<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr">AN: Did anyone get part VIII? If not I'll resend it. Anyway this part is the heart and soul of my story.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr">A Day in the Life - IX</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"I win mamma." Kaysar giggled, picking up my last white checker.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"You did big guy." I laughed and tussled his guard fur. "You're really good at this."</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"Yeah! Play again!" I smiled.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"One more game." Kaysar clapped as I set up another game. I had our fireplace burning wood but not boiling water. Most reptiles keep a pot of water going so they can have comfortable humidity. I am not like that, I am much worse. I need almost two pots going to feel comfortable. A Sailfin Lizard needs lots of moisture to feel comfortable.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>But the humidity made Kaysar miserable so I quit boiling water. A sacrifice like that was easy for my son.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style="">In the crackling golden light Kaysar's face was half in shadow. His golden eyes laughed, his smile warmed me deeper than the fire. His little fuzzy hands looked so bizarre compared to my narrow blue ones. His claws scratched at the board every time he moved a piece, it was a sound I had grown to love.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style="">I had taught Kaysar checkers a few weeks ago, now we played every night (he always won). He loved beating his big tough mother while I just liked seeing happy. </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The board was a weather beaten thing with its corners rounded from lots of use. The black and white pieces were scratched and chipped. Nothing is more fun then pulling the set out and playing a few rounds beside the fire.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style="">"I caught one." Kaysar gave another laugh, which is when I noticed one black spot on the side of his face.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre">' </span>That's Kaysar's first spot. He's growing up.' I bit my bottom lip. 'Soon he'll need an education. What do I do then?'</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"Mamma it's your turn!" I shook my head.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"What? Oh it is, how silly of me." I moved a piece, deliberately setting up an easy capture for Kaysar. Before you judge me for babying my son, I want to say that was not my intent. I tried instead to set up the board where there would always be one easy piece to capture and the rest were dummies.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>This way Kaysar learns to pay attention to the whole board, to pick the right choice out of many. This way we can also do something we find fun. The smile on his face when he wins is just a bonus.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"I win 'gain!" He exclaimed after a few more minutes. "It's fun!"</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"It's very fun." I said. Fun enough I've almost forgotten about Marnie. "But we're done playing for tonight. It's time for you to get ready for bed."</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Kay!" My son stood and took off like an arrow, and I watched his legs churn and little tail bounce. He's a little ball of energy. I want to freeze this moment in time. <br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In public I know all eyes are on my son and I. It should come as no surprise that a reptile with a mammal son raises heckles from others no matter their species. My son being a mammal lead to my fight with the Fellowship, it has lead to many arguments with well meaning people who believe I can not raise Kaysar. This I do not understand.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>My son was born and not hatched, as a babe he wanted milk and not meat. These things do not make me an unfit parent but for some (such as the louder members of the Fellowship) the difference in our species was a deal breaker.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Let them say someone else should raise my son, I don't care. I love him that is all that matters. I will raise my son to be a devout Follower, an intelligent man and a good citizen of Metamor Keep. Everyone who sees us together will know just how much I love him. </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I followed Kaysar into our shared bedroom, opening the door since his tiny arms couldn't reach the knob. After getting his nightshirt on he hopped onto my bed with me.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"I wanna story!" He giggled. "Story mamma?" I nodded. "Yay!"</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>We had to share the only bedroom. Kaysar sleeps in a smaller bed wedged against the wall. My bed was the larger one and every night we sat on it and read a story.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The small shelf above my bed held all the books I owned. I selected the red leather commonplace book that stood beside my journal. I added to and rebound this book every couple of months. Kaysar's eyes always lit up when I brought the book back home, it meant new stories for him.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"Let's do one you've not heard for a while." I flipped to a story written on rougher, shorter paper than the others. </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style="">"The Child from the Tree." Kaysar cuddled up beside me while I began.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"Once upon a time." I nuzzled him. "In a kingdom on the ocean, their lived a beautiful princess..."</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Once upon a time in a cursed valley full of amazing people their lived a lonely Warden...</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"She was beloved by all of her people but she and her husband could not have a child. And they wanted one so badly."</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>She was unnoticed by the others in the Keep but she wanted them to see her hard work. She wanted people to respect the Watch and to respect her.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"That night she went to the church and asked the priest what to do. He told her to pray, pray that Eli will show her his blessing."</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>She tried to act like she was so above the others in the Keep, that she was so special. She craved their attention though; she didn't have a reason yet to serve.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"One day when the princess was walking through her garden, she heard the sound of a child crying. She followed it to a tree where she found a baby hanging from a branch in basket made of vines."</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It was on patrol one cold morning in early April almost four years ago. The lonely Warden found a box covered in cloth beside a well, completely abandoned. Inside was a child, quiet and serene, the most beautiful child she had ever seen.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"The princess had the child rescued from the tree and took him to her home. He cried and fought with everyone, but the princess didn't give up on him."</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>He was so innocent, looking at him the Warden found a reason to serve. She wanted to create a better Keep, one where he and all other children could be safe. </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"She believed he would change. He would be protected by her, loved by her"</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style="">And then the strangest thing happened. The human child changed, despite being to young to be cursed. The Keep had changed him, it wanted to protect him.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style=""><span class="" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"The Princess couldn't give up because..." Kaysar's head fell against my side. His eyes were shut and he smiled. "Because she loved him." I kissed the top of his head. "Because I love you so much Kaysar."</div><div dir="ltr" class="" style="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3932"><br class="" style=""></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435061295033_3584" dir="ltr" class="" style="">AN: I know children aren't suppose to change under the curse until they're older, but it's not like MK has ever suffered from an over abundance of consistency.</div></div></body></html>