Manda'yaim: A New Beginning

[Judah Lesan]

The time came to move. Graad had purchased a farmstead from an older couple who could no longer keep the farmstead going. The vhett had a vision for what the farm could be with his hard work, but he was going to miss this season. Standing in the doorway, Graad was looking over the farm, a smile on his face. He was rolling the comm frequency between his fingers which had been in his possession since [member="Briika Detta"] had given it to him.

He would have called sooner but the vhett had been busy with paperwork that he felt it unfair to tell her he was in town, but not able to see her. Graad still liked her, and truth be told, he had never gotten her out of his mind. His dreams always went back to her. Now that he had the home, and small amounts of furnature. The yaim was set on a large field open and needing a lot of care. Graad was excited to see what it could become.

The call was made, but Briika must have been making her calls, because he had to leave a message. He was nervous, and perhaps he shouldn't have been, but he was taking a step forward. The message was short and simple.

"Briika, it's Graad. I just moved into a yaim about five kilometers from your yaim just outside Keldabe. I have some fresh trout, and if you're free, I was hoping you and Mesh'la could come and enjoy it with me. Call if you get this?"

 

[Briika Munin]

Briika threw her medpac into the back seat of her speeder, then plunked down into the driver's seat directly in front. She closed her eyes for a moment and took calming breaths as the last patient seen had been a hard one for the baar'ur to deal with having to discuss options at end of life. Death was just part of the life cycle, but for Bree it much harder now to talk about after loosing both her riduur and newborn ik'aad right after one another. Though that was in the past, and this was the present. They would never be forgotten; remembered daily along with her older vod'ika, who had been killed by Death Watch almost a decade ago. Gods had it been that long?

A vibrating noise under her buy'ce that had been sitting on the passenger seat brought the golden blonde out of her musings. Briika had forgotten to take her comlink off of mute and there was a message waiting for her, actually two; one from [member="Kad Tor"], her younger vod, stating not to worry about rushing home as he had Mesh'la with him, and one from… [member="Graad Hokan"]. A smile grew on her face as she listened to the ver'verd slash vhett's message. Seems the rugged Concordian was here now permanently, having purchased a farm just outside the walls of Keldabe, and he wanted to share a meal with her and Mesh'la. Bree wasn't so sure about him meeting her young ad just yet, but she was hungry and the man did know how to cook trout.

A reply was left, as it seemed they were playing comm tag, that she accepted Graad's offer of food and company, though it would have to be a quick one given Bree needed to be home before dark to say goodnight to her cyare ad'ika.

Briika knew of the place that Graad bought as she had taken care of both the elder Mando'ade, who farmed the homestead there, for one thing or another over the years. After parking her speeder, Bree got out and walked towards the main structure; a typical Mando'ade style yaim for the farm lands with a grass covered roof to help camouflage it.

"Su'cuy!" she called out as the door was open and blue eyes peered inside.

 

[Judah Lesan]

Graad had been out back working, and had absentmindedly left his comm in the yaim. While he was waiting for the return call, he thought he'd get some work done in the fields. The large lot was sectioned off into several sections which would allow him to grow several crops. A portion of land was saved for livestock, a minimal ammount to begin with. A couple of merc jobs would pay for seed and cattle, if the yaim in Springs did not sell soon. He had just walked in through the back door when the familiar voice called out from the front of the yaim. Graad smiled and rushed to wash his hands.

The vhett was dressed the part as he had been outside most the the day. He tossed his hat on the hook which was on the wall near the back door. The older man who owned the yaim before knew right where to put that hook. They had made the yaim a home, and Graad would do the same.

"Briika! Graad called out as he came from the back, quickly running his hands through his long hair to make it presentable. "Sorry, I left my comm inside. Been out most of the day sectioning the fields to prep them for the next growing cycle. You got my message I see?"

He didn't know whether to give her a hug, offer the customary greeting, or what. Graad smiled, and opted that maybe a friendly one arm side hug was appropriate. It was awkward, but Graad had never really been friends with a woman, especially pretty ones.

"How have you been ner vod?"

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

"I did, and here I am," Briika smiled into the side ways hug that she returned. It was awkward at best, but they were friends, right? The golden blonde stepped away and walked about the karyai of the long turf house.

"I absolutely love this place. I knew when you said five kilometers out that this was the farmstead. You have made a good choice, [member="Graad Hokan"]."

There was so much he could do with the interior. An idea came to mind as Bree's domestic side starting plotting of how it could look with a woman's touch. Right now it was bare bones. Course first of all Graad was an jag, a vhett, and a ver'verd, not to mention solus. He probably wouldn't like her feminine input, but she would offer it, only if he asked though.

"I've been good… Busy working. You know, the usual. I had just finished my last round for the day when I got your message. How about you? I am pleasantly surprised to see you... So how long have you actually been here?"

 

[Judah Lesan]

"Glad you like it. As soon as I saw it I knew."

Graad motiined for her to make herself at home. The fish was already on the grill with corn, and his own attempt at uj cake. He wasn't a Briika when it came to baking, but he managed to get it out before it burned. Graad was trying to impress his friend, but really didn't know why. Maybe it was the dream he kept having, the with Briika and her daughter. He still hadn't allowed his heart to dwell on the thought. All he needed was her friendship. It was more than he had to begin with when it came to most. The introverted verd usually stayed to himself, and it was fine. Briika was the first true friend he had in a while, and didn't want to mess that up.

"I've been here since yesterday afternoon. I took care of the contracts and credit transfers. You don't know how many times I almost called or stopped by, but I didn't want to trouble you and the aliit when I was too busy to stay long or have you over. It's all done, out of the way. I'm free to do as I wish, and have been," he looked to his dirty shirt, "as you can see. In fact, if you don't mind, I would like to change real quick. There's ale in the cold storage if you want, or I've made iced tea as well."

Graad ran back to his room and tossed the shirt off, and grabbed a clean one. The color was gray, but the cut was the same. He didn't take long, just enough to not smell like a wild strill. When he came down the hall, his hair was pulled back into a ponytail as well, and looked as though it had been wet down.

"The trout should be done now. I grilled it this time."

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

"Well I'm just glad you're here… Now I have somewhere nice to stop off on my way in from my rounds," Briika smiled, then watched maybe longer than she should as [member="Graad Hokan"] walked down the hallway to his room to change. A happiness of some sort filled her troubled heart, maybe easing it's burden just a bit.

Bree sighed, then went into the kitchen and grabbed two ales out of the vhett's cold storage. It had been a long day so a cold one sounded very good, and why not share one with a friend as they had something to celebrate; Graad's new farmstead and hopefully an endearing friendship.

The blonde tried not to grin when the rugged Concordian returned all spiffed up, but it was hard not to. He did clean up well. Briika handed him a bottle of ale that she had opened, then raised her bottle. "Here's to new beginnings and fertile land. May the fruits of your hard work bare many great things," she toasted, then clinked hers with his before taking a refreshing sip.

"Oh… Your pan fried trout was delicious. Now I can't wait to try it grilled. So what crops are you thinking of putting in to start off with?"

 

[Judah Lesan]

"For you as well, ner vod."

Graad's bottle met Briika's with a clink before the open mouth of the bottle met his lips to allow some of the liquid to pass through and down his throat. It was good, cold, and the fish ready. All Graad had to do was lift the lid from the grill and set it out. He had used a cedar plank to add flavor, and placed the fish on his makeshift table. Grilled corn was served with it, and the uj, cake as well. It wasn't anything like what Briika could make, or the spread they had last time, but it would be good.

"Well I was hoping you could help me decide actually. I'm still getting settled, my field I just marked off into for sections today, and tomorrow I'm going to start prepping them. Manda'yaim is not Springs and climate here is different still. What do suggest works well this season?"

Graad dished his plate as he asked, as usual made his daily remembrance before eating, and buttered his corn. He loved chargrilled corn, and could eat it every night. Perhaps he would grow that, but it wasn't the time plant the corn. Next season when it was a bit warmer.

"I'm glad you look forward to having a place to stop by. You have an open invitation, even if I'm not here. Sometime I'd like to meet your aliit. You talk of them so warmly, and I've decided I need to try and get to know some more people. Selling the farmstead really forced me to find some measure of closure. I have to move on with my life. There is so much land that if you and your vod'ika ever need to get the add some room to run, or teach them to use a rifle, your free to do so here."

He was resigned the was how he'd see are running through his fields, yet hopeful for his own in the future.

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

Briika's blue orbs went 'oh my' in delight when [member="Graad Hokan"] lifted the lid on the barbecue as her gaze went to the cedar planked trout and grilled corn on the cob.

"You sure know how to spoil a girl. They say a way to a guy's heart is through their stomach, but I think it can go both ways, ner vod. The food looks and smells delicious!"

The blonde took a seat at the mag-shift outdoor table, then waited for the rugged Concordian to finish his private musings before digging in. Bree had noticed that he did that at the evening meal, perhaps his remembrances. Hers were always done in the morning with the rising of the sun bringing on the new day.

"Vor'e for the offers. Maybe you can come over sometime for cuun aliit dinner at the end of the week and meet ner vod'ika, kaysh ade, and of course ner cyare ad," Briika smiled before taking a swig of ale.

"As for crops… Corn actually will grow here this time of year as well as cucumbers, melons, peppers, tomatoes, and squash like acorn, hubbord and banana. Oh and red gourd of course. When time allows, I'd gladly give you a hand. Can't take the love of farming out of a country girl. I actually like getting my hands one with the soil," she grinned, then chomped down on the buttered corn cob picked up while talking.

"Yes… Definitely corn, yum!"

 

[Judah Lesan]

"So if I keep cooking like this, you'll fall for me, then?" Graad asked with a playful smirk.

He was teasing her, but in a way he actually liked the idea of Briika falling for him. Friends, vod, they would be that, and nothing more though. Briika still had a riduur and even though he was missing, Graad could not bring himself to pursue another man's woman. Yet, her companionship is exactly what convinced him to finally move on. Graad was playing with fire allowing himself to get close to her, but he was tired of being lonely. If Briika ever came to the point where she would choose to move on from her riduurok, then Graad would evaluate things differently.

"Anything for a friend, and selfishly I covet the company. I've taken a big step to moving on, and if I'm going to do it, I will need to be around people. Yup this introvert is going to have to have friends."

He listened as Briika talked about the crops he could grow. Clearly corn made the list, and knew he was already going to plant it next season anyhow. The idea of certain squashes sounded good as well. He enjoyed cucumber, melon, all of that, but the squash would be a major seller in the fall season at certain parts of the planet, and Graad knew he needed to plant ahead so harvest would hit the right times. A small garden was also set aside for his personal use. Cucumbers, tomatoes, zuchini, lettuce, onions, peppers, and raddishes would all be be planted there first thing in the morning, or this evening if the sun was out long enough.

"If you help with the farmstead I'll find a way to pay you. How does thirty percent of the earnings sound. I'm alone and don't need it all. You don't have the income coming from yours. I'm sure you and your vod'ika could benefit from it more than I could. And if you really want to get your hands dirty, I need to get my personal garden planted so I can benefit from the veggies all summer long."

Graad had been eating his corn between talking. It was half gone by now, and he started in on the fish. Yes, he went all out for Briika, as well as he could, because he had no one else to do that for.

"I'd love to join all of you for dinner this weekend, or when you can spare the time. I can bring ribs..."

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

Briika chose purposefully not to reply to his teasing comment about falling for him. It was just too soon to take another man, and she was still way too conflicted as to what to do about the status of her riduurok, though the thought of having someone like [member="Graad Hokan"] be in her life more than just a friend did make the baar'ur go 'hmmm'. She wasn't a young Mando'ad any more, though again Bree wasn't old either. There was plenty of more life to live, children to bare, if that was to be.

"Oh I wouldn't take any of your profits, ner vod, though perhaps just share in some of the bounty from the land. Nothings better than just picked food from the garden to eat. I want to teach Mesh'la a good work ethic and how to be self-sufficient. Learning from the ground up is an excellent way along with the other skills that she needs to be taught to be a true Mando'ade."

The golden blonde forked in a couple of bites of the trout while listening to the rugged Concordian speak. Briika found his accent very alluring as were his chocolate drop eyes. There was a certain kindness in them that tried to melt her resolve to not go there.

He's a friend, and getting to be a good one, but that is all Graad can be… It is for the best… or is it? Oh how does one know?

"I think this weekend would work just fine… ner vod'ika would love to have someone else to talk BBQ recipes with as [member="Kad Tor"] thinks he's the king of the grill," she chuckled softly with a roll of her eyes, then the blue orbs looked down at her wrist chrono.

"I'm sorry to eat and run, but I need to get home. Perhaps I can stop by again after my early rounds tomorrow. I'll bring some vhett clothes with me and we can get dirty together."

OMG… Did I just say that out loud?! I hope he knew what I meant and not what it sounded like. Gods I think my brother is rubbing off on me… Foot-in-mouth disease must be contagious.

"The food was great, and well the company even better… Vor'e and ret'urcye mhi, Graad."

 

[Judah Lesan]

Graad simply smiled and escorted Briika to the door where, this time, the side hug he offered didn't seem awkward. He ignored the slight slip Briika had made, and just nodded.

"I would appreciate your help. Tomorrow would be great too, since it is the most labor intensive. All the hands help, and I'm glad you came. It was good to see you again. I look forward to tomorrow."

The night was spent cleaning the dishes, th grill, the table, and himself. The vhett slept well, his mind still running through the dream he had of Briika and the young blonde girl whose face he had not seen yet. For some reason, Graad was nervous throughout the next day. He didn't think he had a reason to be. Briika was coming and they were going to plant his fields, or plow them at least. It was a hot day, the sun was high, and Graad was dressed for the whether.

Graad couldn't wait for Briika, so by the time she would arrive, half the fields would be plowed, and Graad would be found under the shade of nearby tree enjoying a cold sandwich and a tall bottle of water. A small breeze provided some reprieve to the hot air. He nearly fell asleep, but knew the work had to get done. A little longer than normal break was fine though. Graad didn't want to over do it in the heat. He would never hear the end of it if Briika found him passed out of heat exhaustion.

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

Briika had gotten up early the next morning and made her rounds in the countryside, then swung back into Keldabe to pick up her ad, who had actually jumped at the chance to work in the fields rather than stick around her uncle's beskarsmith shop with her cousins. Goran stuff didn't pique her interest like medicine and farming did; just like her mother and grandmother. It was becoming a generational thing with the Tor women it seemed.

After pulling up and parking the speeder near the yaim, Briika and Mesh'la got out dressed similar in comfortable plaid shirts and jeans to work in the fields.

Spotting the vhett sitting under a big veshok tree seemingly taking a break as he had started already, the two blondes walked over to him, though the younger of the two was a couple of steps behind a bit shy though curious about the man that had their attention.

"Su cuy'gar, ner vod. Couldn't have picked a better day to plant," Bree said, flashing a friendly smile the rugged Concordian's way, then she placed her hands on the petite shoulders of her daughter, who now was standing in front of her. "Mesh'la, this is [member="Graad Hokan"]. We are going to help him plant his crops today. In return he has generously given us a plot here as well so we can have our own garden."

"Su'cuy, jatne vod," Mesh'la offered with a soft smile, then the little blonde added. "Buir'ika says she worked with you before while on a medical mission. It is nice to meet you."

 

[Judah Lesan]

Graad looked up at the sound a familiar voice. Though what was going to be a quick su'cuy in return turned into a slight pause. Briika had brought Mesh'la with her, something Graad had not expected. Yes, he knew she had an ad, but he had not expected to meet her so soon. Still the vhett's face lit up when looked on the pair standing in front of him. Mesh'la certain lived up to the name she had been given, as well as the buir who had birthed her. Briika was clearly proud of her.

He was nervous, and so was Mesh'la. Briika was their common ground however, and the vhett stood to greet them both. His rugged hands brushed the crumbs from his shirt that had fallen from his two sandwiches, a small lunch for the large Mando'ad. Walking out from under the shade, Graad placed his hat on top of his head again.

"It is more likely a better day for a swim than to plant, but since I'm still adjusting to the whether, I will take your word for it, Briika."

His attention turned to Mesh'la.

"No need to call me, to call me jatne vod, ad'ika. Gar buir'ika, has been very kind to me, and elek, she saved my life. If you must call me anything, you may simply call me Graad, or vod just like gar buir'ika."

Graad gave the young one a smile, and looked back to her mother. A content smile was given to her, as if she had just shared something with him he could have never thought to begin to repay. He motioned out to the fields to indicate two of them were already plowed and ready for seed. When the day was cooler, and the sun had lowered in the sky, Graad would take them back to the yaim and begin the work on the garden meant for Mesh'la to tend.

"I have the two farthest fields ready to plant, and since someone has requested corn, the corn is on order. Prices seem good, so I am risking half the fields that this will be a good season. Soy beans, and acorn squash will be the other two, and that is on order as well. I have to apologize, Briika, I didn't plan any work for Mesh'la today, though perhaps she could work with you as we plow the remaining fields. One is never to young to learn how to operate the plow, and what to look for in the field as the machine moves through to break up the top soil."

Graad smiled. The afternoon would be one full of hard work, followed by an evening of good food. Though Briika did like his trout. Graad had something else in mind for tonight. The meat was already prepared, and ready to be cooked.

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

Briika smiled back as she could see that the unmarried vhett was pleasantly surprised and genuinely happy that he had this opportunity to meet Mesh'la. Being a single parent one always wonders when the right time is to bring your child into a possible new relationship, not that her and [member="Graad Hokan"] had one other than friendship at this point. But the rugged Concordian was a man, a rather good looking one at that, and it wouldn't be a stretch to say that there was mutual attraction between them at least on some level - though Bree kept denying it except that her dreams weren't cooperating.

"Mes'ika will do what ever is required of her, and if that is working with me and learning to plow, that will be fine. I did bring some garden seeds with me I had left over from the homestead. I believe they are still good," Briika said, then looked over to the young blonde girl.

"Cyar'ika… Would you go get our gloves and the canteen from the speeder, oh and my hat, gedet'ye," she nodded, then waited for her ad to leave them alone and stepped closer.

"I hope you don't mind the extra hands today… She's actually pretty excited to get dirty with us. There is a creek just over the ridge that you could probably use for an irrigation source. Dry farming is a hard way to get good reliable crops. If we work hard and fast right now to finish up the plowing, perhaps the three of us could check out the creek situation and dip our toes in the water at the same time."

 

[Judah Lesan]

Graad nodded when Briika suggested Mesh'la would be fine with her, and then watched as the younger blonde bounded off toward the speeder to get a hat and gloves for the ladies. He smiled when Briika expressed her hope that bringing her ad had been okay, and nodded again.

"Don't ever feel like you have to ask me if it's okay. She's part of you, goes with you. I really would not be a good vod if I couldn't accept that. There is a nice creek that runs on the edge of the property line. It will take another couple of days to route it for irrigation, but I'm sure I will manage it. Though, there is a great place to dip the toes, and even go for a swim. The current isn't as strong, and few good strong trees too."

The vhett started heading to the plow with Briika following. Mesh'la would find them as the machine was not far from the tree at all. It afforded Graad the time to tell Briika what he thought of Mesh'la without the young one being around to know what they were discussing. While they really did just have a friendship, Graad knew there was potential for more, if Briika ever wanted to go down that path. On his part, the quiet Concordian would simply be a good friend, and even though he wore the attraction on his sleeves, he knew how to not cross the line of friendship without having permission to do so.

"She's lovely, you know. I see a lot of you in her, and certainly she lives up to her name. I am certain she will be just like her buir'ika some day, as deadly as she is beautiful."

It was about then Mesh'la returned with the hat and gloves leaving the unlikely crew to get to work. Briika did not disappoint in her knowledge of working the land, and the two fields remaining were plowed in half the time it had taken Graad to finish the first two. The sun was still high in the sky, and a better part of the late afternoon was still with them. Graad's water bottle was empty, and he did need to cool off. Briika's suggestion of the creek was sounding very good.

In an attempt to cool off, Graad had removed his shirt which was covered in sweat. The afternoon breeze helped, but the man was still overheated. Strands of hair had pulled out from his pony tail and were stuck to his forehead. A bandanna was pulled form his back pocket and used to wipe the sweat from his brow.

"I think I need that swim now!"

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

Briika's cheeks flushed with heat not from the sun at [member="Graad Hokan"]'s compliment, then the golden blonde replied with a proud smile. "I'm glad you think so as Mes'ika is my world, and elek, we are a two for one."

Whomever Bree chose to be in her life as more than a just friend in the future would have to understand the complexity of her situation and accept it fully or not. There would be no half-way romances for the fun of things as it wasn't just about her needs, wants, desires - though sometimes a small part of her wished it could be as there was something to be said about a good attitude adjustment every now and then… And it had been as long as her cyare riduur had been gone. It was beginning to feel like ages now as reality clearly marked the time he'd been away, marching or not.

They got to plowing the rest of the fields in no time. Briika was a doer so putting her head down and getting the work done wasn't a problem for the Mando'ad raised on a farm herself. It was see one, do one, teach one basically for the youngest vhett. Mesh'la quickly learned the skills needed allowing the three of them to work as a team.

The canteen the two Detta women shared was down to it's last big swallow so Briika naturally gave it to her ad, then slipped off her long sleeved plaid shirt and tied it around her waist leaving her arms bare wearing a fitted tank underneath.

"Oh I'm all for that… Lead the way, ner vod," she grinned; azure eyes taking in appreciatively the rugged Concordian's bare upper physique from under the brim of her hat, then she motioned to her daughter to come. "Cyar'ika… Let's go cool off in the creek, shall we."

The reaction from Mesh'la was a quick hoot. "Kandossi! The boys are going to be so jealous too when I tell them as they are stuck in the smitty all-day-long... I chose wisely, even though this is hard work."

 

[Judah Lesan]

Graad could not help but take a quick glance at the way Briika's tank top fit her. He was an jag after all and had the same needs and desires as any man. Mesh'la seemed to have no problem with the suggestion to go take a dip into the creek, and proved that she loved being on the farmstead. That was a positive thing as Graad had no intentions of getting rid of it. If this was to be where she learned to farm, then Graad was happy. Briika had given Graad an interesting gift. She was sharing her alitt, and making Graad feel as if he were part of it. Even if their friendship was never anything more, Briika had already given him more than he could have ever asked for.

"Let me grab some towels quickly, we can head out to the creek. There is a nice place for you to swim if you want, Mesh'la."

The Mando'ad patted the girls head as he walked past her with a smile. He offered to refill Briika's jug of water as well. A brief trip back to the yaim, and Graad returned with three towels, and refilled bottles of water. He smiled as he handed the baar'ur her bottle back.

"I wouldn't have you getting dehydrated because you're looking our for gar ad'ika," he said with a hint of concern in his voice. "I've got your shebs covered."

"And what a nice shebs it is too," he found himself thinking, but had the wisdom to keep it from getting off his tongue and past his lips.

Graad came out with one other item, a strong rope, and sturdy piece of wood. A smirk crossed his face as he showed it to Briika. She would know what it was for, and it was certainly going to be fun. When they reached the creek, Graad tied the rope to the base of a very study branch, and secured the wood to act as a handle, or stand. Knowing that if the tree could hold his weight they would be fine, Graad rolled up his pant legs just above his knees as he had done as a child when in mixed company, climbed to the rope swing, and swung out over the water, he landed with a splash.

When he came up he hollered, "The water is fine... come on in!"

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

Briika quirked up a blondish-brown eyebrow at his sheb comment, then replied taking the the canteen back appreciatively. "Vor'e… I think," she chuckled softly.

The section of the creek that they walked to was beautiful and picturesque. Mesh'la could hardly keep her excitement from bubbling over as she watched [member="Graad Hokan"] climb up on the rope swing, then jump in to the deep pool of water that was just below some cascading rapids.

"May I, buir'ika?" the young blonde asked with pleading puppy dog eyes. "Of course, just be careful," Briika answered, then helped her daughter up onto the branch after she stripped down to her underthings. When the girl was settled on the rope swing, Bree gave a push, then a child-like squeal came and a splash followed by a deep laugh.

Briika wished she'd brought her holocam with her. Perhaps another time. The older blonde took off her work boots and untied the shirt from her waist, then rolled up her jeans to almost her knees. She took a towel and climbed over to a rock outcropping and sat down to watch the other two have fun in the water. For some reason Bree didn't feel like going in fully, though she did let her feet dangle in the water. The coolness was refreshing.

"So coming from a place called Springs, there must have been just as beautiful creeks there?"

 

[Judah Lesan]

Graad let out a hearty belly laugh when Mesh'la came up out the water. She could swim okay, but Graad would still make sure she didn't get so tired that she couldn't keep it up. Helping Mesh'la to a more shallow part of the water, Graad floated over to where Briika had her lower legs in the water.

"The farmstead was on a flood plain which we dammed up. Made the perfect swimming hole, not to mention the natural rivers and lakes in the mountains. You'd love it there!"

It was about then Mesh'la snuck up on the two adults and splashed them. Graad got a playful look on his face and got into a minor splash war with Mesh'la. The lauging and giggling was to much for the Concordian eventually as he surrendered and swam back to the rock and climbed up onto it. He was out of breath, but laughing, happy for the first time in forever. His forearm draped over his eyes to block the sun which was starting to lower below the tree line. This meant they would have to head back soon, but would give the vhett time to dry, and catch his breath as he had been working hard for most of the day. He'd be sore in the morning, but it would be worth it.

"You're missing all the fun vod'ika," the affectionate whether intentional or not, spoke to the fact Graad viewed Briika as a close friend. She was truly his only real friend, and his best. "You really should get in and cool off before we have to head back and plant that garden. Also there is a beast roast that has been slow cooking all day. I hope Mesh'la likes my meats as much as you do."

Graad's head rolled to look at the blonde baar'ur. He gave her a tender smile. Then sat up to watch as Mesh'la was enjoying the water. The Concordian knew there would be no escaping his dream tonight, not now that there was a smiling face to the girl who was always with the blonde. Graad was getting into dangerous territory, and he knew it. However his will was strong. Was it strong enough to deal with how his heart strings were being pulled?

[member="Briika Detta"]

 

[Briika Munin]

The endearment given to her was not missed by the baar'ur nor was [member="Graad Hokan"]'s tender smile when he sat up on the rocks next to Bree. She tried not to gawk when the rugged Concordian got out of the water with droplets running down over his thickly-muscled tan chest and his long, wet hair dripping down his broad back.

"I'm quite cool thanks to two water rats who got me good earlier," Briika teased as she splashed Mesh'la playfully with her foot still dangling in the creek, then her golden head turned to face Graad. A soft smile came to her lips as she studied him. The man did seem to be genuinely happy with this little outing, and Mesh'la did as well. That meant a lot to Bree.

"Fun is in the eye of the beholder, and watching Mes'ika and you play has brought me joy. Vor entye, vod'ika. As for liking meats, we are Tors… Shatual and the like are our favorites to eat, and so far you have not disappointed me with your cooking skills," she winked, then got up and called for her ad to get out of the water. It was time to dry off and go back to work.