Give Me Some Space; A Place to Call My Own

Something was obviously bothering her mother. There was a tightness in her features. Maybe the girl imagined it, but her mother looked older somehow. She wanted to ask what was wrong, but Zee answered her request with a question of her own. Fluffy ears tucked against her skull. Asla was a little embarrassed to show her mother. She didn't know if others would think that her new hobby was silly. How was she supposed to get her own space if she didn't explain why she needed it? "Hold on," said the girl before passing away to rummage in the corner of the den.

Carefully, Aslatiel rolled out a huge piece of deer skin, placing it before her mother. It took up a lot of space and she had to tiptoe around it to come back to her mother's side. "I'm making a map." She pointed out the different spots drawn on the skin. "These are the big stars in the sky. I don't know their names, or if they even have names, so I'm naming them as I go." With one claw, she pointed to a large circle with a head and teeth drawn next to it. "This is the biggest. I named it Sirius after dad. And this one, " She pointed to another star on the other side, "is Zee, because it looks like it glows blue." There were other stars and pictures, but she figured her mother understood.

Aslatiel cast imploring eyes up to her mother. "They aren't very good now, but they will be. I just need space to work and get better. And I need supplies. Colors, skins, charcoal." It was obvious that this was important to her.