Better Than A Biscuit

[Alder Zotithla]

Alder paced up and down the shore of the lake, lifting up large weights. He was increasing his muscle size, but it wasn't disgusting looking, like those odd men who thought that having huge muscles meant strength. What Alder was trying to do was lean down but increase his muscle ratio. He was accomplishing this relatively quickly, as his legs were pretty cut. His mood was still dark looking, but he felt relatively good today. His brother was being a pain, so he'd taken him to the ports, to show him the ships after he'd whined for several hours as Alder tried to sleep. After that, he spent time with his father and grandfather, and then a little extra time with Rionos, and finally he got to sleep for a bit, and was back out here, on his own, doing what he did best. Dropping the weights to the ground, he doved into the lake and after swimming for about an hour came back on shore and whipped his long hair back, feeling it slap against the back of his neck. It felt good, he liked having the long hair. His body glistened in the sunlight and he just let it toast his skin, feeling the searing hot chains against his body. Sighing, he just forced them to slink away into nothingness and was left in some black linen shorts, his body soaked, his mood a bit lighter than it had been in recent months.

[Zora Lee]

Zora walked slowly along the path to the lake. She had just gotten a much needed break from Dorian. HE was becoming a handful and a terror. But she loved her son all the same. But for today he was spending time with his Uncle Damon and Grandfather. It was bonding time for the boy. He needed male influence in his life and he was getting the very best. All thoughts of him turning out like whomever his father was had disappeared along with any misconceptions Zora had of herself. She had finally accepted herself and found an art she loved. She loved being a Sorceress. She loved the knowledge that she could control magic. She moved slowly onto the shore of the lake and looked out. A small wind began to blow, making her deep red cloak billow around her. She smiled slightly when she saw a familiar figure. She moved closer to him, and stopped when she was standing next to him, "Your hair is getting Long Alder. It suits you."

[Alder Zotithla]

"I agree." he nodded and didn't need to turn around to know who it was. If it wasn't for the aura he sensed, it was because he recognized the voice. "You should use a darker red for that cape Zora. You are dabbing into Sorcery, very dangerous, be careful. It could backfire on you at any time." he looked out at the lake, still away from her, just not in the mood to turn around yet, he was content with speaking this way and he was still watching the sky, because it was holding his interest before Zora, and if he wouldn't stop staring at the sky for his mother, he wouldn't stop staring at the sky for her either. It was just Alder's way. It's what made Alder who he was.

[Zora Lee]

She smiled slightly and spoke, "Perhaps I will take that advice. I just can not seem to find the right shade though. I tried black, it was to dark. Tried red and it was to bright. So I am trying the colors in between. And I am not dabbing Alder, I am studying the art. I will never allow myself to become one of those corrupt sorceress who sale theirselves for monetary gain, or fame. I am studying the art because it fascinates me. Ever since that time we snuck into Malachi's dungeon lab." She stared at the sky as well, marveling at the colors in it. Finally she spoke again, "How have you been since I left the town?"

[Alder Zotithla]

"Ah yes, Malachi's dungeon, which has has secured extremely well since I last checked. Used one of the feather's from my wings as part of some interesting spell he casted upon the place. He let me watch as he did so, but I do not need to study such things, because my blood is already pumped with the ability to accomplish many things already." He shrugged and just sat down. "How am I? I am alive, and healthy for the time being. You are health and alive as well. We are both fine then."

[Zora Lee]

"I have been in there many times since my return. I am sure Malachi is tired of my insitant questioning but in order for me to learn I must ask questions." She continued to look up and laughed, "You sound so overly confident sometimes. But you speak the truth. You can do so much already. I on the other hand have finally come across the one thing that I love." She nodded, "You would be correct. I am healthy and alive. But that doesnt mean we are alright. Many other things could be wrong."

[Alder Zotithla]

"Your son is healthy, and he is not in harm, so you are alright. It is the way of a mother, or at least it should be. If the child is alright, the mother is alright." He nodded. "Other things could be wrong but I have a feeling that there isn't much that could be wrong at the moment Zora, because we are both here, calm and civil, not yelling at one another as we usually do. That is the best way to tell if something is wrong, because I take it out on you and you take it out on me. It is how we work."

[Zora Lee]

"Yes my son is well. But I have other family to worry about as well. Whom are all alright I think. Except for Junior and Arinna everyone is fine." SHe smiled and nodded, "WE havent always argued Alder. We have had times when we were civil to each other. Friends fight all the time you get used to it after awhile. But I must say that arguing is very exciting sometimes. Hurtful yes, but still invigorating. It leaves you with a slight bit of anger and then peace because you have rid yourself of frustration."

[Alder Zotithla]

"I'm glad you find peace in argument. I've not quite mastered that part of arguing yet with certain people. Usually only with my family because they are family after all, even though I'm a bit angry at my father, but that is neither here nor there." Alder ran a hand through his hair and just dug his feet into the soil. "Peace...after argument...is a very interesting combination of events Zora. Explain further how you achieve this amazing conclusion after you argue with a person. Meditation, I've tried it, contemplation, sleep, fighting? Or is it just natural?"

[Zora Lee]

She smiled and shrugged slightly, "It just happens sometimes. TO know that you have let the person know exactly what you feel brings peace. Maybe not directly but after you have thought on it you feel better. Well I do at least. I used to dwell, I used to be afraid that I had said something terribly harmful and at times I have..." She thought about the day she had argued with Mae and told her she wasn't her real mother. She felt terrible but in time those wounds had healed. "Not all arguments end with peace of mind. But those that have you mouthing off how you feel usually do."

[Alder Zotithla]

"I suppose. Maybe, you're correct or maybe you're just good at finding peace of mind after you say certain things." Alder shrugged and just turned to stare at her. "Or maybe, the magical event of being a mother has given you wisdom you may not have had otherwise. The same wisdom that my sister Niessa seems to share as well, and Rionos, he too looks at certain things with a mind that I didn't know before he and Niessa gave birth to the twins. I've yet to have that, the last one to welcome that child into my arms when I come home. I must honestly say that I'm a little jealous of you three. I suppose that you three are very lucky, but maybe the fact that I don't haveto worry all the time, though I do worry about Dorian, what with no father, being stuck with those Kings, and above all, having you as a mother." He smiled innocently, reminiscent of when he was a young boy.

[Zora Lee]

"Perhaps that is it. Or Perhaps I have just learned that we can not let our minds dwell on things we can't handle." She smiled and shrugged, "Maybe it is that as well. I never pictured myself as a mother. But then again alot of things have happened that we did not expect." She looked at him and shook her head, "If anyone should be jealous it is us. You have the freedom to come and go. You are not tied down by a child. But children are rewarding. My son is the best thing to have happened to me. I am glad I decided to keep him." She stood in silence for a few moments and a thought came to her, just as the wind began to whip her hair into her face. She brushed it away with no results. She laughed and elbowed Alder slightly, "I am a good mother Alder. And you know it. But your right I worry about him not having a father around. He has male influence but not a true father. Which brings me to this since you have said you were a little jealous. It wouldn't be exactly the same but my son needs a father. There is no denying it. I can only do so much...He isn't your son but perhaps it would be a good opertunity for you both. If you wish to take him under your wing and be a father to him I'd appreciate it. And there are no strings attached. This isn't some ploy of mine. I no nothing will ever become more of us. We will always be friends. But it's just a thought."

[Alder Zotithla]

"Well, it's funny you should mention such a thing. I've been sneaking about, seeing Dorian here and there when the time allows me to, mostly when I know you are not around. I cloak my aura, no one senses me, and I talk with the boy. He is too trusting, but I have tried to change that in him. I would have asked you, but I really don't ask people if I can do things, hence the reason I went behind your back and had lectures with your son. I know for a truth he doesn't much need a father, and he's made that very clear Zora. Dorian is quite content with you and only you being his parent, you can see it in his eyes, his protectiveness over you around others. Some say he's too attached, but I don't see it that way, he cares for you and though he doesn't know why you're alone, he understand that you and him are all one another has. It is an admirable quality in someone so young. He's stubborn though, and sometimes quite offensive, but I assume this is his father's genes speaking for him. I disclipined him, but I didn't do much harm to him, a simple swat every now and then if he got smart with me or about you, but it's nothing that my father or Rionos' father didn't do to me. My father rarely reprimands Niessa because I believe she is the first girl on his side of the family, if you don't count the women that Zotithlas marry, I believe they all give birth to males, so Niessa naturally is my father's jewel. He loves me, don't get me wrong, but even I understand his inclination to pay more attention to her, because I feel the same way, seeing to it that I put my mother and sister before myself or my father. I've told Dorian the same thing, that you always come before any others, and have sworn the little bug to secrecy. He likes keeping secrets, because I keep his secrets. Male bonding you see, it works amazingly between all of us. Even Oroan is young and we have an understanding that we don't have to speak outloud, seeing as he can only say Aler, Nessa, mama, and dabdy, which I blame Niessa for, because that's all she ever said around Oroan and my father." he laughed about it though. "No doubt she's teaching her own children the same exact thing. I'm trying to teach them how to call Rionos a fart, but they're young and can barely pronounce it. We'll see who wins though, won't we?" he smirked.

[Zora Lee]

She looked at him with a slight amount of shock and admiration, "All this time you have been sneaking to see him. Alder you amaze me. Already in so many ways you have become his father. Just by being there. Thank you. I can only do so much for my son. I can not teach him the things a man can. Dorian is so young. He may not think he needs a father, but he needs someone there for him, someone who isn't just me. I want the best for him, Dorian is my world. And I want to give him the world." She smiled and sat down in front of the shore line, "You have free reign over him Alder. You are apart of his family. If you feel the need to reprimand him do it. It will set him straight." She thought for awhile and couldn't help but smiled more brightly, "Niessa is a jewel. She is my best friend, sister, and sometimes my conciounse. I have never met anyone who could take her place." She looked up at him still smiling, "I can not thank you enough, it really means alot to me to know that he has had the male influence. But if he ever comes home and says something that I know you taught him..I'll kill you myself."

[Alder Zotithla]

"I guess." Alder just shrugged and listened to her and waited for her to finish before looking away again, thinking just about everything he had done and everything he still wanted to do. "Dorian has many male influences, so he'll pick the one he feels is the best. I don't think he'll pick me, only because he probably figures I'll be a lot meaner than Rionos or Hannibal, and the rest of the family. I just spoke to him every once in awhile." Alder cracked his knuckles. "I also have to check up on Azoras who grew up faster than I realized, unnatural though, and I don't know why and he won't say what happened, so I just leave it alone. He's big though and likes a lot of girls, I always see him with a new one, all the time, it amazes me, but he's a good looking young man, so he should take advantage while he's still young."