Today Tapio and Mielikki became officially elderly. I can’t believe it’s already been two months! They made 11 nests together, managed not to make one clear-eyed teacup that I so hoped for and I’m sure they laughed about that a lot. They did make one clear-eyed girl in medium size that might be coaxed at a much later point. Not right now since I’m sort of overrun by the dryad babies.
With the elderly status the question of releasing into the wild comes up, of course. I also thought that since there’ll be big SL moving things happening for me soon, it’s better if I do it now so their poor old-roo mindscapes don’t have to stress about everything changing. I don’t even have tiny roo-canes for them to brandish at the youngsters!
After they had given the last instructions to the dryad babies and waved bye from over my shoulder, we travelled back to Beebo’s Wild Woods. We took our time to wander around, meet-and-greet the roos living there and learning the place better.
It seemed like the local roo-life was having a blast roaming free in the big woods! It was getting late, so we found the nearby campfire to rest for a moment.
At this point both of them began asking to be set down. Maybe they wanted to play with the other roos. Maybe they wanted to go home. Regardless, I realized that I should let them go soon, but it sure wasn’t easy.
The longer I waited, the more difficult it became. Evening turned into the night and yet we sat and watched the flames.
After a long, long time of postponing and delaying I finally got up and wandered to the area Beebo had set up for releasing.
There was a huge statue of… a bathing meeroo? I picked Tapio and Mielikki from their cherry tree traveling box to couple-cuddle them a bit more still.
Just a little longer…
Once I managed to set them down, Tapio immediately ran toward the forest all bright-eyed and curious. Mielikki, on the other hand, immediately bumbled my way like the mommy’s girl she is.
I released Tapio first. He had been coaxed first and has always been the brave one to try things out first, thus encouraging poor, shy Mielikki to dare and try them, too. I had a moment of can’t-do-this when Mielikki covered her eyes with her paws. Yegads, so difficult! But then she stood up all bravely and off she went, following Tapio.
I was left staring at the statue in long, long silence. Eventually I wandered home to tell the dryad babies that the Great Roodini had performed the greatest vanishing trick ever.
Runic Roos 
Dammit. I’m crying at work. Good thing I face a wall. ❤
Aww! *hugshugs* This is the thing that I love most about the little bumbly critters. They evoke emotions. Thank you for providing such a complete concept for what happens after — as far as I’m concerned, they’re living happily ever after in your woods!