Chapter Text
“Out! Gods you two are driving me crazy!” A voice yelled and Stíofán hid his smile. Any moment now…
“Stíofán! You have to take these kids away. If they don’t stop frolicking in Rhodey’s smithy he is going to throw me out!”
Bucky snorted and Stíofán turned just in time for two bouncing balls of fleece to hop into his arms. “What? These two? No, can’t be.”
Hugh giggled as Stíofán bounced him on one arm while Peadar tugged on one of his horns.
Tony scowled. “There’s molten metal! Rhodey can’t work if he’s having to constantly check one of them isn’t underhoof.”
“But look at these strapping young satyrs,” Stíofán countered. “So free and wild; dancing among the buttercups, nibbling on the thistles. The sun shining on their speckled fleeces, their horns, their--”
“Stop! I cannot listen to this speech again,” Tony whined. “We’re all very grateful you fought the terrifying manticore! But that does not help me make horseshoes!”
Bucky baa’d a laugh at that and Tony’s frown deepened.
“They can stay with me,” Stíofán placated. “Who wants to help Da by pulling some weeds, hmm?”
The twins cheered, taking off at a sprint to be the first one to grab at the greenery on the newly ploughed field.
“Hey Buck, can you-”
“Yeh, yeah, I’ll watch ‘em,” Bucky shot back with a wave. “Go on, you love-sick billygoat.”
Stíofán clapped him on the back and took off running up the hill.
“No, no, no, don’t you-- eeek!” Tony clung to him as Stíofán lifted him into the air, spinning him until the faun shrieked with laughter.
Stíofán let him slide down until he was at the perfect height to kiss and Tony moaned into it for a moment before he slapped a hand on Stíofán’ shoulder. “Hey! None of that!”
Stíofán pouted. “Why not?”
“Because last time you did that we were gone for the whole afternoon and Rhodey nearly tanned my hide.”
“No he didn’t.”
“No he didn’t, because he’s too nice and instead gave me some berries he’d picked which was actually worse! He said he was worried I wasn’t getting enough to eat. He’s being very generous letting me work there, and then my two terrors come leaping around his smithy, bouncing off the walls and climbing everything.”
“They’re good climbers aren’t they?” Stíofán said, knowing he was preening and Tony rolled his eyes.
“The best in the village. Now please keep them out here where they frolic on the rolling green hills, trot through the bluebells and--”
“And let you work. Alright, I get it,” Stíofán snorted, then dipped down to kiss Tony one more time.
When he let him go, Tony looked a little dazed but shook it off. As the doe made his way back through the gate, Stíofán watched the fine rump bounce beneath the warm woollen shift he wore, fastened at the front, Stíofán knew, with the brooch he’d had made for him when the twins were born. He watched till Tony was out of sight, thinking about how the twins would curl up by the fire in their roundhouse later and he and Tony could retire to their soft bed, curled up beneath the furs. If he was lucky, his hand would wander and Tony would press into them, eager as they moved together, trying to stay quiet…
“Oi, Aengus, quit thinking with your cock and come watch your spawn. They’ll be digging up the wheat next.”
Stíofán huffed but picked up his tools to get back to work. He had to put in the labour if he wanted to earn a bleat.
“Da, tell a story,” Hugh begged as they sat around the fire, his bowl of stew Tony had made before darting back to finish a few things at the smithy waiting to cool.
Stíofán hummed. “Have you been good enough for a story? Behaved all day?”
“Yeah!” Peadar said, shoving in a mouthful of his dinner. “Very good.”
“Even when I told you to not to play in the stream?”
Hugh looked a little chastened. “That was an accident. Peadar falled.”
“Uh huh.”
Both kids’ eyes were on him, big and round. He sighed. “Oh alright then.”
They cheered, wiggling over to sit at his feet. “But you have to eat up. It'll be time for sleep soon.”
Peadar nodded, shoving in another spoonful and dripping some of the broth on the floor.
So Stíofán told them the tale of Mac Da Thó’s pig, so big it could only be carried by forty oxen and how it had been cooked for a great feast where the heroes fought over who would get the lion’s share.
"'Find among the men of Ériu one to match me in feats – otherwise I will carve the pig!'" He intoned in a dramatic voice and the kids’ laughed in delight.
“I hear giggling and no sleeping,” Tony said as he pushed back the furs at the entrance to the house.
“Da’s telling us a story,” Hugh chirped and Tony smiled.
“Oh I see.” Tony tugged off his cloak, folding it by the door before grabbing his own bowl of stew. He went to sit by the kids but Stíofán reached out, pulling him to perch on his knee.
“Like that is it?” Tony asked, voice amused and Stíofán tried not to blush beneath his beard. He was glad it hid his cheeks, having been able to grow it in the longer, thicker style his people preferred now that he was free. Tony kept his short, something widely talked about along with his olive skin but Stíofán had a feeling one more winter might change that if his cold pink cheeks were anything to go by.
“Yes sir.”
“Then go on hoplomachus, tell these little monsters their story. Do not go quiet on my account.” He settled in comfortably, tucking into his meal with enthusiasm.
So Stíofán told the tale, with his mate on his knee and his kids at his feet and a roaring fire behind them keeping them all toasty as the cold winds blew outside. And if his hand came down to squeeze one of the rounded cheeks that had plumped so well with the rigour of village life and the hearty food; well, only a certain faun knew.
When the story was done, Tony gave both little satyrs a kiss on the head before he went outside to clean their bowls, leaving Stíofán to wrestle the kids into bed.
“Tomorrow I have to help with the new housebuilding,” Stíofán told the kids as he pulled the blanket over them as they snuggled up together. “Remember? For Bucky and his new doe. He arrives by next moon and we have to be ready.”
The kids nodded, Hugh in particular looking interested at the prospect of someone new in the village. “So tomorrow, will you be good for your nana while I help with the building and your Ma works with Rhodey?”
Peadar yawned. “Yes Da.”
“Good boy. Hugh?”
“Yes Da.”
“Alright. If you’re good, I’ll ask Ma if you can have some honey with your bread, how does that sound? Good?”
“Yeah!”
“Goodnight my treasures.” Stíofán leaned down, kissing each horn and nose before tucking the furs beneath their chins as their eyes fluttered closed.
Stíofán tossed another log on the fire, checking for stray coals around the edges before heading over to the fabric sheet that hid their bed. The partition was an unusual addition since the houses were usually all one room, but Tony had grown used to his privacy after the Stables and hadn’t been ready to give it up, which Stíofán understood. He heard the swish of the fur at the entrance as Tony returned with the bowls, tying the fabric behind him to block out the chill. Stíofán stripped off his shirt and the thick trousers he wore, shivering as the cool air crept over his skin.
He slipped under the covers, stretching out and getting comfortable. It wasn’t long before the curtain was tugged back and a faun shoved his way into his arms.
“Brrrrrr,” Tony said with a shiver. “It’s so cold out there, how is it so cold?”
Stíofán tucked him under his chin with a chuckle. “Wish you were back in Aquileina?”
Tony shook his head. “Never.”
“Good.”
He petted Tony’s horns as they settled in, the crackle of the fire and the backdrop of the winds making him feel safe and warm.
He could’ve nodded off, happy and warm with his mate in his arms. But instead, a hand slid it’s way down his chest, wrapping around the base of his cock. He kept his eyes closed, trying not to react.
The hand moved up and then down. “Surely you’re not sleeping so soon?” A sultry voice whispered in his ear.
Stíofán hummed. “Got a long day tomorrow. Got to get the foundations of the house built for Bucky, his Somhairle arrives soon and he wants to be ready.”
“I’m sure Somhairle will be as smitten with Bucky as he was at the festival, house or no house,” Tony said, squeezing him a little tighter. “But your doe will be in a huff, and really, what is your priority?”
Stíofán smirked. “A huff you say?”
“A very big huff. Maybe I’ll be so dissatisfied, I’ll forget to start breakfast and you’ll have to go to the housebuilding, hungry, lamenting if only you had mounted--”
Stíofán rolled them, resting easily between Tony’s thighs. “-mounted my beautiful doe? Perhaps you are right; I would lament missing a chance to get inside you, to feel you come apart around me.”
Tony whimpered and Stíofán kissed him, rubbing himself against Tony leisurely, just enjoying the sensation even as Tony wriggled beneath him.
“Stíofán, please,” the doe whispered. “I have been ready since you fondled me over dinner! Please.”
“Of course my love,” Stíofán said, feeling pleased. He liked that he could make Tony so desperate, so ready to take him however he chose to. It was heady but also humbling that his doe would trust Stíofán to take care of him. He loved it. He pushed in, a slow glide as Tony’s breath escaped in a sigh. They rocked together, in no rush, as the wind howled. Eventually Stíofán’s need grew too much to keep teasing and he shoved in hard making Tony squeak.
“Ah, ah,” Stíofán admonished. “Got to keep it down, or you’ll wake the little ones.”
Tony gave him a dirty look, biting his lip as Stíofán drove in again. Stíofán could almost see the sound trying to escape. He tilted his angle, and went again, harder still and this time Tony moaned.
They both froze, listening for the signs of waking kids, but when it remained silent, Stíofán raised an eyebrow. “Thought I told you to keep quiet?”
“I’m starting to want you to make me,” Tony whispered back and Stíofán felt a pulse of want. If that was how the doe wanted to play, he could play.
He pulled out, turning the doe onto his belly and pushing his face into the soft mattress. He was careful not to block Tony’s air, but when he plunged back in, the sound was muffled as Tony grunted. “That’s better.”
He went for it, mounting Tony hard and deep, the satisfaction running through him. He ducked down so he could speak into Tony’s ear. “I miss having you like this. Remember, when you were big, round with my kids, and I would take you in the woods just. Like. This?” he punctuated the words with thrusts and Tony whined into the bedding making Stíofán grin.
“Can’t wait for the next ones, think we could go for three?”
Tony reached back to smack his arm. “Don’t joke, it was hard enough carrying two.”
“You might not have a choice, I’ve been told I am one of the strongest satrys in the village. Virile.”
“Just because some of the village resents your roman whore doesn’t mean you have to show off by filling me to bursting,” Tony huffed then shoved his face back down into the bedding to muffle his cries.
“Shows what they know,”Stíofán said lightly as he picked up the pace. here would be a few bucks who would meet the ends of his horns tomorrow though, make no mistake. “If you were my roman whore I’d have you hooves in the air and ready for me whenever I want, not working your fingers to the bone at the forge.”
“You--” Tony squeaked again and Stíofán found he liked it.
“You’re dying to bleat aren’t you? But you can’t, you just have to take what I give you and keep quiet. Letting your big barbarian buck mount you and fill you so you can give me some more of the finest looking kids in the village. You look gorgeous when you’re carrying, like a fire’s been lit up inside you and I get to know it’s because of me.” His own whispered words were pushing him closer to the edge and he slid one arm underneath Tony’s chest to hold him close as one hand drifted down to squeeze a furred cheek. “Gorgeous.”
He kept up a steady rhythm, pulling Tony slightly onto knees so he could reach underneath and begin to stroke. The faun writhed beneath him and Stíofán had to start focusing on not making noises himself. He could hear Tony begging for relief and so, he gave a strong twist of his hand. Tony went limp with a long muffled groan.
Free to finish, Stíofán gave a dozen more messy thrusts before he finished, curling around Tony and burying his face in the curls between his horns. When he had caught his breath, he pawed around for a rag, wiping them down and tossing it aside for washing. As he laid back, Tony curled up on his chest, tugging the furs to their shoulders.
“Big barbarian buck,” Tony snorted. “Who are you trying to fool with that? You carried me to the forge the other day so my hooves didn’t get muddy.”
“Doesn’t sound like me,” Stíofán said, eyes falling shut.
“Uh huh,” Tony sighed again. “I hope you’ve thought about what more kids mean. They can’t all come to the forge, you’d have to watch them.”
“Ma will help.”
“And will there be enough room here?”
That had Stíofán frowning. “Are you suggesting I didn’t take kids into consideration when I built this house for you. The second biggest in the village? We could have a dozen and there’d be space and love for all of them.”
“Well let’s not get too carried away,” Tony grouched but underneath it, he sounded pleased. “I would’ve thought you’d want a break from the crying and being woken up at all hours.”
“So did I. But I miss the tiny hooves, waiting for their first horns to come in. The kids are old enough now that they don’t need as much watching and if you’re carrying soon, they’ll be just in time for next spring.”
“And I will be the size of fattened pig and you’ll have me at your mercy, is that it?” Tony purred. “Unable to do anything but lie here and wait for you to come home. Is that what you secretly wish?”
Stíofán rolled his eyes. “Well, it would certainly mean I didn’t have to worry you’d been skewed by a hot poker or knocked by a stray hammer.”
“That wouldn’t happen. I’m too skilled.”
“Mhmmmm.”
“I am!”
Stíofán let his hand slide forward until it was resting on Tony’s belly, unable to resist the flicker of hope that this might be the time they added to their little family. A doe this time maybe, with Tony’s dark eyes, since the bucks had taken so much of Stíofán’s colouring.
“At least this time I will be cosy and not on the back of that horrid donkey or being mounted in the wilds by some savage,” Tony said with a yawn. “I will have a nice bed and nice things to eat.”
“Are you saying I didn’t provide for you on the journey?” Stíofán asked, poking Tony in the side.
“I’m saying I get tasty treats from kind bucks here,” Tony sniffed and Stíofán rolled his eyes.
“You mean Rhodey.”
“He’s sweet.”
Stíofán bit his lip, trying not to laugh. “That’s because he thinks your fainting is because you don’t eat enough. He asked me about it.”
Tony looked up at him. “And you didn’t correct him?”
Stíofán snorted. “Why would I? He keeps giving you sweet foods, means I don’t have to.”
Tony burst out laughing. “He’s going to get you back when he finds out, you know.”
“Probably, but I think I can take him.”
Tony hummed. His hand came up to brush over Stíofán’s horns which had flourished without constantly being butted during training. “You do have a fine pair of horns. Very intimidating.”
“That’s not the only intimidating pair I’ve got.”
“Gods you are incorrigible,” Tony said, slapping his pec with a laugh. “But joking aside, yes I would like my next carrying to be easier. Less fear, less stress. More lying here like this with you while you rub my back. We’ve earned it, my love.”
Stíofán leaned down to kiss him. “We have. You will have all the luxuries I can give you, I will wait on you hand and hoof. You shall want for nothing.”
“That sounds nice.”
“And ma will help us after, you know she dotes on the kids. What’s five compared to two really?”
“I suppose you’re- Five?!” Tony squawked, then lowered his voice. “You better hope that’s not true or I’ll kick you out of my bed till we’re old and grey.”
“Mhmmm.”
“I would.”
Stíofán ran a hand down the doe’s belly, his fingers teasing south. “You sure?”
“Ooooh, yes I would. You’d be in so much— mmmmm— trouble.”
Stíofán rubbed a palm over the interested area. “Well, that is a shame.” He gave one more stroke to hear Tony’s caught breath and pulled his hand away.
“You put that hand back, sir,” Tony ordered. “Or you’ll get cold oats in the morning.”
“I think you’re bluffing.”
“You want to test that?” Tony asked, crawling up Stíofán’s chest to stare down at him, still the most beautiful thing Stíofán has ever seen. “You, trying to swallow lumpy cold mush while the twins and I shovel down lovely hot food, all silky smooth, chasing away the winter chill. Maybe we’ll have a little honey in ours but you, sir, will miss out.”
His tail wagged tantalisingly over Tony’s shoulder at the edge of Stíofán’s vision.
Stíofán shook his head. “That’s cruel, so cruel. I’m going to be out providing shelter to a new family and you would take my food from me?”
“I would. Unless you do your duty.” He thrust his hips against Stíofán’s belly. “Come on, my big, strong buck.”
Stíofán pretended to think for a moment before he rolled them over, wrapping a hand around Tony’s cock and worshipping him with his hand and mouth until he spilled again, his cries muffled by a kiss.
No one liked cold oats after all.
Stíofán stretched, his back popping as he took a break from stirring the straw and mud needed for the walls.
The house was starting to take shape though it’d be some time before it was finished. Bucky was walking around like cock of the walk as they prepared, talking about how fine his doe was and how he was going to fill his house with kids.
“Don’t you think you’re getting ahead of yourself?” Stíofán asked, pushing his sweaty hair behind his horns. “What if he gets here and realises what a slob you are? What doe wants to raise kids amongst your hoof trimmings?”
Bucky scowled, tossing a handful of mud Stíofán’s way. “I’m going to treat my doe like a queen. And I’m going to get fat on his cooking, you’ll see. All does are good at it and his Buck said so when I asked to make the match.”
Stíofán laughed. “We’ll see.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well everyone knows a sire will lie about their kid, everyone’s trying to show off.” Stíofán picked up the spade to keep mixing. “Tony couldn’t cook at all when he got here. Ma had to teach him and I still do a lot of it when he’s at the forge.”
Bucky looked disappointed. “Damn. I was sick of eating mush for all my meals.” Then he perked up. “He’s still beautiful though. So I guess that’s something.”
Stíofán hid a grin. “Glad to see you got your priorities in order.”
“You didn’t see him. Soft fleece, dark hair and nicely curled horns. Fluffy tail. Gorgeous.”
“And how do you know what his fleece felt like?”
Bucky went red. “It just looked soft!”
“You horny bastard,” Stíofán baaaaa-d, happy to tease the hell out of Bucky even while knowing he was a huge hypocrite given how he’d picked his own mate. Unless Tony’s personality was in his ass, Stíofán didn’t have a hoof to stand on. But he wasn’t going to let Bucky know that.
“Shut up Stíofán.”
They worked for a little longer, managing to get the base structure down. Tomorrow they’d have to start building the frame - based on Tony’s design, which had endeared him to the village for its success at keeping out the cold and the rain. They set to stripping the wood they’d need for the poles with their horns.
“Da!” Stíofán looked up to see Hugh and Peadar darting over, bouncing off fences while his Ma ran after them looking frustrated.
Stíofán put his hands on his hips, giving them a stern look. “Are you giving your nana trouble?”
“But we have to show you something!” Hugh cried, bouncing around him in a circle. “Now, now, now!”
Stíofán snatched the kid up mid-bounce and held him tightly. “I don’t care what you had to show me, you say sorry for making her chase you.”
Hugh slumped in his arms but rolled his head back to look at Ma upside down. “Sorry nana. ”
“Sorry nana,” Peadar echoed, looking somewhat chastised.
His Ma huffed. “You're as bad as your father was when he was a kid. He always used to run away when it was time for his bath.”
“Ma!” Stíofán complained and the kids giggled. So much for looking responsible.
“Alright, now what was so important that you had to rush over here?”
Hugh wiggled free and he and Peadar raced to the top off the tall woodpile. “Hey, hey, off there, it’s not stable.”
“Look, look!” Hugh said, and then he turned to Peadar, sucked in a breath and gave a loud, “Arrrrgh!”
Peadar looked back at him. “It didn’t work this time!”
Hugh looked confused. “It did before. Arrgggh!”
Peadar shook his head.
“I don’t know what you're doing, but off the wood pile now please,” Stíofán said, watching a few of the poles shift.
“But it just--”
The wood moved, several of the thick beams popping free and Stíofán leapt forward with his heart in his throat, trying to grab the kids as they tumbled off. The wood clattered as it fell everywhere and the kids disappeared from sight.
“Gods,” Stíofán cursed, hurrying over to push the poles away as Bucky hurried to the other side to help uncover them. He could hear the sounds of approaching hooves but all he could focus on was getting the kids free.
“What happened?” Tony called as he and Rhodey hurried over, likely summoned by the crash.
Stíofán pulled a log free to reveal the kids underneath and breathed a sigh of relief as he realised the way the wood had fallen had boxed them in and stopped them being crushed. “Thank fuck.”
He pulled Hugh out, giving him to Bucky before tugging Peadar out, feeling his heart stop when he felt how stiff the kid was. Had he hit his head on the way down?
“Peadar!” He cradled the kid in his arms giving him a little jostle. “Come on, wake up baby.”
Tony appeared at his side, clutching his arm tight in worry. “Is he ok? Is he--”
Peadar twitched and blinked looking up at them. “Da?”
“Thank the gods,” Stíofán breathed, resting his forehead against Peadar’s for a moment. “I thought he was really hurt.”
“Oh!” Tony said, covering his mouth with his hands.
“What?”
“See! He did it!” Hugh said pointing at his brother. “See Da?”
“What do you--”
Tony snorted. “Guess it didn’t skip a generation this time.”
Stíofán felt like he was being very slow, though it was hard to think with the panic still subsiding. “I don’t--”
“When I scare him, he falls!” Hugh crowed and Stíofán blinked.
“Fainting satyr,” Stíofán managed, the pieces clicking into place. “He’s a fainting satyr. He was down longer than you usually are.”
“Takes longer when you’re little, you aren’t used to it.” Tony reached out and gave Peadar’s hair a ruffle. “You gave your Da a scare hmm?”
Peadar reached his arms up to loop around Stíofán’s neck, rubbing his horns against Stíofán’s. “Sorry Da.”
“Stay on the ground from now on please?” Stíofán told him, giving him a nuzzle. “If you faint while you’re high up you could hurt yourself.”
“Yes Da.”
“And that goes for you too Hugh. Hooves on ground,” Tony added.
“Yes Ma.”
Bucky handed Hugh to Tony. “I think we’re done for the day. Take your brood home before the small ones give me a damn heart attack.” He wandered off towards his parents’ house with a wave.
“Alright, I’ll be here bright and early tomorrow, we’ll get the frame up,” Stíofán called. He wrapped an arm around Tony’s shoulders. “Come on, let’s have an early dinner. Ma, Rhodey, you’ll join us?”
Tony hesitated, looking to the other satyr. “Oh, Rhodey, the armour; we should--”
Rhodey shook his head. “It’ll keep. ‘Sides seems to me your buck’s been lying to me about you not eating enough so he damn well owes me something.”
Tony laughed while Stíofán tried to look innocent. “Seems fair. Guess we ought to get started.”
“Stíofán!”
Stíofán looked around to see Rhodey rushing over, Tony cradled against his chest.
His heart leapt up in his throat as he dropped the pole and rushed to meet him. Was his whole family trying to give him grey fleece hairs? “What is it, did he hurt himself in the forge?”
Tony groaned, looking up at Stíofán with big sad eyes.
Rhodey shook his head. “He was sick. I gave him some ale but it didn’t help and then he got dizzy.”
Stíofán held out his arms, taking him from the other buck. “I’ll take him home, let him lie down.” He looked over to Bucky and the other satyrs helping to attach the last of the main frame of the roundhouse. They were getting close to finishing now, just the thatch to be done. Bucky waved him off and Stíofán nodded his thanks.
“Feel better Tony,” Rhodey said, looking very concerned. “I’ll check in on you tomorrow,” he called as he left to head back to the forge.
“He likes you you know,” Stíofán told Tony who turned his face in Stíofán’s bare chest.
“Not like that,” Tony murmured.
“No, I know. I’m glad he’s your friend. Means I don’t have to worry about you when you’re working.” He hugged the faun tightly. “Come on, let’s get you back.”
He tucked Tony into bed, tucking the furs around him and putting a hand on his forehead. “You don’t have a fever.”
“You did this to me,” Tony groaned, and Stíofán frowned.
“Me?”
Tony’s eye pried itself open to glare at him. “I’d forgotten what this feels like and I hate it.”
It took a second for Stíofán to click. “You mean--?”
“Pretty sure.”
“Gods, I-- I’d hoped but I--” Stíofán could feel the grin sliding over his face, the happy bubbling of joy in his chest.
“Take that grin off your face,” Tony said with a glare. “You can be happy when this passes. Until then, you can rub my back and bring me some of that spicy root the other does chew on for the sickness.”
Stíofán didn’t manage to stifle his grin, he was too excited but he did lean down to give Tony a long kiss on the forehead and a nuzzle. He got a nuzzle in return so he figured he wasn’t in too much trouble. “Waiting on you hand and hoof, we agreed. I’ll go fetch some.”
He went by the healer to get some of the ginger, making sure to fetch some more meat from the trader. Tony would need his strength when he felt better.
When he returned, he found the kids had come in from play and were curled up next to the doe. They’d obviously realised he was unwell, as their usual excited chatter was absent.
“Da,” Hugh said, sounding worried. “Ma threw up.” He pointed to a clay pot on the ground.
Stíofán hissed in sympathy. “Let me grab a cup of water for him, you give him this.”
He handed the ginger to Hugh who knee walked back up the bed to present it to Tony who smiled gratefully. Stíofán removed the clay pot and cleaned it out, before coming back to lie at the head of the bed, pulling Tony up to lie against him.
Peadar looked on worried. “Ma got a fever?”
Stíofán shook his head. “He’s just feeling a little unwell. It’ll pass.” He wondered if he should mention that Tony was carrying but decided against it. Better to wait till Tony was well so he wasn’t peppered with questions.
Tony chewed on the root, the colour slowly coming back to his face and he held out his arms for the kids. “Come here, my babies.”
They snuggled up against him, Stíofán’s arms around them all. “Maybe Da will tell us a story, hmm?”
It wasn’t only the kids who looked at him with pleading eyes. Stíofán chuckled. It wouldn’t be long before he was telling stories to a bigger audience and he couldn’t wait.
“Far beyond the hills, near the big trees, lies the sea and all its wonders. One day a satyr went to catch himself a meal but instead saw a beautiful doe, laying on the rocks. She had seaweed for fleece and not hooves, but the tail of a fish! And covering her horns, a little red cap. He decided he would take her for his bride…”
