Aquaria was tired. Then again, she was always tired these days. It took all of her energy to keep up with her daily tasks, twin foals in tow. There was no alternative though, not in her mind. Nor anymore. Her heart beat on in double time whenever they left her sight, and she was forever on the lookout for signs of watching eyes in the shining waves. At six moons old, the twins were growing restless with their mother's nervous hold on them.
Even now, as she watched them kick at the sand and shells in their cove, she could tell that they longed for wider ranges. Their elder brothers had begun their adult wandering. Both Halcyon and Cormorant had taken to leaving the island regularly, which made her hold the youngsters all the closer.
With thoughts on the tasks waiting for her that day, the seamare snorted in surprise when a striped figure emerged from the deep green jungle. "Halcyon!" She whickered, trotting up to her pantherine son. A curious smile softened her mouth at his request. It wasn't often that her eldest tried to surprise her, but the joyful gleam in his eyes was infectious. Whatever the surprise was, it had brightened her tiger's spirit in a way she knew could only be good.
Chuckling softly, the pearly seamare nodded to the bored twins. "Come on, you two. Big brother has a surprise." Her translucent tail swayed in the breeze as the twins bolted ahead, she and Hal taking a more relaxed pace. He was guiding her up a familiar path, the well trod trail that would open out on to the main beach. Certainly not where she was thinking they'd be going.
She cast a wondering look to the young tiger prowling alongside her, blinking languidly. "What are you up to, my love?" The trees were breaking over their heads now, the loamy soil becoming sand once again. On the beach, Marianas and Kaimana ran for all they were worth, stretching their legs like they were born to do. Wistfully, she smiled at their antics.
Warbird had come, and seen the children safe. Then without much more ado, he'd gone again. It was better that way, she told herself. She'd already raised two children herself, and they'd turned out to be sons any mother would be proud of. These two would be the same, she would make sure of it. Fathers be damned. She kept saying it, over and over.
@[Halcyon] @[Pteron] @[aegean]