How Green Becomes Wood

Alec forcibly steadying her did a lot to calm her, but she still grinned excitedly at the cat in her arms. Since both of her hands were occupied, she pressed her face against Kiki's fur, making happy noises as she did so.
 
Kiki relaxed when Ivy calmed, and after a bit, she started to purr. The small human wasn't so bad when she wasn't squealing or jerking around.

"Good job, Ivy!" Alec praised. "You're doing very well."
 
Ivy proudly started trotting Kiki over to her rocking horse with the goal to set her on it. After all, she loved riding on the rocking horse, surely the cat would too!

"Ivy-Qadira," Dark said cautiously, "Where are you taking her?"
 
Kiki immediately stopped purring when Ivy started moving with her. What was happening? Why were they moving? Why hadn't she been put down yet? She wiggled harder, but her claws remained sheathed, and her paws were soft.

"I think Kiki is done now, Ivy," Alec said, following her. He wasn't sure if he should rescue his cat or not.
 
Dark couldn't help but chuckle in amusement at his daughter attempting to command Kiki to stop. In his estimation, they spent the perfect amount of time together.

Ivy let go of Kiki with one hand to point at her rocking horse, not coming anywhere near to knowing the word for it.
 
Kiki squeaked and wiggled as Ivy's one-handed hold pinched and felt very uncomfortable. Alec quickly dropped to one knee and gently caught Kiki. "Okay. We can put her on the horse, but I'll need to help you," Alec told Ivy gently but firmly. He let Ivy keep a hand on her but carried the disgruntled cat himself to the horse. "Right here?"
 
"Alright, Kiki. Do you want to sit here?" Alec asked, setting her gently on the saddle.

Kiki looked utter bewildered. She took a moment to lick her fur straight and moved to hop down. She paused when Alec put his hand up, but when she tried again, he let her go.

"Kiki doesn't want to play on the horse right now, but maybe later," Alsc told Ivy. "It was very nice of you to share."
 
Ivy squealed in delight once Kiki was set on the saddle, but when she hopped down, it was like all of her hopes and dreams were ripped asunder. All she wanted was to see the kitty-cat ride the horse, but Kiki didn't want to. Staring at this in shock and horror, Ivy dropped to the ground and began to cry.
 
"I'm sorry, Ivy," Alec said, sitting next to her. "But Kiki doesn't want to. Maybe she'll ride the horse later, okay?" He offered her a hug.

Kiki stood off to the side, watching in confusion.
 
Ivy turned her body away from the hug, very intentionally preventing it. With a sigh, Dark pushed one hand back through his hair, and came over to sit near her, but did not immediately try to touch her. When Ivy saw her father, she again turned her body so her back was towards both of them.
 
Alec bit his lip, physically fighting the urge to laugh. This was very serious for Ivy. He couldn't laugh at that. "Okay," he told her. "If you want a hug, you can come find me later, alright? Or hug Baba." He stood and made his way to the couch to sit with Xander, who was watching all of this with a neutral expression.
 
Hearing the caterwauling, Daizi came into the room, "Ivy-Qadira, what's the matter habibti? You sound upset!"

Again, Ivy turned, and Dark explained, "She tried to get Kiki to ride her rocking horse, and Kiki did not sit on it."

Daizi pressed her lips together to fight back a smile, "That is very upsetting for her."
 
Alec nodded soberly. "Maybe later when Kiki is calm, she'll sit on it. By then, though, Ivy might have forgotten all about it. Right now, she is refusing comfort from all sides. I guess it's time to let out the frustrations."
 
"Hmmm." Daizi sighed, turning her head to the side before stepping around them as Ivy continued to scream her face red. Going into the basket next to her favourite spot on the couch, she lifted up a light throw blanket and handed it to Alec, "Toss that over her."
 
"Really?" Alec said in surprise. "Okay." He got up and threw the blanket up in the air, letting it slowly settle over Ivy. He stepped back and glanced between his parents. "Toddler tent achieved."
 
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