[PRP] Welcome Home [Watch x Set & Co]

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgleft]He was walking. To anyone else, this would not seem out of place, but for the stag that was As The Sun Burns, each step felt heavy. Not wrong, but... Not quite right, either. A heavy sigh fell from his lips and he looked up to the sky. He could just fly there. Really, he could, it would be no problem. Only, it was a problem. He wasn't sure why, but the longer he spent in his crane form, the simpler his mind became. He lost his sense of time, outside of knowing when to nest down for the night. As a crane, there was only the call of the Swamp and the Mother's Calling. He had forgotten about his own family and the guilt of being unsure of just how long it had truly been made each of these steps feel like the earth was sucking his hooves deep into the mud.

No, he would walk this journey. He owed them that much.

It was a long one, too, although it was finally nearing its end. He had many moons to wonder what he would find when he returned to the Hollow. He hoped he hadn't missed too much.

The day was drawing to a close, taking with it the golden hues of the late summer sun. He was nearly there, he thought. And in that dusky twilight, he heard something he hadn't realized he missed.

The older male lifted his head and smiled. Was that..? Children laughing?

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... ilence.gif[/imgleft]It was a night like every other that had passed in this muggy heat of summer. Cicadas whined and flies droned on as the day began its own bedtime routine. The sound of laughter brought a smile to her face and a sense of comfort, knowing her foundlings were nearby and safe. It was strange to her, just how quickly they had grown from staying home, safe and nuzzled in their nests, asleep before the sun even set to taking those first steps of maturity. How excited they had been when she had started allowing them to walk the grounds with her! At first, they stayed so close she nearly tripped over them, somehow still managing to fulfill her nightly duties. But now they were getting older and had their own responsibilities to look after on these walks. She found herself chuckling as she stepped over a bubbling creek, their laughter contagious.

Her job tonight was to check the border, ensuring that nothing dangerous had moved into their territory. Before, this worry was to protect her home, to make sure it was exactly as it was when they had left it. But now it was more to make sure that the kids had nothing to worry about. The Motherfather knew how often Little Brook found herself in dangerous scraps with caiman and badgers. But she knew she needn't worry too deeply. Guards the Heard was with her and she knew he'd protect her.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Little Brook was small for her age. Not that she really knew that for herself, but her mother commented on it now and then, usually around dinner time. She didn't mind being small, though. It meant she had more options of hiding places when she and her brother played Hide and Seek. That's what they were doing tonight on their walk, though they were supposed to be checking in with Apricot and the other pets of the Hollow, making sure they were all well and accounted for.  But they always were, so Little Brook wasn't worried about them.

She did mind, however, how slow she was. She thought about how she would escape once her brother found her. She wasn't fast and she tired very quickly, so it was best if she was at least prepared.

'I'll go through the thickets,' she thought, her ears flicking forward as she heard the steps of her Totoma brother. While she couldn't run for long, she could jump. At least she was more graceful than Guards. She giggled, thinking of him prancing about like she could and gasped when she caught herself. He'd find her for sure!

@Lirilei

[Lirilei]

He enjoyed the evening walks, checking in on all the animals to make sure the stupid caiman hadn't snapped one of them up. He really didn't like them, as often as they went after his sister, and had gotten good at defending her against them. Badgers were another worry, both saw her as easy prey and he wasn't about to let her get hurt.

Sometimes, he worried about them playing hide and seek, he couldn't keep an eye on her when she was hiding after all but he'd gotten very good at finding her, no matter how good she hid. She was also getting better at running from him. It was good for her, to push her limits, and get stronger, and faster little by little.

If only she could learn to stop giggling when she hid. They gave her away, though he pretended not to hear her, and instead a "Where oh where could Little Brook beeee? Is she.... here!?" and he poked his head into a tree knot she obviously wasn't in. "No. Maybe this log!" and again he looked where she wasn't. "I'm going to find you!" he called out with a laugh, very obviously ignoring her hiding spot, and choosing another spot, slowly circling...narrowing in closer and closer. Preparing to jump in front of her hiding spot, and yell 'I found you!' triumphantly.

@Blinded By Silence

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgleft]She watched with bated breath as Guards the Herd approached. With her heart pounding in her ears and her eyes as wide as they could go, she crouched, waiting, counting the steps. Then, when he was less than a fox's length from her, she bounded with all her strength, jumping clear over his growing horns, landing clumsily, but keeping her footing.

"Here I am! Catch me!" She erupted in a fit of giggles as she scrambled her way past him.

Her breath went ragged quite quickly, but still she ran. Laughing, Little Brook looked over her shoulder to see if he was coming after her, only to run into the broad chest of a stranger. She landed on her haunches with an "oof!"

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgleft] Watch was surprised to see that the tiny foal who had blundered into him was an Acha. But it was a pleasant surprise, nonetheless. He chuckled lightly and knelt down to help her up.

"Sorry, little one. I didn't see you there." He looked deep into the child's wild eyes and saw none of his familar blue. He lifted his head and looked around, "Is your mother nearby?"

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... ilence.gif[/imgleft]Set lifted her head at the commotion and moved towards it quickly. She had thought too soon. What had they gotten into now, she wondered, hoping all was well. She turned a bend and suddenly froze in her tracks as a long-lost voice shook her.

All at once, memories flooded her. The sound of laughter, her mother's chiding call. The taste of summer supper. Her father's loving eyes.

"P-Papa?" She stammered, tears pricking her clear blue eyes as she approached. She blinked them away when she saw him standing over her daughter.

He was very different from the last time she had seen him. Older, yes. But strange, too.

"Papa, is that really you?"

[Lirilei]

Of course he was going to give chase but he gave Little Brook a little longer to get her footing and take off again, a playful cry of dismay from him as she lept over him and away before he turned and started after her. Only to watch in shock as she crashed into a total stranger.

That caused his protective instincts to flare and the young totoma darted between the two, head down, horns out and a tough, childishly threatening "Stay away from my sister!" from him, hoof dragging at the ground, looking ready to headbutt the stranger.

It was Set's voice that made him pause a moment, and he looked toward her in surprise. She knew this strange kin?

Still he was wary and gently pushed Little Brook back, trying to size up the Stag before him even as their mother came closer.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgleft]The small filly shook her head, her eyes squeezed shut. She took a deep breath. No way, she wouldn't cry. It hadn't hurt that badly, anyway, but tears still pricked her eyes. Brook squeezed them tighter, determined to not be the cry baby she worried she was becoming. At the deep voice, she blinked her wide eyes open and looked up.

"W-whoa..." She gaped, open-mouthed at the giant that stood over her. Large, gnarled horns branched from his head like the arms of living oaks. His pelt rippled like light on the river. And his eyes... Ghostly red trails seeped from them, sinking to the ground like a heavy fog.

By all means, she should be scared. But curiosity held her in rapt attention, her tears forgotten.

"I-Is that bird dead?" She asked bluntly, gaping up at the stag, ignoring his question.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgleft]The smile that spread over Watch's face was like the sun breaking the surface of the horizon for the first time. Before him stood Where the Sun Sleeps, little Set, although not so little anymore, he could see! She was grown, no longer the little girl who tattled on her sisters and fetched him berries to eat by the riverside. The warmth of his smile radiated outward.

"Set, my love. What a sight for sore eyes you are!" He approached her, lowering his forehead to hers, "How I've missed you, daughter."

After a moment, he stepped back and looked at the scene before him and laughed.

The gaping little Acha. The defensive young Totoma. His laugh was deep and the happiness of it could be felt like the warmth of the sun above.

"Yes, little one, it is. But it's a magic bird, you see. It never rots. And!" He reached under the wing and plucked two feathers, setting them down on the ground between them, "No matter how many feathers I pull, it never runs out. Isn't that fun?"

He locked eyes with the white Totoma and lowered his head in respect.

"I mean your sister no harm, little one. Such a great protector you are! I'd rather not fight with such a formidable foe." He smiled.

Watch looked back to his daughter with warm eyes, "Set, my love, are these children yours?"

@Lirilei

[Lirilei]

He listened of course as Brook spoke to the strange kin, interested though he wasn't about to show it. Nope, he had it in his little head to play protector. Still a magic bird?! that seemed pretty interesting...he glanced at the feathers briefly, only to glance back up when he was addressed.

To be called a formidable foe made him puff up in pride, and since their mom seemed okay with the strange kin, and was talking to him, he guessed he might maybe be okay. Perhaps.

Still, there was a wary "I'm watching you..." even as he stopped getting between the older kin and his sister, and instead stood at her side to listen.

@Blinded By Silence