None of the wolves reacted as their Primarch was slowly scooted back from the table. Not even he reacted.
The chair moved in short bursts, grunts sounding.
Garm stopped pushing her father and went around to grab the chair at the bottom. She pulled with all her might, barely gaining any ground.
She flopped to the ground and Leman moved the chair back the distance she'd gained with ease.
"Uuugh!" The toddler whined.
She then climbed up the chair on the armrest. She stepped onto Leman's thigh and then worked on weaseling their way behind him.
Once between him and the back of the chair, they began pushing and kicking.
"Garm," Leman said with a warning in his voice.
The kicking stopped as they thought for a moment.
Garm summoned all the might they had and shoved against their father.
The primarch grunted and whipped around, grabbing his child. He set her on the ground and sat back in his seat.
Garm growled, stamping their foot. They grabbed a corner of Leman's cape and began pulling and biting it.
She looked up to see if Leman was paying attention.
She flopped to the side upon realizing he wasn't. She kicked her legs against the chair.
Garm would receive the attention she so deserved and wanted. She climbed up the chair again then up to her dad. She tried to grab the braids in this beard to pull. He grabbed her and put her on the ground again.
How.
Dare.
He.
He was acting like he was paying attention to the meeting and not her?!
Garm snarled and attempted to climb again.
He pushed her back and uttered, "No."
They screamed in frustration, grabbing at his arm.
The primarch sighed, "Take them out."
Another wolf attempted to pick up Garm. They flopped to the ground, limp, refusing to be carried. She fought every second, snarling, and kicking.
The Primarch's patience wore thin.
He stood and snatched up his angry child, marching out.
Garm tried to grab the braids in his beard and on his head to pull herself up but Leman held her away.
She shrieked in indignation and kicked the air. She managed to bite a hand.
"Garm!" Leman snapped.
She smacked his arm and he set her on the ground, him on one knee.
"Look at me," he ordered.
His toddler tried to pull away, refusing to make eye contact and crinkling her nose in a sneer.
"Look at me, Garm," he said. "Now."
Begrudgingly she met his eyes.
"I don't want to be in the meeting either but it is necessary. You need to behave. I know you can."
Garm moved to grab his face, ignoring what was said.
"No," he said sternly. "You're staying out here."
Her bottom lip trembled as he stood, "No, no, Puppy."
Garm started crying and wailing, jumping up and down.
He was going to scold her, but he saw that there were actual tears.
Dad echoed in his mind with full force of emotions. Sadness and a simple need for him.
His tone turned soft, "Garm, Puppy, tell me what you are trying to accomplish? What's wrong?"
She reached for him again and he held open his arms.
She ran into his embrace, pulling on his braids to get close. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hid under his beard. She sniffled as he rubbed her back.
"You just need to ask if you need me," Leman sighed.
She whimpered.
He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple as he brought her back into the meeting.
Leman may be an arse but at least he's a good dad.
