The Past Beasts of Birtou
Chapter two: Contemplating Garden Days
Wren's laughter echoed off the stone walls of the garden. It had been a couple of days since Avalan left once more to hunt, and she'd kept herself entertained through the days by tending to the expansive gardens.
Sable and Tabitha had decided they wanted to help her out, and the team the bear and hawk made up was more trouble than help. Though Wren could not help the laughter that flared up whenever Tabitha tried to weed or when Sable struggled to plant some seeds.
Tabitha's claws desperately tried to pull out every weed in the gardens, but in the process, she ripped out most of the delicate flowers around.
The small seeds fell out of Sable's big paws before she could plant them, and if she did manage to plant a couple of seeds, her attempts were disrupted by her long claws which messed the dirt everywhere but in the planters.
Wren did not care, because the gardens of Birtou took care of themselves. They were peculiar in that way.
A deep groan made its way out of Sable's throat, as she once more attempted to place the seeds properly within the garden bed. The large bear then dug her paws into the garden, sending dirt flying as she dug deeper and deeper.
Wren wondered if she was trying to reach the bottom of the earth.
Tabitha huffed as she looked at Sable's failure. That one would be better off scavenging the woods for some dead hares.
Tabitha, Wren scolded. Clearly, she would rather rummage for some blackberries.
Or leftover meat of some sad kill. Tabitha stretched out her wings from her spot on the stone wall. I highly doubt the bear is capable of doing any killing herself, the hawk added after a moment of thought.
She has been comfortable here at Birtou for some years, yes, if that is what you are implying, Wren answered.
It was not in fact.
Wren studied the bear in front of her.
Sable was a majestic creature, kinder than any other creature she knew of, though now she only lives through fables and tales, her presence among the human population now long been forgotten.
Like most of her beasts, Sable was originally from the island of Cullmare, her species now nearly extinct after the rise of trophy hunters and people whose minds have been corrupted by power.
The bear was brown in color but covered with red markings all over her body. The markings go deep down into her skin, though the fur covers the smallest of the marks. They are red-hot scars, given to her by her mother at birth as a little newborn cub.
Wren first thought of it as barbaric, before she learned about the bears' traditions. Sable's species is said to have otherworldly strength, strongly connected to the patron goddess of Vona – the goddess of hostility and combat.
The markings are given to the newborn cubs in order to solidify the connection with Vona, marking the small cub as Vona's property, and therefore believed to be protected as so by the goddess.
Sable told the story to Wren years ago, and she still felt bad for judging their traditions based on prejudice and her own cultural traditions and values.
Wren smiled as she looked over what they'd done during their evening in the garden. "I think we have done enough for this day," she said to the two beasts. Tabitha gave a happy screech, before flying up into the air, quickly disappearing over the garden wall.
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The Past Beasts of Birtou (Maidenkin #1)
FantasíaAs the keeper of the beasts, Branwen's sole task in life is to aid all the wild beasts of Fayuia, a job that has been passed down for generations in her family. Branwen live alongside the seven beasts that reside in Birtou's Keep, loving them as her...
