IoQ: Owl Daddy

Rey waddled downstairs and was surprised to see Waldor down there instead of his mom. There was a short pause at the base of the stairs before he waddled over to where he was perched and lifted his lil arms in the air saying quietly. "Up please"

The owl paused in his musings and chuckled softly before bending to pick Reynalt up. "Are you taken to wandering, little one? Or am I just lucky that you chose to come down while I was here?"

"No.. I was looking for mommy... But I like you too." Rey spoke quietly as always and looked at his toes as he talked. "Are you waiting for mommy too?"

Waldor fluffed a tiny bit and cradled the child closer. "I like you as well, young master Reynalt." The owl shook his head then rethought the question and shrugged. "To an extent. She had to leave and I am here making sure you are all well. I...do not like leaving you all unattended."

"Is that why you're always here? Because you like us?" Rey cuddled into the arm cradling him, clinging with his 4 lil baby arms.

"Yes child. I am fond of you all and consider you my family." Talons every so gently played in the child's hair. "If you should ever need anything of me, you need only ask and it will be done."

"Sometimes mommy makes clicking and cooing noises when she's cooking.. She said you were teaching her to speak like your people... could I learn too?" More family yay~! Rey liked having his hair played with and leaned into it.

Waldor's hand paused then continued mussing the child's hair. He clicked something softly to the child then paused and repeated it louder. "Yes child, I will teach you if you like."

Rey mimicked the noises, more accurately than his mother actually. "What's that mean?"

Waldor blinked them smiled. "Very good, Reynalt. That is a way of greeting for ones family and loved ones. There is a different for friends and another for those you are unfamiliar with but that is how you would greet your mother or siblings."

"And you?" Rey looked up at Waldor curiously.

"If...you are so fond of me then yes, you may greet me as that as well." The owl shifted his wings and rubbed his face with his freehand to hide his smile.

Rey grinned and clicked out the greeting again.

Waldor laughed into his hand and nodded then finally moved the thing to smile at Reynalt. He chirped a response to the greeting, paused then repeated it. "And that is the traditional way to respond though you don't have to always say it as that but...it's nice and shows caring to the other person."

Rey nodded and mimicked the chirped response. Then the baby waited to hear he did a good job.

Waldor was practically beaming at the child he held. "Yes, yes little one that is perfect. You are a good study." He whistled something soft. "That means you have done very well. I will do that from now on if you still desire to learn from me?"

"Yeah! It's a pretty language.. and I like you." Rey mimicked the soft whistle just as the front door opened. Seeing his mother Rey clicked out the greeting he had just learned.

She.. that sounds much like the greeting she'd been taught. Thumbelina was mildly surprised to hear her little boy saying it.. but she responded as Waldor had taught her to before speaking. "Sorry, I'm not staying long, I was just going to deliver the last puppy to Ana, after all her dog was the father and it seem only fair.." She was moving towards the back of the house to collect the puppy as she spoke.

Waldor whistled back and beamed, extremely proud of the child. His smile stayed in place through Thumby's response then promptly crashed and burned at the mention of the metal woman. "..." He sighed heavily and nuzzled Rey softly. "I must accompany your mother, child. Shall I take you to your room or would you like to stay down here?"

"Bed please." Rey didn't know when they would be home and wanted to be tucked in.

Thumbelina scooped up the puppy and headed back into the living room, prepared to just leave again.

Waldor nodded to the child and stood, stepping off his perch. "Belina, I will go with you but I must fist put Reynalt to bed. Will you wait just a moment for me?" He actually waited for a response from the fairy, feel loved.

"Oh, alright." She was going to say that he didn't have to.. but the way he had said it, it was clear he wanted to. She walked over to her favorite boys, giving Waldor a kiss on the cheek and Rey a kiss on his forehead as she whispered "Sweet dreams sweetheart."

WOOSH, he was a fluffy bird. Waldor chirped softly and shook his head then padded up to put the baby to bed. He traversed the stairs with no problem since he was so familiar with the house by this point.

"Fluffy.." Rey giggled and poked at the fluffy feathers. so very fluffy. Then Rey poked at his own fuzzy arms. Unlike his sister, he had gotten the thin fur to his skin like his father had.

There was a faint laugh as Waldor tucked Rey into his bed. "Do you like my feathers?" Waldor chirped something then leaned to kiss the top of Rey's head. "Rest well little one, hopefully we will return shortly but I will call for Argos to prowl about just in case."

"Yeah." Rey snuggled into his blankets and giggled lightly at the forehead kiss. "Okay."

Waldor stayed a moment more with his hand on the child then bowed a tiny bit and headed back down the stairs to Thumby. "Thank you for waiting for me. We may go."