A Rose In Every Cheek [Ylva]

[Thora Heavenshield]

The mission to wake her big brother 'Ooo' had failed, as it did every morning but Thora would never give up on him bundled up in his bedding furs and serpents and pups. 'Ooo' was not a morning person, he could not even speak but only in grunts and strange noises but somehow Thora understood them and although she wanted more than anything to play with him, she had learned that this did not happen until late in the day. What she believed to be late in the day, which was actually after Sun up.

Thora was a big girl now, she had her own bed and everything! without bars, as the parents decided that it was safer for her not to have them, since there had been many an accident as she tried to climb out. There was only the faintest of light streaming through the windows on the upper level, the sky blue black as the stars started to fade away but it was enough light to see her way to the stairs. They were still a little scary to her, it looked to be such a long way down when standing at the top but where there is a will, there is a way.

So turning, Thora crawled down them backward, one step at a time, until reaching the safety of the wooden floors below. There was no reason for her to head to the kitchen, although hungry, preparing food was someone else's job. Mostly mama or papa or Ooo but there was always snacks to be had in the pet bowls, so she would not want for anything.

Her objective was the front doors, and once back on her feet she ran to them, reached for the handle only to discover they are locked again. One day ... one day they will make a mistake, she just had to be patient.

Foiled again boredom set in.

The central hearth fire had long gone out, so there was no fun to be had playing with fire, but her eyes lighted on a stick which was destined for the flames but it would prove to be something of use to her now. The protective grill around the hearth designed to keep out trouble makers had a rather melodic ring to it as the stick grated long it's full length, up and down the melody rang and loud throughout the halls of New Himmeldal, followed by a chorus of giggles of delight.

[member="Ylva Heavenshield"] ​

 

[Ylva Heavenshield]

Someone had lied to her, telling Ylva Heavenshield about the beauty of having Children and how wonderful it all was. That had all sounded great and what not, but they neglected to tell her about the little horrors that a little one could get into. Little Thora Heavenshield was by far, no exception to the fact; only yesterday had she somehow managed to lock herself within the cooling unit for frozen goods. Thankfully her Mother had the insight to track her down using the Force and avoid her daughter getting a terrible cold over her antics. There was also the matter of the doors to the residence, having to be locked every time you enter and every time again when you leave, all so Thora couldn't escape out into the big unknown, full of creatures that weren't the petting type.

New Himmeldal was thankfully a very close knit community and Ylva was soon learning to recite peoples names off the top of her head, they all recognizing her immediately for her wedding Théodred. It had been quite astonishing actually, how much people had changed towards her the moment they learned that she had entered into the great house presiding over Midvinter...-And by some ungodly and infernal racket coming from the hearth room, they'd have no trouble finding out where she lived.

"Thora..." Ylva spoke up loudly above the sound of the little one's stick being driven back and fourth across the fireplace mantle, "That is not a toy" she frowned, moving to take hold of the stick, looking down at her daughter with a wary smile. "One of these days you're going to hurt yourself here. The Hearth is a dangerous place for little peoples".

 

[Thora Heavenshield]

Mustering all the innocence in the world, Thora stood with her hands tucked behind her back sway on the stop as her mother took away her toy, the desired effect achieved and now Thora was not alone in this very big Hall. She loved it here, there was so many places in which she could hide, but mother and father and even Ooo knew how to find her, which was something Thora could not work out. Some how they knew all the time! as if something or someone was telling on her.

"Fun", she pointed to the hearth and it's grill, and it was fun to make such a noise although no one else could understand it. Yet mama seemed to be upset by it, so Thora wrapped her small arms around her mother's legs and cuddled them.

"eckfast Mama?", she looked up into her mother's face hopeful as Thora was mighty hungry. Life was all about running, it got you to places quickly so you didn't miss anything! So Thora leg go of her mother's leg and ran into the kitchen, the place of food. And she tripped over something, her own feet probably as there was nothing on the floor to assist in the trip.

She laid splayed on the floor in shock at the sudden interruption to progress and was not sure what to think of it, or do about it. Her first natural reaction was to cry, it did hurt her knees and hands as she landed but not enough for that. She turned to look at her mother, maybe she knows what to do, wide watery eyes looked up with quivering lips.

[member="Ylva Heavenshield"] ​

 

[Ylva Heavenshield]

The moment [member="Thora Heavenshield"] tripped herself and fell to the floor, Ylva's heart skipped a beat, her pace quickening with sudden anxiety before she consciously sought to swallow back her instinctive fear for the little one. Thora looked up to her Mother in shock, the look of fear that typically led to crying immediately after. She was looking for an answer, anything that might tell her what had just happened and how to go from there. Ylva grinned to herself and lowered herself to crouch upon the tips of her feet, arms resting upon her knees as she looked to Thora apparently pleased with the moment they shared, whether it was her love for her daughter or the fact that this was one of her first lessons in finding her own strength, Ylva's head tilted slightly as she questioned her girl.

"Uh oh..." She whispered, "What happened?" she smirked. Ylva had no intention of helping Thora up, even though she were so young, she was in a far more cherished upbringing than her Mother had back at that age; Coupled with the fact that she wasn't seriously hurt, Ylva could see that it was more the shock of what'd happened that had the wee one in such a state. "Where'd your feet go?" she added gently, a suddenly wide-eyed mock-expression of shock and awe offered in exchange for Thora's own confusion, soon to shift to a smile and even a quiet little laugh escaping her lips.

"Breakfast is this way, little one" Ylva spoke with a bit more strength and confidence as she rose back to her feet and moved to step over and passed her daughter as if the whole affair was nothing to be concerned about, a means of not giving too much attention to an accident that might otherwise encourage fear and crying were she to smother or crowd her Daughter in concern. Moving into the Kitchen, she'd look to the fridge, half expecting little Thora to already be on her heels.

 

[Thora Heavenshield]

Her mama was being silly, even though Thora knew that she still looked down her legs to make sure her feet where still there, and she pointed that out to her mama just in case she was upset by it. There was no over concern for what just happened, so it must not be important to have tripped over and there was no reason to cry after all, now she knew what to do if it ever happened again. At least if it did not hurt all that much, serious injury well that would be a free for all with tears and wailing. Thora got to her feet again, although a small tear did escape her watery eyes but that was mostly cause they sat there ready, and proceeded to follow her mama to the ice box.

There was nothing in it that looked appetitising, nothing ready to be grabbed and eaten immediately, no cake or sweeties, so Thora wondered what eckfast would be. Probably something healthy, whatever that meant.

The crunching of snow outside the window of the kitchen caught her attention and Thora ran to the window, knowing who it was. " 'molfy", she called out to the giant wolf as she opened the window to let in the cold morning air. Thora had zero fear of Molfy, having been introduced to him as a baby and grew up with him around. The wolf had a strong sense of protection for Thora which she did not understand why or how it came about but Molfy would let her do anything around him, to him until such time as he grew tired of her pulling his ears and he would growl telling Thora he had had enough of the game. But he would never hurt her.

The big white head of the wolf popped up to the window and pushed in smelling Thora's nose which made her giggle as his nose was wet and cold and tickled against her own. She took hold of the fur around his neck and tried with all her might to pull him into the kitchen through the window, but he did not move. "Molfy eckfast", she tried to tell him.

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[member="Ylva Heavenshield"]​

 

[Ylva Heavenshield]

Most people were afraid of Bjomolf, the great wolf was more beast than canine, and yet little [member="Thora Heavenshield"] loved him dearly. Ylva had raised the Ice Wolf since he were a pup, though large enough already to cause her to struggle with carrying the thing, Bjomolf now easily stood higher than [member="Théodred Heavenshield"], and that was when he was on all fours. He was a beat bred to be mounted and rode into battle, yet he was also a beautiful creature of the wilds in Ylva's eyes and she loved the Wolf all the same. Thora hadn't been sheltered from the creature, in order to encourage her to be familiar with animals and to learn to respect their boundaries as she grew in age and in mind. When she had been born, Bjomolf had been immediately protective of her and Ylva had often wondered whether it was a case of Thora's scent having come from she herself or whether it was just a heart felt connection, perhaps both but it meant that her daughter would have a life long companion in Bjomolf just as she and Théodred did nowadays. Amusingly, Théo had been rather nervous the first few times they had met, though he hadn't soiled himself like most others did.

Watching as Thora attempted to pull Bjomolf through the window, she laughed quietly to herself as he daughter found herself trying to conquer the learning of size, body mass and weight. Every day brought new learning and challenges for the little one and it was a marvel to watch her explore her limits and expand her little mind through each little experience. Ylva wasn't the helicopter type of Mother that hung around Thora's every move out of want to keep her safe, she encouraged independence and the learning of her own strengths, yet she also made sure that Thora knew just how loved she was; giving her cuddles and all the attention she could offer during the days now on break from her training under Coci. Priorities meant that her learning of the Force could wait, her Daughter came first even before her Husband and Théo understood that, though he never lacked the support and love from Ylva as a Wife and his lover.

"Come now Thora, Breakfast" Ylva called gently to her daughter, placing a small bowl of oatmeal upon the table. It was easy to eat, and also easy to make a hell of a mess of as Thora had demonstrated often, though it was also the type of meal that gave her daughter all her daily needs to keep her strong and alert.

 

[Thora Heavenshield]

Molfy had his breakfast already, although Thora did not know this, and besides if she was to suffer the steaming bowl of oatmeal placed on the table for her, he was too. Thora gave up, he just would not budge and once she let go of his fur, Molfy turned and went on his merry way back into the forest happy knowing that the family was safe inside. Meanwhile, Thora climbed into her chair at the kitchen table in vain hope that something else might be in her bowl but alas no. What she would give for one of ganpapario's ice creams right about now, he knew how to feed a kid.

Thora was starting to know her own mind, and strength therein. She pushed her bowl away untouched and sat back with her eyes firmly fixed on her mother, "No o'meal", she said testing the waters. Her mama always spoke to her about how good for her health this stuff was, which Thora did not doubt, but every day!???

"You eat", she said pushing it further up the table to her mama's place. To be honest, Thora did not know what to expect next, she was hungry she knew that, but would her mama give her something else. She looked at her mama with big blue eyes all innocence of a child, as much as this child could muster. "Icky balls?", she asked finally testing her luck. Mama had to know about Icky balls so maybe she had some in the pantry.

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[member="Ylva Heavenshield"]​

 

[Ylva Heavenshield]

[member="Thora Heavenshield"]'s response didn't come as much of a surprise to the oatmeal Ylva had put upon the table for breakfast, her little one pushed the bowl away this time which was a first and she even seemed a little wary about having done so. Inside, Ylva wanted to smile at the growing independence of her daughter, yet she had read on the holo-net that if you don't stick to your boundaries, then Children would never get used to following the rules or forming healthy habits in life such as a good diet.

Lifting both brows in something of a sarcastic expression, Ylva reached out for the bowl and slowly guided it carefully back to where Thora sat. "This is your breakfast, little pup" Ylva told her encouragingly, her tone of voice soon changing to one of warning as she added, "But if you don't want your breakfast, you can wait until lunch time". It might seem cruel to most parents, if Ylva knew any that were dealing with a child Thora's age, yet it was important to Ylva that her daughter grow accustomed to not always getting what she wanted in life. There were some things that her Mother would compromise for, but wasting good food wasn't one of them.

"Breakfast will make you strong, like your Papa", Thora idolized [member="Théodred Heavenshield"] most especially as he was often more prone to giving her what she wanted. He couldn't help his compassionate nature, and he didn't share Ylva's upbringing; of course, no one was going to leave Thora out in the wilds to fend for herself like Ylva was, but there were certain characteristics that her Mother wished to empower. Independance, Self-Confidence and Courage to name but a few.

 

[Thora Heavenshield]

Her mama provided her with options, go without breakfast and wait lunch which Thora did not think her stomach would last that long, or eat it now and she would be fine, or... raid the pantry. The last option was winning at the moment, but she knew that she had to wait until mama was not around and if she found out Thora would be in trouble. Then it hit her! she could do both, eat breakfast and raid the pantry .. later. Papa was nowhere to be seen, having gotten up early to attend to some meeting or something so she could not rely on him to come to her rescue, Boo was till in bed and Molfy had vanished. As much as Thora loved her papa, she did not want to be as strong as her papa, she wanted to be strong like her mama, and mama was so pretty, Thora idolised her just as much as her papa.

Reluctantly, Thora pulled the hot steaming oatmeal back to her, it did smell good but .. she sighed. It was going to be a slow breakfast, and by the time she finished the oatmeal was cold and sticky, she ate as much as she could before her tummy was full up. And so what was left of the oatmeal became a toy, her spoon providing means by which to play with it. While mama was not looking, the spoon became a catapult and dripping lumps of oatmeal flew through the air out the open window to the snow outside. Giggles followed the 'assault' on the invisible foe.

As she was lining up for the last of the projectiles, Boo's wolf pup pressed his cold nose on her foot which made Thora jump with surprise and the oatmeal flew through the air toward her mama, only just missing her head but hitting the wall over the cupboards where mama was! Thora held her breath, her eyes widened not sure how her mama would react to this. She decided not to wait for it, and as silently as possible climbed off the chair ready to run as soon as her mama turned around. Best not to wait and see she thought.

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[member="Ylva Heavenshield"]​