[B] Fatherhood Again (Walks On Stars x Real Big Fish) Finished

[Dawns_Stars145]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgleft]

Walks has been down this path before. It was familiar, but strange all the same. The mother of his first clutch came back into his life and after another evening together...she was heavy with child. He was reminded of the first time he became a father and how nervous and excited he was. Even though his oldest children have grown and gone off into the swamp, he worried for them. Now he worries about these foals that are soon to be. You would think after having raised two clutches he would stop worrying.

Maybe a dip in the chilly water and a drink will help clear his head. He thought before heading to the nearby river.

[Scaramouche Fandango]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... ncert5.png[/imgleft] Unbeknownst to the celestial buck, something was lurking in the nearby river. A head peeked out, two glowing eyes set deep above a smile- or was it a frown?- a recurve of sharp teeth. Gills flared and the head disappeared back under the water as she swam upstream to meet him. Even as a shuppy, Real Big Fish could feel when she was needed. Perhaps not wanted, but certainly needed.

The father wasn't difficult to find- even without knowing his name, the worry spilled across his face like sunset's beams on water. How to approach? A nice, friendly greeting, that ought to do it. As he dipped his head, her head swung up with a mighty splash. "Good evening!" she said brightly through a jagged maw twisting itself back into the familiar muzzle. This was always so much easier to do in her kin-shape, even if the shuppy was faster in the water. "What brings you to the river? You seem more than just merely thirsty."

@Dawns_Stars145

[Dawns_Stars145]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgleft]

As he was taking a drink from the river he was suddenly splashed with cold water by the shuppy who turned into a totoma mare. Between the surprise of a sudden visitor and the unexpected splash to the face, it took him a bit to react to the greeting that definitely snapped him out of his worried mindset.
"Oh, good evening..That was quite the greeting. Wasn't really expecting to see a totoma pop out of the river while getting a drink." He shook his head and body to get the water off of him before continuing. "I was actually planning on hopping in to clear my head with a cool dip after I quenched my thirst. I've been having quite a day and have a lot on my mind."

@Scaramouche Fandango

[Scaramouche Fandango]

Ah. The fellow had something on his mind. Fish smiled amicably- she knew how to help with that. "You know what's really relaxing? Fishing. There's lots of 'em in this river, and I know I didn't scare 'em all off." She hauled herself out of the river, shaggy and soaked, and shook herself a bit, trying to avoid spraying the buck and soaking him even more. "A bite to eat will always help you think. What about it? Come fishing with me, show me what you've got- and you can tell me what's going on if you want. I'm a good listener." She waggled her rounded ears, pricked and bearish.

[Dawns_Stars145]

"Fishing, huh?" He said to the mare, as if deep in thought. The thought of fresh fish to eat seemed to make him hungry. Plus maybe he could catch one for Brightest Moonlight as well. "Sure. I don't think I have tried that before, though. Please excuse me if I fail spectacularly at it." He gave a small laugh. "By the way, nice to meet you. My name is Walks on Stars,  what's yours?" @Scaramouche Fandango

[Scaramouche Fandango]

"I'm Real Big Fish!" she boomed happily. "It's nice to meet you, Walks on Stars. I bet you can catch it. It's like... many things, really. So many possibilities, the choices can be paralyzing." She eyed him slyly. "But sometimes you just have to take the plunge and go for it. There's no one right or wrong way to catch a fish. There's many things like that. Living, loving... parenting." She knew. Of course she knew, that's how it worked. But what she didn't know yet was what the nature of her blessing would be- and for that, she needed a fish. Or rather, he needed a fish, and she needed to watch him.

This was how she learned what kin needed. In her view, what they wanted was important, but what they needed was even more so. She wasn't the kind to promise more than she could deliver. She knew some of the Motherfather's awakened children blessed for beauty or grace, and those were fine- but that wasn't the world she moved in. Children were always a product of their parents, and learning where the parents' skills were was the best way to figure out what those kids would need. Vices and virtues came out in fishing. It was a test of patience and perseverance, of technique and choice.

Of course, she rarely ever said this out loud. Usually she just press-ganged kin into fishing with her.

Fat silver fish drifted in the river. She sat back, waiting. Watching.

[Dawns_Stars145]

The mare's words stuck in his head. The emphasis on parenting wasn't missed. "It's like parenting? I definitely have some experience in that area. I have had two clutches already and now... I have another on the way." The worried look flashed across his face briefly. "With every new clutch, I worry if I will mess up parenting them. I always seem to act like it's my first." He shook his head, trying to concentrate on his new task for the moment. Fishing. "Well let's give it a try, then." He walked into the water slowly, the water chill shocking at first then settling fairly quickly. He looked around at the water trying to see movement in the dark water. He saw several sliver glints coming towards him curiously then darting away quickly. When he thought one was in range, he tried to grab it with his teeth, but missed it by a couple inches. "Hahaha not as easy as I thought. Was I even close?" He looked to the mare, hoping she'll give him a small hint.

@Scaramouche Fandango

[Scaramouche Fandango]

Real Big Fish stamped a hoof in joyful recognition. "I knew you were a dab hand at it- but you're right, every time it's different. All children need different things, different strengths to bolster what they have naturally. No two children are alike, and you never step foot in the same river twice when it comes to raising them- even if things feel similar, they're markedly different. Keep at it, and you'll get it." Perhaps she'd bless the children for tenacity, or perseverance. Gentle encouragement when they needed it most, when they needed a push to get it past the line- when they needed to call upon strength they did not have.

"This time, get closer to the water. Watch the fish, and when it comes up to the surface... you'll know when to strike. Aim for where it will be, not where it is. You can do it- all of it. I believe in you."

[Dawns_Stars145]

"That's actually really good advice. Maybe I can put it to good use." For both parenting and fishing he thought. He smiled as he turned back to the water. Her instructions echoing in his mind. Walks tried out what Real Big Fish said about fishing. He got closer, further in, watching a specific fish instead of multiple fish with a more relaxed gaze. He waited patiently, waiting for it to come near the surface..as it came up to nibble at the surface bugs he struck! It wasn't a graceful catch and it flailed about, frantically smacking him in the face, but he caught it.

"I 'aught et! I 'aught et!" He said with clenched teeth, holding onto the fish for dear life. Not wanting to drop it before bringing it to land. After dropping the fish onto the land and holding it down with his hoof to keep it from flopping back into the water, he was beaming. "Thanks for the help, Real Big Fish. That really was very relaxing."

[Scaramouche Fandango]

"And now you've learned how to do it, and it can be a fun dad activity for you and the kids, if you want!" Real Big Fish beamed, like he'd landed a monster. "And I can promis you something for them: they'll be tenacious. You'll teach them safe limits, but they're always going to believe in themselves. That's what the Swamp can give them- the courage and resolve to see things through. And just by being you, you'll foster it within them. They'll see you and learn from example how important it is to not give up. Something might be new or strange, and there'll always be a little voice in the back of their head saying "try it! you can do it!" Even if it's hard, even if it seems impossible, they will know, deep down, that they can do it. I believe in them."

She winked and stepped into the river again, slowly folding herself inwards, taking the form of a shuppy once more. "And like I said, I believe in you."

[Dawns_Stars145]

As Real Big Fish transformed and disappeared into the water, her last line lingered a bit longer. "I believe in you. The thought gave him a sense of calm and ease, the worry he had previously fading away like a breeze. After a deep breath, he sighed happily knowing his kids will be alright. He picked up the fish in his mouth and walked off into the swamp, looking for Brightest Moonlight to give it to her. "A mother will need food for her strength. And I think this will be a welcome treat." He thought with a smile.