Chapter Text
Morning settled gently over the marsh.
Mist drifted low across the water, turning the bog into a sea of silver. The only sounds were the steady flow of water, dragonflies buzzing over lily pads, and the rhythmic shick…shick....shick of a carving knife against wood.
On the little porch of a moss-covered cottage sat Spleed, a half-finished wooden duck rested in his lap.Around him hung dozens of tiny wind chimes carved from driftwood, shells, and polished reeds. Every breeze filled the yard with soft music.
Nearby, several village children watched with wide eyes.
“And then," one little woodchuck asked, "you make the beak?"
Spleed smiled beneath the brim of his oversized hat.
"Aye, always the beak last."He carefully shaved away another sliver of wood.
"Why?"
"Cause if ye carve it first..."He held up the unfinished duck."ye'll snap it off while workin' on the rest."
The children nodded with absolute seriousness, committing the lesson to memory.
A few careful cuts later, Spleed handed the finished toy to the smallest child.
"There ye go."
The little rabbit gasped."For me?"
"Well..."Spleed looked around theatrically.
"I don't see any mammy ducks lookin' for it."
The children burst into laughter.
The smallest hugged the little carving to his chest.
"Thank you, Mister Spleed!”
The children began playing with their toys. Spleed had made it his mission to leave not a single child empty handed.
He leaned back in his chair with a contented sigh. Peace. Just as he liked it.
Then, SPLASH! A great plume of water erupted from the pond beside the cottage.
A tall, muscular shark woman with bright blue skin burst from the water as effortlessly as if it were the sea itself.Long red hair plastered across her face.She was carrying an armful of fish.
"I caught breakfast!"
She beamed, then noticed Spleed hadn't even flinched.
"You're getting harder to surprise."
Spleed chuckled. "Ye've been doin' that nearly every day for six years, Co."
Coral feigned insult. "Have I truly lost my intimidating demeanor?"
"I personally find ye as intimidating as a Lilly pad."Spleed winked.
She laughed, tossing one of the fish toward him.He caught it with surprising ease.
Coral climbed onto the porch and sat beside him, pools of bog water fallowing her every movement. She didn't seem to notice
or care.For a while, neither of them spoke.
They had never needed to. Coral’s mind reading worked effortlessly on her closest friend. And Spleed saw through her so easily she sometimes swore he shared the same ability.
The wind chimes sang softly above them as morning sunlight filtered through the reeds.
Coral glanced sideways.
Spleed had gone unusually quiet.His carving knife rested in his lap.His smile hadn't disappeared...But she'd known him long enough to notice when it was just a little smaller than usual.He was rubbing absently at the center of his chest.Just for a moment.
Before pretending nothing had happened.
Just then a tiny voice came from inside the cottage.
"Da?"
Every child on the porch looked toward the doorway.
A moment later, a little red demon waddled into the morning sunlight.
His tiny horns were only just beginning to curl. Bright yellow eyes blinked sleepily beneath a mess of rumpled blankets that he had somehow wrapped around himself like a cloak.He rubbed one eye with a tiny fist.
"Da"
Spleed's entire face softened."Well, mornin', wee sprout."
Moless shuffled across the porch without a hint of hesitation.He climbed directly into Spleed's lap as though it were the most natural place in the world.
Spleed set the carving aside immediately."There ye are."
Moless yawned so wide his tiny fangs showed before curling against Spleed's chest with a content little sigh.The village children giggled
One whispered,"I think he's still asleep."
"I think so too."
Spleed chuckled quietly, gently smoothing a hand over the little demon's hair.
"He likes pretendin' he's awake."
Almost on cue, Moless mumbled something completely unintelligible into Spleed's tunic.
"...Mmff... Da..."
The children laughed.
“Is he too sleepy to say good morning?” Asked Coral.
Moless’s sleepy eyes snapped open.
"Co-co!"
Coral's grin somehow became even bigger.
"There's my best helper!"
She scooped him up in a big hug.
“Oh Coral…” Spleed sighed. “The day is barely starting and ya’ve gotten him all wet.”
She looked down at the puddles she'd left across the porch.
“CO-CO!” Was Moless’s joyful response.
She made absolutely no move to change her habits.Spleed simply smiled.
Some battles, he'd decided long ago, were not worth fighting.