Timestamp: 83rd Day of Winter, 514 AV Seirei yawned, and rubbed her eyes sleepily. The twins had kept her up again. Lukar had just not wanted to go to sleep. Every time Seirei had tried to put him down, he would start crying again. And when Lukar started crying, his sister Lira would wake up, and demand attention as well. It had been a very long night. Seirei couldn't wait until the twins were old enough to sleep through the night. She missed sleep. And she didn't think she was likely to get any for a very long time. At least Lian is suffering as well. He isn't getting much more sleep than I am. The man might not have to get up and feed the twins or change their diapers every time they wake up, but he's a very light sleeper, so he can't sleep through their cries any more than I can. she thought with grim satisfaction. Speaking of Lian, he was already gone. Probably out hunting again. He usually was this time of day. The twins were asleep for the moment. Seirei thought wistfully of several projects she could be working on. But working with wood took time, and concentration. And Seirei was short on both at the moment. So Seirei double checked to make sure that Lukar and Lira were snug in their hammocks. As she did so, she smiled. They were beautiful. And so innocent when they were asleep. The perfect image of peace and tranquility. You would never know that when they wanted something, or were feeling fussy, they could produce a sound that could wake the dead. When Seirei was sure that all was well with the twins, she gathered up her sketch book, and a charcoal stick. Then she moved outside the tent where she could take advantage of the light. She sat down near the tent flap, where she would be able to get to the twins quickly if they woke, and needed her. Then she opened her book up to the first blank page. What do I want to try to draw this time? she mused as she stared at the page. The sun was bright, but the air was cold. Seirei shivered when a breeze rustled her hair. Such a breeze would be welcome during the hot summer months, as a relief to the intense heat. But now it just made Seirei feel even colder. Summer, huh? That's still several months away. But it will be spring soon. It won't be too much longer before it starts to warm up again. As if thoughts of spring had stirred her imagination, Seirei's hand began to move of its own accord. A good sized circle in the center of the page. Then she drew long, thin ovals attached to the rim of the circle for the petals. At the bottom of the circle, she drew two straight lines that extended down to the bottom of the page for the stem. Near the bottom, she drew a single leaf. Then she stopped to examine her work. That looks a little like a sunflower. On a whim, Seirei drew some curved lines in the circle she had first drawn for the sunflower seeds. Then she studied her work once more. Well, it doesn't look much like a real sunflower would...but I think that most people who had seen sunflowers often enough to recognize them would guess that this is supposed to be one. she thought ruefully. And with practice, I will improve...I hope. |