#mede

The older woman took a moment to wipe a few stray tears from her eyes with the back of her hand, finishing up her task by ladling a thick, meaty stew over a bed of fresh, fragrant rice—paired with fresh cheese pedha. It’s a simple dish meant to fill the belly; certainly filling enough for Terbish to eat on her own and C’ohna to finish up over the course of a few days. The wooden bowl is passed to the little girl, who eagerly bounds over to the low table and settles on a cushion. The Seeker limps her way over after her granddaughter, setting the fresh pedha and a generous cup of juice next to it for Terbish to enjoy.

<“Wait for it to cool or you’ll burn your tongue, Starshine.”>

<“Kaaayyyy….”> Ah, to be a child again.

C’ohna hummed to herself as she limped away from the low table to the couch nearby, leaning over with a grunt to scoop her arms around Mede and pull him up against her chest. The toddler was in the land between hungry and sleepy, so she knew that feeding him would surely end in sleep. Bottles were pre-prepped through the day by C’tolemy for her to use, along with the occasional treat of solid foods she knew he could eat. With the little boy tucked against her chest with a bottle in his hands, she transitioned back to the table while Terbish was just starting to set into dinner.

All manner of discussion came up around the table; What the best and prettiest flowers were, what Terbish’s favorite color was, what the little girl wanted to do that day, who she was friends with out of the children in the tribe, what she wanted to try on her own, what she wanted for a sweet snack later, what games she wanted to play with this Mel-odee. All of the idea and hopes and dreams of a little girl in a safe place, entertained by her grandmother who cared so deeply about her wishes and wants.

All that the little girl wanted for, C’ohna did her best to provide—though some things were off the table and she was as firm as she could be about those things when they came up. Terbish would wilt and C’ohna would cover her in loud, wet kisses just to get the little girl giggling and flailing about. It was routine—homely. It reminded her when her own home was bustling full of loud, excitable cubs that could chatter on for hours and she would gladly sit there and listen to every second of it.

It didn’t take long for Terbish to finish her meal, for Mede to be fast asleep and for C’ohna to give the little girl the all clear to go out and play in the sun. She was out the door in moments, joyously bouncing and calling to the children below who bounced and called back to her—delighted to see their strange but wonderful friend come out to play. The older woman tucked Mede into an easy sling about her front and made her way out of her cavern home into the sunlight, unable to keep the bright smile from her face.

She would never be able to repay her sons for giving her such a precious gift—this she knew to be fact.

<“Badi-maa! Come on!”>

C’ohna tossed her head back in a delighted laugh, following after Terbish in her usual lumbering way—one hand stroking Mede’s back through the sling while he slept.

<“I’m coming, I’m coming!”>