Katarn Homestead: Through small eyes

[Svora Eden]

It was no small thing, not to him, he knew he had had it the day before...somewhere. His favorite toy, a small toy X-wing that he took everywhere. He didn't remember exactly where it had come from, maybe Seamus had left it, but he knew he loved it and he couldn't find it anywhere. He tip-toed across the floor of his shared room and quietly moved down the hall. He could hear Master Finn snoring from two doors down andd that meant it was still before noon. The snoring of Seamus meant it was before seven. Svora learned fast and if they were asleep he would be able to sneak out and check for his toy before anyone would notice, also snacks would be unguarded.

He walked barefoot down the hall and slowly descended the stairs. His small blue and grey hero themed pajamas clinging to his slight frame as he moved. His tangled mop of black hair and green eyes were the only thing that set him apart from any child sneaking down stairs before his parents woke up. He knew they weren't all his parents but they felt like it and he didn't bother asking why. He was loved, even at six he knew that.

He padded along and heard an odd sound, he had heard it before but today he could have sworn it said his name. He stopped in his little tracks. His initial quest forgotten to an overwhelming curiosity and moved toward the sound. The voice, he was certain of that now, called from across the garden. Hee didn't see anyone but he was sure he had heard it. How did it know his name? Who was it? Should he tell Miss Avalore? The thoughts lingered, cycled, and were swept away when the tall tree-like being stepped out of the tree line with his X-wing.

Svora went closer as the tree-thing sat on a large rock.

"This is yours I think, Svora." The alien said though his mouth didn't move.

"Ya, I lost it." Svora replied aloud.

"Well, It's too small for me." The alien plant said, "I guess you can have it back."

"Ok." Svora said as he approached now boldly and took the toy from the tree-man's gnarled fingers. "Thank you."

"Of course, child." The tree said. The being lifted a finger and slowly reached into his bag. Svora hadn't noticed it a moment ago. "I have something else for you."

The tree man, a Neti, took small bag of round marbles from his satchel and held it up.

"When you can make them fly without touching them, I'll have another present for you." It said.

"How can I do that?" The boy said taking them.

"You try." The Neti said, "How do you do anything?"

"I try?" Svora said.

"Smart boy, like your father." The Neti said.

"Did you know him!"

"Yes, I'll tell you someday. For now go try." The Neti replied.

"How?" Svora asked.

"Put them down, sit in front of them, and think of making them move." The Neti said before standing to go.

"Ok." The boy replied.

 

[Avalore Eden]

The boys shared a large room within the homestead; a bed for each at the far side sitting in a row. At the end of each sat a wooden trunk, carved by hand and gifted from [member="Gabriel Sionoma"], it was a chest that would follow the boys through their lives. Toys were not common in the homestead - not in the traditional sense. Those that existed were handmade--often by Gabe, sometimes by others--or acquired through trade with the local merchants. The boys had a sense of value insomuch as their own hard work was involved. Each had a garden to tend, produce to culminate to help feed those they called friends and family.

Life here was quiet but not always easy. Hard work was a thing as much as fun and enjoyment were. Learning to care for others before themselves perhaps not the easiest lesson to learn for those not any older than six, but very much imprinted upon them from day one. Humility, honesty impressed just as quicky - all three of the boys knew that Avalore Eden and [member="Meeristali Peradun"] were not their parents, but all three of them knew, absolutely, that they were loved and cared for and wanted here. They were not made to call Avalore mother and Meeristali father, though the twins did and had since a very young age. Svora had curiously dropped the habit once his little mind was mature enough to grasp the concept.

Miss Avalore.

Truth be told, Avalore would have preferred he called her mum, but there was nothing to gain from making him do it.

The only one around here that had to was Emme; the now-coming-five year old little sister to the three boys and the only true child of the couple within the homestead.

Avalore was up early, much like she usually was and often before everyone else at the homestead. She liked the quiet of the mornings the most, before the bustle of the farm caught up to her. It was often the time she spent meditating after looking in on the children. This morning was cause for a fright: Svora was not in his bed. The Healer stirred about the upper floor in silent panic, trying to keep her calm as she searched, quietly as she could, room to room to find the boy. This lead her downstairs eventually, and with every room bereft of the sprout the harder her heart began to race.

Maternal instincts really were a terrible gift.

The need to wake up Stali was growing and she just barely caught her yell in her throat as she strode quickly through the kitchen only to spy the diminutive form out on the path that lead to the gardens.

"Svora!" rushing to the door, Avalore stopped herself from racing towards him.

He was here, he was safe, and she had let her mind get the best of her. A Jedi would have remained calm, kept their thoughts clear. How she'd ever reached the rank of Master she truly would never know. With a deep, shaking breath the Healer pushed through the doorway and made herself walk calmly to the boy.

"Svora, sweatpea," stooping as she neared him, Avalore tucked her bathrobe tightly around her waist, "why are you out of bed? You had me very worried."

@Svora

 

[Svora Eden]

[member="Avalore Eden"]

He walked more quickly toward the woman who had literally given him everything. His small arms spread wide and he latched on quickly and stayed there. He held on tightly in his small way and had no real inclination to let go. She was the epitome of perfect to his young heart and mind. He nuzzzled against her shoulder as only a child can and could feel her worry, somehow.

"I couldn't find my toy." He said softly, "I'm sorry."

He let go, partially, but only to look at her and think he loved her.

"I heard a voice from a tree and he gave me some marbles." He said as questions filled his emerald eyes, "He told me to make them fly. What does he mean, mommy?"

He called her mommy. He didn't know why, he just felt in that moment that he should and he wanted too. He told her everything, he never considered not telling her but, for some reason he left out that the tree knew his father. It wasn't to hide it, he just didn't understand. He grew confused as his mind filled with more questions and decided to just hug her again.

"Can, I help do breakfast?" He said after a long squeeze. He wanted her close this morning. That's all he knew.

 

[Avalore Eden]

"Well, I would have helped you look," the Healer enveloped her adopted son with the fuzzy arms of her bathrobe, squeezing him out of relief. He smelled of earth, honeydew and morning ivy and she could feel the mists on his pajamas. Her little limabean - to think he'd been but a seed just six years ago.

Avalore looked down as he presented the bag of marbles, brow knitting upwards in mild concern. She couldn't recall them having marbles before. Perhaps Gabriel had found some at the local market? It seemed an odd thing. The ability of a young child to fire off question after question was uncanny but Avalore quietly listened, a warm smile growing on her face at hearing the word mommy. A scarred hand lifted to brush his unruly hair from his face and to look at the bag of marbles.

But what tree? she pondered, one of the bafforrs? He'd always been fond of the bafforr trees and they had started communicating with the boys in the last year. She supposed that meant their Force Sensitivity was awakening, but then again one didn't have to be a sensitive to hear the voices of the Bafforrs.

Standing, she lifted him from the ground and turned to carry the boy back to the house. At their back the sun was peaking over the horizon.

"That's a lot of questions, limabean," she shifted him onto her hip, "why don't you tell.. Mommy which tree gave you the marbles first so she can thank him later for the nice gift."

[member="Svora"]

 

[Svora Eden]

[member="Avalore Eden"]

He locked his small fingers together on the sidee of her neck as she shifted him on her hip, or as close as he could get with his little hands full. He looked back over his shoulder as they moved along to the place where the tree-man had been. He didn't know how, exactly, but he knew it was still there in the grove somewhere. He made a face, in concentration, as he tried to remember exactly what the alien looked like.

"He was right by the big rock near the trees." The boy began, "He had long squiggly fingers and big feet like roots. He had big green eyes like me and no nose. I don't know how he smells things with no nose but he didn't move his mouth when he talked and he had long little branches for hair."

The boy paused thinking, feeling something he didn't understand.

"He was old, I think. Like uncle Gabe, and he had on grey robes like uncle Seamus wears sometimes but kinda different. He seemed nice though."

The boy's thoughts turned with a little rumble from his stomach area. Thoughts turned back to breakfast. Carrots, and snap peas rushed to the forefront of his priorities.

"Is he nice?" He asked as an after thought. He could tell she was worried and grew concerned it was his fault. "I'm sorry, Mommy." Was all he could say.

 

[Avalore Eden]

There was certainly cause for concern - strangers on their lands talking to her children. Tree strangers were, maybe, less harmful than most but a stranger never the less. She opened the french door leading from the patio into the kitchen, pausing as she shut it behind her to gaze off back down the path. No shadows, no skulking figures, just the silhouette of the grove in the distance.

Surely if something malignant were hiding in there the bafforrs would let her know.

"Well he certainly sounds nice," she said as she walked over into the kitchenette to open the fridge, "but do you think you can do me a really big favor? Next time you see someone around the home that you don't know, come get me or Stali? Or Nanny Opi. Or Uncle Gabe or Uncle Seamus, even Uncle Jacen or Aunt Kana. Any one of us big people that you know. That way we can make sure they're nice people and get them help if they need it. Can you do that for me, Svora?"

[member="Svora"]

 

[Svora Eden]

[member="Avalore Eden"]

He looked at her. Those big green eyes never flicked away while she was talking. Her voice was a soothing melody to him, though he didn't think of it that way. She was worried, no, concerned but he didn't fully grasp the seriousness of some stranger passing undetected by a household of Jedi, many of which were masters. He knew she wanted him safe and this situation made her feel less safe. That fact, and his desire to please her is why he said, "Yes, mommy." He moved to get a small stool and pull it to the counter, "I promise."

He meant it, it didn't even occur to him not to mean it. He didn't really understand lying. It didn't seem very nice. No, she asked for his compliance and he acquiesced. It was that simple. Perhaps it was genetic, his nature or perhaps it was their bond and the training of a loving family, nurture, but in any case he was happy to make her happy. He was certain of that.

He climbed up the little stool and washed his small hands, dried them clumsily, and climbed down to move the stool toward where...mommy made breakfast. Once again his bare feet climbed the stool and he stood at the ready, happily awaiting instructions as if the earlier events of the morning were already in the distant past. He smiled at her, the toys he had held already left by the sink while he thought of this time where it could be just he and Mommy. Alone time with anyone was precious but he liked time with her best.

"I'm ready to help!" He said excitedly, and he meant that too.