Iskra sat at the dining table with her wooden dolls playing quietly as Thyra and Rune finished making dinner. Fell was helping his mother by cleaning leaving the small girl to play with her dolls alone.

She was contently playing when a voice from the hall caught her attention. "Søta?"

Iskra turned quickly at her mother's voice. She shimmied off the chair and ran out of the dining room toward the front door. Her smile grew when she saw her mother setting her rune covered shield to the side.

"Mama!" She exclaimed.

Revna knelt to her daughter's level and lifted her into her arms. "You've gotten so big!" She smiled warmly. "What are they feeding you?"

Iskra nuzzled into her mother and wrapped her arms around her neck, "I missed you, Mama."

Revna kissed the child's forehead, "I missed you too."

"Look who finally came home," Rune sighed as he joined the two in the hall. "Thought you were supposed to be back days ago. I was about to send out a search party." He chuckled as the woman rolled her eyes.

Revna sighed, "The weather got the best of us. We were stuck in Kauhea for an extra week with the cleanup."

Rune raised an eyebrow but didn't press, "Dinner's ready."

"Perfect timing then," she went to set the child down, but the girl clung tightly. "Iskra?"

"Don't leave..." the girl muttered.

She sighed, "I'm not leaving, yet. I just got home." She took a few steps into the dining room and placed the child in her seat. Tears began to build in Iskra's eyes. "Oh, søta...Everything is going to be alright." She glanced at the food. "Let's eat."

Iskra wiped away the tears that had begun to fall and began to eat quietly. She listened to the adults not quite understanding what they were discussing.

"A dragon in Kauhea?" Thyra asked in shock. "No wonder you were stuck for an extra week. Iskra was fine, but she misses you when you are gone for so long."

"She needs her mother," Rune added getting a sharp glance from his wife.

Revna sighed, "She needs a roof over her head, and food too. Last time I checked, a job as a barmaid doesn't exactly cover the upkeep of this house let alone a child."

"Join the city guard then," he tried.

Revna laughed, "The city guard? Me?"

Rune closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, "What is wrong with the city guard?" Revna didn't answer. "What's the real reason you don't stay, Revna?"

"Rune!" Thyra hissed glancing between the children and Revna. "Not now."

"Why not?" He pressed. "She knows that she could easily be a high ranking official in the city guard if she wanted to stay. There's something else, and I am tired of the excuses. Maybe he was right!" Revna set her fork down and stood from the table. Thyra glared at her husband.

Revna glanced at the children, "Fell, can you take Iskra to her room?"

Iskra frowned as the boy took her hand in his and began to lead her down the hall. She pulled back slightly slowing them down. But the voices from the other room had gone quiet.

"Wanna play hide 'n' seek?" Fell asked. Iskra nodded. "OK we need rules this time, my mama was really mad when you hid in the stock room last time." He thought for a moment. "Ok no hiding in dining room, my room, or the stock room. I'll count first."

As he began counting, Iskra quickly made her way out of the room and back down the hall toward the dining room. She knew that she wasn't allowed to hide in the dining room, but there was a large plant just outside the dining room door that Iskra knew she could hide behind.

She couldn't make out the words they were saying but she could tell that both her mother and Rune were very angry. She didn't like hearing them like this. She knew her time was up for hiding and she couldn't think of anywhere else to hide so she quickly hid behind the large plant.

The door to the dining room swung open as Rune stormed by. Iskra glanced into the room as the door was closing to see her mother with her back to the door, her shoulders were shaking. Thyra had stepped up to the woman and was obviously trying to console her when her eyes landed on the child outside the room.

Iskra felt those watchful eyes hit hers and she slunk back behind the plant. She covered her eyes with her hands and slid up against the wall. Suddenly, a soft hand was on her shoulder. She glanced up to see Thyra gazing down at her.

"Let's go get ready for bed, lille venn." She lifted the child into her arms and walked back down the hall. "You know your Mama loves you very much, right?" Iskra nodded. "Good."

Fell was still searching for Iskra in her room when they came in. "I promise I told her not to hide in the dining room," he started when he saw the look on his mother's face.

"She wasn't in the dining room," she stated. "You have to be very specific with this one. Fell, go get ready for bed."

He left the room quickly his head down. Thyra set Iskra on the bed and rummaged through the drawers for her nightgown. She seemed to be taking extra time searching for the clothes. Iskra smiled as Revna stepped into the room. Thyra jumped as Revna took the nightgown from the woman and she quickly took her leave wiping her cheek with her hand.

"Søta," Revna started, "I'm going to tell you a story." She helped Iskra into her nightgown and tucked her into bed, Revna curled up next to her. "My mama used to tell me this story when I was little. Once upon a time there was..."

Iskra curled into her mother's side as the woman recited the story from memory. She felt her eyelids grow heavy and the sleep slowly take over.

...

Iskra peaked into the room. Her mother's form lay nearly motionless on the bed before her. She turned hearing a soft knocking from down the hall. When she glanced back into the room, she was face to face with Thyra. The woman stepped into the hall, taking Iskra in her arms and began walking back down toward the spare room.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Not yet, Iskra." She sighed. "Your mother needs time to rest, she'll be ready to play and all in a few days."

"But..." she started and Thyra shook her head. "I just want to say hi. I miss her. She's been gone forever."

Thyra set the child on the bed and began to leave. "She'll be ready to see you in a few days," she said pausing at the door.

Iskra frowned as she fell into the bed. She grabbed the blanket and pulled it up over her head as the tears began to form. Her thoughts jumped to a few days earlier when the elven man stumbled through the front door with her mother in his arms. Her skin was so pale, and his cloak and leathers were covered in dark stains. It wasn't the first time she had seen her mother in this state, and it probably wouldn't be the last. It had been almost a week since she was brought home. She never needed this much time before.

The elven man had stayed for a few days as well. He seemed to have been nice, but Rune and Thyra kept him and Iskra separated as much as possible. Though there was the one day when the man was sitting in the dining room with Iskra for quite some time before Thyra shooed her away.

... about three days earlier

"Hello little one," the man had smiled sweetly. "What's your name?"

"Thyra told me not to talk with strangers..." a look of momentary shock slipped onto the man's face. "My name is Iskra."

The man smiled again, "Oh you must be Revna's daughter. You know your Mama is very strong. She's the strongest person I have ever met."

A sudden huff caught their attention just before Thyra pulled the girl into her arms and stormed out of the room. "What have I told you about..."

"But he's not a stranger if he is staying here for so long," she argued. "Rune hugged him yesterday so he must be friends with Rune. And..." she stopped herself realizing that she wasn't supposed to be near the adults the last few days.

Thyra sighed deeply, "You know you are supposed to stay in your room."

"Mama is in my room," she said.

"You knew what I meant..." she set the child on the large empty bed. "You are supposed to stay with Rune and me for now. When Ari leaves you'll get..." she paused hoping the child didn't catch the man's name. "You'll get to go into the spare room until your mother is all rested in the next few days." Iskra pouted as Thyra turned to leave. "None of that now. Go get ready to leave. Fell and Rune are taking you into Ijos when they run errands."

Iskra grumbled as she put on her cloak and boots. She still had trouble tying the laces, so she decided to go find someone to help her. She was in the hall when she heard them arguing.

"I'm sorry Thyra, I didn't realize she was Revna's...I wouldn't have..."

"Ari, Revna has told us to keep this child separated from all the adventuring as much as possible." There was a pause. "She wants her to have a normal childhood. Or as much of one as she can."

"Like I said, I didn't realize the child was Revna's until I was already talking to her. I am sorry."

"Iskra!" Rune's voice caught her attention and she stumbled down the hall trying not to trip over her laces. "Lille venn? You didn't tie your boots?"

"I need help," she stated.

"Here we go," he smiled warmly as he tied the boots. "Fell is waiting for us by the door."

"Do I get to ride Gisli?" she asked a smile spreading as he nodded.

... a few days later

A light knock on the door caught her attention and she burrowed deeper into the blankets. She felt the bed dip at the edge and she tried to slide further away but failed as strong arms lifted her off the bed.

"Lille venn," Rune sighed as he kissed her forehead. "Come now. I have a surprise for you." He set her on the ground beside him and held out his hand.

She furrowed her brow as she took his outstretched hand. "Are we going to go see Mama?"

He shook his head, "Thyra is right. Your Mama needs rest right now." She froze. "But I have something that might cheer you up. You need to get your shoes and your cloak."

Iskra did as she was told and followed Rune outside. She noticed that Fell was climbing a nearby tree. Rune stepped up to the tree his son was in and glanced up. Iskra followed close behind, and when she looked up, she saw a small kitten hiding in the barren branches.

"Is the kitten ok?" She asked.

Fell nodded, "She doesn't seem to want to come down."

"Careful now," Rune reminded the boy.

Fell was able to grab the kitten and climb back down without falling. He handed the kitten over to his father. Rune looked the kitten over and then held it out to Iskra. She reached up and took it from him carefully.

"Now, Iskra...this kitten is no more than a few weeks old." He stated. "You will have to feed it and keep it warm. Fell will help you take care of it, but this kitten is your responsibility now."

"What do I feed it?" She asked.

"Milk from the goats," Fell said. "We should go get some. But first let's get the kitten inside." Iskra nodded and followed the older boy back into the house. Rune smiled as he watched them go.

Iskra went straight to the spare room and set the kitten in a pile of blankets. She smiled slightly as the kitten curled up into the warmth. Fell pulled at her cloak and she remembered that they needed to get more milk for the kitten. She followed the boy to the barn and sat in front of the goat he was milking.

"Rona," Iskra started talking to the small goat, "we found a kitten."

"I found a kitten," Fell corrected her.

"Fell found a kitten," she sighed. "It was stuck in a tree! I bet it was scared being so high like that." She proceeded to give the goat scritches. "Fell saved it. I wonder if it is a boy or a girl kitten? We have to think of a name for it. What do you think we should call it?" The goat bleated in response.

"You know it can't understand you," Fell sighed.

The girl repeated her question in primordial and he shook his head with a chuckle, "It doesn't understand our languages."

"But I've seen Rune talk with the goats before," she stated.

"That's because Papa can speak to animals," he explained. "His magic allows him to speak to animals, but only for a short while."

Iskra sat back against the stall wall, "I want to be able to speak to animals."

"Maybe Papa will teach you some day," he smiled as he picked up the bucket of fresh milk. "Let's get back inside and feed the kitten."

As they walked back inside, Iskra glanced down the hall toward her and her mother's room. Thyra was stepping out of the room, a grim expression on her face. Her features quickly changed when she saw the children in the hall.

"I heard you found a kitten!" She exclaimed excitedly. "Let me take a look and make sure she or he is healthy." She took Iskra's hand in hers and led the way back to the spare room.

The kitten was curled up in the warmth of the blankets. The speckles of silver fur standing out against the dark fabric. Thyra lifted the kitten into her hands and examined it quickly before setting it in Iskra's lap.

"Looks like she is as healthy as she can be, just a little on the cold and hungry side." She smiled. "I see you have milk and warm blankets for her, she should be thriving in no time." The kitten snuggled in closer to the child. "Fell, please come with me."

The boy nodded and followed his mother out of the room leaving Iskra and the kitten behind. The girl lifted the kitten to examine it herself. Her black fur was peppered with silvery spots. She had icy blue eyes that blinked back at Iskra.

"You're pretty cute," she smiled as she turned her hand slightly. The kitten kept its eyes locked onto hers. "Did your mama get hurt too? It's ok, I'll keep you safe and warm. Fell, Rune, and Thyra are nice. They will take care of you too. Rune says that its my responsibility, but I'm only six. I don't know what a kitten needs." She pulled the kitten in closer with a smile. "But you probably need lots of cuddles and I can definitely do that." She snuggled close and the kitten purred. "I think I'll name you Aska."

Aska's purr became louder as she snuggled up onto Iskra's shoulder and into her curls. The little girl giggled and pulled the kitten out of her hair.