AINO
"It runs in the family," Aino informed him sourly, "so you're going to fit right in." Without batting an eye she scooted the bowl of sweets closer to Sah so he wouldn't have to stretch for them. Ilma watched the gesture but said nothing; her slow, contented smile needed no words.
"So? You're a wolf and a hunter and a mage to boot," Aino summarized, leaning back with her teacup to gaze at Sah all anew, like she had never seen him before. "Anything else you care to share? Where's the pup of yours, by the way." Looking around, she seemed to register for the first time that there was no miniature wolf lolling about on the floor and raised a brow at the young man. "Where do you live? If it's not too far, you could bring it over. It's no good leaving younglings alone."
"Aino used to have a dog," Ilma told Sah, foregoing sharpness and jest for fond reflection in one of her usual shifts in mood. "White little menace it was, but loyal like no other. No companion mind, just a regular sledding dog she was given by her pa."
"She became thirteen years old," Aino smiled, expression softening at the reminder. "I was never so happy as when I held her the first time..." Nor had she cried so much as when the dog had died. At the worst possible time, when she needed that emotional support the most. But Aino did not mention this, and for once Ilma kept quiet too; with a glance towards Sah, it might be out of respect for his fresh grief. Or her daughters. Perhaps both.
"So? You're a wolf and a hunter and a mage to boot," Aino summarized, leaning back with her teacup to gaze at Sah all anew, like she had never seen him before. "Anything else you care to share? Where's the pup of yours, by the way." Looking around, she seemed to register for the first time that there was no miniature wolf lolling about on the floor and raised a brow at the young man. "Where do you live? If it's not too far, you could bring it over. It's no good leaving younglings alone."
"Aino used to have a dog," Ilma told Sah, foregoing sharpness and jest for fond reflection in one of her usual shifts in mood. "White little menace it was, but loyal like no other. No companion mind, just a regular sledding dog she was given by her pa."
"She became thirteen years old," Aino smiled, expression softening at the reminder. "I was never so happy as when I held her the first time..." Nor had she cried so much as when the dog had died. At the worst possible time, when she needed that emotional support the most. But Aino did not mention this, and for once Ilma kept quiet too; with a glance towards Sah, it might be out of respect for his fresh grief. Or her daughters. Perhaps both.
For the good times that we share,
and the bad times that we'll have
and the bad times that we'll have
