literature

Abuela

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Literature Text

A Silverwing Feels Story

Part 1/2: Looking Out for You

===

What if Goth held a very soft spot for a family member who had always been good to him? What if he was so attached to that individual, that he would do everything in his power to help him or her live a longer and happier life? 

It's hard to let someone close to you go. Even when their time in the world is running out. This is a fate that Goth does not want to see happen to his most treasured family member. He had grown to love her dearly and didn't want to see her go.

His grandmother.

His abuela....

---

Goth's eyes scanned the scenery of the rainforest surrounding the pyramid. It was midday, the thin veil of mist visible close to the tops of the trees, and the heat was almost unbearable. But the prince of the Vampyrum ignored it. He was so focused on the scenery, he didn't notice someone walking up beside him. The footsteps were soft and slightly uneven. They stopped. Silence hung in the air for a few seconds.

"My my," An old, but soft voice spoke out, startling Goth, "Always such a serious look on your face, nieto."

Goth turned to the voice, his eyes landing on an old female looking up at him with a small smile. She was a small little thing, skinny and old, her pale red hair was long and touched the ground by a few strands. But yet, she looked beautiful in her own way. Her fur was a light beige and her wings were a pale blue. Her name was Calida.

The prince sighed and knelt down, trying to look stern, "Ay, abuela, what're you doing out here? It's stifling, you should be inside where it's cool." His voice carried a tone of concern and a light scolding, like he was talking to a child who had disobeyed a parents' request.

Calida only gave a warm giggle, "You don't need to worry about me, Goth. It should be me worrying about you." She said, giving him a soft poke on his forehead, "You should be out of the sun. You might get heatstroke."

"Abuela, please," Goth sighed, but couldn't help himself in smiling from the elder's insistence, "I'll be fine. Besides, I thought you'd be in the healing chamber."

"Please, Goth, I'm old but I'm not made of glass." Calida chuckled, softly brushing a claw through his hair, getting a few tangles out, "You were always so serious, even when you were only a pup. What happened to the sweet little boy I helped to raise, hmm?" She said, getting Goth to sit down on the stone floor, continuing to use her claws to comb through his hair and mane.

The feeling of his grandmother's claws was soothing. The old female only gave a warm chuckle when she heard a familiar noise. Before Goth knew it, after a few more strokes through his hair, he was purring quietly and letting a relaxed expression come upon his face. 

"There he is." She said in a loving tone, smiling she felt him lean back against her, comforted by her touch. 

This was one of the rarest of moments that Goth could truly relax. His grandmother, his abuela, was the closest thing he had to a mother after his own died from childbirth. He grew up without knowing what she looked like. The only clue he was given was his father saying that she was beautiful. That was it. Goth never found the chance to ask what her name was.

Plus...Calida was old. She was near the end of her time, but yet she kept on smiling and giving him warmth and love. Whether he asked for it or not. He knew that she would pass on soon. And he did he best to make sure that she was taken care of.

Goth never showed it. Not even around his abuela. He was afraid.

Afraid of losing her. The only family he could be himself around.

He simply sat there, letting Calida stroke her claws through his hair for a few more minutes, purring all the way as he tilted his head back, closing his eyes.

It felt like an eternity would pass whenever Calida would stroke his hair like this. There were times where he would almost fall asleep, simply basking in her warmth.

"Goth. Goth!" He could hear her voice, gently shaking his shoulder as she spoke. Goth, much to his surprise, tiredly opened his eyes. He craned his neck up to look at her directly. The old female simply grinned down at him, "You fell asleep." She whispered softly.

Goth blinked, lowering his head to look at the landscape.

The sun was much closer to the horizon then it was before he closed his eyes. He couldn't help but chuckle.

Again, his grandmother's touch had lulled him to sleep. With a soft sigh, he stood up, then turned to offer a hand to Calida.

"Come, abuela," He said in a gentle and warm tone, "How about we both head back inside?"

The aging female simply took his hand with a giggle, "Alright, nieto, let us go."

Moving slowly, taking Calida's old age into consideration, the pair walked back inside the cool shadows of the pyramid.

---

The next day...


"What do you mean you don't know where she is?!" Goth yelled, feeling both angered and worried.

"I-I'm sorry, your majesty, she disappeared when I went to get more berries for her!" The nursemaid shivered, cowering under his intense glare.

"Where did she go?!"

"I don't know! Please, forgive me!" She whimpered, fearing she would be severely punished for her mistake. 

Goth only growled and turned away, walking out of the chamber in a brisk walk. Where did she disappear to? This wasn't like his abuela to suddenly leave the roost on her own. She was old, and who knew how she would be hurt herself if she wasn't careful.

The prince walked further until he reached one of the entrances leading outside the pyramid. At first he heard nothing.


But then, his ears gave a twitch when the familiar sound of Calida's voice reached them. And, oddly, the sound of giggling younglings.

"Hm?" He grunted in confusion. What was she doing? Creeping quietly to the entrance, Goth slowly peeked around the corner to see what Calida was up to.

"And you know what he did next?" The elder asked a small group of pups gathered in front of her.

"What did he do? Chase after it?" One pup piped up, hanging from the ceiling.

Calida giggled, " Indeed he did! He chased the bird all through the forest, getting himself tangled and messy from all the leaves and dirt!" She laughed joyfully, "And when he finally caught up with it...he was so tired he passed out and crash landed right in front of the pyramid entrance!"

The pups broke out into another round of giggling. Goth recognized the story she was telling. It was how his grandfather, his late abuelo, had tried to catch a bird that flew even faster than him. He could barely contain a chuckle as he remembered the exhausted and hilarious grin on his grandfather's face before he collapsed from exhaustion. He passed away three years ago. He was older than Calida, and one night he just...peacefully stayed asleep. 

"You can join us, if you'd like."

Goth jumped when his grandmother's voice spoke out. Did she know he was hiding there?

"If you are thinking that I know you're hiding there, you are right." She chuckled warmly. But Goth couldn't help but shiver. How did she always seem to know what he was thinking?

Finally, Goth stepped out from the shadows, remembering now why he was looking for her. The younglings fell silent as he stepped into the light. For some reason, Goth felt...awkward. Having numerous young eyes looking at him. With a sigh, he turned to Calida.

"Abuela, I've just been to the healing chamber and found out that you disappeared on the nurse." He said in a matter-of-fact tone.

She only smiled and chuckled, "Quite a trick for an old bat like me, huh, nieto?"

"Abuela, you shouldn't take off like that on a nurse!" He simply replied back, "I was this close to having her punished for not keeping an eye on you!"

"And I told you, Goth," She said in a playful, but firm, tone, "I am not made of glass."

Both elder and adult simply looked back at each other silently. Calida, with a challenging gaze, and Goth, with a more stern and firm one. He just wasn't sure what to say to that. He only sighed and glanced away. What was he to do? She obviously wasn't going to listen to him.

"Come, nieto, sit with us." She spoke in a more gentle and inviting voice, "I was just about to tell the younglings about the time your grandfather and I tried to catch a fish."

Goth simply looked at her curiously, and wondered...was she serious? She only nodded and smiled.

"You caught a fish?!" A young female pup squeaked. Calida giggled at her excitement.

"Well, we didn't actually catch it, but I'll tell you how it all happened." She then turned back to Goth again. She gestured with her head to an empty spot just beneath the pups roosting on the ceiling.

"Please, join us, Goth. I think you'll like this one." She asked him again, looking up at him with her kind and loving eyes. 

Goth looked from his grandmother and to all the pups. After debating it for a few seconds, he sighed. He walked over to the spot and sat down slowly. Calida smiled at him, then glanced back at all the young pups.

"Now...who's ready for the story?" She asked, her smile widening as the pups gave several shouts of excitement and eager attention, "Well, alright. Now, it all happened on a bright summer day..."

Goth didn't hear the story begin. The only thing in his mind was just how bold and adventurous his grandmother seemed to be, despite her age. There were many times where she managed to sneak away from the healing roost and walk somewhere else. Though he was annoyed and worried for her...he couldn't help but admire her spirit. Calida was always the loving and warm-hearted kind of bat.

But he wanted to make sure that she lived a full and healthy life. Even if it meant having to keep her in the healing chamber for good.

He was only scared of losing her too soon.
Once again, another short story idea!

===
Just a quick note: Abuela - Spanish for 'grandmother'

Abuelo - Spanish for 'grandfather'

Nieto - Spanish for 'grandson' or 'grandchild'
===

I thought of this idea after seeing some of work done by :iconarzaldaxemanks:, and an idea of how Goth may have had that one relative he was close to. So close, that he was afraid of losing them. Whether it is from natural death or by accident.

The next part of this will be more emotional.

I hope you all like this!
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Firecrackerwolf's avatar
Amazing work on this, I felt pulled into this