*Aurelius*

"You've gotten faster, kid," Papa said, dodging my stick sword.

I took a step back and stabbed forward.

He blocked it with his own wooden sword and pushed back.

I teetered like a top before falling onto the mat made out of dried up grass.

Papa put his hands on his hips and smiled slightly. "Alas, there's still much room to grow."

I lowered my head. "Am I not ready for my first hunt yet?"

He patted my head. "You're getting closer. Continue working at it and you'll pass with flying colors."

I beamed at him. "Like a peacock? Wait, can they even fly?"

He laughed. "It's a saying. And yes, peacocks can fly, just not for long."

I frowned. "Poor birdies. Also, where's that saying from? This is the first I hear of it!"

"It's from far away. Your mom's dad taught it to me."

My shoulders slumped. Grandpa...

Papa knelt down in front of me and put his hands on my shoulders. "You miss him, don't you? Sorry that I couldn't make it back in time."

I wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my lime shirt. "It's fine. I know that you were protecting us."

He looked away. "Yeah, but I failed at it."

I walked over and hugged him. "Don't blame yourself, Papa. You tried your bestest!"

He hugged me back. "But it wasn't enough."

"Dad used to say 'sometimes trying one's best doesn't render the desired result, but it's still worth trying'," a voice called out.

Mama entered the tent, carrying a baby boy swaddled in white blankets.

"Hey, Baby!" I said, pushing myself off the ground and running over to Mom and baby Anthi.

Mom patted little Anthimus's head. "He's still fast asleep, Au."

I lowered my head. "Sorry."

"It's alright. You didn't know."

"You should get some rest before he wakes up, dear."

She nodded. "Alright." Mama turned around and left with my baby brother. The only time she could play or sleep these days was when little Anthi was asleep. Grandma and other women of our village offered to help, but Mama wanted to be there for him. She did the same thing when my other siblings and I were little too. Although, she did give up a little and accepted Grandma's offer to watch over us. Especially after Hadrian's big fall.

"Say, how about we go and play with the others?" Papa asked.

I beamed and nodded.

"Now, where could they be?" Papa said, humming as we walked out of the tent.

"I know! They're probably by the watering hole! Moni wanted to help Mama with chores."

He furrowed his brow. "Let's get going!" he picked me up and put me on his shoulders. "Pluma!" He removed one of the many eagle feathers on his cape. Within seconds it expanded in size.

The villagers gasped, some in excitement, others in worry as Papa surfed the skies on his feather board.

"What's wrong, Papa? Think they got into trouble again?" I asked, patting his head.

"I hope not, but we're never sure."

"Don't worry! Grandma went with them! She'll keep the hungry hyenas away!"

"It's not them that concerns me."

"What does?"

"I'm worried Hadri might try something dumb."

My eyes widened. True! I caught him trying to move a big vase like the ones the adults carried with his one good arm! He had broken the other one pretty badly after the fall. Luckily, Grandma saved the day with her knowledge of bones and stitching.

We flew over the green and yellow grassy lands that laid beyond our village. It was almost time for the dry season. That's when those twelve and older like me would get their first familiar. Assuming they were ready for the task. The watering hole was usually where that took place, due to the grand number of animals that made their way for a nice drink of water. Granted, not everyone went for an animal familiar. Some, usually plant mages, went for plant familiars instead. Grandma was one of the few people I knew who had opted for foliage. In her case, everweed.

"Au, Papa!" a white haired girl with green eyes like mine yelled, waving her arms in the air.

"Big bro and Papa must've finished with their training!" said a seven year-old boy who looked a lot like me and Dad.

"Time to play!" an eight year-old girl with red hair and green eyes yelled.

"Hey, Moni, Al, Candy, Grandma!" I said, waving back.

"Oh, what brings you here, Constantius?" a lady with hair as deep red as Candy's said as she held a large clay pot on top of her shoulder.

"Is Hadrian here?" Papa asked, glancing around.

"Yeah, he's over there." Grandma pointed at a brown haired boy knelt down by the watering hole. The vegetation and their shade had hidden him. Too bad we weren't playing hide and seek. This place made for a great hiding spot!

Hadri was trying to grab water with a smaller clay pot than the one Grandma had. Sadly a fish got inside, forcing him to spill the water back out.

"He keeps trying to get water but no luck," Moni said.

"He makes a better fisherman than a water getter," Candy said, shaking her head.

"Maybe the fishy wants to come home with Hadri," Al said as he bit on a wheat cracker. Grandma must've made some while I was sparring with Papa.

Hadri sighed as he let go of the pot. He stared at his broken arm. It was still covered in a thick white cast.

I took a deep breath. As his big bro, it was my duty to cheer him up!

Papa tapped my shoulder and went ahead of me. Did he want to take care of this himself?

"Need help, Hadrian?" Papa asked, kneeling beside him.

He shook his. "I can do it!" He waved his good arm. "I still got a good one, see?"

Papa furrowed his brow. "It's still difficult to do things with one."

"Difficult but not impossible!" Hadri scooped water back up with his pot, but again, the fish swam inside. "Hey! Stop that!"

Pa snickered. "I think Al was right about it wanting to come with you."

Hadrian stared at his pot and sighed. "If only it was bigger. Then we could eat it!"

"Not every animal is meant to be eaten," Grandma said. "Maybe raise it as a pet? I heard in other parts of the world people do that with goldfish."

"A fish for a pet? That's weird!" he said, laughing as he stood up. "Well, I guess I have no choice. Plus, not like I chose it. It picked me instead! Hmm. What should I call it?"

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Moni asked.

"Its body seems streamlined like a male fish. Usually female fish have a rounder body," Grandma said, staring at it.

"Hmm, well that cuts the list a bit," Hadri said as we started walking back home.

"Since it keep getting into the pot, maybe a trickster name!" Candy said, leaping ahead of us.

A tricker, huh? That was a great idea! Although, it was up to Hadri to name him, not me.

"I got it! Acacius! For having been a thorn on my side," Hadrian said as his gripped his pot.

"Poor fishy," Al said, sighing.

"Well, it sounds nice at least," Grandma said, laughing.

Hadri stared at his fish. "Wonder if he'll grow any bigger."

"If you feed it well and change its water often, it probably will."

"I'll do that!" Hadrian said, staring back at his fish.

I smiled. Seemed he wasn't as upset as before.

"Thanks for trying to help him earlier," Papa whispered, patting my head.

"But I didn't help."

"You did plan to, and would've if I hadn't decided to do so myself. That alone means a lot."

I looked on ahead at the great expanse. "Well, I am his big brother."

Papa ruffled my hair. "You'll make a great chief one day."

My cheeks reddened. Was he just saying that to flatter me? No, Papa joked around. But it didn't sound like he was right now.

"That's still not for a long time! I still have a lot to learn from you, Papa!"

He let go of me and marched again. "Right you are."

"Hmm?" Hadrian said, tilting his head at us as he turned around. "What are you two chatting about over there?"

"Nothing!" I said, running over to him. Hadri had told me he wanted to be the chief one day. If my dream to travel the world worked out, he would be the next in line. But I didn't want to jump the spear just yet. Not until I was more certain about obtaining my goal. Although, I also worried for the future of our village and continent. Vandavale hadn't been the same since the Shadow Walkers appeared. Leaving my clansmen in this situation to go travel the seas would've been selfish of me.

Papa sighed. "You haven't told him, huh?"

I lowered my head. "Not yet. I'm still not sure."

"That's okay." He stared at the giant mesa in the distance. "You still have time to choose your path."

But which was the best? To aim for my dream or to stay and help restore the land to what it used to be?

He squeezed me. "Don't worry, you aren't alone. I'll help in whichever way I can. When you're older, I'm sure you'll discover the right balance between following what you want and providing for others."

I hugged me. "Thanks, Papa!"

I ruffled my hair again. "Don't mention it. As the chief, it's my duty to guide the future generations. Doubly so for my own children."

Hopefully, one day I could be as awesome a papa as Papa.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed this Father's Day Special ^^. Thanks to all the Fathers and Father-figures out there!**