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Entry tags:
Memory Sequence: A Best Boy
OOC: Takes place after Tales from the Shadows, A Dream Partnership.
"Come, Seto!" You say cheerfully, waving a brush in front of you as you turn to face a creature of downy feathers and four wings that's slowly rousing from a nap. "Let's get the rest of that sand out from your feathers now that you're good and rested."
Seto opens his eyes and lifts his head, the rest of his body following. He snorts and shakes himself, then brings up one of his powerful legs to scratch at the itch.
"No." You say firmly, and Seto freezes in his movement; you soften your gaze and voice. "You've got too many blood feathers, my friend. Let me take care of it for you."
He understands your words, putting his foot down and ploddings over to you instead. Your hand finds the underside of his chin to scratch, and Seto leans into it. While you had brushed off some of sand with your hands between moments, you knew a deeper clean would be needed later. Seto laid himself down in the sands of the Fields of Amber, just as you had taught him, and done his job perfectly. Now that his job is finished, it's time to do yours.
"Where's it itch the most? I'll start there." You ask Seto, and he considers the question before lifting that leg up again and pointing, only lowering it and making room for you to brush him once you've nodded that you've seen it.
Of course, with this being his underbelly, it means you have to lay down to see your work properly. Finding the sand trapped between feathers is easy—there's enough that it makes you itch by looking at it—and you quickly get to work. You brush away sand from his skin and feathers. The new feathers have a healthier shine to them, and his dry, flaky skin is clearing up nicely. Whenever you find an emerging feather ready to be preened, you remove the keratin sheath extremely gently with a pocket knife and brush it away with your hand (amaro feathers are too big to use your fingernails). Seto's starting to preen himself more regularly, but he still needs help, and there are places he'll never be able to reach. It's also good for bonding; Seto's getting more confident and vocal about his needs, communicating them quite effectively.
Seto holds still as you work. You guide Seto to move over you with gentle touches. Once, Seto refuses to move, and you take a second pass at that spot until he's satisfied. It's gentle, loving work, and it brings you both to a tranquil, meditative state.
"How's that? Anyplace I missed under here?" When you ask, Seto steps to the side and settles down next to you.
That's a no; you sit up and start work on the rest of Seto, repeating the process. He unfurls each wing as you run your fingertips underneath it as taught and turns one way and then the other as you care for his sides and tail. Seto's still thinner than he should be, but he's well on the way to a healthy weight.
"All right, bring your head over here." You smile to Seto as he turns around to face you and lowers his neck to bring his head to your level.
Then you blink when he doesn't stop lowering it until it's resting on your thigh. He settles down a bit more and looks up at you. You can see the intelligence in his eyes—and the trust that hadn't been there before. Finally, he's starting to understand that he's loved. Seto's gaze seems to soften as you look down at him with pure, unbridled affection.
You put the pocket knife and brush aside to free your hands to gently inspect his eyes, nostrils, horns, ear tuffs, and feathers. Seeing into his mouth is impossible with him resting the way he is, and you haven't the heart to move him or yourself to finish with the grooming. For the time being, you're thoroughly trapped.
Instead, you run your hand down his forehead and muzzle, knowing now you can do so without being gouged by the horns of a scared amaro. Seto's eyes slowly drift closed. You massage around his horns and brow, then the top of his neck where you can easily reach. He sighs and becomes boneless, relaxing rather than collapsing.
Seto trusts you. Finally. You only suspect reasons it may have been this day over any other—you didn't let the coyotes harm a single feather on his head after he lured them out by playing dead. He's been getting everything else he needs from the start since you've owned him, and that's the only difference.
The amaro's next sigh is bone deep, and sure enough, it heralds his fall into slumber.
"Come, Seto!" You say cheerfully, waving a brush in front of you as you turn to face a creature of downy feathers and four wings that's slowly rousing from a nap. "Let's get the rest of that sand out from your feathers now that you're good and rested."
Seto opens his eyes and lifts his head, the rest of his body following. He snorts and shakes himself, then brings up one of his powerful legs to scratch at the itch.
"No." You say firmly, and Seto freezes in his movement; you soften your gaze and voice. "You've got too many blood feathers, my friend. Let me take care of it for you."
He understands your words, putting his foot down and ploddings over to you instead. Your hand finds the underside of his chin to scratch, and Seto leans into it. While you had brushed off some of sand with your hands between moments, you knew a deeper clean would be needed later. Seto laid himself down in the sands of the Fields of Amber, just as you had taught him, and done his job perfectly. Now that his job is finished, it's time to do yours.
"Where's it itch the most? I'll start there." You ask Seto, and he considers the question before lifting that leg up again and pointing, only lowering it and making room for you to brush him once you've nodded that you've seen it.
Of course, with this being his underbelly, it means you have to lay down to see your work properly. Finding the sand trapped between feathers is easy—there's enough that it makes you itch by looking at it—and you quickly get to work. You brush away sand from his skin and feathers. The new feathers have a healthier shine to them, and his dry, flaky skin is clearing up nicely. Whenever you find an emerging feather ready to be preened, you remove the keratin sheath extremely gently with a pocket knife and brush it away with your hand (amaro feathers are too big to use your fingernails). Seto's starting to preen himself more regularly, but he still needs help, and there are places he'll never be able to reach. It's also good for bonding; Seto's getting more confident and vocal about his needs, communicating them quite effectively.
Seto holds still as you work. You guide Seto to move over you with gentle touches. Once, Seto refuses to move, and you take a second pass at that spot until he's satisfied. It's gentle, loving work, and it brings you both to a tranquil, meditative state.
"How's that? Anyplace I missed under here?" When you ask, Seto steps to the side and settles down next to you.
That's a no; you sit up and start work on the rest of Seto, repeating the process. He unfurls each wing as you run your fingertips underneath it as taught and turns one way and then the other as you care for his sides and tail. Seto's still thinner than he should be, but he's well on the way to a healthy weight.
"All right, bring your head over here." You smile to Seto as he turns around to face you and lowers his neck to bring his head to your level.
Then you blink when he doesn't stop lowering it until it's resting on your thigh. He settles down a bit more and looks up at you. You can see the intelligence in his eyes—and the trust that hadn't been there before. Finally, he's starting to understand that he's loved. Seto's gaze seems to soften as you look down at him with pure, unbridled affection.
You put the pocket knife and brush aside to free your hands to gently inspect his eyes, nostrils, horns, ear tuffs, and feathers. Seeing into his mouth is impossible with him resting the way he is, and you haven't the heart to move him or yourself to finish with the grooming. For the time being, you're thoroughly trapped.
Instead, you run your hand down his forehead and muzzle, knowing now you can do so without being gouged by the horns of a scared amaro. Seto's eyes slowly drift closed. You massage around his horns and brow, then the top of his neck where you can easily reach. He sighs and becomes boneless, relaxing rather than collapsing.
Seto trusts you. Finally. You only suspect reasons it may have been this day over any other—you didn't let the coyotes harm a single feather on his head after he lured them out by playing dead. He's been getting everything else he needs from the start since you've owned him, and that's the only difference.
The amaro's next sigh is bone deep, and sure enough, it heralds his fall into slumber.