"Doffson."

Was that too simple? Mienna would probably have something to say about it. But Doff really was his father, and it wouldn't be fair to take that connection away from him.

Speaking of Mienna, she would probably be wondering if you were okay. Climbing out of the lake with Doff still in your arms, you head toward where she had disappeared earlier.

"Mienna is your big sister, so she'll protect you; but you need to be sure to listen to what she says, okay?" you're telling Doff as you pass through the trees. Coming to a stop, you find a young girl sitting on the ground staring ahead vacantly. She looks remarkably similar to the small child you carried through the forest, just eight or so years older. She looks like a girl just beginning to become a woman.

She looks up as you approach. "Mama? And..."

You smile and raise the straw-haired little half-elf so she can see him better. "This is Doffson. Doffson, say hi to your big sister Mienna."

"H-hi," he says shyly, holding up a single, tiny hand in a small wave.

Just watching Mienna's face, you can see her heart melting. She jumps up and runs over, stretching up onto her tip-toes in an effort to be face-to-face with Doffson. "Hi Doffson! I'm Mienna! If you need anything, you can ask your big sister! You're just so cute!"

Doffson seems a little shocked, but he's not uncomfortable with the attention. You squat down and hand him over to his big sister. "I need you to watch him while I go grab the clothes for the two of you."

Mienna nods distractedly, all her attention on the toddler in her arms. He's doing much as she had done just yesterday: stretching his arms, flexing his fingers, discovering what it means to move a body. Well, with Mienna as his teacher, you have no doubt he will learn quickly.

Leaving the pair behind, you head back into the town and to the shop marked by a needle and thread. As you step inside, you hear a shout from the back. "Be there in a moment!"

"Okay!" you shout back. It isn't long before the woman comes out from the back. She has two sets of clothing in hand, one for a 'Child' and one for a 'Youth'. As soon as she sees you, she launches into an explanation. "The automatic sizing will deal with any smaller changes, including aging within a certain range. Looking at how young Mienna is, I can't imagine it will be soon, though. She can't be more than five years old!"

"Oh, but they just grow up so fast! It seems like just yesterday I was holding her as a newborn," you say with a sigh. Actually, that was yesterday.

The seamstress laughs. "I understand what you mean! I feel like before I knew it, my Roland was out on the fishing boats, helping bring in the daily catch." She hands both sets of garments over to you. "Well, here. I made 'em to match your dress, so you'll look like a family."

She did a splendid job. The garments aren't ostentatious or flashy, but she's sewn a few pattern into the blue fabric with gold thread. Just a bit of trim and a few flowers, but it's quite petty. You'll have to add some of these to yourself later. "Thank you so much, Miss..."

"Ah, where are my manners? Beatrice Woolf, local seamstress. And you, ma'am?"

You smile as you gather up the clothes in your arms. "Well...Just call me Mama."