In search of Patta

[Sujamma Addict 514]

In Search of Patta

 

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Cast, wait, snag, repeat

 

These were the daily routines of a young Tigrasi cub. His once bright coat of orange fur had lost its shine during the frequent tropical storms which bashed against the Isles of Xerdali. Still, he knew how to care for himself as “Keera” — who was the closest thing to a parent figure now — cared for the growing Kha’.

 

Cast, wait, snag, repeat

 

Muja, like many of the other young Kha’, had lost his parents (as cliche as it might sound). His mother took her own life after being driven from her home and the father had upped and left about five years ago.

He was ten now.

Their home on the island was emptied and boarded up, forcing Muja to take refuge among the home of a loving Pantera. Crowded, but at least there was a roof over his head.

 

Cast, wait, snag, repeat

 

He would often sit alone near the island’s edge, fishing, watching the days go by, and waiting to see his patta arrive on one of the few ferries that seldom docked there. Zinawr the Pantera had rounded up all the canoes he could find and stored them near the docks one day. The little Tigrasi grabbed a small jacket that barely fit his figure, recalling the first time Inaijo had taken him to the Dwed lands and bought it for his kitten. A few rations, several oyster pearls, and a good fishing pole would be all he needed.

 

“Cawn Muja use wun awf theese?”

 

[Bvie 1754]

Lily looks to a piece of cake set before her, a simple yet comforting slice of cheesecake with a thing layer of icing on top.

 

The voice of Mylas' slowly fades, even though he sits next to her and laughs loudly with his friends from Felsenia as they feast on Babalouche garnished with yaks milk, as her mind looks back to a time long ago. A time where she sat in the shade of a tall tree by a quiet pond.

 

She envisions herself setting a small plate with a similar looking slice of cheesecake down in the soft green. Only for the scene to be disturbed suddenly as a ball of orange leaps from her lap and next to the cake. A soft pink nose rubs against the icing before an even pinker tongue darts out and begins licking the sweet treat.

 

Soon the orange puffball looks to her, now sticky and covered in cake. Its small tongue tries to lick at the sweet sugars that glue its whiskers and hairs together, but only in vain as they're just out of reach. With a light giggle she scoops up the young kitten and brings it to the waters edge.

 

"We musn't tell patta about this, or I'll get in trouble, little one." She'd say softly as she scooped water from the pond to undo the sugary cement of the cake from Muja's hair.

 

A lound clang snaps Lily back from her memories as a man slams his flask of beer to the table, laughing hard. She smiles lightly as they look to her for a reaction from the seemingly funny story just told. The laughter continues, the men satisfied with her response and go back to their story telling, but Mylas' eyes remain on her as she looks back to the cake. His hand slides between them and into her lap where it entwines with her own hand, giving it a knowing light squeeze.

 

With a slight nod she lifts her fork up with her free hand and plunges it into the sweet flesh of the cake, trying to put aside memories and questions she still had of a life that seems lost long ago.

[DrinkPesticide 52]

Upon his return to the island having left his new arrival, he goes to search for the small Tigrasi after a while of fruitless searching he sits down at the edge of the docks a drowsy thought comes into the pantera's mind as he dozily counts the many canoes he had rounded up previously in the day, a soft smile flashes over his face as he stares out over the waters the beautiful sunset giving them a glow "Gawd lawck smawll awne" He mutters as he continues to stares across the shining waters.

[Elad™ 560]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.