From the view of the window along his parent's bedroom wall, Ioan noticed the fine morning mist sift through the blooming garden beneath the castle. His bright and fiery orange eyes peeked over the windowsill's ledge, wet nose pressed firmly against the cold glass, quickly fogging up the pane as he breathed out slowly. Clouds, from the east, rolled in quickly, a heavy indication that rain was indeed on its way and there would be no point attempting to go outside. Which, if anyone asked Ioan his opinion, he was totally fine with. He preferred the confines of Hearthstone compared to that of the dangers that lurked around outside's every corner. Much unlike his siblings, one would often find him lingering down the hallways or tucked away into his auntie Gwyn's library. That library is where he headed to today. Before his parents and siblings roused from slumber, Ioan slips out from the heavy double doors and pads quietly along the cool stone toward the dusty, but bright and comfortable library where Gwyn roomed. She often didn't mind him sneaking in during the early hours - especially if he brought her her favorite tea and snacks. Unfortunately, he didn't bring that today, but promised her he would at some point later in the morning when he felt hungry enough to traverse the stairs down to the kitchen. Instead, he heads to his favorite corner and his favorite thick, fluffy, velvet, fur lined pillow to sink into it and continue teaching himself how to read. So far, he had memorized the letters of this common tongue alphabet by looking at each one over and over again until Gwyn had told him he had it right. His next mission was to start figuring out each sound that they made and how it made up the words that he saw scribbled, written, typed, and drawn all over the old, musty pages that filled the books throughout her shelves. It didn't take long for the pup to become overwhelmed. His eyes squinted, nose scrunching, and huffs of frustration heaved from his chest and up through his lips. Even a quiet growl could be heard every so often until he slammed the book shut and hid his face beneath his paws. Why was this so stressful!! Reading seemed so easy! Talking was easy so why couldn't reading be just as easy! Auntie Gwyn said not every wolf could read, but if he wanted to learn as much as he could, it would be the best and fastest way to do so. The determination that lined his genetics wouldn't allow him to give up. With a groan, Ioan peeks out from under his paw at the closest book, giving it a strained and disgruntled look. wc: 458

code by bunni, gif by minimoss

As warmth blossomed over the land in the Borean spring Spriggan was practically sleeping out in the gardens now. Being able to wake up with the sunrise greeting the little garden on her back had little pink flowers blooming all over the lush moss. She didn’t even mind waking to small showers that only helped to encourage the growth there. Not that she enjoyed lingering in the wet for the whole day. Even now the clouds rolling in told her she would be drenched sooner rather than later. She knew that if she went in dripping wet too early in the day that her mother would likely scold her for getting water everywhere so the tiny living garden lifted herself from her curled position and made her way inside.

Usually she would make her way into the greenhouse she wanted to be present for family breakfast. The day was incredibly early and it wasn’t likely her mother or siblings had awoken yet, and if she could sneak into the castle maybe Bowen wouldn’t notice that she had slept out in the gardens that night. The castle was quiet so Spriggan tried to keep her pawsteps to the ornate rugs that decorated the stone floors. Making her way carefully up to the library. She wasn’t very good at reading, but aunt Gwyn was confident that she would be able to learn.

Now, or when it was raining at least, was as good a time as any to try and practice and study. Spriggan squeezed quietly through the door, not wanting to disturb her aunt if she was still sleeping, and found that she was not the only one with this idea. In the far corner was her little cousin Ioan, already pouring over a book. Though his facial features told her that he was having the same difficulties in learning to read that she had.

He huffed and growled in frustration and Spriggan was able to watch him slam the book shut as she entered the door. The tiny girl visibly cringed as he did so, her blue and lavender gaze instinctively looking to where their aunt might have been. Thankfully no one was there to scold any loud noises so Spriggan approached the younger boy curiously.

"Do you have trouble reading too?” Her question was soft, almost whispered as she approached his comfy reading nook. Her ears laid back in embarrassment, but she felt better knowing she wasn’t the only one that struggled with their reading lessons.

"Spriggan Carpathius"

wc:421
total: 879