The sun shining through the palm trees dappled the sand with swaying shadows that danced as the breeze gently rustled the fronds. Lizards darted to and fro amongst the scales of the towering trunks while colorful birds darted about, twittering and crooning their avian melodies. In the distance, the rhythmic drumming of the waves against the sand was ever-constant. In fact, the young child had never been without the sound. To him, its absence would be strange indeed, for the little prince had not yet left the safety of Scilla Lagoon to venture into the outside world of Amaryllis proper. He was much too young.

Today the lad sat in the shade watching the world go by with luminous blue eyes as he was want to do. He did not stray far from the entrance on his natal den, just far enough to find a sun-warmed patch of sand to recline upon. He loved the feeling of the sand in his brown fur, the way it slid between his toes and shifted beneath his weight. He even liked how it stuck to him when he got wet. But today his attention was drawn to the heavens, for a strange shriek had caught his ear. The peaceful symphony of breeze and bird and surf was interrupted when a Kite appeared, soaring in like a streak of feathered lightening and descending upon a small flock of large unsuspecting parrots. The flock scattered but a couple were not fast enough. The raptor hit one bird awry, sending a flurry of feathers into the air but missing. It immediately turned in pursuit of another. Meanwhile, the first bird plummeted from the sky...

...It landed right at Orson's feet. The cub rose, startled, staring down at the injured and dying bird, its feathers a colorful mass of yellows and greens but also stained a deep crimson that should not have been there. One paw was lifted, unsure, as Orson stared. What now?

Teaching her child about death hadn't exactly been on her to-do list today. Yet when she happened upon her small cub, it became clear that it was a lesson he would have to learn. Very early. Alizabeth had noticed the boy waddling about, adventuring and getting to know his home. The ivory King found nothing wrong with it as long as he stayed within the bounds of home. A low coo escapes her throat, moving up behind the boy as she tugs him in against the soft, fluffy comfort of her belly. A paw extends, very quickly and effortlessly stepping on the birds throat to swiftly break it's neck - ceasing it's suffering and it's painful flailing. Brows furrow softly as her paw returns to her side, tongue delves out to lick the top of her son's head. "Lil' one. Do ya know what just happened?" Would he even be able to grasp the concept yet? @Orson felt so tiny still against her form, there was a protective urge to hide death away from him - and the rest of her children, but Alizabeth knew it would be impossible. It was apart of life.

Whoever ran into the King also ran into her little fluffy ball of a son, mean mugging them from between her paws.
Today was no different. The small prince tottling after his mother with quite the 'get back stare'. When @Alizabeth cooed, Lyle looked up, fully expecting it was for him. Even letting out a happy chirp in response. Yet when he realized her attention was elsewhere the boy bristled, immediately barreling through her legs without a second thought. Ready to confront whoever dared steal away her affection for him!

His, too big, ears lay as flat as they could go, eyes narrowed and front limbs splayed wide as he saddled toward his brother like a gunslinger ready for a duel. What you do!? Lyle demanded, looking at the bird then back up to @Orson.

Art by Rabbit, Code by Minxy

The sight of the colorful bird laying bloodied at his paw disturbed Orson, but he could not understand why. His young mind had not the words nor the experience to comprehend the scene that lay before him. Still, tendrils of distress crept forth, tingling icily in his veins. Orson continued to stare when a shadow fell over him, followed by the familiar coo of his mother. He gave no resistance when she pulled him close to her, finally closing his eyes and shutting out the grim scene, breathing a small sigh of relief. He didn't even see the King's quick skillful movement that dispatched the unfortunate feathered creature, putting it out of his misery. "Mama..." He whispered, a little purr escaping his lips.

He gazed up at the pale King at her question but before he could answer her there was the sudden but all-too-common interruption of his brother, @Lyle. Orson stubbornly held his ground as the big-eared child barged through @Alizabeth's front legs, a shoulder bumping Lyle as a result. He was a quiet child, indeed, but not a pushover. Orson's deep blue eyes narrowed right back at Lyle's accusation. "Din't do nothin," he murmured, his little tail giving a twitch of annoyance as he contemplated his brother's wide stance and challenging posture, wondering if he should tackle his brother and beat him up a bit. He restrained himself for now, and turned to look up at his mother. "Mama, da birb fell outta sky and red watah came out"

Alizabeth was well aware that @Lyle had come following behind them. There was only so much stealth s two months old could manage. It was important, however, that she give him the illusion. She jumps a bit as he's revealed, grinning with a soft glee as the two boys bickered gently, her heart swelling at the beauty of her children. The King didn't try to stop them from their argument. They'd have to learn to handle each other. Momma couldn't be there to fix everything all the time. Lowering onto her stomach for them, she begins tugging them both in against her fluffy chest, offering @Orson a gentle kiss atop his crown before following suit on his brother. "Listen up, lil' ones. The bird got hurt and fell. Hurt real bad, Momma had to help it move on so it didn't feel pain anymore." Alizabeth studies both for a long period, allowing them to process that information if they could - and what they would do with it.

Little eyes narrow on his brother as he retorts back about having not done anything. Well he did SOMETHING, that much was clear. Birds didn't fall from the sky! That was just simply ridiculous! Birds when INTO the sky.. Didn't @Orson know anything about anything??

Lyle's fur bristled, lip twitching as he prepared to pounce. Orson may have forgone an attack, but his paler brother was not so well contained when it came to his emotions. But it seemed this battle would have to come a different day. @Alizabeth lowered down to their level and scooped both boys up in her large paws. Lyle still continued to growl for a bit, grumbling to himself under his breath as their mother explained what happened. It went to The Other Place, like Minxy! The young boy snapped. As if to say to Orson, 'Duh!' This was indeed their first encounter with such a gruesome scene, but not the first time the cubs had to be sat down for a discussion like this. Yet the gravity of such situations was still lost to Lyle. Evident in the insensitive words he spoke about their recently lost sibling.

Art by Rabbit, Code by Minxy

Colsun was late to the party, but to be quite honest, he hadn't even wanted to attend. Life was far kinder nestled in the back of the den, safely tucked away from the glaring sun and summer heat. Alas, his siblings were not playing ball when it came to respecting his desire for silence and his nap was ruined by all the commotion. He grumpily shoved to his paws and ambled towards the hubbub, scenting the air curiously when the smell of blood stung his nostrils. Colsun wordlessly settled by his mother, listening to the explanation and Lyle's quick declaration about their sibling. Hm. Minxy had been like the bird? Interesting.

Orson eyed Lyle, hearing his growl and sensing his bristling. Though he was generally a rather mild-tempered cub, the larger Orson would not back down from a tussle with his brother nor would he allow his guard to come down, even at such a tender age. But before a scuffle could break out, @Alizabeth took both cubs into her arms and explained what had happened to the bird.

It was all still very confusing for such a young mind, but Orson hung onto Alizabeth's words, trying to understand. But it wasn't until Lyle made his remark that the chips fell more into place for Orson. "The Other Place..." Orson whispered in awe. Though they'd been so young, the boys did remember their sister and had felt her loss. A sudden sinking feeling hit Orson and he looked up at Alizabeth with concern in his blue eyes. "Mama did Minxy hurt real bad? Did Mama help Minxy move on like the birb?"

Orson briefly glanced at Colsun, frowning, and wondering why both of his brothers seemed so grumpy today.

@Colsun ♔ arrived and she smiled at her grumpy little son. It warmed her heart to see their personalities developing, each child coming into their own. A gentle coo escapes her lips toward him, her heart squeezing tightly. She wondered idly if Ezryn had decided to stay asleep, piled up with her fathers. The words that fell from Lyle's lips, however, startled her from that thought. Brows furrow a bit, but she repressed any discomfort about the statement. The memory of her tiny child was still fresh, her death a gaping wound that was only being stitched together by the company of her other children. Still, it hurt to think about - but it wasn't something she needed to focus on right now. Right now she needed to help her children through this process. Understand it and accept that it was apart of life. The Other Place. An innocent way of putting it, but one better than she had. Attention settled on @Lyle first, a nod of her head given. "Yea, baby, The Other Place, like Minxy." Lowering onto her belly, she manages to tug Colsun into the pile, giving him a quick lick before continuing. @Orson spoke next, causing the pain in her chest to blossom into a full blown ache. Brows furrow, unable to hide the sadness for a split second as she contemplated how to answer his curious questions. Tail flicks behind her, magenta eyes casting upon each of her son's with brilliant adoration and love. "Mama made sure Minxy didn't hurt. She went to The Other Place surrounded by her family, and Mama made sure to give her many, many kisses." She murmurs, not having her usual voracious attitude and colorful tongue. "Minxy got some medicine that helped her get to The Other Place. She's gunna be waiting there for us, cause one day everyone goes there. Hopefully not for a long time though, yea?" She muses, smiling before nudging each of her boys playfully with her nose.

Lyle was on the verge of snuggling closer into his mother. That is until he saw @Colsun ♔ slither in. He poked his head around the King's shoulder to get a better look, eyes moving up and down in classic judgemental fashion. What was his big brother so grouchy about?.. like Lyle had any room to talk..
He listened to @Alizabeth idly. Not me! The young Prince declared boldly. I want to stay here forever. I like it here. I dont want to go anywhere else. As if he would ever have a choice. But right now in his young life that was how he viewed it. A choice. Minxy had chosen to not be with them anymore and for that he held an indescribable resentment towards her. True @Orson and the others could be a pain but there were so many other better things here! Like Mama for example. Or Dada or Papa or playing in the ocean. He bet there wasn't even an ocean in the stupid other place.

Art by Rabbit, Code by Minxy