HALCYON
Halcyon’s attention span is neither long nor capable of being functionally divided. So while he’s aware that the big white thing – Mama – is still making noises at him, he is much more focused on finding something to fill his belly. Instinct tells him he’s doing everything correctly, yet despite his tugging and suckling, he remains as empty as before. Already a little stubborn, Halcyon doesn’t give up easily, but it would take several more days of trying for anything to come from his efforts. Of course, something has kept him alive despite being washed out to sea a few minutes after birth, so perhaps that same something will continue to show the striped cub benevolence and speed up the natural process.
For now though, his efforts are in vain, and he grumbles with disappointment. The sound soon changes to a purr as Aquaria resumes her cleaning of him, and he presses his forehead against her ribcage and closes his eyes. This feels much better than anything he has felt before. The vibrations of his pleasure continue as he turns, keeping his head pressed against the mare’s side. She’s still talking, and he repeats a few of her words, looking up with still slightly blurred vision.
“Stay, Mama.” He nuzzles his blocky head against her chest and sighs.
Somewhere on the mainland, his mother is presenting his father with Halcyon’s twin. They are a world away, a nuclear family that is complete even without Halcyon: father, mother, child. Yet Halcyon is as content as his sister is – perhaps more so, for this Mama he has found is a kinder creature than the one who’d borne them.
A crab skitters across the beach, and Halcyon reacts without thinking. He pounces, misses, and rolls over his own clumsy body. The crab has found its burrow by the time he rights himself, but a little ways down the beach he sees another. With an excited snort, he runs toward it – misses – and runs toward a third. He realizes that he is getting uncomfortably far from Mama though, and pauses to beckon her with a whicker that is more equine than most of his softly muttered noises.
“Mama!” he calls, his confidence in speaking growing. “Mama, come!”
For now though, his efforts are in vain, and he grumbles with disappointment. The sound soon changes to a purr as Aquaria resumes her cleaning of him, and he presses his forehead against her ribcage and closes his eyes. This feels much better than anything he has felt before. The vibrations of his pleasure continue as he turns, keeping his head pressed against the mare’s side. She’s still talking, and he repeats a few of her words, looking up with still slightly blurred vision.
“Stay, Mama.” He nuzzles his blocky head against her chest and sighs.
Somewhere on the mainland, his mother is presenting his father with Halcyon’s twin. They are a world away, a nuclear family that is complete even without Halcyon: father, mother, child. Yet Halcyon is as content as his sister is – perhaps more so, for this Mama he has found is a kinder creature than the one who’d borne them.
A crab skitters across the beach, and Halcyon reacts without thinking. He pounces, misses, and rolls over his own clumsy body. The crab has found its burrow by the time he rights himself, but a little ways down the beach he sees another. With an excited snort, he runs toward it – misses – and runs toward a third. He realizes that he is getting uncomfortably far from Mama though, and pauses to beckon her with a whicker that is more equine than most of his softly muttered noises.
“Mama!” he calls, his confidence in speaking growing. “Mama, come!”
shut off your mind and let your heart breathe
@[Aquaria]