River Twine Holt

(2009 Secret Santa) Moss is one of many who tries to help a crying baby.

Posted: 01/09/10 [12 Comments]

"I’m sorry, love," Moss whispered to Goldspice, pulling her closer. "This isn’t what I had in mind."

Goldspice tilted her head back to look at him, smiling. "You have no control over the background noise."

Rill was crying – howling was a more adequate description. He had been shrieking since his mother left to go hunting earlier that night. The shrill sound of the babe was distressing, making it difficult to focus on other, more... pleasurable things. Moss sighed. "I’m glad Longshot was never like this."

Goldspice was more sympathetic. "He misses his mother."

Moss shifted his weight and moved until he and Goldspice were eye to eye. "He has Suddendusk and Windsong, and Snowfall."

"They’re still not his mother. You remember when Longshot didn’t want anyone but you, right?"

Moss nodded. "But he’s almost a turn of the seasons old now. He should be past this stage."

"Almost," Goldspice pointed out.

Moss tried to think about it. A shrill wail pierced his thoughts and he threw the furs off. He wished there was something he could do to help Rill and his family. And the tribe for that matter. It was likely that Rill’s noise would keep many up this day.

A rap on the taut leather at the door and a send of **Father?** was the only warning he got before the leather moved and a gust of frigid wind and a few flakes of snow sent him diving back under the bedfurs. Longshot peeked under, asking, "Is this a good time?" and entering before receiving an answer.

"Shut the flap!" Moss ordered in haste. "Don’t you know it’s cold out there?"

"It should be, it’s snowing!" Longshot laughed, shut the flap and then sat down. His face grew more serious. "Father, do you think you could take a turn?"

"What?" Moss was confused. He didn’t know what Longshot was talking about.

"With Rill."

　 That made even less sense. "What do you mean?"

Longshot’s earnest gaze made Moss sit up, and Goldspice sat up next to him. Both looked at Longshot as he spoke, "We’ve all tried helping. Suddendusk is with him now, of course, but Rill won’t calm down even for him. He wants nothing to do with Windsong. Crackle can’t get him to laugh. He’s not entertained by Evervale’s shaping. He didn't enjoy flying with Kestrel. He won’t eat. He won’t drink. Willow says he’s not sick. Even Snowfall’s at a loss. What if you tried?"

Moss’s eyes widened in wonder. "If he wants nothing to do with his father, sisters, grandmother, or anyone else, what makes you think he’d want anything to do with me?"

"I’m not sure. I just know that others have tried –- even Beetle! She tried taking him for a ride on Rooter, but he wasn’t having it. So... while everyone that’s here is trying, I thought maybe you could."

Moss sat motionless, considering. Rill didn’t want food, drink, family, or even a ride on a wolf. What could he do for the babe that might soothe him? What did he have to offer that the others didn’t?

Goldspice spoke from beside him, "I could bring him some shiny things."

Longshot nodded. "That might distract him for a little while. Good idea."

Goldspice grinned, then hastily moved to dress herself. Once she was wrapped up in her own fur-lined clothing, she sent to Moss, **You’ll come up with something. Looking forward to silence so we can start over,** and left.

"Well?" Longshot asked his father. "Will you try?"

"I’ll come up with something," Moss promised his son. "I don’t know what yet, but I’ll offer some help." Longshot nodded, then followed Goldspice out, letting further gusts of cold into the den.

Moss shivered, tempted to pull the covers back up over his head and try to drown out the Rill’s cries. A particularly ear-splitting sound caused him to cover his ears. As he wondered what he might offer, he decided that he might as well get dressed. His winter morning with Goldspice was not going to happen –- not today anyway.

Once he was dressed he looked around again. Lining the shelves were his collection of drums. He cocked his head as he looked at them, thinking.

"May I come in?" Moss asked through the leather door of Suddendusk’s den. The howling of the babe intensified, if that were possible. Windsong’s face appeared as the flap opened. She didn’t look surprised. "Goldspice was just here."

Rill’s cries told Moss that the child had not been interested in shiny objects. Moss felt again a measure of doubt. "I’m... well..."

"Come in, out of the cold," Windsong offered, cutting him off.

He followed her in, then looked at Suddendusk’s face, which was pulled tight with a father’s desire to soothe his son. He looked tired. Rill, on Suddendusk’s shoulder, was red with a baby’s rage. Tears had stained his face, and his father’s leathers.

Snowfall sat next to True Edge, whose arms were wrapped around her. Both looked miserable with their helplessness in this situation. Fadestar was probably with Kestrel in their own den, trying to sleep. Crackle was nowhere to be seen. Likely, she was in another den, trying to ignore her brother’s crying. Moss guessed that Longshot was with Evervale and Pathmark in their den.

The den wasn’t large enough for many, and it felt crowded right now. Moss barely had room to move, so he sat down at the entrance, crossing his legs and setting the drum he had brought with him in his lap. "I... don’t have a gift to offer him," he said apologetically. "But... I can play for him."

Suddendusk nodded, continuing to shift his feet so that he was rocking some. Moss measured Suddendusk’s cadence, then began his playing in time with that.

Pum. Pum. Pum. Pum.

He followed Suddendusk’s rocking with his playing. Continuing that beat over and over. The beat was slower than Moss was used to playing, but it seemed to fit. The drum’s resonance sounded like humming, so Moss hummed along with the beat as he played. Rill’s crying continued, but seemed less intense somehow.

**Keep playing,** Snowfall sent to him with hope.

Moss continued, closing his eyes as he played. Another voice, Windsong’s, joined in humming, only she added a lullaby tune.

Pum. Pum. Pum. Pum. Thrrum pum pum pum. Thrrum pum pum pum. Pum. Pum. Pum.

Rill’s cries were softer and slowing.

Suddendusk sent, **Please, keep playing.**

Snowfall’s voice joined in, harmonizing with Windsong’s melody.

Pum pum pum pum. Thrrum pa pa pa pum. Pum pum pum pum pum pum. Thrrum pa pum pum. Pum pum pum pum pum pum. Pa pum pum pum pum. Pum pum pumpum pum pum. Thrrum pum pum pum. Thrrum pum pum pum. Pum. Pum. Pum.

Rill was silent. Moss kept playing his slow song, Windsong and Snowfall humming in harmony with him. Soon, they were silent as well. Moss played, slowing the beat until there was no more to play. He opened his eyes.

Suddendusk looked at him, tears in his eyes. Rill was asleep on his shoulder. "Thank you," the weary father whispered.

Moss smiled.