1. Four Years
.o0o.
The younglings eyed each other from opposite sides of the aravel with the wary resentment of cats come nose to nose in a strange territory.
"I'll just take this along to Tamlen's mamae, and then I'll help her with the spinning." Ashalle transferred a dripping honeycomb to a bowl and covered it. "Keeper said she mustn't use her arm until the bone sets and she's sure to be going mad with frustration, poor dear. You two can keep each other company; I know you'll enjoy having someone the same age to play with," she continued, unmindful of the dubious atmosphere behind her.
She wiped down the honey crock and ran the cloth around the wide rim.
"Now, then, da'len, come here and you may have a treat."
The staring contest forgotten on the instant, the boys darted to her side and crowded close. Ashalle smiled down at the upturned faces.
"Look at you. Like Noon and Night." She patted white-blond Tamlen's cheek and tucked an unruly black lock behind Akela's ear. "Hold out a finger."
After scraping a judicious blob of sticky crystals onto each eager fingertip – immediately transferred to their mouths – Ashalle sealed the crock and, under the attentive gaze of her audience, returned it to the netting overhead that kept it secure when the aravel was in motion.
"Now, I'll be back before long. Be good, da'len." With that, she bustled out.
Akela sucked his finger, savoring every last sweet grain, and eyed the crock thoughtfully. No convenient shelves or tables nearby for climbing, it was placed quite out of the reach of a single four-year-old da'len.
He looked sidelong at Tamlen. The other was licking a stray drop between his fingers while studying the crock himself, then glanced at Akela.
Ten minutes later the pair fled giggling into the thickets with their loot, where they devoured the crock's contents down to the last comb and sticky golden drop. Akela didn't bother wondering why, but he felt like this was the best thing he'd ever tasted his whole life.
Having to break the crock to free themselves after simultaneously reaching in to scrape the bottom was just a minor setback.