#debukefarmhold

"My goodness, look at how intently Winter is focusing on Zara," April says with a smile to Caesar.

Caesar says "Babysitter score"

April huffs at him, "Way to scare her off, sweetie"

"Ah... I am not, methinks, well suited to such..."

"Aww," Caesar says

"It's okay, Zara." April assures, "Oh, I'm told you're in college, or ..were in college.. my own lessons got put on hold"

Clem offers her hands if anyone wants to hand a baby over.

She nods. "Twas my Freshman year. We have classes yet, but online."

"Biology major, focus on trees and such. " A smile "thinking of going for summer courses online. Might be easier to juggle with the kids anyway"

"April's smart as a whip," Caesar says fondly and April glows at the praise.

Earl says "Zara is a librarian, she's just getting the paper work to make the world recognize it"

"Trees, aye? And you have a Kubera here... focusing, I suppose, on horticulture?"

And yes he sounds proud

"Yes," April says

"You can lead a horticulture but you can't make her think," May Maude smirks

Clem groans

"Some time, you should come to Apples. We have orchards that are centuries old..."

"Tacky, May Maude, very tacky" June Maude says

A faint sniff at May's joke, a look like she had just dropped a #2 on the sidewalk.

"I would love to visit those orchards, thank you, Zara. It's amazing what we can learn from the development and cultivation of fruits we take for granted. And, a librarian? Talk about essential. I can have a google search give me a hundred options ,but the librarian actually knows which one works best. It's not easy work, you have to be sort of know at least a lot about almost everything don't you?" April is not sucking up, she's honestly impressed

But then she's the academic of the trio

"Well... there is far too much I do not yet know. But - tis the key of libraries - I know how to find that which I do not."

Earl preens on Zara's behalf, "Zara's modest by nature. "

Caesar grins "I know. "

"Well, she is smart" June says

Clem says "Hold on now, musical chairs time.. I want Zara to get a chance to know each of the babies. You too Earl"

Zara seems reluctant, and she runs a spidery hand over Winter's downy head.

Winter seems content there.

"Oh now, no?" Clem says

As Zara casts her omen, she sees images of Death, not plaguing the girl, but walking beside her, as if talking as she matures. Whatever Kith the girl is inside, if she is...she will learn things that a sluagh would envy.

And she realizes Winter is not the only one with a strong destiny here... others have Da'an in their future

A kiss on the babe's crown. "Alright."

Winter gets hand over to Earl, who hands over Faustina to Zara. Perhaps the girl is doomed to a life of pacts dark and darker?

Names are sometimes destiny... and sometimes not.

Zara doesn't feel the same level of kinship with the girl. Spring to her autumn (names aside) faustina's omen reads as one who will certainly be gifted with Kithhood...but when is hard to say? The girl walks in light brighter than Zara would care for... but she does walk, nay stride. This one will travel... and there Zara and she might find an understanding. There is curioisity in this one, but it will be coupled with high ideals....chivalry? SHe's not sure

Well, May defies.... So a kind of defiance in turn. It makes Zara smile with private amusement

Faustina is polite, more so than her mother, but then gets hungry and is passed over

And Theodora is offered up.

The image of an altar comes to mind, but is the girl to be sacrificed in some way in this life? Or sacrifice another?

An eyebrow.

"Sweet girl, isn't she?" June says proudly

"Aye." Pale fingertips stroke a curl, like a blessing.

Theodora gives a little gas. Anticlimatic for one with such a ominous omen

"Maybe I should take her if she's going to belch in your face there" Clem chuckles

A chuff. "Babies, nu?"

Aquila is next, May's other child..identical to Faustina, dark haired...

Identical in looks, perhaps...

and her omen is far different from her twins. Aquila dances in the darkness...a sickle cuts things down to make room for new growth, but the reaping and the sowing happens in shadows. Zara does not think this metaphor pertains to true farming.

No, no she does not...

Then Aquila also gets hungryand protests. "Little driking machines" May Maude hurmphs