Rage of the Storm Dragon ~ The Spirit Animals

Chapter Two

"Washed my hands, Mom." Bran told their mother.

Their mother turned to look at Bianca. "Did he?" she asked, grinning at Bianca. She knew that Bran had washed his hands, but it was an old family joke to ask Bianca if Bran had washed his hands, even though he and Bianca washed hands at the same time.

"He did," Bianca confirmed.

"Bran, go get your father. I reckon the oatmeal is ready." Their mother said, dousing the flame.

Bran clomped out of the main room and out the door to their father, who was evidently hunting in the forest for meat. Their father was the towns' butcher.

"Anca, why don't you go settle Comet down and put away your practicing things."

It was at this moment that Bianca chose to ask if she could go to the forest. "Mom," she began. "Can I go to the forest and hunt today? Please?"

Their mother turned her eagle-eyes onto Bianca and said, "Maybe. I'll ask Rob."

Robert was their father, but their mother called him Rob. Their mother was Anastasia, and their father called her Ana.

Bianca shrugged and tugged on the leash, leading Comet upstairs. Once they got up the stairs, they walked across the hallway to the door at the end of the corridor, which was Bianca's room. It had a wide, large window that looked out on Rivershire Lake, with its little fishing boats and sunny beaches. Bianca hooked her bow and quiver on two pegs near her door, and untied Comet's leash and hung it on a hook in her "Puppy Corner" which was a corner of her room that had dog toys, a dog bed, and other dog-related items.

Having had the leash unclipped, Comet dashed into the Puppy Corner and flopped out, panting, on her bed. Bianca smiled and unclipped the rest of the things on her belt, which included her water pouch and her hunting bowie knife.

From downstairs, Bianca could hear Anastasia shout, "Kimi! Mimi! Breakfasts' ready!" Then there was the creaking of a door, giggling, and pattering feet.

Bianca's little sisters', Kimi and Mimi, were quite the handful. For one, they had a sweet tooth to beat Anastasia's. After getting their oatmeal, they would both add not one, not two, but THREE handfuls of sugar into their oatmeal.

Bianca opened the ice box, which was a wooden box with a lid on hinges filled with ice and frozen-ish meat in the Puppy Corner. She dumped several juicy tidbits into a tin bowl and set it under Comet's drooling mouth. She also filled a tin bowl with water. Then, she fluffed up Comet's black and white fur, straightened up, and left her room.

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Author's Note: So, was this one too long? Was it too short? Hmm... I guess the mini-fridge doesn't quite suite my medieval theme... Okay, make that a giant ice box.