LET ME TELL YOU A STORY...
Preference List: lost in the mind, lost to the fae, lost to the hedges, lost in the woods
Story: [TW: implied drowning]
It was a calm night, the sounds of waves and the light salty breeze could be heard through the rough packed walls of the den Worlds Within Worlds shared with Bay Sleep and their five young foals. Tomorrow they were planning to bring the babes down to water to introduce them to the ocean and teach them to swim. Living on the coast, that was a needed skill, and one they wanted to impart upon the foals as early as possible. It was safer that way, of course, but Worlds had another reason to be so proactive. A sad, personal reason.
She was quiet that night before, a little more distracted than was usual for her as she listened to the gentle crash and hiss of the waves on the beach outside. It was bedtime, but of course the foals were excited, finding it difficult to bed down. Bay, of course, had found no such difficulty. She could here his stuff, rhythmic breathing beside her.
One of the babes, orange and yellow and blue, was sprawled across Worlds' front legs. She'd noticed her mother's distraction. "Mama? What's wrong?"
The question was enough to pull the bright doe's attention away from where it had lingered, back on her children. She looked a question down at her daughter, then smiled and nuzzled her cheek.
"I'm remembering something from a long time ago. Something sad." She was quiet again for a moment, considering, then lay her chin across her daughter's stomach. "Would you like to hear why it's so important to me that you learn to swim?"
The little foal's ears perked, and she nodded. Around them, more ears perked, eyes opening and noses turning. Worlds chuckled at her restless brood.
"Okay," she murmured softly. "it happened a long time ago, when I was just a foal myself. I was playing in the waves, at a beach a long way from here. It was a windy day, and the waves were big and unpredictable. I knew you had to be careful. That's you had to listen to the ocean and pay attention. Treat it with respect.
"But there was another foal there. Them and their family has come down from deep in the swamp. It was their first time at the coast, and they found it so enchanting.
"While the parents looked for shells, the came over to join me in the water. We played in the swells, racing the sea foam as it swept up the sand. It was a lot of fun."
Worlds could see she had the rapt attention of all of her children. She gave the foal on her legs another little nuzzle before continuing.
"The other foal grew bolder, she wanted to see if she could ride the waves in. I told her it was a bad idea, that the ocean was t in the mood for that sort of game, but she said that was silly. That water didn't talk." Worlds wrinkled her nose at that, then sighed softly.
"She swam out, didn't notice the way the current was moving. Didn't realize until it was too late that she was being pulled out further..." The doe quieted for a moment, the memory flashing through her mind,sharp and clear. She shook her head.
"Her parents couldn't find her. No one could find her. She didn't listen to the ocean, didn't know enough, and she was lost. Taken." Every little eye turned in her direction was wide. Worlds' gentle smile returned.
"That's why it's important to learn, and8 listen, and respect the ocean. It is accident and it is wise, and it will be your friend, if you let it. I want you to love it as much as I do, as much as you father does. We'll teach you how to be safe, and I know you'll love it too."
The doe smiled, flowering her voice to a whisper. "Now sleep my small ones. We have a big day tomorrow."