[Trade] [PAYMENT] Time With Granddam

It was another sunny day as usual for Nero and her herd, the tiny styra waking up within the embrace of her granddam Oceania, had been curled up within the elder's comforting touch. Had fallen asleep from her and her grandsire Chrome telling her stories of her sire was as a young hatchling. How chaotic he was and always up to trouble, nothing like Nero, the hatchling content with sticking by her family's sides whether that be of her direct parents or her various grandparents. Happy to simply sleep or frolics within the grassy plains of her natal herd's current resting place. Had just hatched the turning of spring into summer, alongside other hatchlings within the herd, many playmates for her to play with, though most were far oto rambunctious for her comfort. More of the type to go with the flow and hang back, which was a far cry from her sire, Oceania likening it to him taking up the chaos of two generations when he was younger -- quietly adding that he should be careful for any future clutches, won't be as sweet as Nero was. She was a very rare kind of hatchling to have, and he was lucky she turned out so sweet.

This day, Oceania had promised to take Nero down to the pond and show her how to swim, maybe even how to forage if she was up for it! Though Nero was content to just spend some quality time with her granddam and enjoy the warm spring day, wind just barely there in the air and clouds passing through. Maybe granddam could watch them with her? She always made up the funniest guesses as to what a cloud looked like! One time they spotted one that looked like a fish, and another looked like a styra! Wondered how the clouds made their shapes, maybe they liked to copy what they see and show the other clouds what they thought was so neat about the land below them! Maybe if she saw any of those flying folk she could ask, surely they'd know more about the clouds since they fly so high alongside them! Maybe when she migrated with her herd they'd find some other migrating groups, not that they'd be migrating so soon, winter would be the time they truly left their usual rounds, as what granddam said. 

Nero stood up and stretched out, shaking off the sleep and settled flower petals from her hide, with spring came the trees and flower blooming, which she enjoyed! But Nero didn't like having all these petals stuck to her so often, felt weird after a while and it wasn't fun anymore..made her shiver and squirmy. Wasn't sure how others dealt with it, some of her herd mates were even welcoming of having petals stick onto them --- even saw a few purposefully pick flowers and vines, couldn't see herself doing so. She shook her head, Oceania soon stood up herself and licking at Nero's crest, the stumpy still growing horns slowly becoming bigger each day. Soon she'd be big and scary just like the other styras she lived with! Wondered how long that would take, it seemed like too long in her eyes, but granny Oceania said it needs to take a long time so her horns would be big and tough as she will be as an adult! So she has to be super patient and take care of her horns and frill until then!

Oceania soon gently bumped Nero's side and the two set off towards the small pond, it was the heart of the plains as her granddam had called it, where everyone could meet and catch up on what they did that day. Nero liked all the fish that swam within it, could watch them for the whole day if she didn't have lessons and meals to eat. But that was fine, that meant that heading over to the pond with Oceania was extra special! Got to sit for the morning and talk about what they'd be doing the rest of the day and have breakfast while watching the fish. She really liked that, got to hear more stories from granny Oceania and got to hear more about her home. Like how certain fish would find their way deeper inland with the streams that would reach the pond during floods and more rainier seasons. Wondered if she would be able to watch it happen, get to see the fish travel off inland and see where they go.

It's not long before the two styras find themselves sat at the bank of the small pond, sat beside some berry bushes -- Oceania gently pulling off some branches from it and setting them onto the ground for Nero to eat. An eager chirp falling from the hatchling as she quickly dug into the breakfast her granddam so kindly got her. Soon she'd be expected to forage and pick her own meals, not that granny Oceania would stop doing it for her so soon, but she wanted to cherish this time with her granny. A nice breakfast of berries and leaves alongside her favorite styra in the world! Not that she'd tell her parents that, wouldn't want to break their hearts! But Oceania knew, and she promised not to spill the secret when Nero told her. 

Nero happily hummed and rumbled as she ate, scarfing down the fresh berries, her mouth and beak quickly covered in the red juice of the very berries she was eating. Crunching through the thin branch and stems, leaves easily mashing between her dense molars. Wondered how dense of a branch she could eat? Granny hadn't quite told her, the young hatchling mulling it over as she looked over the pond before her and Oceania. Leaning her head against the elder's shoulder, tail wagging behind her as the two sat in the warm sun and watched the clouds float by as the fish swam in their odd patterns within the water below.