[ Reynir is entirely blasé about this; for him, it's hard to imagine Onni being nervous or uncertain, any more than he could imagine someone being nervous or uncertain about tying a knot or whistling or any of the other half-unconscious things one learns to do as a young child. He pulls the bottle away and without preamble or warning, thrusts the lamb out and against Onni's chest, waiting for his arms to come up and support it.
Once he sees the way Onni does it, though, a little frown of confusion comes over his face. He quickly says: ]
No, like this.
[ And with a few quick movements he rearranges Onni's arms, and presses them more tightly against the small, warm body of the animal. ]
They like being held tightly. You're not going to break him. He might be tiny, but he's a lot sturdier than a human baby would be. He can already walk. Not really well or really fast, but he can do it, and he can't have been born more than a day or two ago. So don't worry you're going to crush him or anything. If you do something he doesn't like, he'll let you know, nice and loud.
[ As if on cue, the lamb bleats, and it is loud but not pained or distressed so much as a little uncertain. Now it is Reynir who is soothing the little thing, smoothing his hands over his floppy ears, rubbing his face just above his small nose. ]
It'll be good if we both handle him as much as we can for the next few days, so he knows he can trust us. And because he must be missing his mama and awful lot.
[ Reynir rubs at the lamb's soft soft ear, making a sympathetic face, as if the animal could even tell. ]
I'm keeping him in my bed tonight. Kisa might get jealous and come bother you, who knows.
no subject
[ Reynir is entirely blasé about this; for him, it's hard to imagine Onni being nervous or uncertain, any more than he could imagine someone being nervous or uncertain about tying a knot or whistling or any of the other half-unconscious things one learns to do as a young child. He pulls the bottle away and without preamble or warning, thrusts the lamb out and against Onni's chest, waiting for his arms to come up and support it.
Once he sees the way Onni does it, though, a little frown of confusion comes over his face. He quickly says: ]
No, like this.
[ And with a few quick movements he rearranges Onni's arms, and presses them more tightly against the small, warm body of the animal. ]
They like being held tightly. You're not going to break him. He might be tiny, but he's a lot sturdier than a human baby would be. He can already walk. Not really well or really fast, but he can do it, and he can't have been born more than a day or two ago. So don't worry you're going to crush him or anything. If you do something he doesn't like, he'll let you know, nice and loud.
[ As if on cue, the lamb bleats, and it is loud but not pained or distressed so much as a little uncertain. Now it is Reynir who is soothing the little thing, smoothing his hands over his floppy ears, rubbing his face just above his small nose. ]
It'll be good if we both handle him as much as we can for the next few days, so he knows he can trust us. And because he must be missing his mama and awful lot.
[ Reynir rubs at the lamb's soft soft ear, making a sympathetic face, as if the animal could even tell. ]
I'm keeping him in my bed tonight. Kisa might get jealous and come bother you, who knows.