[imgright]https://matope-swamp.com/images/owlie/c ... uncert.png[/imgright]

When a fair doe from a wandering tribe had happened upon the shoreline that Cold Currents calls home (along with her small tribe of family), she hadn't initially thought much of it. Her sister, Dancing Fish, however, had been delighted and had lived up to her name, very much, as she joined the Rainbow Troupe in the evenings during their stay to dance the night away with them under the stars. Then, naturally, she'd dragged her far more taciturn sister along after the second night, claiming she needed to get out more.

Well, her sister may not have been wrong.

Everything Stays had been quiet, sticking more to the outskirts as she watched her family tell stories, and dance, and otherwise carouse across the coast, and she'd found herself drawn to her. She'd looked so pretty that night (and every night since) under the light of the stars and moon, her eyes bright, salt-foam glinting in her mane and on her pelt.


They'd gone off together to seek a quieter stretch of the shore, walking in the gentle lapping of the waves, and then curled up beneath a tangle of mangrove roots as Currents told her more about the ocean and what she'd learned of it, thus far. But there were new things that they discovered, too - like the strange flower that had a sweet scent, which Cold Currents had taken a bite of, curious, and strange things had happened after that. Though, not so strange, too, in the end. Instinct had guided them both, and by the time the Troupe began to ready themselves to move on it became clear that their night of passion had borne fruit.

Everything Stays was pregnant.

Cold Currents found herself somewhat torn over what to do. To go with her, or stay? Either way, her heart might be split. She could not imagine a life away from the sea, from her own family, and yet Everything Stays carried the next generation of her family as well.

In the end, she had confided in the other doe, sharing her worries, her misgivings, and Everything Stays had looked at her and smiled, and said she would stay. Eventually, she might rejoin the traveling tribe of her family, but she would stay, for now, until the children were grown and that.... Cold Currents had felt her eyes sting with gratitude, even as her heart swelled for the doe in front of her.

Yet, she knows there is more she might do. So she travels down the coast and seeks one of those kin that has been blessed by the swamp, in the hopes that they might be able to offer her some sort of guidance.

[imgright]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgright] She did not get very far in her search before a brightly coloured songbird circled down from the sky to meet her, alerting her to his presence with a loud trill.

The Royal Rainbow Troupe might have begun to move on but its leader and legendary had lingered behind just for her. Gossip was one of the troupe’s favourite pastimes, especially when it came to love, and everyone knew that Everything Stays wasn’t returning with them to the swamp because she’d met someone special and had a little tryst by the sea.

And while it might have made more sense to bless his actual tribe member, Watch Me had wanted to personally meet and appreciate the lovely Acha that had stolen her away. And oh how lovely she was!

He circled around her head once and then made his great entrance, shifting from bird to kin and landed neatly in the sand before her.

“Greetings!”

@Owlsomniac

"Oh!" The doe lets out a gasp, her eyes widening at the dramatic shift, and then she laughs. It's a surprisingly shy sound, even as her smile lingers after.

"Hello. That's quite a trick," she says, recognizing the Kiokote from one of the members of the tribe. Though, she didn't know he could do that!

She remembers her mother telling her and her siblings about the Totoma who had taken the shape of an eagle and visited her when she was pregnant with them. Perhaps this kin is similar. A Legendary - she feels almost certain he must be, though she's never met one herself, until now.

"I was hoping to -- well, you see..." She flushes as she tries to think of how to explain the situation. She isn't very good at speaking to strangers, and this is a rather delicate subject.

"I met a doe, you probably know her - ah. Everything Stays? She's pregnant with our children and since she's staying here, with me, and I thought if I could find someone, like you, to give some words of wisdom, maybe, or--" her heart is beating hard and fast, her words coming quick and a little breathless.

"I've never been a mother before."

@Ruriska

Watch Me smiled wide and encouraged her with a nod. She was very sweet. Everything Stays had remarkable taste but that was a given if she was anything like her grandmother.

He waited for her to finish (in a surprising show of patience) and then he laughed merrily. “Oh, don’t worry! It’s really not very hard. You’ll do fine.” Not that he’d ever been a mother but he’d been a father enough times so surely that counted for something.

“But if you’re worried, once the children arrive, you should bring them to the tribe. The troupe would be happy to help you raise them!” 

Having such a lovely fishtailed Acha doe in the group would be great. He was already imagining a new water-based act in one of the larger Swamp pools. Perhaps even a play with a fish turned kin who was torn between her lover and the life she had left behind. It basically wrote itself!

@Owlsomniac

"Well... Perhaps, once they're a little older." Currents smiles at him, her unease fading in the face of his exuberance and, somehow, the fact that he hadn't even hesitated to welcome her makes her feel better. Not that her own family won't help as well, she's sure, but still.

"I think maybe... That could be nice, actually. The little ones should have a chance to see more of the world, certainly, and in sure Stays will want to rejoin her own family at some point."

Of course, she's oblivious to the Kiokote's imaginings, but she's beginning to see a clearer idea of what her new future might entail, and it already feels a little less overwhelming.

@Ruriska

“You’ll love it!” Watch Me exclaimed. “And they will too! Even your whole family is most welcome. The more the merrier!” With any luck this lovely doe would have an equally lovely brother or sister to woo for himself.

“There’s really nothing for you to worry about but just to make sure...” He cleared his throat and adopted a straight and formal standing position with his head tilted towards the sky to better beseech the MotherFather for her assistance.

“May this doe and her unborn clutch be blessed to always find their way and seek happiness wherever they go!” 

@Owlsomniac

Currents smiles. She doesn't know if she can feel the blessing, not in any way one might expect, but she certainly feels blessed. To have met Everything Stays, to soon be a mother, to be so welcomed by those who, until recently, were complete strangers.

She has no doubt her children will know happiness growing up, and, hopefully, throughout their lives. With so many willing to care for them, they will be well and truly loved.

"Thank you -- truly. Though I suppose I should start to head back, to check on Stays. I do think we will meet again, soon."




-- Fin