FORTUNE FORTUNE SMILING FATE
I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU MUCH OF LATE
NEED YOU NOW AND CANNOT WAIT
BUT WANNA LOOK, YOU'RE NOT AROUND

Aquila passed across the Brook's borders gently, his footfall careful and experienced with his ancestral home's soil. His soul, as troubled as it had been in the past, had some degree of direction now. Had something like purpose beyond a martyr and one waiting for destruction. He had a son. Some of the boy's pale hairs, the first to fall out and get caught up in his sibling's fur, were held in his jaws. Just a few precious translucent hairs hung between his teeth, enough to easily get lost and so he carried them forwards into his family's home with a duty and sense of purpose. Even if he was not dragging the small newborn along with him Aquila could not wait to begin to introduce him to the family, to his cousin's children most of all. Even if this world had changed and would not allow them to grow up exactly as he had, they'd still have family. They'd still have that bond fierce and strong.

ART BY RABS , CODE BY LARS

she wandered the trails of the brook in an almost absent fashion, though beneath the calm exterior of her expression, there was a twinge of anxiety looming across her mind. the image of gareth and that rogue trespasser entangled in battle still weighed heavy on her shoulders, growing the concern that they could no longer remain so idle or passive in their ways. nymeria by no means wanted to go looking for trouble, but if she turned out being unable to protect her own in the most simplest of ways -- well, she could not even live with the thought of failing them like that.

thankfully, the valour was soon distracted by the lull of a familiar scent upon the breeze, prompting her to change course and search for the wandering shape of @Aquila amongst the trees. much to nymeria's relief, it did not take her long to track him down, a small chuff rumbling from her chest as she looked to near him beneath the comfort of the canopy, a small smile slipping along her lips as she approached. "hi you," warm tones greeted as the druid's frame slowed to a halt, only to realize that he carried something peculiar between his teeth. "what do you have there?" an innocent enough inquiry, she supposed, squinting to try and decipher what it may be. it looked like fur, but, surely, aquila would not be carrying out strands of hair without good reason!

@Nymeria's smile was a comfort. The sight of her amongst the forest, natural. She was one of the few constant things among Maua's world. He could see her a thousand times a day, walk side by side with her for hours, and never lose that feeling of importance and appreciation. He was particularly glad to be able to share this news with her. He leaned over and tipped the few white hairs he'd brought with him to the ground before his feet. They were short, pale white without pigment, sturdy and thick from the young Valour's plush fluffy pelt. I want to bring him as soon as I can. Aquila began, not at all an answer to the question but preempting what might be one of the next ones to come to her mind when he broke the news entirely.

He was holding back the proud smile, not all that well mind you, and he kept looking at the few hairs he'd brought like they were the most important thing in his world. Furia and her husband were going to try for more children and they offered... well... like a surrogacy. He explained, hoping Nymeria would figure out the details herself because more important than that... I have a son Nym, a healthy little boy.

nymeria continued to peer at the hairs clasped within @Aquila's jaws as she made her approach, curiousity getting the best of her, especially today. and while she expected some sort of explanation, of course, she never would have guessed the admission that came next from her cousin's lips, quick and vibrant and excited. 'I want to bring him as soon as I can'; "what do you --" confusion riddled the valour's features then, brows furrowing slightly as she attempted to make sense of the disjointed confession. though it quickly became clear after aquila continued with his explanation, all of which allowed her to put the pieces of the story together in one, beautiful, unexpected puzzle.

it was fair to say that nymeria was shocked by the way that her jaws unhinged and hung agape, while her mind spiraled in a quick and jolted frenzy behind the widening of her gaze. surrogacy -- a son -- furia -- her husband; it was all so sudden that nymeria found herself sputtering out the first question that she could manage, limbs locked, as she pressed forward upon her toes. "a-a son? furia had children?" the news that the hodari had been expecting another litter was big enough, but the fact that aquila had been in on the ordeal made it all so much more shocking, albeit exciting. after a moment more, nymeria found herself pushing forward instinctively, bringing her face up as close as she could to those beautiful little wisps of ivory fur, almost as if she were in awe of them and the new life from where they came. "oh, aquila, please tell me that you're all safe, i heard about what happened in the mire." her gut wrenched at the realization after a breath or two more, pale eyes flashing back up to her kin's face with a sort of pleading, hopeful expression.

There was about as much surprise as he expected. It wasn't as if he'd given any of his family much warning. He watched the reaction rippled over her face, the reality set in, and then as she turned to investigate the pale pigmentless hairs.

I'm sorry I couldn't come tell you sooner. His remorseful voice came tinged with the utter happiness that swelled up inside of her, brimming and bubbling over more now that the secret was out. This was not the way he'd imagined starting his family, the flood most of all but not the sole reason he felt that way. He watched with pride as @Nymeria delighted in the fragments of life Aquila had brought along with him. The hairs were stark against the forest's earthy tones, traces of the familiar in them woven with new. Suddenly her eyes were flashing back up to him, her voice yanked at his heart and quickly he stepped in closer to her, reaching forwards to offer a reassuring touch to the crown of her head. Furia is fine, all of the children are too. He began, selfishly reassured even by the sound of his own voice declaring them all to be safe. His voice tightened up a little bit, he spoke a little softer to Nymeria again as his rear settled on the ground, stable and feelings the security of his homelands around him as he continued. The flood took Kiton... The news tightened up his chest a bit. The grief was not his own, not like losing Val had been. It was secondary... or was it simply becoming a more familiar feeling in this newly awoken world?

sweet euphoria, pure and completely unhindered in that moment of reunion and good news. and though her eyes remained perfectly placed upon those small, wispy hairs, her ears still did swivel to catch @Aquila's words as he spoke, a small tsk quickly slipping from between the druid's lips. "you have a family of your own to take care of now, it's okay -- i understand." she emphasized, finally straightening herself back up and returning to eye-level with her cousin, taking in his small touch with a rumble of contentment. the confession of children still sent stars twinkling at the edges of her vision, the world suddenly seeming a touch brighter than it had been before. there was, however, a darker side to such good news, one that she regrettably, and unfortunately, also needed to know.

kiton; the name rang heavy in her ears, features falling into more somber lines as a knife is twisted deeper into her chest. it brought her great relief, of course, to know that furia, the children, and the rest of the family were safe -- but why couldn't he have been spared, too? "as if they haven't already been through enough." as if they all hadn't already been through enough. nymeria had considered kiton to be a close friend and confidant, and had cherished their budding relationship closely and with honor -- to know that he was simply gone, present one moment and vanished the next, seemed beyond comprehension, and she still struggled to wrap her mind around it. nymeria's expression was sullen as she twisted her maw up towards the sky, looking, for a moment, to the shifting of the canopy up above them, and the small lulls of the breeze as it brushed across her pelt. "we need to look out for his family, wherever we can. i don't want roan or anyone else to feel as though they need to do it alone." she said after a long, thoughtful pause, knowing in her bones that it was the right thing to do. family was everything to the hodaris, and if nymeria could do anything, it would be to honor kiton in the best way that she knew how -- keeping them all as safe as she could.

For what it was worth Aquila was no less impacted by the whiplash of it all. Hearing @Nymeria utter 'family' sent a surprised wave of shock, of warmth, into his heart. His own family. Unlike anything he imagined in the past. He'd had the most time to get used to the idea and still some mornings it was strange and surprising to see the children existing small, fragile and precious.

He wished that he had only the good news to bear to her but it was not so simple. Fate had not been so kind and it seemed it continued hell bent on harming this family. It made Aquila's thoughts bristle up angry and his features frowned a tad, hurt and worrisome at the edges. Generations they'd been here in this land, they had been able to help and to heal those who showed up through the veil. Life's want to keep tearing the Hodari down despite all the Valour did was astonishing, it was fearful. As they need help, as they're ready for it we'll be there. Aquila affirmed with Nymeria, agreeing fully that they need to do what they could in support of this family. Of his family. They need time to heal. From... well from everything he supposed. Against whatever malspirits existed to haunt them he would try to give them what they deserved, what should have been theirs so long ago.