(no subject)

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan went out to the goat pen again, and discovered that one of the little nannies has fallen foul of somebody else's (or possibly her own, given the way they bounce about) sharp hoof.

While their feeding and daily care is Gyda's responsibility, it doesn't seem fair to make her do everything when he's the one who first noticed, so he carries the plaintively bleating little creature inside and over to the Bar.

"Could I have some of that cream that keeps cuts from going bad?" he asks, quiet and subdued.

Comments

[capture_eternity]

"Oh!" Dorian says. "What happened to your little goat?"

Beat.

"Hello, Athelstan!"

[athelstanthescribe]

"It's not bad", he says, rubbing the cream into the cut over the goat's protests. "I think one of her sisters kicked her in their play."

[capture_eternity]

"The poor little sweet thing!"

All misgivings about roses are forgiven at the cuteness of a baby goat at close quarters.

[athelstanthescribe]

The goat is attempting to wriggle free, but Athelstan holds her firmly with his spare hand.

"How have you been, Dorian?"

[capture_eternity]

"I helped chase those in the garden when Ragnar brought them," Dorian says. "They were all over the place and tried to eat absolutely everything."

[athelstanthescribe]

"They do that", he agrees. "With a strong will of their own, and Ragnar only has two hands."

[capture_eternity]

"They ran rings around him," Dorian says. "It was funny, really."

Pause.

"They didn't try to eat Ragnar's braid, but everything else."

[athelstanthescribe]

"They probably didn't want to get within reach of the man trying to catch them", he says with mild amusement.

[capture_eternity]

"Or they thought the basil tasted better."

[like_quicksilver]

As with home, Gyda made it a point to check the goats daily. They were still babies after all and needed constant looking after. Yet when she checked that morning, one of them wasn't there, and there was no damage to the fence either.

She heard the bleating after a search and headed inside the bar. "Athelstan..." It had to be confessed she breathed a little easier seeing him hold the goat, even if she was struggling to get out from his arms. "What happened?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Nothing very serious", he assures her. "It looks like one of her sisters kicked or stepped on her, she just has a little cut on her leg."

[like_quicksilver]

The goats were very rowdy. One of the reasons they needed constant care wasn't just for food and water, but because they were just like human children-sometimes rough housing led to injuries.

"You get the cream from bar, I'll see about keeping her calm." She took the squirming nannie from him, carefully stroking her while keeping her injured leg still.

THough she really should consider giving them names. Atleast the nannies would need names.

[athelstanthescribe]

"She isn't going to enjoy this", he says ruefully. "But I'll try to make it quick."

[like_quicksilver]

"No one enjoys putting salve on a scratch." She didn't, her brother certainly didn't-and her father worst of all of them. "But it needs to be done."

She held the goat a little more firmly to keep her from moving, though it seemed she knew what was going on. She kept trying to squirm out of her arms while bleating piteously.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Hush, little one." He squeezes a blob of the cream into his hand, takes hold of her leg, and begins rubbing it in as gently as he can.

[like_quicksilver]

Gentle as he is, the goat still lets out a mehhh, trying to pull away. Gyda made sure to keep her steady while he put the cream on her leg. "It's alright. This will help you feel better-see, it's done."

[athelstanthescribe]

"All done", Athelstan agrees, letting go of the little goat. "And much less trouble to all of us than trying to keep a bandage on her."

[intoaman]

"Hello." Diaval comes over to where Athelstan and the baby goat are. "Is it okay?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"She's going to be fine", he says with assurance. "Just as long as the cut stays clean, and she wouldn't put up with a bandage."

[intoaman]

He smiles and crouches a bit to look at the goat, making some soft cooing sounds. The little nanny calms down a little and stops struggling so much.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Thank you, Diaval", Athelstan says, genuinely impressed. "She must like you."

[intoaman]

"Goats are smart. They understand raven a bit, even if they can't speak it."

[athelstanthescribe]

"And do you understand her?" he asks with fascination.

[intoaman]

"A little bit she's a baby so she talks like a baby. Mostly she's just upset and doesn't like the smell of the cream."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I know", he says soothingly to the baby. "It probably stings too, doesn't it? But it might hurt worse if I didn't do this."