Taking the hand of Cain who tramped alongside him, Diagoras cast a glance at his mate who had Abel in tow. In the Forbidden Forest's cool Summer, the newly mated pair were bringing the herd's first offspring of the mating season in to meet the other centaurs. Few were to have gathered since the majority were out gathering for the Autumn feasts, but the ones who remained would be glad to welcome the latecomers. Most of the mated centaurs had foaled earlier in the Spring where as he and Dover had come together much later. Granted, they had barely made their vows and rituals before joining the others in the mating season, and the two delightful foals clinging to their parent's manes were the result. The frisky pair were a constant joy to Diagoras, who hadn't seen such blessings in his life since Vico had made him a forest guardian at his coming of age. Many of the herd's protectors took no mates and left the continuation of their generations to other, 'less motivated' centaurs. The old centaur felt like a fish out of water when caring for his sons. They were so curious and lively, never ceasing their endless questions about the forest, their food, weaving, carving, weapon making and everything centaur life had to offer. "Da, Da, Da!" cried Abel, releasing Dover's hand and almost tripping over his own hooves in order to bring Diagoras a 'new herb' just at that moment. "I found marjoram!". Curious Cain peered around his father's flanks to look at what Abel had found. "Very close," replied Diagoras in his deep, gentle voice. "Oregano."
Abel frowned at his find and tried to picture the difference between the two plants, and found he could not. Cultivated and wild oregano were often so dissimilar that they were mistaken for different plants. Forgetting his mistake, Abel brightened again. "What does this one do?" he insisted more than asked. Diagoras explained to the increasingly disappointed foal that although it was sometimes burnt ritually during meditation, it mostly tasted good with hare. He ruffled his son's curly brown-gold locks and watched as he cantered back to his mother with a sprig of holly. Diagoras continued his walk with Cain, only wondering at what the other centaurs might say to the most unlikely couple and their offspring.
Abel frowned at his find and tried to picture the difference between the two plants, and found he could not. Cultivated and wild oregano were often so dissimilar that they were mistaken for different plants. Forgetting his mistake, Abel brightened again. "What does this one do?" he insisted more than asked. Diagoras explained to the increasingly disappointed foal that although it was sometimes burnt ritually during meditation, it mostly tasted good with hare. He ruffled his son's curly brown-gold locks and watched as he cantered back to his mother with a sprig of holly. Diagoras continued his walk with Cain, only wondering at what the other centaurs might say to the most unlikely couple and their offspring.