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Chapter 86: Muireann

Lowell jumped from the carriage while it was still moving and ran toward his home. He stumbled slightly due to a wound on his leg that wasn't fully healed, but he paid it no mind as he quickly left the carriage behind. He was just returning home from a Season in Town.

Lorena had been a few months' pregnant when he left, and he knew she was going to give birth while he was gone. It was something he hated to do, but the situation in London was such that there was no way he could miss 'fixing' some problems this year. He knew Lorie would be well taken care of; the Spirits had their flaws but they were completely dedicated to caring for their pups and pregnant women. Lorie would be in far more danger of being driven to distraction from the constant doting than being put at risk from lack of attention. It was something the Spirits couldn't understand about the Furs; they thought Furs saw their pups as disposable because they were so easy to replace. Lowell wasn't entirely sure if they were wrong about that.

As a pup, before he knew he was an Ancient One, he'd spent his early years in an orphanage. One December, when he was seven, it was foreclosed by the bank for missing a payment. All the pups were out on the street by the next morning. He'd been forced to steal and prostitute himself to survive for two years before he was old enough to get a job in a factory. He thought selling himself on a corner may have been the safer of the two 'jobs.' No, Furs weren't guilty of being overprotective of their young.

He shuddered at the memory as he ran but perked up when he saw his home farther up the lane. He leapt over the small fence and dodged the sheep to reach the front porch. Lorie was sitting there with Ruarc, Tanai, George (Ruarc's bodyguard), and his young Danny.

The porch wasn't overly large, making it somewhat crowded. Lorena sat in a rocker not too far from the door with a light blue dress on. It was looser on top than normal for her, an accommodation for her present condition, and remained full below. She had also forgone wearing a hat and instead wore a simple garland of flowers, likely woven by Uallach or Sorcha (the two youngest girls in the clan, excepting the new Muiry). Lorena carried a small bundle of white and peacock-blue blankets, the colours favoured by Hera and often used when presenting a child, regardless of gender.

Standing on the far side of her was Tanai O'Conall, her uncle: a middle-aged Spirit rapidly approaching old age. He was likely there in attendance to his master Ruarc, and happy to have a chance to see his favourite niece and grand-niece. His normally pinched features were relaxed into a warm, gentle expression Lowell rarely ever saw. His reddish-brown fur went well with his coal-grey butler's suit.

Ruarc was beside the door, and he stood there completely relaxed, despite the absence of any scotch. He was smiling widely as he made a soft comment to Lorena, and he leaned over to place a paw on her shoulder as he tipped his muzzle toward Lowell. The setting sun glanced across his face, making his blue eyes momentarily shine amidst his white fur.

Lowell leapt to the top of the stairs. "Good afternoon, Alpha Ruarc. I trust the day finds you well." Aedan squealed and latched onto his leg, and Lowell reached down to rub the pup's ears.

Ruarc just laughed while rubbing his pale grey ears. "See your baby girl, first. I'll talk to you in a few hours." The alpha clapped him on the arm, then looked up slightly to meet Lowell's eyes. "You're a very lucky Wolf, Lowell. Welcome home." He smiled as he walked away.

Tanai smiled, too. "Congratulations, Lowell." He followed the alpha and the bodyguard back to Ruarc's house.

Lowell scooped Aedan up into his arms. "There's my young man. Did you take good care of your mama while I was gone?" Danny nodded seriously, making Lowell laugh. "That's my lad." He carefully leaned over to rub his muzzle along Lorena's. "Good afternoon, Lorie, my darling. You look as lovely as ever."

Lorena smiled up at him affectionately, as one would at a dear friend after a few months separation. "Welcome home, Lowell. I trust the Season went well?" She moved the light blanket aside, revealing a tiny face covered in pale -- so very pale -- blue-grey fur. His daughter had such delicate little ears, a dainty muzzle, and, as she blinked sleepily at him, eyes the colour of the deep ocean. She gave a huge yawn; her tiny pink tongue curled in her muzzle and her paws waved randomly up in the air. Lorie had named her well. 'Sea Fair' or 'Sea White.' Both suited her perfectly.

Lowell put Aedan down and gave the pup a distracted lick on his ear. He reached for the bundle and lifted his daughter free. "Hello, my beautiful little Muiry. I'm your daddy."

Lowell walked in from stables carrying Aedan in his arms. His young boy had fallen off his pony and sprained an ankle, delaying their return by almost a half-bell. He wouldn't have much time to spend with Muireann before tea.

He greeted Lorena as she met him at the door. "I'm sorry I'm late, Lorie. Danny fell and hurt his ankle." Danny grumbled at the use of his pet name, but stopped when Lowell nipped his ear. Lowell rubbed his wife's round belly with the back of his paw. "Has Ciaran been kicking much, today?"

Lorena rubbed her belly with her paw and stepped away from the door, her other paw pressed against the small of her back. She smiled and shook her head. "You're so sure it's a boy?" She didn't wait for his answer. "You were right the other two times, so you're probably right again. Yes, he's been very active." She called back over her shoulder, "Muiry, dear, Daddy's home, but Aedan hurt himself so he'll be a few more minutes."

Lowell could hear his daughter grumbling in the sitting room, but it was faint enough that he could ignore it. "I'm sorry, my beautiful little Muiry. I'll be there as soon as I wash my paws and Líadáin takes Danny up to his room."

"Da-a," Aedan whined. "Stop calling me Danny. I'm not a little pup."

Lowell nipped at his eight year-old pup's ear as his nanny came over and took Aedan from Lowell's arms. "Thanks, Lía." He ruffled Aedan's fur. "No? You aren't? I thought big pups didn't get thrown from ponies so easily. What will you do when I let you ride an actual horse? Maybe I'll stop calling you Danny when you can ride a horse without getting thrown whenever a stray leaf crosses its path."

"Da-a! That's not fair!"

Lowell frowned at his boy. "Aedan O'Conall, that's enough. If you want to be treated like a big pup stop whining like a little one. Now, I need to go spend time with Muiry, so get cleaned up and practice your numbers. Tea will be served before long."

Aedan pouted but wiped it off his face as Lowell's frown deepened. "Yes, Da."

Lowell smiled. "Better. Now be off."

Líadáin took the pup upstairs. Lowell poured some water from the pitcher into the basin by the door and quickly scrubbed his paws before following Lorie into the sitting room. Muireann was waiting by the two easels set up in one corner; she'd set up his ink and favourite brush and had her apron on over her dress along with some paint on her palette. The ink and paints were partially dried out.

He quickly walked over to the sad little five year-old. "I'm sorry, sweetie." He rubbed his muzzle along hers and licked her dainty little ears. "What are we painting today?"

She gave him a dazzling smile and lifted her palette. "I'm painting Mama. I want to get a picture of her while she's all big and round. Everyone thinks she's really important and pretty like this; we get so much company coming over to see her and they all say how wonderful Mama is and how great it'll be if I turn out like her. I want to be like Mama when I'm older, so I'm painting a picture so I know what to be like."

Lowell hid his smile and nodded seriously. "That's quite a while off, Muiry. I think you don't need to worry about it right now; you're important and pretty as you are." He glanced past his easel at Lorie as she lowered herself into the wing-backed chair. She smiled at him in shared amusement, rubbing her tummy proudly.

Lowell picked up his ink brush and showed it to Muiry. "Let's see if you remember the proper way to hold your brush, Muiry." She held her brush up, and then adjusted her fingers to match his. "Very good. You aren't just as pretty as a picture, you can paint one, too." He tapped her brush with his. "Cheers."

She leaned against him for a second before dipping her brush into her paint; Lowell smiled as he saw her serious expression, and then began his own art project. It was the view of the mountain valley when seen from the top of Song Xun's monastery. Maybe Ciaran would be worthy of being a disciple.

Lowell smiled as he walked home beside Ciaran. The pup was doing very well in his kung fu forms and in his calligraphy lessons. He still wasn't sure whether to teach him Cantonese or Japanese first. All of the ninjutsu was in Japanese, but the kung fu was Chinese. He decided Japanese made more sense, since he'd have to translate the kung fu from the older Yue to modern Cantonese anyway. He was jolted from his thoughts by Muiry skipping toward him.

His ten year-old daughter inserted herself between Ciaran and him before smiling up at him. "Hello, Daddy. Did you remember that we're having my early birthday today?"

He smiled warmly, even though it bothered him that he could never be home for her birthday. He'd made sure that none of his other children would have to go through that, even if it meant a two year delay to have Ciaran. "Good evening, my beautiful little Muiry. Have I ever forgotten? I was just helping Ciaran with his lessons. What did you want for your birthday this year, so I know what to send back from London?"

She held his paw as they began walking back, with Ciaran a half-pace behind. "Just you, Daddy."

Lowell motioned for Ciaran to move up and take his other paw before turning his head back around to answer his daughter. "You know I can't do that, Muiry. I need to take care of the Clan's affairs in London during the Season. It's why we have a party for you just before Winter Solstice each year. I can't be here on your actual birthday."

She pouted up at him and gave her best puppy dog expression. "But Daddy, it's right before the Solstice Celebrations and just after Ciar's party. You never seem to have much time for it between those and getting ready to go away for all those months. I want time with you."

Ciaran was starting to move his paw in a strange pattern. Lowell could see it was a subconscious movement as Ciaran focused on mentally going through the forms they just practiced. He lightly squeezed the pup's paw then gave him a small frown as his boy looked up.

"I know sweetie, but the alternative is to have it in summer after I get back." He turned back to look at her. "I never know when I'll get back from London in the summer. I'm usually just back in time from Aedan's birthday, so you'd end up having a party close to someone else's either way. Why can't you be like Ciaran? He doesn't seem to mind sharing the time around his birthday with you." He turned his head to smile at the quiet pup. "Do you, lad?" Ciaran looked up at Lowell in surprise before shaking his head.

Muiry's fierce scowl switched back into a pout as Lowell looked back. "He doesn't like parties. Why would he care about having less people, or more distracted people, around?"

Lowell stifled a sigh. "Ciaran, go wash your face and change your clothes. You'll want to look your best for Muiry's party. I need to talk to your sister."

Muireann frowned at her younger brother as he began trotting off, and then muttered under her breath, "Why bother? Your face always looks dirty anyway and no matter what you wear you'll always be ugly." She looked back up at her daddy with a sweet smile.

Ciaran looked crushed and ran off. He was obviously trying not to cry like Lowell said a proper shinobi was supposed to do. Lowell wasn't sure if he should be proud of his son or worried that Ciaran might give himself away.

Lowell looked down at Muireann. Her sweet smile vanished when she saw how angry he was. "Why did you say that?"

Her mind was obviously running at breakneck speeds trying to figure out how to get out of this. Lie? That never worked. Reason? Muireann knew there was no way to debate her way out of it. She settled for her old standby, even when she knew it almost never worked. That 'almost never' seemed to make it worth trying when she was in doubt.

Her face screwed up as she began making herself cry. "Daddy! You never pay attention to me! I was here trying to talk to you and you spent the whole time talking to and about Ciar!" She stomped her delicate little hindpaws in frustration. "You hate me, don't you!? Ciar is your favourite and you never spend time with me!"

Lowell knew she was building up a big head of steam. He didn't stop his eyes from rolling quickly enough and she saw it. Her eyes grew wide in shock and genuine fury. "I-I knew it! He's your favourite! You just barely tolerate me 'cause you have to!"

He could see the neighbours starting to poke their heads out to see what the commotion was. His ears began to turn red in embarrassment and anger.

He started to open his mouth to stop her, but she wasn't done and this time she went too far. "I hate him!"

He growled furiously and jabbed her in the diaphragm, using his chi to drive all of the air out of her lungs. His voice was quiet and rumbled in the sudden silence. "Little missy, you've crossed the line." Her eyes were wide in terror as she struggled to breathe. He let her go and glared at her as she fell to her knees, gasping. His voice remained dangerously quiet. "Tantrums will get you in trouble all on their own, Muireann O'Conall. They are beneath us as O'Conalls. We are the paws of the McDougals and are expected to behave in a manner suitable to our position as the second family in the Cork Clan at all times. You've disgraced not just yourself or me, but the alpha himself with that disgusting display. But you couldn't stop there. To say that about your brother is intolerable. You will go find Ciaran and apologize for saying he's ugly, which he isn't, and for saying you hate him. He heard you and ran off. You will look for him until you find him, your party be damned. It's cancelled. Not delayed, cancelled. Once you've apologized, you will go to your room without tea or supper. You're grounded until I leave for London." He crossed his arms and made no move to help his sobbing girl as she struggled to steady her breathing. "Get up, O'Conall. We don't sob. We don't grovel. We don't throw tantrums. We do our duty and carry out our orders, immediately. No delays, no excuses. Get going."

She climbed unsteadily to her hindpaws; her new dress, made especially for today, was dirty and likely irreparably stained. She staggered as she trotted off in search of Ciaran. Lowell knew she had as much chance in finding an innocent soul in Tartarus as finding Ciaran before he was good and ready to be found. His boy would lead her on a merry chase first, and she deserved it.

Lowell sighed as he went home to cancel the party. Lorena would be upset with both of them after all the work she'd put into tonight.

Lowell lay in bed. He could see the tall oaks standing on the other side of the lane through his window and hear the change in birdsong as the sun reached its zenith.

Muiry stopped reading and put her book aside. "You must be getting thirsty, Daddy. Do you want me to go get more broth?"

"No, no. I don't need more broth, sweetie." He reached toward her with a shaking paw; he saw how much thinner it was from last week and how little fur remained on it. She still took the decrepit appendage without hesitation and held it lovingly.

"You feel cold. Let me get another blanket." She stood up and went to get a fifth quilt.

He chuckled but he could tell how upset the wheezing noise made her. "Sit, my beautiful little Muiry. I'm as good as I can be. Sit or go take care of yourself for a while. I'm not going anywhere. Go have a cup of tea on the porch or have lunch with Lorie. You're young; you shouldn't be cooped up in a sickroom like this for weeks on end. Still, I'm grateful, lass. I want you to know I love you, I always have, and I always will."

Her eyes filled up with tears. "I love..." She cleared her throat and blew her nose. "I-I love you, too, Daddy."

She sat back down and picked up the book. Lowell had had a lot of trouble trying to decide what she could read. His first choice was On the Genealogy of Morality by Nietzsche, but he wanted it in its original German. He hated reading translated works; they never were quite the same as the original. No matter how good the translator was it was inevitable their voice would be carried over, too, and Muiry couldn't read German. Then he'd thought about the Prince and the Pauper by the American author, Mark Twain. Very little in the way of decent literature came from the New World, but word had it that Mark Twain was very good and had inspired a whole generation of powerful and skilled American writers. He very rarely read fiction, though. He much preferred scientific treaties, histories, or philosophical works. Then he considered what Muiry may want. He settled on Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice. It was written by a woman and spoke of love, which still eluded Muireann, but it didn't cast the women in those deplorable helpless and insipid roles so common in other authors' works. It was also rather funny.

She read for another half-bell before Ciaran came in with a heavy tray. Muireann snapped the book shut and put it aside.

Ciaran smiled faintly at them. "I'm home, Da. I would've been back sooner but some business came up that couldn't be delayed." He put the tray down and passed Muireann some lunch. "Hello, Muireann. I'm glad you have enough free time to keep Da company. Thank you."

Lowell could see her bite off a bitter comment and she instead said, "Thank you for bringing us lunch. Welcome home." Her tone wasn't very welcoming; it was always so painful to see how poorly they got along.

They began eating in silence, or rather, his children ate and he drank broth. He drank with difficulty.

Ciaran put his plate down after a bit and went to sit beside him, but Muireann jumped up, nearly knocking her food all over the bed. She was obviously agitated as she said, "No, let me do that, Ciaran."

He looked surprised and shook his head. "No, Muireann, it's quite alright. Sit and finish your lunch. You've been caring for him for a long time. Take a break; you look exhausted. I don't mind doing this at all."

"I'm fine. Please, let me do this." She looked almost distraught.

Ciaran really seemed to have no idea how to respond, but he passed her the mug. "Alright, but after this promise me you'll go take a nap. You really look tuckered out."

Muireann looked set to argue, so Lowell interjected, "He's right, Muiry. Please, take a nap. I don't want you wearing yourself out. I've got a bit of time left."

She hesitated before nodding. She sat down and helped him take a small mouthful of broth, then dabbed his bare chin.

"How long?" Ciaran's question was vague, but everyone knew what he meant.

Muiry almost sloshed the broth all over her father. "Ciaran!"

Lowell patted her paw reassuringly. "It's fine. It's a valid question. Before tomorrow night. I'd guess midday tomorrow, but the Fates don't appreciate such wagers. Still, I have...little doubt that it'll be before tomorrow night." He was going to say he had enough experience in dying to make a good guess.

Ciaran nodded. "I was cutting it close, then."

His father smiled weakly. "Hermes heard my prayers and guided you home when you needed to be here. He's kept you safe for me and made sure you'd be here to see me off. The Fates tell the Guide when someone is close to death."

Muireann had tears running down her muzzle and had to move the mug to avoid adding extra salt to the broth. "At least we'll see you again, Daddy. In Hades' kingdom, but better there than never." Her grief was evident and genuine.

Lowell was very tempted to tell her the truth, but it wouldn't accomplish anything except to upset her. No, they wouldn't meet in Lord Hades' realm. They'd never meet again.