Notifying the Family – Mother, Carver, and Bethany
Lothering is a trading post for goods and supplies to places like Redcliff, Highever, and Orzamar. There are all types of races in Lothering an being close to the wilds there are even Chasind. The village itself is part of South Reach. It is right off the Imperial highway and is next to the river Dane and the River Drakon. It borders the Wilds and the Becillian forest. It has many farms in the outlying area. Our farm was a ways away from the main city. It was hard but honest work.
We had a small 3 bedroom cottage with a kitchen and a small connected bathhouse. We had a chicken coop and a small barn. In front of the barn was a small training ring for Melee and archery.
The only animals we had were chickens and a cow. We have a young Mabari named Biscuit. We named him that because the breeder who we got him from had a wife who was a baker and when we got him he was covered in flour eating a bowl full of biscuits.
"I'm going to get your mother. Find Carver and Bethany meet me in the house." Father said as he walked o towards the house. His steps rigid.
She sighed in anxiousness and looked around. No one was in the fields and there was barking coming from the barn. Walking towards the barn she looked at the training area set up thinking about how to train with the new daggers and with Carver.
"Biscuit! Stop hewing on the wheat!" "Bethany, get him out of here." Bickering can be heard from the barn.
"At least some things never change." Muttering to herself softly as she walks in. cautiously she opens the barn door so as not to be run over by excited Mabari. "Bethany. Carver. Family meeting."
"What is going on?" "Do we have to move again? Did We get caught?" Bethany and Carver simultaneously ask. Carver stands up from tying batches of wheat together. Bethany is sitting on some barrels with her legs swinging freely.
"Just follow me. It's complicated; Father wants to talk. Just… Just come. " She turns and walks out with Biscuit on her heels.
Ignoring her siblings behind her an lost in thought she automatically walks to the house worried about her family and their reactions to the news.
Walking into the house she sees her father setting up the wards and her mother looking worried sitting at the table silent. She moves to stand next to the fireplace. Still lost in thought, she stares intently at the fire as if the fire will solve her problems.
"Marian?" A hand touches her shoulder. She looks up her father is staring at her in question. Finally paying attention, Carver is standing by the door with his arms crossed over his chest and a sword on his back. Bethany is sitting at the table next to mother hugging her from the side. Biscuit is sitting by the other side of the fireplace. Marian nods at him letting him know she is ready. It is time to notify the family.
"Marian has had an incident the how and why I am still trying to figure out. However, what we do know is this. She is now able to shift forms into a wolf." Malcolm intently looks at the family gauging their reactions.
"What!" exclaims Carver in horror.
"How? Is she a mage?" Bethany inquires.
"Maker. Oh my poor child." Mother breathes in a resigned tone.
"Show them." Malcolm nods to her his gaze full of love and support.
She moves and thinks about her wolf form. The transition is much faster with practice now. In the space of a few heartbeats her form is changed into a wolf.
Biscuit jumps and starts to yip playfully at her. Mother and Bethany are completely silent and stunned. Mother has her hand over her mouth and a hand over her heart eyes wide. Bethany just drops her jaw.
Carver looks nervous his hands drop from his chest to reach for his sword.
Carver its ok it's still me. His eyes bulge and his hands shake as he puts them back across his chest.
Mother, Carver, Bethany, I and talk to you and understand if you talk to me. She thinks at them while sitting in a non-threatening pose. Snorting comes out when she tries to sigh. Biscuit realizing that she is not going to play right now, sits back down beside her sniffing at her fur.
"I know you have questions we will answer what we can." Malcolm pulls out a chair to sit next to Leandra and taker her hand and kisses the back of it. Her eyes soften and she demands, "Tell us what you do know."
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Next chapter will be back in Kirkwall.