Octorias Aziz Kaur had a very specific routine every single morning. He wakes up at dawn, gets his favorite blanket, gets his sippy cup from the fridge which his mother always prepares the night before, and pulls a chair to the back sliding doors to watch the deer walk through and graze. This morning was no different. He goes through his little routine and sits to watch the deer for a while. After about thirty minutes though he starts to hear crying from outside. He gets worried and curious about it and climbs down from his chair. He quietly slides open the door and slips outside into the back garden to look around for the sound.

Near the edge of the garden is a baby deer that’s been caught in some overgrown thorny roots that have grown out from the forest. Octorias gasps and runs over to the deer.

Octorias: Oh no oh no…You hurt…Can I help?

The fawn looks up at him, surprise in its eyes that it can understand him and nods.

Little Fawn: Y-yes…*it looks down at their foot that’s caught up and looks back at him with sadness.* My foot is stuck!

Octorias: Okay okay…I try to help…

Octorias has always been able to understand animals when they talk but he doesn’t understand yet that others can’t and that he had such a special skill. Thankfully he’s three years old right now and has already had his first mana burst so he also knew he could tell plants what to do…sometimes. He hoped he could do it right now just like his Appa. He puts his hands on the roots, focuses as hard as he can to summon his mana, and gives the roots a command he thinks will work; Grow! The idea to him was that if he made them a bit bigger then it would make room for the deer to get away. Unfortunately, the command was too ambiguous since he was too young to know how to completely control this spell. The roots definitely grow…and grow and grow and grow, wrapping him up in the process and lifting both him and the fawn into the air a bit. Octorias yelps in surprise and tries to wiggle out of it but only manages to get his clothes more caught on the thorns. The fawn starts to cry more and now Octorias starts to panic.

Octorias: -his eyes well up with tears and he starts to cry loudly. He knew his mama and mother were out until this afternoon so he yelled for help from the only other person there today- APPA~! HELP~!

Octavias had been inside fixing his coffee and was about to come check on his son when he heard his yell from afar and put the mug back down on the counter and runs out the back door and tries to see where he is but sees a very very tall bush that has grown out and continues to grow out through some of the yard.

Octavias in a panic: Oh no! *He spots his son, who is crying and panicking trying to get free and a baby deer that is also panicking. He runs over and has to slow his breath to steady his magic to calm the growth from happening but it is rather difficult. His powers work more for growth than undoing it.* It’s okay Tori. Appa’s here!

He gets close to Tori and undoes his clothes from the thorned roots while looking at the baby deer and using his magic to keep the thorns from wrapping around it more. He looks at Tori and takes a deep breath.

Octavias: Son, I need you to help the baby deer out of the roots while I hold them off okay? Can you do that for me? I need you to be a big boy! *His eyes light up green as he puts his hands on the plants and whispers “Be still.” Now, go ahead and try to grab them but don’t yank too much, okay? Do you understand??

Octorias: -he sniffles and nods. He carefully grabs the roots and starts finally pulling them back, making just enough room for the fawn to wiggle free and drop down- I-I did it!..Appa he’s safe! -he hugs his father tightly, still a bit shook up from the roots overgrowing and lifting them up-

Octavias hugs him tightly as the fawn runs off into the woods before looking back at Octorias: Tori, I’m glad you’re safe! Did you make the bush grow that much?

Octorias: -he nods into his shoulder- I-I was trying to help…my friend was stuck!...I..I told it to grow but it didn’t stop!...

Octavias looks at the bush and nods in understanding and pets his son’s head: It’s okay. Wow though you made such a big bush! But…if something is wrong, don’t hesitate to get Mama or Tati or Appa. We are here to help you okay?

He stands up with Tori and walks back in the house: Let’s eat some breakfast alright? Actually I want to know, how did you know your friend was stuck? That overgrowth was all the way in the back of the yard and hard to see.

Octorias: I heard him call for help…So I help. He said him was stuck…so I tried to make it big like you…but plants don’t listen like animals…

Octavias puts him down on one of the seats in the kitchen while he makes them both some breakfast but pauses at the mention of Tori saying he heard the baby deer: What do you mean you said he was stuck? You heard him…speak to you?

Octorias: -he tilts his head curiously at Octavias- Yes…just like all the animals…don’t them all talk?

Octavias looks at Tori for a second before he smiles big: No, not to me. *He comes over to Tori, giving him his plate of cut up fruit and some toast in shapes with eggs and sits on a stool next to him: How long have you been able to hear them?

Octorias: -he digs into his breakfast and speaks with a mouth full of toast- All time!

Octavias smiles and whispers to Tori: Well, we got something interesting to tell your Mama and Tati when they get back from their meeting, don’t we? *He kisses the top of his head.* You really are a special kid and I’m proud to be your Appa. So let’s eat our breakfast and we can enjoy some Sere Dae cartoons because I heard from a little bird that those are some of the best. Heh.

Octorias: Yay~! -he happily scarfs down his breakfast, excited to spend the day with his Appa-

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By the afternoon Niya and Natasia come home from a long morning of meetings. After setting down their things Niya eagerly searches for her love and her son, finding them snuggled up on the couch with blankets and snacks watching cartoons together. Octorias sees his mothers and quickly climbs down from the couch and runs to them, embracing their legs tightly.

Octorias: Mama! Tati! Welcome back~!

Niya: -she smiles brightly and picks up her little one, hugging him tightly- Hello sprout~! We missed you~.

Octavias comes over and kisses her on the cheek affectionately: I missed you as well my darling. 

Natasia sits down on the couch after the exhausting long time of just having to explain multiple different systems and boring curriculums: How was your Morning, Octavias? Little Tori, I'm sure you had a wonderful morning with the deer.

Octorias: I had fun with Appa aaaaallll mornin! I got a little hurt though…I had to save my deer friend!

Niya: -she worriedly starts checking him over- Hurt? Hurt how? Vias what happened??

Octavias awkwardly rubs his head: Well…he was watching the deer and he…used his magic to make a bush grow more to save his friend but it grew too much…I tried to make it go back down but I just made it stop growing so there’s now a giant bush in the backyard…also…he can speak to animals…and they understand him.

Natasia almost spit out the water she got for herself but kept her composure and swallowed: Tori not only made a rather large bush but also can speak to animals? Can either of you do that? *She gets up and looks out into the backyard and does in fact see a very overgrown bush.* Gotta call the gardener. *She goes to the backdoor, Orb in hand to dial the gardener while Vias and Niya keep talking.*

Niya: -she shakes her head- I don’t have any animal specialties in my family…Do you Vias?

Octavias shakes his head: Not that I know of. None of my other children have it. Maybe it’s something he just picked up on his own.

Natasia comes back over after talking to the gardener, already hearing the rest of the conversation: Of course he has something even more extraordinary, he is our son. And I couldn’t be more proud! *She touches his cheek softly, just smiling at him.* 

Octavias smiles too: Yes I was telling him that earlier, but I also told him to get one of us next time, didn’t I Tori?

Octorias: Yes Appa.

Niya: -she nuzzles his little cheek- That’s my good boy. -she stands up on her toes and kisses Octavias on the cheek- Thank you for helping him my love.

Octavias blushes: Hehe uh no problem I was happy to help him. 

Natasia looks at the time: Sebes should be home soon from the arcade with his friends. We could have a family movie night since we are all home.

Octorias: -his whole face lights up- Yes yes yes! Movie night! Movie night!

Niya: -she chuckles- You heard our tiny boss~. 

Natasia chuckles: I’ll get the holo screen ready in the back once the gardener gets done with the yard. I cannot have the bush outgrown that much for the kids.

Octavias snorts a little: Yeah. For the kids.

Natasia shoots him a dirty look to tell him to shut the hell up but straightens her face: Of course, I love all my children including yours Vias.

Octavias looks in the other direction and disregards the comment: So yeah I gotta get these snacks because we are going to need lots of snacks. Wanna help me Tori? Heh…does Mama wanna help me too? *He smirks at Niya teasingly.*

Niya: Hehe of course we’d love to help Appa. Come on sprout, let's make some yummy snacks~.

Octorias: Okay!