew her hand away, splinter-free. She used her other hand to collect the splinter from her mouth. She looked at it curiously, Forfireth and Aliond exchanging dazzled expressions. She was most certainly their child.

Title: Tranquil

It was the sound of the curtains ruffling in the breeze that woke him. The Beige linen was stiffer than most fabrics and it crinkled dully like honey wrap as the wind blew against it through the open window. Renthalion opened his green eyes slowly, not reluctant nor tired, but calm, feeling the weight of Carlisle against his side, and the blankets piled over them both.

He ran his tongue over his teeth and tilted his head to gaze at his young lover. The red-head was curled up like a cat, his hand draped over Renthalion's chest, his other close to his own collar. He had snuggled his nose into the crook of Renthalion's neck and was snoring quietly; it almost sounded like a cats’ purr. There was an actual cat curled up between their hips under the blankets, but which one he did not know, they were all just as likely to clamber under when the fireplace simmered down and the cottage became cold at night.

Renthalion tipped his head to place a lingering kiss on Carlisle's brow, the younger male did not move, but hummed appreciatively. The elezen carefully detangled himself from the freckled youth, peach limbs against dusky copper, bare and warm in the morning sunlight. Carlisle shifted slightly as Renthalion moved, but the elezen tucked the blankets up against his side and the hyur contented. A faint meow came from under the blankets as the cat there likely nestled against Carlisle's stomach, mutual enjoyment of the warmth they were under.

Smiling, Renthalion stretched his limbs; curling his toes, flexing his thighs and reaching his arms high above his head. No matter how badly made their bed was, he always slept soundly there, he enjoyed the feel of the stretches, releasing any latent tension from the days before. He gathered up his long kilt and wound it twice around his bare torso, tying it in place with the attached sash as he slipped his feet into his leather sandals. The soles had formed perfectly to the shape of his feet now after many months of use, and he wondered how much longer they would last before he had to ask Penanna to refurbish them once more.

A cat curled about his ankles once his sandals were in place and he was tying the sash to his kilt tightly. He whispered a quiet 'Good Morning' and stroked the end of the Tabby's upright tail. The feline followed him out the front door and onto the porch, well accustomed to his morning routine now. But today, Renthalion intended on breaking it.

Ordinarily the elezen would water the plants before the sun fully crested over the cottage and its heat increased, he would set out food and water for the local fauna – the cats included – and then he would check on the herb garden and the bee hive both, collecting ingredients for breakfast as he did. But today, as he stood on the porch and rested his bare arms on the fence, a bee lazily bumbled in front of him. It was dusted in thick globs of golden pollen and smelled distinctly of the lavender they'd been growing. It was bumbling so slowly that Renthalion lifted a hand, his bracelets chiming with the movement, and set it in the Bee's path gently. The insect did not hesitate and alighted on the back of the elezen's hand.

The bee's thorax flexed as it assessed the surface it had landed upon, and when it realised renthalion was in fact, not a flower, it relaxed, and casually waddled its way up his arm, across his collar and onto his bare chest. Renthalion chuckled, watching the Bee with quiet curiosity, he did not feel compelled to hurry the Bee along, so he camly stepped backwards, sat down on the bench in front of the window, and got comfortable.

He found himself watching the Bee as it settled on the apex of his chest, probably enjoying the heat and thumping there from his heart. Slowly the creature's thorax slowed its moving, and the creature seemed to sleep. Had Renthalion not known better, he might've thought it dead, but he was accustomed to finding the buzzing insects loitering in the most interesting places about the cottage, napping in between their hard work of pollen collection and honey production.

Carlisle had been afraid of them at first; panicking when one became stuck in the wooden window frame, it's large leg caught in a gap between the glass and the oak. It's buzzing had become louder as it had become more agitated. Carlisle had feared its sting, but Renthalion curled his hand around Carlisle's and offered a small twig of herbs to the insect. The Bee grasped on desperately and pulled itself free, instantly calming, it's anxious buzzing ceasing. It had waddled down the stick and nestled in between their hands for a minute, catching its breath, before it waddled back out once more and flew away. Carlisle's fear had softened after that, realising that they were often called Bumbling for a very good reason.

Renthalion's green eyes half closed as he watched the Bee napping silently on his chest, and while he felt no need to sleep further, he found himself dozing off in the sun. the feel of a small creature on his chest, the sun on his face, birds chirping and water flowing, his partner sleeping indoors. He almost lamented sleeping this moment away, until he felt Carlisle's body next to his on the bench, wrapped in one of the blankets from the bed, he laid his bare legs over Renthalion's lap, and they dozed off together.

Title: Thief. (Note: I wanted to try and emulate the ridiculousness of the original 90s anime series in this, like so: )

Limsa's port was bustling as usual. A handful of ships had just docked and there were different crews rushing to and fro offloading cargo, finding buyers, and relocating goods before the Yellowjackets came looking.

Usagi had been waiting specifically for a certain ship. A ship she knew had crossed the exact bearing that her ship had been at during Carteneau. She imagined many ships had crossed that route since then, but this had been the first she'd manage to catch at port. On the off-chance they had found anything; wreckage, items, remains ... she needed to know.

"Here I am, the beautiful thief Usagi Hood." From behind the scarf over her head her eyes skimmed the crates being offloaded, scanning each logo and any items hanging out until she spotted it. The logo of the Doe's Justice. Once upon a time she had known the Captain of the Doe, but she hadn't checked to see if she still was the captain. Noble Doe was her name, and she was a rather good pirate, of course she was a bloody scoundrel too, but what pirate wasn't?

Usagi scooted behind stacked crates and peered between gaps as she stalked her way towards the Doe. Some of the crates beside the gangplank were overfilled and had no lids; an opportunity for her to mooch.

"My my, a rabbit seems to have fallen inta me pond." All at once the scarf tied under her nose was torn away from her, and two strong hands urged her out into the open by her shoulders. Usagi turned herself about and looked up into the familiar face of Noble Doe. "What're ye doin' here, wee rabbit?" Usagi beamed at the Roegadyn who spun the headscarf she'd claimed around in the air. Usagi got properly to her feet and practically leaned against Doe, fawning up at her mock-affectionately.

"You sailed through a certain area with shipwrecks didn't you?" Doe paused, her gaze flicking upwards as she slowly realised what area it was Usagi was referring to, her spinning of the scarf slowly stopped, and she tucked the scarf into her own collar; a pirate's reward for catching Usagi-hood.

"Ye mean the area I thought ye died at? Aye, we did. What of it?" Usagi let the theft of the scarf slide – whatever made Doe more likely to give her information was fair game, especially when it was an item she herself had lifted from someone's pocket.

"What did you find?" There was no negotiation room in the firm tone of Usagi's voice

"I kent ye weren't dead. Folk said they saw ye, crawlin' up the shore days later like a wyrm. I ken ye'd might come asking."

"What about the others?" Doe shook her head solemnly

"No bodies, on shore nor sea," a pause, then she smiled "I ken they're alive too, wee rabbit. They're just not here." She looked over Usagi ponderously. It was hard to resist that sickeningly sweet pleading smile at the worst of times, and this was not one of them. But that didn't mean she couldn't have fun with her.

"I'll give ye the crate of their things wee rabbit, if ye can beat me at Cups." Doe didn't wait for a response, she was already setting out three clay cups atop the crate she'd been leaning against

"You're a scoundrel!" Usagi wailed, sinking against the crate as though she were a deflated balloon, mock sobbing. In reality she had both expected this and hoped against it.

"...Pirate." To think a pirate like Doe would give up plunder without anything in return, Usagi might as well think she could bake a perfect cake - and there was absolutely no chance of that on any world that existed.

"Same thing!" Doe smirked coolly and put a single gold coin down atop the crate, letting Usagi note its position before she put one of the cups over it.

Doe shuffled the cups around atop the crate, Usagi's eyes trained on the one she knew the coin was under. She'd never focused so hard on any one thing before; he could feel her eyes crossing and her head spinning. Doe was laughing as she moved the cups around and watched Usagi's expression, shuffling them for a minute more before she slowed and set the three cups perfectly in line.

Usagi concentrated, narrowing her still-spinning eyes at the cups; Doe had never seen her so focused, but she had never been unfortunate enough to have lost what Usagi had. The miqo'te leaned closer to the cups and there was a long moment in which nothing happened and the blonde was so still that Doe thought perhaps she'd fallen asleep – it wouldn't have been the first time.

All of a sudden, as Doe was about to poke Usagi to life, the shorter woman snatched a cup from atop the crate with the speed of someone attempting to catch a bug. There, glittering in the morning light was the single gold coin.

“Hoo hoo, never under-estimate the beautiful thief Usagi Hood! Sharpest eyes on the sea!” She was insufferable when victorious.

“Aye aye, dinnae gloat.” Doe coolly claimed the cup back from Usagi's hand, setting it down upright on the crate and withdrawing her flask from her belt, proceeding to pour the alcohol into the clay cup. “I'm a woman of me word. I'll have me firs' mate offload yer crate of goodies. I hope it helps ye find 'em.” She took a bold mouthful of whatever alcohol it was from the cup and the extended it to Usagi while she swallowed. Usagi was smarter than she once was, she knew it wasn't fruit juice, but still she took the glass and drank a smaller mouthful – being drunk on the dock would not be ideal.

"An when ye get a new ship I'll be happy ta trade wit' ye. Whatever daft thing ye call it." Doe leaned her elbow on the crate grinning as Usagi swallowed with a pained expression.

"The Rabbit's Justice?" Doe'd never liked any of Usagi's ship names, she doubted that would change any time soon.

Title: Infirmity

The candlelight reflected off the water ripples as the droplets fell from the cloth back into the bowl. Penanna squeezed her small hands around the linen and flattened it out, drawing some of the chill from it before she placed it on Lairireau's forehead. Her little sister's fever still hadn't broken. Their Grandfather had no sooner set the fruit he'd fetched down on the table before he was out the door again, seeking out the Conjurer's. Lairireau's temperature had been high for a few days before it had finally broken like a dam. Now her small body was trembling, sweating from the fever but she was adamant that she was freezing no matter how many blankets they piled atop her. The cooling cloth was having little effect, but Penanna had to do something. She was not like their brother; she could not sleep in her bed as if nothing were wrong. She doubted a stampede of Nanny's would wake him at this point. But Penanna felt the guilt of an older sibling. It had been she and Fend who had gotten ill first. She had surpassed it quickly while Fend was only just beginning to act like himself once more. But her sister's small body had bore the full brunt of the illness, making it twice as strong in her as it had been in them. "Did you see?" Lairireau's small voice disturbed the silence.  Her deep blue eyes peered out from under the cloth, every time Penanna looked into them she saw her father. She hoped Lairireau was as strong as her father. "See what, little bird?" The older child dabbed her sister's forehead gently, brushing dark bluish-brown strands of hair aside before they could stick to the clammy skin.

"The hole in the wall, downstairs. There's a bird nesting..." Penanna could not help but smile in response to the expression of glee on Lai's small face. Ill as she was, she would not let that stop her from enjoying the small things. "A sparrow, I think. She had eggs." "She must have heard your singing and knew she was amongst strong friends and would be safe here" Penanna lifted the cloth gently from Lai's forehead and set it down beside the bowl, turning back to brush her head over her sister's hair. Perhaps the fever was beginning to lessen? She was still shivering and sweating, but Penanna had hope.

"My singing wouldn't tell her that. She must have seen you." Penanna tilted her head, her hand pausing in its stroking of the dark hair. "I'm not as strong as you... as Momma." She wheezed a small breath and closed her eyes for a moment while her lungs remembered how to breathe. Penanna shook her head.

"Don't be silly, Lai. You're strong too; you take after Pappa don't forget. You'll see. It's only a little sickness. You'll be singing at that Sparrow before I will. " Lairireau smiled meekly, her eyes slowly closing again as she drifted off into slumber.  Penanna sighed gently and reached for the cloth again, willing her grandfather to return soon with a healer.