Originally Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2005
Lessons with Grandpa

Surion woke up a couple mornings after he had grown up with a yawn and a stretch, the sun was barely poking over the cliffs outside, but he had plans. he got up and quickly dressed heading for the kitchen to get a quick meal

Torvil was already mucking around making food, and there was another scent nearby... one Surion would recognize easily...

Surion looked around "Hey dad" he greeted his father as he stopped in the doorway catching the scent

Torvil smiled. "Your grandfather is waiting for you already... He has Jakath with him too..." He chuckled softly as he quickly offered Surion a bowl of meal.

Surion reached taking with it "Yeah I figured Jakath would beat me to the punch" he chuckled and quickly ate

Torvil chuckled. "More along the lines of your grandfather ousting his butt out of bed earlier... Punishment..."

"Pnshmt fr wht" Surion mumbled his mouth full of meal

"The Ramp ordeal..." He said softly, looking out the doorway

Surion swallowed his meal and nodded putting the bowl down on the table empty and bit his lip nervously at the thought of that ramp

Torvil brushed his hair. "It'll be okay... Go out and learn... and have a good time!"

Surion nodded took a deep breath "Yeah.. back later dad, say morning to mum when she gets up" he smiled and turned hurrying out of the cave . he looked around for a moment in the slowly brightening surroundings and then hurried to his grandparent's cave poking his head in the entrance

Korvil was waiting for him in the main room. "I stopped by your house earlier..." He said softly. "As did Jakath, you were still asleep

"Dad told me" he said with a nod walking into the cave and pushing a lock of his dark blue hair over his ear

Korvil chuckled. "Well are you ready to go? It's time to learn..."

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be" he said looking back and forth between cousin and granpa

Korvil nodded and he headed for the door... Jakath on his heels.

Surion joined them walking beside his cousin quickly

Jakath turned and whispered softly. "I hope this isn't bad.. but I'm scared..."

Surion blinked and looked at his cousin "Scared? of what?"

"We have to go down onto the plains..."

Surion came to a dead stop hearing those words "The... plains..."

"Yes... The plains..."

Surion stared silently ahead of him not moving a muscle biting his bottom lip hard enough to draw blood

"Come along Surion..." Korvil said softly.

Surion nodded slowly starting to walk but a lot slower then previously

Korvil walked along, heading straight for the ramp.

Surion was trying to convince himself not to panic, not to freak, that there wouldn't be any more jaguars in the plains below that day

Korvil started to make his way down the ramp, and Jakath followed close beside him.

Surion took hold of his cousin's tunic hem following after them but staying just as close to Jakath as Jakath was to their grandfather

They walked down, and slowly headed out into the plains

Surion moved closer to his cousin and grandfather not desiring to be the end of the line his eyes looking EVERYWHERE and still biting his lip

Jakath pointed out a set of tracks and Korvil started to teach them

Surion refused to stray away from his granpa's side has he taught them about tracks and tracking over half the time his eyes darted from the grass in the plain to tops of the trees

Korvil smiled every time they got one right, and corrected and taught them more when they got one wrong.

By dinner hour Surion had most of them down pat and some close. and had still yet to move more then 2 feet away from his granpa

Korvil started to lead them back towards the cliffs. "You guys did good today..."

Surion smiled his eyes darting around "Thanks" he said he couldn't wait to get back atop the cliffs

Korvil ruffled his hair and smiled.

Surion hurried up the ramp ahead of the others when they got to it stopping only when he got past the top breathing deeply and closing his eyes

Korvil reached him and softly put his hand on his shoulder...

Surion opened his eyes and looked up at his grandfather giving him a rather weak smile

Korvil chuckled and ruffled his hair again, heading for his own cave with the two in tow.

Surion followed after him relieved to be back atop the cliffs, he looked over at his cousin as they walked

Jakath seemed to be going over the things in his head.

Surion watched him for a moment then ahead of them smiling when the entrance tot he cave came into sight

Korvil entered, and Mitizimi already had dinner ready for the three.

"Hi Granma" Surion said when his eyes caught sight of the familiar figure

Mitizimi smiled. "Hello Surion... Come, sit and eat..."

Surion smiled and hurried over climbing into a seat and sitting on his knees to eat "Thankyou"

Mitizimi smiled. "You're a growing boy!" She smiled.

Surion blushed slightly "Just don't try to convince me this will make me grow faster like aunty did with the leaf" he chuckled and dug in

Mitizimi giggled softly, "No... I wouldn't do that to you..."

Surion grinned as he ate, he was hungry having only had breakfast that day.

Mitizimi smiled and kept serving him food as long as he ate.

Surion eventually stopped and sat back rubbing his stomach and letting out a burp "That was good" he said sounding rather content.

Mitizimi giggled and smiled. "Good... Now lets get you home!"

Surion nodded "Kay Granma" he looked towards his grandpa "Thankyou Granpa for teaching me today" he said

Korvil smiled. "It was my pleasure to teach you Surion... Lets get you home... Jakath you as well..."

Surion nodded and hopped down from the chair his tail moving contently behind him

Korvil smiled and stood, as did Jakath, they all headed for the door.

Surion hurried after them happy in the knowledge they weren't headed for the ramp

Korvil smiled and headed towards Surion's house first.

Surion smiled proud of all he had learned as they neared the entrance

Korvil smiled and waited at Surion's cave. "Go on in... And have a good night..."

Surion gave his grandfather a quick hug and waved to Jakath and hurried into the cave "I'm home" he called outAla looked up from where she sat reading and smiled "Hi son"

Torvil smiled. "Hey Surion..." He chuckled softly, waving at him as he worked on reading.

Surion smiled "I learned lots today" he informed them

Torvil smiled. "That's good..." he chuckled softly.

Surion looked at them then turned and left the room heading for his own room

Torvil got up and moved to see what he was doing.

Surion lay on his pallet hands behind his head staring at the ceiling biting his lip, he felt a lil disheartened his parents didn't seem to really think him learning had been a big deal

Torvil knelt beside him and brushed his hair. "Hey... I'm proud of you

Surion looked over at him "Thanks dad" he said quietly

Torvil smiled softly. "So... How'd it go?"

"Went down the ramp" he said quietly looking slightly away biting his lip his arms moving around his torso

Torvil brushed his hair and leaned down kissing his head. "I'm proud of you even more..."

Surion sighed "I froze, only went down cause granpa told me to, even then I stayed very close to him"

Torvil chuckled softly. "But you went down didn't you?'

Surion nodded "Yeah"

Torvil smiled. "Then you made some progress..."

Surion smiled weakly "I guess" he sighed and sat up leaning on his knees which he pulled close

Torvil gave him a hug. "I'm very excited you went and learned today..."

Surion smiled "It'll come in handy at some point I'm sure"

Torvil chuckled. "Your hunt... which is soon by the by..."

Surion looked towards him "Yeah?"

Torvil chuckled softly "Yeah..." he murmured softly. "Next few days..."

Surion nodded "Ok dad, I'm sure you'll let me know when"

Torvil chuckled and ruffled his hair. "Course..." He smiled. "You'll have to get up early that day..."

"I already get up early" he said chuckling and shaking his head to settle his hair

Torvil chuckled. "I mean Earrrrrlllly earlyyy..."

"Oh ok" he laughed and stretched

Torvil chuckled. "Tired?"

"Yeah a lil" he admitted

Torvil chuckled. "Go ahead and rest then... No sense staying up and being tired..."

"Thanks dad" he said and flopped back reaching and grabbing his blanket pulling it over himself

Torvil chuckled and kissed his forehead. "Have a good sleep..."

"I will" he murmured as he dozed off

Torvil smiled, and headed out the door.