Maua had told him to come here when the time was right. Was the time right? He wasn't exactly certain. He had taken to visiting occasionally but it remained looking the same to him. He wasn't exactly certain what he was looking for though. His heart's desire? Yeah, he doubted it would be that simple.

The bronze male made another trip to the Grotto to find things the same as the last time he had been here. He was starting to feel a bit foolish about all of this. But Maua had never led him wrong before. Why would they start doing so now?

Cali sighed and settled down to wait. The stars had led him to this place, but sadly he couldn't see them from inside the Grotto. He didn't want to stay away from Dio for too long but she likely would have realized where he had gone. After all she had been there when Maua had told him to go to the Grotto.

That tight-chest feeling was poignant as Maua sensed @Caligula's approach — not because anything had changed since their last discussion, but because they knew how tenderly and how fervently he wanted this. How he wanted just a small, glowing glimmer of the family he had had once before. And he would have it, today, in the form of the ultimate blessing - the one that had been promised to him, and the one that he deserved.

As they watched the bronze-coated lion enter the thralls of the grotto, however, Maua could not help but to have a tugging feeling begin to creep into the corners of their mind, conjuring up fantasies and ways in which he could bestow Caligula with their newest child. And though there were options galore, the deity also knew that he needed peace, and perhaps a bit of closure, with how life had unraveled itself over the past little while.

It was because of this that Maua came to a rather unorthodox decision, materializing within the shadows in not their typical form, but mirroring that of Caligula’s lost love, Aquila. They took on the Valour’s features with pride, understanding the responsibility that came with this display of power and good intent — Maua would be sure not to waste these few, precious moments.

A small chuff escaped from between Aquila’s their lips as they emerged from the shadows, the warrior’s aged frame rippling under the soft rays that filtered in through the cracks in the ceiling. And between his teeth, you ask? Well, there he clasped the most perfect little cub within his hold, divine in all of the right ways, as Maua shifted closer and closer to Caligula still. "Ours.” The deity said finally in the voice of the Valour, as he placed the tiny cub at Caligula’s feet. Their eyes shone brightly as they searched for the gaze of the other, warmth pooling in their chest as a thousand different thoughts raced across their mind. They knew it might not make sense, this chance meeting - but they hoped that, if nothing else, Caligula could walk away with a shred of solace. "I’m sorry Caligula, for everything. Even if I’m not always here, please remember that you’re not alone." And it was then that Maua lifted a paw, reaching out to try and brush it softly against the shoulder of the other male, in what they hoped would be an act of compassion and of reassurance. Wherever Aquila actually was, the spetre knew that his love for Caligula had never faltered, nor had his devotion and care for his family. After all, had always been a noble man, despite all the wreckage that had landed at his feet. "And I know that you won’t let any of our children ever feel alone, either. You are such a good father." And those were genuine words, laced across rich and tender tones that filled the space between them, thrumming with every beat of their pounding chests.

"I can’t stay — I know this might be confusing but you will always be in my heart. Until we meet again." Ominous as that statement may be, Maua, of course, could not say for sure when that until would be, or whether it would be in this life or the next. All that they knew for certain was that this cub would be cherished and love and protected, as all children should be.

Without pausing for another moment, Maua would begin to breathe new space between them while a faint, though sad, smile drifted upon the corners of Aquila’s features. One step, and another, and another, until their body was cloaked in darkness once more, and the deity dispersed back into the air from which they had first come. exit.

Art & Table code by Zodiac

Dad- Her voice leaves her lips a quiet whisper, barely a breath. Barely audible. In it is disbelief, love, longing for just a seconds few more chance to see her father Aquila. But it's not long enough. It would never be long enough until, unless, he returned for good. She's too far away to hear anything but she can see him, she can see her fathers there together in all their eternal love and glory. She wants to cry out again but it ends up just a whimper, the sound of a daughter reduced to the state of a child in need of her parents.

She blinks and he's gone without a trace. Dio cries aloud- racing to the side of @Caligula as fast as her feet would let her. Tears falling, sobs choking in her throat. She is torn between chasing after the image of Aquila and coming to Caligula for comfort. Her paws don't know what to do but her eyes then see the small bundle. The child, darker even than she. And all at once she's certain of what she's doing, she's staying right here. Forever at her, and Caligula's, side. Who... Who is this?_{CODE | BACKGROUND | ART BY MUULAND}

Caligula really was starting to feel foolish. What was he really hoping to find here? He really should be happy with all that he already had. What was the point of wishing for more? It wasn't like legacy was important to him. He did had a large and healthy family, so that really should have been enough.

A chuff ended up pulling him from his thoughts though. The bronze male blinked, unable to believe his eyes. Aquila was there. Had Maua known this would happen? Had this been what the deity had been hinting at?

He quickly got to his paws and moved towards his love. A tiny black bundle was placed down at his paws. A girl. He looked up to whom he assumed to be his mate and the unspoken question in his eyes was answered. The cub was theirs. Had Maua blessed them with another? Or just a foundling? It didn't matter either way for Caligula loved and cherished all the cubs that he had ever raised the exact same. He had never seen any difference between blood and adopted. He had taught his children the same. He had always loved and cherished all of his children equally.

But then Aquila was saying that he couldn't stay and Cali felt his heart crack. He had really thought his love was back to stay. But he understood. He nodded slowly. "You be careful. I will still be here waiting for you. I have Dio for company. And our new little one." It wasn't the same but it would do until Aquila could remain full time with him.

He watched his mate leave once again and took a few steps to follow after him. But it was Dio that took his attention instead. He sought to lean into his adult child to offer her some comfort. He smiled down at the cub and bent his head down to nuzzle her after Dio had noticed her. "Your new little sister. Your father had left her with me to care for while he still searched for the rest of our family."

A name was needed for the girl still though. A name that had been left to him to choose. "What do you think of Cassiopia?" He inquired of his daughter, thinking of the last constellation that he had spied before he had entered into the Grotto.

@Diomedeidae

This was most certainly her sister. Dark blanket, swaddling the soul and body. With bright and brilliant markings like stars piercing out from the night sky. But... was that really Aquila? How had her father been here so? I asked a favor of another, to help me commune with their god who could tell me if Dad was still alive. The god said he was... Now she wasn't sure if this sight, this babe meant truly that he was or if... if it really was his spirit who had shown up here to deliver this little one.

It leaves a bittersweet pit in her belly.

I love it. She says of the name, her nose reaching down to nudge Cassi ever so soft and gentle. I love you.


@Caligula

code by dee, art by irish

"I have to believe that he is still alive. That he is still out there and looking for family then one day he and everyone will return home and we will all be together again." Caligula couldn't bear the thought of anything else. He didn't want to think of Aquila as being entirely lost to him. He had to hold onto the hope in order to continue to survive.

He smiled as Dio easily accepted her newest little sister. But then all of his children had been easily accepting of those that had come after them. There had never been any fighting or vying for attention. Though Caligula had always made it known to all of his children that he loved and cherished all of them equally.

"You know she will be looking to you for guidance. You are his big sister so no doubt she will want to be just like you." And really, Caligula couldn't pick a better role model.

@Diomedeidae

She could not hold her father tight enough in that moment. To hug and hold, to squeeze him beyond all manner possible. I believe he is too. He has to be... right? If he truly was ... dead wouldn't he have stuck around here as a ghost and not just left them? Maua would surely not be so cruel to not give Aquila the chance to haunt and grace his ancestral home like they did for so many right?

There is plenty time to wonder that later. There was precious little in this world that could wrench Dio's attention from thinking about her wandering father. This precious little was one was them. I hope she wants to be just like you instead. She mused, purring happily then. She and @Caligula were not all that different anyways. But Dio couldn't imagine wanting to be anyone other than her Dad.

code by dee, art by irish

It would seem they were both clinging to hope. But knowing Aquila as Caligula felt that he did his mate would never just leave his family behind and alone without a good cause. He had to believe that Aquila would always find his way back to them no matter what. Caligula still held out the hope that he could at least have Aquila near him again in his final moments.

"Why would you not wish her to be like you?" Granted they did have most of the same traits and beliefs but Dio also had all the good things about Aquila as well. Certainly that had to make her an even better role model than he was. He absolutely saw Dio as possessing the best of both parents.

@Diomedeidae

Oh no- it's not that I don't want her to be like me. She said quickly, her spirits feeling a bit lighter now that the conversation had firmly planted on the little creature that had joined their family. She lays down upon her belly, head nestled against her father and eyes staring with admiration at the small baby. So quiet. So still. I want to be like you. So if she's like me, I'm like you, she's like you. She rattled off the logic.

And besides, being looked up too was intense. But if they could both look up to their father? That felt like what Dio wanted her life to be like.

code by dee, art by irish

Caligula could understand the pressures of being looked up to. Okay, perhaps not directly since he would always figure that the children had always looked to Aquila more because he came across as the more traditional parent. Still, Caligula tried his best. He knew he was in no way the perfect parent but he managed to do everything he thought in the best interest of his children and family.

"But you are the best parts of Aquila as well. Through you she can get to know her Papa until Aquila comes back." Caligula reached over to try and nuzzle her elder daughter. "Did you just want to stay the night here or are you up for the trip back?" After all this seemed a safe and secure enough place. Maua had told them to be there so certainly the deity would watch over them and keep them safe for the night. Certainly this new, precious bundle of joy couldn't be stolen away from them so immediately.

@Diomedeidae