Mene

 

 

"The weather is agreeable. Seek your mother's permission."

Michael ran into the house, bellowing at the top of his lungs. Springtime weather was notoriously unreliable. Sunny and warm one day, cold and rainy the next, followed by snow which would only melt the next warm day. Mene had been reluctant to agree to any outdoor plans with Michael. Once Mene mentioned fylle riding as a possible skill Michael would need for the anwynhil, he latched onto it. Every day began with "Is the weather good enough today?" Every evening ended with, "Will the weather be acceptable tomorrow?" Mene knew Rosemary would not agree to the excursion if the weather was less than ideal, so they waited for the perfect, bright and sunny day.

The back door banged shut. He needed to repair that. "Can you explain what my son is babbling about?"

"The weather is good. I will take him fylle riding today." His mate's eyes narrowed as she regarded him with suspicion. The mistrust pained him. One day, he would earn her trust. "It is safe," he added. 

"Safe like when you dragged home that giant crab?"

Always with the cranc. Yes, that had been a misjudgment on his part. If he had known how poorly she would react to the creature, he'd have brought the carcass to his mother to be butchered. Mene thanked the stars that he never mentioned the cranc he and Michael hunted had been a juvenile.

"It is similar to your Terran horses," he explained. "They are common domestic animals. Many ride them for pleasure as well as utility."

"Please, Mom," Michael asked, voice climbing in pitch.

"No tricks?"

"How do you mean?"

"I don't know, Mene. You describe something one way, let me make assumptions that this fylle is basically a horse and then it turns out your common domestic animal breathes fire or flies."

Michael's eyes went wide. "Do they?"

"No." Flying fylle. The idea was beyond ridiculous. "You encouraged Michael to play less video games. This activity complies with your request."

The look of mistrust returned. "Something's up. What aren't you telling me?"

He stretched his neck slowly and rolled his shoulders. He did not miss the way her eyes followed the movement or the way her pink tongue darted out to lick her lips. Interesting response. Perhaps reassuring his mate of the safety of the activity was not the best tactic. "Come with us. See for yourself."

"What?" She took a step back.

"That'd be so great. Come with us, Mom."

"You do not work today. Accompany us." The Mahdfel took the safety of their mates and their progeny very seriously. He would never endanger her life, not that fylle were dangerous. Not unless you had the misfortune to ride one in a particularly foul mood.

"I had plans."

"To do what?" His mate worked hard. Too hard. Even on her days of rest, she cleaned and organized the house, she did shopping and often prepared baked goods. Cookies, she called them, which were tiny cakes to be eaten in one hand. His mate had exposed him to many Terran style foods recently. Michael had a fixation for the item called pizza, which was a flatbread based covered in a vegetable puree and melted cheese. Rosemary had prepared it several times with local ingredients to emulate the dish. Mene approved, even though she insisted the puree was made from a vegetable, the tomato, when he knew it was classified as a fruit.

Apparently, fruit puree was not an acceptable substitute. 

"Laundry. Dusting. I want to call Hazel. You know, exciting weekend stuff,” she said. 

Nothing that could not be delayed.

"Come with us," he repeated.

She pushed back a stray strand of hair behind her ears. "It's like horseback riding? Nothing crazy?"

"Yes. There is a stable not far from here. It will be a pleasant afternoon activity."

"No jumping through rings of fire or over pits of crocodiles?"

"Is Earth so dangerous that you must ask these things?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure, but the rings of fire are for advanced riders. Michael and I are beginners, so go easy, alright?"