Socnoc, Day 3

Today's Wordcount: 3,956
Total Wordcount: 11,326 (includes the part written before SocNoc - 4143 words)
Percentage: 14.5

A MUCH better day today. I think having a day off work really helped. I also think I 'm starting to get a grasp on the characters. Aurelia in particular. When I first conceptualised this novel, I had Karazana (then Katta) in the staring role - Aurelia was just going to be the baby that needed protecting. But not anymore. Aurelia is now a character in her own right, and may well force Karazana into the background.

Today involved going back and fleshing out an earlier part somewhat - establishing WHY Aurelia may feel like she did not belong in the maki tribe. It also introduced her to some of her own kin - albeit distant cousins, and revealed to her a little about her past. Also involved the creation of two new characters - the kind-hearted and charming Matthieu and his somewhat snobbish sister, Celeste. I am not sure how major a role they will have, except to teach Aurelia a little of what it means to be a sifaka, but I think Matthieu may become her companion for a time. After the truth gets out about why Aurelia is special.

For those of you who have no idea what I'm on about - which is likely everyone - Aurelia is a sifaka lemur being raised by ringtail lemurs. If you know the differences, both anatomically and behaviourally between the two species you will realise why Aurelia is having a bit of an identity crisis.

Here are a few of the differences:
~ ringtails live in large troops, sifaka in small family groups
~ ringtails spend much of their time on the ground, sifaka are almost purely arboreal
~ ringtails walk four-footed, like a cat - sifaka cannot walk on all fours and must move in leaps and bounds

Also, ringtails are rabble and sifaka are sophisticated snobs ^^ Which is why the sifaka all have pretentious french names, unless they're royalty/traditionalists.

Extract:

Aurelia heard laughter and looked up to see two round faces peering down at her.
“Determined little thing, is she not?” Said one, a male. “So she followed you home, then?”

“Oh yes,” Celeste remarked. “Can I keep her?”

“I very much doubt that mother would approve of you taking in little vagrants. After all, we do not know where she has been, do we just?”

“But she is so cute and fuzzy and white,” Celeste insisted. “I shall take ever so good care of her. I promise.”