code (c) daanyen

The warmth of the spring sun was nice on her back as she ventured into the fields, her walk was relaxed, maybe some would even say, she looked happier, like a weight was lifted off her shoulders, and in a way it had, shed told Hero she would be patient and she'd meant it, but even moving at this pace, it was something that she'd never had with Hubert.

Months ago, she would have been seen with her head down, her shoulders slump, sometimes crying and pretending to hide it, but she seemed better now, and she'd not told anyone why, because she'd wanted to keep this between them.

The chimera lifted her head to look around, bright yellow eyes taking in the scenery before her before she trots to the pond and takes a few sips before stepping away and moving to sit in the sun, just relaxing and taking in the spring air.

Solanum began to think about all the things she missed that for once didn't include Hubert, she missed Illyria when it was under Morrigan rule, she missed her children, all of them, she missed her dad, honestly she missed him most of all, but she had no clue where they'd all went when Illyria disbanded.

@Seraphiel

He wasn't sure if he wanted to admit it, and he certainly wasn't going to say it aloud around his husband, but it was better being down off the mountain. It wasn't so bitterly cold here, his old joints refusing to work properly well into the afternoon because of stiffness from the cold, which just seemed to sink into one's bones despite one's best efforts to the contrary. Plus, it was simply nice to see green again, to feel grass under his paws instead of rock and ice.

Which was why he found himself walking in the fields, surrounded by grass and flowers, greenery abounding. It also seemed as though he wasn't the only one in the family who wanted to spend time there, because a familiar chimaera was in the distance. Seraphiel chuffed at @Solanum eagerly, pleased to see her again since she'd been absent during the shuffle of the Summit leadership, and afterwards in their descent from the mountain. Not that he blamed her in any way. She had her own children to look after these days and settle in.

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

code (c) daanyen

It does not take long for another to find her, the chuffs reaches her ears and she turns, her lips splitting into a big grin as she shoots onto her four paws, "Papa!" She would always be a daddy's girl it seemed, her paws carry her towards him quickly as she checks him over, brightened eyes finally meeting his.

She throws herself against him, tightly hugging him while burying her face in his mane, "I've missed you." She speaks muffled words into his mane, before pulling back just enough to smile up at him, her dual split faced seeming to beam up at him.

"Where did y'all go?" She asks softly, she wouldn't mind finding another pride, though she was more inclined to go and stay with Hero, but she still wanted to speak to him another that first.

She's still such a tiny thing, years having gone by and yet he could still remember when he had first found her, how she had looked up at him. He supposed she still did, in every meaning of the phrase. He'd never asked her to, had never demanded or expected obedience or loyalty, and yet. He supposed that was par for the course with having children, but even then wasn't necessarily certain.

He embraced her in return, a forearm draped across her shoulders to pull her close, a gentle smile on his features. I was worried for you at the Summit challenge, he replied. It's good to see you were unharmed. Not that he'd thought she would be. It had been a rather civil challenge, all things considered.

To the Lagoon. You are welcome to join us, unless you have already found a home for yourself, he said, always going to offer to make sure she knew she was welcome and wanted in their little family but also well aware she had her own life.

@Solanum

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

code (c) daanyen

Though she didn't remember when he'd first came upon her, she'd always been a daddy's girl, no one could ever amount to her father, he was all she had for the longest time, and all she needed as a young cub and lioness, it had been difficult for her to share him once Bronx and her siblings came into their life, she'd initially been jealous, but as she matured, and with Cassandras help, she was able to move past it.

She can't help but smile up at him, her smaller frame enveloped as he pulls her into a huge and she giggles, and in that moment she isn't the adult lioness who'd been through so much, she was Solanum the cub, small, wide eyed, with a child's innocence and big heart.

He mentions being worried and she nuzzles into his mane, "I was more worried for you papa." She hated to see him fight others, she remembered how he'd fought to try and win the Oasis when she was just a cub, was it the Oasis? That part was a little murky, but she remembered the way watching him fight scared her to the core.

His mentions of being happy seeing her unharmed were met with a soft chuckle, she had never been one to fight, she honestly had not truly fought anyone until that night when Aeistrios had stolen her, the scars she bore now were always a reminder of her time as his prisoner. No matter how much she tried to shove the memory away, every time she saw her reflection, it's all she could remember.

When he invites her to the Lagoon, she pulls back a bit, just enough so that she was not muffled by his mane, "I may join, I'm going to see where Hero decides to settle first.." She averts her gaze as she mentions the Hodari boy, unable to hide the ghost of a smile at the mention of him, finally she looks back to her father.

He chuckled softly at her words, not unkindly, not laughing at her, but just amused that even after all these years she was still worried for him. He supposed now was the time to be worried about him when he got into a fight. He wasn't as young as he'd once been, and while with age came experience, it also brought a certain slowness that he couldn't escape. That and things just seemed to stick with him longer. Aches and pains that wouldn't go away. They didn't bother him much, though. Not when he knew it was a privilege to grow old enough to have them.

Oh? And who might this Hero be? he asked, raising an eyebrow, giving that air of fatherly concern though the small smile on his features suggested it wasn't that serious. He hadn't heard the name before, though that wasn't surprising given how little he got out of the Summit in recent years. He just hoped this one treated her better than... shit, what had his name been? Oh right, Hubert. Stuck up little princeling was more like it, but he'd keep his thoughts and opinions on that matter to himself straight to the grave.

@Solanum

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

code (c) daanyen

The chimera couldn't help but smile at his chuckle, she would always worry for him, would always want him to be the strong, healthy father he'd been when she was a cub, she didn't like to think about the alternative, that hurt more than anything. Her head gently brushed under his chin again, she had to almost stand on her tiptoes just to do it but it was worth it to cuddle her father and pretend that they were as they'd once been, a baby and her daddy.

She catches his small smile even as he hides it behind fatherly concern, her eyes glint with the prospect of new beginnings, she flicks her tail lightly, before the grin escapes her lips that cannot be held back anymore, "Do you remember that boy I mentioned to you when I was just a yearling..." She tests his memory, but she remembers that day so vividly, "Hero Hodari."

She feels fluttering in her stomach at his name, her cheeks redden and she tries hiding the smile that appears with his name, "We were such good friends after that day, and I found him recently, again." Her heart fluttered then, just as smitten as she'd been that day.

In a way, her father was right about one thing, a boy had came and taken away her innocent, cheerful nature, Seraphiel's worries had been reasonable, even if it wasn't for the boy she'd mentioned that day, but how would he have known what would happen? Hubert came in, took possession, and whispered pretty promises that he would never be able to keep... And Aeistrios had done more damage before Hubert had even a chance to.

But she was so happy in the moment, more happier that she'd been in months, and it showed in the brightness in her eyes, and the glee in her smile.

Aight, that wasn't fair. It had been so many years now since that conversation that the specifics escaped him, but he still nodded in response because he did remember enough of it. The Hodari are a good family, he said. I traveled to these lands with them. He realized belatedly that he'd said the exact same thing at their previous conversation, and shrugged mentally. The point still stood.

I'm sure the family has only grown since then. Actually, I think I know they have. There were many of them in the Summit with us now that I think back It was, then, perhaps surprising the boy was still single, but stranger things had happened. Look how old he had been before he'd come across Bronx, who had then had to apply his hints and affection with force because otherwise Seraphiel might never have realized. It was entirely possible this Hero was the same way. A lot of men were, he'd found.

I'm glad he makes you happy, he said sincerely, very pleased to see that light back in her eyes. Hubert had stolen it from her, albeit only for a time thankfully. That someone had been able to give it back to her made him happy as well. He hadn't met this Hero, but he had a feeling he was a good sort, if the comparison to the rest of his family could be made.

@Solanum

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