Flowers. Sweet perfume, dazzling and dazed her mind. Unlike the leaves, the dirt and the earth the flowers seemed to scream. Here I am. The field was not yet even in a full bloom and it was still an astonishing site. Clay Siofra had gone out in search of some minty smelling herbs, a bundle of which she clung tightly to with her jaws, and along the way through the fields she'd found this boon of foliage. Her nares flared wide and then deeply she inhaled the floral scents around her, the fresh air and blue sky. It could have been a picture from a storybook for how perfect it was. She began to walk a lackadaisical path around the outskirts of the thickest bunches of flowers, scared to step on them and shatter what seemed to be their world.

@Sunflower

It was easy for him to weave his way through flowers and fields. He was an expert, since that was where he had lived as a child. He was upset that there weren’t a pride out here, honestly. Then he and his family could live here... instead of a desert. That still made him laugh. As he moved through the flowers, he noticed a familiar figure ahead of him. His butt wiggled as he thought about pouncing on her mischievously. That he did, running at her full speed and attempting to wrestle her to the ground. An incredibly stupid thing to do, he realized, about mid-jump.

@Siofra

Here comes the Sun

And I’ll say, It’s alright...

code by corvus

Before impact she heard the rustle of paws, the whoosh of air a tell tale sign she had less than a second before impact... @Sunflower collided with Siofra's midsection and she tumbled down to her side and then was rolled up onto her back. Her belly and the yellow stripe that ran down it laid bare to the sky. Somewhere in it all she let go of the leaves in her mouth- they went flying one way, and she was reaching outwards to smack whatever it was that had plowed into her when flashes of his face, his warm and cheery smell were recognized and instead she spoke. Sunny! She emoted a mixture of urg and joy to see him. She supposed it wasn't so surprising- all these flowers here. He had to get them for his crown somewhere right? She pulled her punch so that instead of a defensive full on slap she reached outwards to lightly push on his shoulder; relaxing down on her back on the bare ground with crushes grass and flowers all around her. You petals for brains you scared me. Despite the protest in her words her tones seemed more happy than anything else.

Not only had she lost her leaves, but his flower crown had ejected off his head due to their impact. But well- it was worth it! He had her pinned for a few moments before rolling off her with her push to his shoulder, laying on his back and grinning at her. Petals for brains. That was a good one, he’d need to remember that next time Daisy annoyed him. Siofra did seem in a better mood, though. He laughed heartily.

“I thought it would be fun, you’re only young for so long!” He said to her cheerfully, breathing in her scent. Still of herbs, it seemed. But she was always collecting the things. “You know, it’s only normal for a sunflower to be found in a field of all this, you should have suspected.” He teased her lightly.

@Siofra

Here comes the Sun

And I’ll say, It’s alright...

code by corvus

Two could tease. And with some of her mental burden lessened the last few days Siofra felt light enough to engage. From her spot on her back she rolled so she faced away from @Sunflower, her back now to him and she rested on her side. One of her paws lightly tapped a tiny flower near her. Her clay head turned a little, peach eyes glancing back to make sure he was paying attention to her. The rest of the flowers here are very nice and would not do such a thing to me right? She mimicked his teasing voice, leaning inwards to speak more to the little flower there, somehow who had escaped being crushed by both of their falling bodies. She wickedly smiled and blew a little kiss to her tiny fragile flower. It says it would definitely not.

She turned away so he turned his body just slightly towards her, listening as he spoke, with a cheeky grin. “Every rose has it’s thorn.” He said in a sing song voice. She blew it a kiss and he brought a paw to his chest, “none for Sunflower? How rude!” He made little ‘hmph’ noise. “You should ask before you kiss, I’ve learned it earns you a snarl and maybe a smack.” Recalling their last meeting when she’d almost smacked him when he’d given her a happy kiss. Whoops! Sue him! Pretty girl who’d given him good news? Well he was a sucker for affection, too. “How’s your mom?” He asked calmly, curious how that ‘Pistis’ had done after giving birth. Surely she had by now?

@Siofra

Here comes the Sun

And I’ll say, It’s alright...

code by corvus

She lightly pressed her lips together and hummed- slowly weaving her paw away from the flower as if pulled away by Sunflower's point that you shouldn't kiss without permission. The smack had felt good she could not deny. Felt as good as later on when she'd allowed the affection. Good boy. There's hope for you yet. Siofra felt that earned him something- she rolled back over 180 degrees so she was facing him now. Her limbs curled up against her chest tightly and she set her chin down across them. From her cozy spot she calmly settled her peach eyes over @Sunflower's face. Busy with three little ones. Siofra couldn't withhold a smile from her lips, both earned by the presence of the children themselves and the lack of worrying about the birth any more. Just had to keep them alive and kicking now... and there was plenty of concerned eyes hovering around to make sure nothing happened to them. Siofra felt relief... maybe not 'big sister' material yet but there was a lot of complication still to be felt out on her end.

Good boy.

That comment took him back a bit. An exasperated chuckle left his lips. Who was the older one again? But she turned so that they faced each other more and he grinned. It grew and his eyebrows shot up at the mention of three! “Congrats, how’s it feel to be an older sister?” He asked with a smile. He already knew what it was like. His two younger siblings were a pain in his tail. But they could be sweet when they wanted. He supposed they got their mischievous ways from him.

“It is good to see you happy.” He smiled softly at her, tear tracks folding as his eyes crinkled at her. Sunny was relieved she was feeling better. Through it would never be easy to be without a parent, of course. His head tilted just slightly, “as for me? My cousin Poppy roped me into a pride. Andal Oasis. I sort of hate it, though, way too much sun, not enough soil.” He huffed. “But it’s the best way to keep her safe.”

@Siofra

Here comes the Sun

And I’ll say, It’s alright...

code by corvus

It's not what I expected. She thought to the tiny little creatures, the first time she'd seen them nestled up against Pistis. In particular she thought of the clay colored child, the one who most resembled Gwyn and Siofra both. I did not expect to love them so quickly, without question. She left a little unsaid- knowing the situation was not ideal. Not at all what they'd hoped when Gwyn had first introduced Pistis. Within all that tribulation there had been a bit of wonder within Siofra if they'd truly feel like family.

Happy. Was she? Maybe not entirely. A bit most certainly. She had her moments of sunshine and her moments of displeasure. She still had grief, and she had her wonders about the future. Sunny continues, describing a world as unbefitting a flower as the caves themselves had been. An unfortunate development but at least his family was together somewhere. She felt a connection, she felt his feelings in a strong way down in her gut. I'm not happy in the Lagoon either. She confessed and echoed his sentiment about the Oasis, in his usual and frustrating way @Sunflower's nature let Siofra drop away her guard. Let her face her baggage head on and speak freely on it. Pistis is good friends with the King though, it's where she wants to be. Its where my siblings now are. So its where I need to be. With the binding of duty came a weight to her voice. Hopefully something Sunny would understand without Sio needing to explain it- as he did for Poppy Siofra was doing for Pistis. Ensuring safety, holding tight to the threads she was bound to. Sometimes that relief and lack of worry was better than being truly happy.