"I was cold, the first snow was falling. Yet instead of hating me, you welcomed me by your fire. Thank you kind one. I wish more humans were like you." -- BKF
The household was already crowded with people. Most of them under the age of fifteen. Their mother had no true reason to call Plenty inside as they made their way along the otherwise lonely road. it may have been spare maternal instinct. It may have been pity.
Either way, Plenty kept their horns down and their tail out of everyone's way as they huddled by the hearth. Periodically, they would catch one of the babies before they could try touching the flames or the coals, and set them down in a different direction.
"You can nurse 'em. I trust you," said the mother. She was busy enough with the cauldron and keeping the toddlers out of the fire.
Plenty's first word beyond gratitude was, "Why?"
"For starters, you can't be much over fifteen. Secondly, if you were going to try something, you'd have already done it. Third, little Madl kicks up a right stink if anyone picks her up wrong, and you've done it thrice without a peep. You can nurse 'em if you want."
Madl had to be the one who had taken up fire-petting as a grand game, giggling when Plenty caught her. Redoubling her efforts once she was set loose again. Honestly, nursing the tiny scamp might help keep her safe for longer.
The next time they scooped Madl away from the fire, Plenty settled the babe onto their lap. Let the little one play with their tail. That kept the tyke occupied long enough for the food to reach the table. Long enough for the mother of many to put a grate between the flames and the people.
Plenty prepared to sidle out of the house as the older children set up the table.
"No you don't," said the mother. Physically herding Plenty to the table. "You need a decent home and I happen to have one."
"You already have a dozen," murmured Plenty. They nervously took up as little space as possible next to others. "That's... a lot of mouths to feed."
"Yes it is," the mother said. Dishing up stew and bread. "I know how to feed them all, regardless. There's room for one more in this house and you're in need. It's that simple."
"Besides," chirped the eldest of the children. "Our family name is Baker."
It would be four more years before Plenty learned why that was a joke.
[Photo by Luca Volpe on Unsplash]
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