MY MOTHER TOLD ME

Someday I will buy Galley with good oars Sail to distant shores Stand up on the prow Noble barque I steer Steady course to the haven Hew many foe-men. My mother told me Someday I will buy Galley with good oars Sail to distant shores Stand up on the prow Noble barque I steer -------------

"I have brothers- already had plenty of mischief in my life growing up with them." She took one last sniff of her plant sprig before settling it on the ground near the remains of its roots and stem.

Claimed. Their conversation shifted to his family, to her pride and evidently one of the men in her family she waged. Siofra did not look surprised, shocked, or worried over his mention. With a heartbreaking neutral expression over her face she glanced away while speaking. "I'm unaware of my father keeping prisoners or restricting members to the pridelands so I'm unsure why you'd be missing her." Heartless was not quite the tone she struck but Siofra was not sensitive to his plight either. For now intrigued and curious just what was keeping his family apart when to her knowledge, although her father was following his ways and teachings, there was no literal chains enforced on anyone in the Hollow. Her peachy eyes deadened a little, and she leaned a little away from Sunny to make sure she could properly see his face. "Have you thought of joining us?"

@Sunflower

He smiled at the comment about her siblings. Yeah, his brother was a little pain. So she suggested she wasn’t the mischief, they were, he couldn’t quite understand that. He liked to cause little mayhems. Pranks, whatever you’d call it.

At her words and neutral expression he frowned. He did feel a bit embarrassed. It wasn’t her- but then... it was her father. But Sunny knew she may not have much pull, depending on how his father felt about women. Although, where he was from, women had equal pull. Especially if they were your elder. But she mentioned his matriarch wasn’t actually a prisoner. She wasn’t? “I-I don’t know why she wouldn’t come visit us.” He said, a bit of doubt crawling into his voice. Why wouldn’t she visit them if she wasn’t imprisoned? If she could get away... even just every few days... why didn’t she? A bit of anger caused his fur to heat up. How could she abandon he and Daisy to take care of everyone?

She looked at him, eyebrows a bit furrowed, “I’d have to talk it over with my siblings and cousins. I wouldn’t want to put them somewhere they didn’t want.” A bit of disapproval for her father’s practice evident. But it wasn’t her fault... he needed to stop before she got the wrong idea. He deflated, ears flicking back, “I’m sorry... I know you probably can’t do anything, it was rude of me to mention it to you in the first place.” He dipped his head in apology to her. How foolish. He was acting like her junior, not the other way around. This was why Jörd had decided Poppy would be the first born, he supposed. Sunny didn’t have the patience to lead. Patience to negotiate... maybe.

@Siofra

Here comes the Sun

And I’ll say, It’s alright...

code by corvus

MY MOTHER TOLD ME

Someday I will buy Galley with good oars Sail to distant shores Stand up on the prow Noble barque I steer Steady course to the haven Hew many foe-men. My mother told me Someday I will buy Galley with good oars Sail to distant shores Stand up on the prow Noble barque I steer -------------

The doubt in his voice struck her heart with more strength than she expected a stranger's plight to ever be able to and Siofra silently cursed Sunny for managing to make her feel. "... is she possibly trying to settle in still?" Siofra could only consider what she'd do in the situation. There'd be no fits thrown nor resistance- she'd do as she did all her life and try to make the best with what she had, never saying otherwise. She could imagine what she'd do split from her family; try to keep her head down but be seen just enough around no one would question her or what she was doing. Maybe this was not his Matriarch at all but it was all Siofra could do to try and rip the feelings from her heart.

And she had very little success in doing so. Her features weakened and turned soft- Sunny's words were kind. Her father had taken his matriarch somehow someway and here he was apologizing to her, trying to soothe her feelings. Siofra frowned. "... no don't. Sunny, Obsidian Hollow is a cave. I don't think it's a place for flowers and creatures who need the sun." And probably no place for his Matriarch either. "If I see her, hear of her, I'll inquire more. Try to get her to come to this Grotto if I can." It was the least she could do, and probably the most she'd ever try. If she was right and the woman was no prisoner it would be no problem for the pair of ladies to go out looking for herbs. If she found out more, well at least she could give Sunflower peace of mind.

@Sunflower

Siofra filled his ears with a bit of nonsense, then. “I’m not sure... but... it’s just hard... she’s lead us and taken care of all of us the past year or so... since she came of age.” He explained. Shrugging slightly. He truly couldn’t wrap his head around her trying to ‘settle in’ somewhere she likely didn’t enjoy. By the young lady’s description, it was not a place he or his family would want to be. It was true that they needed the sun. Needed it as much as food and drink, as far as he was concerned. Sól was important to them. The fact this girl’s father has taken that away from Poppy... it was just cruel. But Siofra was trying, and that helped soothe his anxious thoughts, to some degree.

At her next words, he dipped his head in thanks, “thank you, Siofra, her name is Poppy, she’s bright red... she has a crown filled with poppies.” That was a good enough description, he figured. He’d not seen any in these lands who had flower crowns like they did. So it was a safe bet anyone she saw in her pride with one was his cousin. He’d have to have himself or one of his siblings check back in to the Grotto everyday, just to be certain. The journey wasn’t an easy one, since they’d taken stock at the beaches... but it was worth it. For Poppy. They needed to be back together again, a full unit.

@Siofra

Here comes the Sun

And I’ll say, It’s alright...

code by corvus

MY MOTHER TOLD ME

Someday I will buy Galley with good oars Sail to distant shores Stand up on the prow Noble barque I steer Steady course to the haven Hew many foe-men. My mother told me Someday I will buy Galley with good oars Sail to distant shores Stand up on the prow Noble barque I steer -------------

She was not perhaps the most skilled of leaders then for her flock to be so lost without her? Or was she just so beloved? Siofra's gut twisted and she was now entirely looking away from Sunny and off to her other side, scanning the smattering of plants she'd tested and tried out here in the Grotto. How pleasant that had been, how sweet his song... damn it.

Siofra lifted herself to her feet and lightly shook the weight of conversation and dust from her clay pelt. She reached across with a hesitancy towards Sunflower seeming like she was going to offer some kind of comforting nudge but was caught up, stuck in the middle and frozen mid air with a blank look across her face while she pondered this weird situation she'd found herself in. What would happen if she found out her father had more going on down in his cave than she knew? Hanging in the space between them her nose crinkled and she quickly pulled away from him- her strides quickly turning her back to him as she walked a few paces away. "Give me a few days Sunny." Poke her nose around, and give thought to whatever she uncovered.
@Sunflower

The other shifted, standing, and Sunny did the same after a few moments, keeping himself a few steps from her respectfully. The other seemed to reach out to him, and he looked at her inquisitively. The other seemed to think best of it, and walked away. Sunny let a breath out he didn’t know he was holding. Watching her as she went. Asking for a few days to get everything together, he nodded. “And Siofra? Thank you.” He offered, dipping his head in respect. He stood there for a long while, decided he wanted to stay here for a while longer. It was for the best, really. He’d have to share the news with his family when he got back to the beaches.

@Siofra

-exit via Sio leaving and Sunny staying?-

Here comes the Sun

And I’ll say, It’s alright...

code by corvus

"I haven't done anything yet-" Thanks... Maybe if it was someone else Siofra could have imagined the appreciation to be sarcastic, bitter even. She hardly knew Sunny but had an idea he and bitter did not often meet together. He was sickeningly good and sweet in ways she both hated and wanted to protect at all costs. Her words ended with a sigh, a little lithe smile drifting over her face directed at him and then she took her leave.
/exit