Chapter Text
Lotus sways his tail as he looks at the river full of blooming lotuses. He stepped closer to the river he reached for the blooming flower with his tiny paw before his mother pulled him away from taking another step further.
“Lotus, you have to be careful. A little kit like you can end up in the bottom of the river. You’re only five winters old.”
His mother spoke in a gentle voice before she guided him back to their hut.
“My baby, poor baby. You were born different in many ways. A smart kit would know that the river is dangerous without your mother there. That’s okay, I forgive you for your lack of thinking. Just know that despite your flaws, mama will always love you.”
His mother spoke with a kind smile. Lotus didn't understand what she meant but his mom said that she loved him which was enough for him. He wanted to curl up beside his mother like they did during the winters and sleep throughout the whole day.
Once they made it to the comfort of their small home, Lotus quickly made his made to his bed and then reached for his picture book. He looked at knights who saved people from monsters and helped everyone they met.
“Mama, do you think I can become a knight? My mentor said that-"
“Lotus. I think you should stick to what you’re good at. It will break my heart if you try to become something you will fail at. Now, go study. I love you, my hapless baby.”
His mother spoke to him in the same gentle voice but it felt off. He could only nod and watch his mother go to her room as he stayed in his bed. He looked down at the pictures and tried to distract the ache in his chest by reading his story. Lotus struggles to say the words and pronounce them but closes the book to wipe his eyes that sting with his tears. He felt dumb, he felt ashamed of himself.
How could he think he could be anything else when he couldn’t read a few words in his picture book?
Lotus remembers his mentor looking at him with concern when he struggled to write his name and read the druid spells from his mentor’s book. He recalls his mother's words and held his book tight.
“I’ll be a good druid. So I can make you proud, mama.”
He softly mumbled as he felt his tears roll down his fluffy cheeks and feel his little heartache. He will be a druid. The best one. Lotus gets out of his bed to put the book back on its shelf but stops. He looks at the book that brought him so much joy and hides it under his bed. Where he kept the things he loved but hurt to look at or think about. He places the book next to the pile of drawings of his family and the trinkets from his father.
He sniffles as he reluctantly goes to his desk and tries to comprehend the words on the scrolls with blurry eyes.