A giggling toddler swipes Wraithvine's hat when it was set on the ground. They run around camp trying to wear it and, well, be a typical silly, happy, toddler. -- Anon Guest
Certain happenstances are universal. If you have a less-than ordinary accessory and put it down, the nearest toddler is going to steal it for laughs. Cane? A toddler is going to take it and run away laughing. Cloak? The toddler is going to become the campsite blanket monster. Funny hat? Guess what...
Wraithvine didn't even have time to take out hir comb before the smallest child capable of grabbing and running took the hat and immediately took off.
Ze'd been through this sort of thing too many times to be concerned. Ze kept combing and rebraiding hir hair as assorted adults attempted to catch the miniscule criminal. The tiny terror was having the absolute time of their life, running where no grownups could go, laughing all the way, and otherwise playing with the hat.
The camp was in chaos. People who knew who Wraithvine was were trying to catch the child. People who only knew hir as a powerful Wizard were trying to catch the kid. People who only knew that Wraithvine was someone important were trying to catch the toddler.
As far as the child was concerned, this was the best game in the world.
At least until Wraithvine, finished with hir braids, summoned the magic to retrieve hir hat.
"Thank you, little one," ze said, returning the hat to its rightful place. "I do like when my presence spreads joy." There were patches in hir pocket. A needle and thread. In combination with some magic words, that was all that was necessary to make a more toddler-sized hat for the child. "Here. A gift."
Squealing and stamping in glee, and the little menace ran off in a cloud of giggles.
"You're not angry, sir?" said one of the older children in the caravan.
"Not at all. It is the nature of children to play games with unusual things. Especially when they feel safe about playing such games. That," Wraithvine nodded towards the child who was still shrieking in glee, "is a child who feels very safe in this world. It makes my heart glad."
[Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash]
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