Flashback [Winterflame Hold] An Uncommon Gift

[Kirsi Winterflame]

Timestamp: 17th of Spring, 498AV, Morning "Kirsi will understand, Father," Kirsi heard her father's voice, tone soothing, seemingly loud in the quiet morning. "That is not the point! Bah!" She could almost hear her granddad shaking his head. Without getting up to look, she could picture his white hair swaying as temper and frustration colored his voice. "Every one of you. I did this for each and every one of my children, my grandchildren. I am not so old that I cannot finish this totem for Kirsi, too." And then it made sense. Kirsi knew her grandfather had been working on a not-so-secret surprise for her birthday. It had been a small family tradition that each child, on reaching their tenth birthday, received an animal totem carved by Enderhel Winterflame. It was something to be proud of; the man had carved only animals for as long as most people could recall, and had gained amazing skill and accuracy. These were carvings to be preserved, displayed, cherished - and never to be sold. Enderhel's talent was widely admired, and the carvings that he created were said by some to truly embody the personality of the recipient. As well they should. He carved only for family, and it was not uncommon for him to work for nearly a year on each special piece. Kirsi had seen her father's totem; a Talderan Woolly with a very serious and stern gaze. Although, if you looked closely (and Kirsi had. Often.) you could see a hint of a smile curving around the eyes and mouth, completely out of place for an animal, but so very like her father's face when he would tell his stories... But age was being unkind to Enderhel. He could no longer maintain the steady hand required for wood carving; his vision was not what it used to be. No one had been indelicate enough to mention these facts, but Enderhel himself could feel a difference, an increased level of difficulty in even the simplest carving tasks. Nonetheless, he had proceeded in the beginning stages of Kirsi's birthday gift. Being unable to complete it was a weight like no other on his shoulders. "I will finish this task, son," Kirsi heard her grandfathers voice moving away, the sound of a door opening and closing, her father's weary sigh, and then nothing but the silence of early morning. Deeming it safe to leave her bed, she made a big deal of noisily waking up; yawning, stretching and calling out a singsong, "Good morning!" Timestamp: 17th of Spring, 498AV, Evening Yawning, Kirsi looked around her hold, watching as friends and families found their way back tot heir own arvintas. Her birthday was nearly over, and it had been a wonderful and exhausting day - filled with laughter and friends and family, as all birthdays should be. Even through all the excitement, she couldn't help but notice her grandfather's absence. It was unusual and a bit frightening to her; Enderhel was always in the middle of any celebration. A much-loved elder in the family, his attendance made every occasion more... Just more. And she had missed him. As if her thoughts had called him, a gruff cough and shuffling footsteps announced that Enderhel had finally arrived. "Grandpa! Where were you?" Kirsi hugged the old man. He smelled of oils and wood shavings and familiarity. His presence made the day complete and Kirsi smiled into his side, face pressed against the fur of his overcoat. "Hello, child. And happy day to you. I'm sorry I've missed most of it," Enderhel greeted her, giving her a one-armed hug. In his other hand he held a package, leather-wrapped and far larger than the woodcarving Kirsi had been expecting. With little flourish, he placed the gift in her arms and stood back a bit, watching her oddly. "Thank you," Kirsi replied, as she headed back into the warmth of her arvinta. She knew the rest of the family would be eager to see this newest carving, and she was excited to show off what was sure to be a beautiful piece of work - all for her. Half a step later, stopped by her grandfather's hand on her arm, she looked at him curiously. "Grandpa?" "Open it out here, Kirsi. Its --" Enderhel stopped, then began again. "This is not a carving, Kirsi. It was my wish to create for you a hare. A curious and independent, leaping hare." Gaze distant, as though he were seeing the animal he had described, he remained silent for a second. Shaking himself out of thought, he continued, "the result was... It did not... Bah! Girl, open the gift." His patience run thin, and evidently upset, the old carver waved his hands at her to hurry her along. Kirsi nodded, wide-eyed, and peeled the leather covering back. Peering inside the package, she was surprised to see several tools: chisels and awls, mallets, and even leather thongs of varying sizes. Pulling out the one item that didn't seem to belong, she held up a book, recognizing it as her grandfather's sketchbook. Looking at him in confusion, she held it out to him. "Your drawings, Grandpa?" Enderhel studied her a moment before replying. "Yes. Those are the sketches I have made, have carved from for many years. This one," he said, gently taking the book and opening it, "was meant to be yours." They both looked in silence at the hare. It was a beautiful hare, though without any of the personality that Enderhel's carvings were known for. The book shook a bit as her grandfather continued, "I can still see the animals, the spirits that should go in to each piece. But I cannot draw them out. The seasons have been wonderful, Kirsi. I have seen amazing things and known many good people. But there is a price." Here he paused, held out his hand and watched it. A tremor wracked the gnarled fingers, and he sighed heavily. "The things I would do have been taken from me. You are, I think, too young to understand what this means to me, child. Take these tools. These drawings. And remember that this is how I see you, on your 10th celebration day," he touched the image of the hare again, then ruffled her hair, handed her the sketchbook and started away from the arvinta. "Grandpa? Wait," Kirsi squeezed her arms around her gift and skipped after the old man. "Thank you. I don't know what to do with this. What should I make first? Do you want me to make the hare?" Having quickly gotten over the confusion of the gift, Kirsi's natural exuberance took the lead and she bounced alongside Enderhel. Stopping when he did, she looked up at him expectantly, waiting for his answer. "Tomorrow, child. Come see me tomorrow. I will show you what can be shown, and we will see if, one day, you should carve the hare." Taking her by the shoulders, he turned her back toward home and gave her a kind shove. "For now, go inside. Be warm and young and happy. And go to sleep," he added as he continued walking away.

[Noblesse]

Kirsi Winterflame :

Experience:

• Observation +2
• Acting +1

Lores:

• Grandfather Cannot Carve Anymore
• Grandpa Smelled of Oils and Wood Shavings
• Breaking Family Tradition: A Different Gift from Grandpa

Others:

• +Inventory: Woodcarver’s toolkit (likely worn with age in current times), Grandfather’s book of carving sketches (heirloom)

Additional Notes :

This is an endearing thread, and Kirsi’s grandfather was such an admirable family man. You captured the spirit of the Vantha here.

I noticed that you have already added the items above to your possessions, but I listed them here anyway.

The Aurora flames coldly in the skies above

[indent]If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.