Forward by Choice didn't think he had a poor relationship with Heart's other children, but it was clear to him (even when no one said it out loud) that some of them would always keep him at a distance. Heart would never put words to her thoughts, but Forward could see that the doe would greatly prefer her family be more than civil with each other.

So he would do his best, in his own way, to maintain what civil relationship he had with her other children. Case in point: their recent trek beyond the swamps yielding some interesting discoveries. The tea dragons and cave worms they found on this trek were at first just novelties but some of them looked a little too familiar to the totoma and the kimeti that, well, it made sense to bring some of them back to the swamp.

Forward was more than happy to let Heart decide what to do with most of them but there was one cave worm he requested he be allowed to find a home for. Which was why he went out of his way to go to the den of Smoldering Ember, cave worm in tow.

xdoomsayer wrote:ayun, nagawa ko rin!

The cold weather and the recent equinox has given Smoldering Ember more time to snuggle up with Sun-Cursed as she returned from her evening excursions and before he needed to get up in the morning to leave her in deep sleep and do his daily activities. Sun-Cursed, along with her pets and familiars had already put in the effort to gather up fur and feathers and turn them into bundles for extra warmth in the den. They also helped a lot in collecting kindling for fire as the nights grow steadily more crisp. But he wanted the entire den to be warm for all of the pets and any visitors that may arrive in the coming season, so Smoldering Ember decided to spend today rooting out the leaves and branches he crammed into the top of the canopy of his mangrove root den and replace it with clay from the nearby tributaries.

During the hot season, he would seal up the holes in the canopy of his mangrove root den with dead leaves and branches so that they would block the light but still let in the cool air and let out the hot air. Now that the cold air of the impending winter has come in, he has decided to start with the annual cleaning out of the detritus and replacing it with clay sealant. Once the clay hardens, it would serve the same purpose of keeping out the sunlight to protect Sun-Cursed on the inside, as well as the added bonus of keeping out the cold and retaining the warmth. It is a seasonal convenience he has had access to ever since he made his mangrove roots home here in the tributaries. Eventually, all of his neighbors would also do the same and he and his familiars would lend a helping hoof whenever they could.

With the help of Night Strike and Grove Guardian, together they would haul a pile of clay from the tributary bed towards the den. Grove guardian would then get into position with Night Strike mounted on top of him while Ember would toss up a chunk of the clay to the intended area on the canopy which Night Strike would then intercept on a jump to tamp down onto the holes with cat-like precision.

Their day went on like this, with the occasional water and food break to disrupt the monotony of the labor, well into the time when the sun would just be starting to sink into the horizon.

It was at this time that Smoldering Ember would see Forward by Choice coming from a short distance away.

HuniPi wrote:

Forward by Choice may have timed his arrival to be just at the cusp of sunset knowing that should there be any complications, a certain acha doe would be awake and aware of company. The totoma buck wasn't particularly curious about his not-son's relations but Heart was over the moon with happiness and he promised he would share with her his thoughts. He didn't pause or slow his gait to glance over his shoulder. He was confident enough in Duty's and Honor's abilities to keep up and keep their souvenir in line.

"Good evening, Not-son," Forward greeted when he caught sight of Ember and knew he himself had come into the kimeti's view. Trailing behind him were three creatures. The eaglehound and lion, both bearing a striking resemblance to their chosen master, flanked a rather unique-looking cave worm with a familiarly colored carapace. The large insect wasn't shy or scared, but it had been cowed by Remorse enough to not struggle or fight back.

"Your mother sends you and your den-mate her warmest regards. As well as an invitation to visit her den again." The totoma began his practiced spiel but he wasn't one for many words and after the initial pleasantries he promised to convey from Heart, he went straight to the point. "Your mother and I's recent trek to the caves yielded some interesting discoveries. I figured this one ought to be yours."

At the slightest of gestures, the lion and eaglehound firmly coaxed the cave worm to step forward and present itself. Though they rested on their haunches, they were still ready and prepared to remind the insect why aggression is only to be directed at prey.

doomsayer wrote:

Ember loves his mother. She is an inspiration, a great caregiver, and the owner of the kindest heart he will ever know. He understands and accepts that she also loves everyone. To the point that that love has borne fruit and granted him many siblings in the process. It was not uncommon for one to have many lovers that come into one's life, then move on. Heck, his own father falls under that category for Heart and Home. But of all of his mother's partners, Forward by Choice is the one that has chosen to linger around her--not that he has a problem with that!

Yet Ember has always been irked by how Forward treats him. He heard, in vague terms, from Heart and Home that the totoma has gone through a lot in his life and those experiences have made Forward awkward and seemingly distant. But none of that explains how Forward by Choice never fails to make Ember feel like an inexperienced young buck--regardless of how old the latter is and the many things he knows he's been through himself. Just hearing Forward use the term "not-son" silently infuriates Ember. On one hand, it reassures him that at least Forward knows that he doesn't consider the totoma anywhere near a father figure; but on the other hand it inexplicably vexes him that this buck considers him a child still!

Yet Forward by Choice has proven to be a stable and supportive partner to his mother time and again. Ember knows there really is nothing to be mad at this buck about, but he just can't help but to feel off about him.

"Good evening, Forward by Choice." He refuses to shorten the totoma's name on his tongue or use any other moniker that would give the impression that they have any semblance of bond between them. "Please let mother know Sun-Cursed and I would be happy to visit her soon, and that she is, of course, always welcome to come by if she wants."

Ember looks over Forward's familiars and did not miss their similarities with his own--a feline and an eaglehound. He pushed back the thought, knowing that dwelling on this fact and whether it was done by the totoma on purpose to build some sort of camaraderie between them would only serve to annoy him further. He wanted to be civil, as his mother wants between everyone she considers a part of her family, so he took a deep breath and shifted his attention to the cave worm that Forward had brought him. It did indeed sport Ember's colors. He would never understand how these creatures would find their way to the kin that most visually resembles them. His own eaglehound Grove Guardian was already approaching the worm, sniffing it and sizing it up.

"It's a strange creature for sure. I don't think I've ever seen a cave worm quite like it. Where exactly did you and mother find it? Also, would you like to come in for some water and a meal? It would be rude of me not to offer you at least something to eat since you've made it all this way."

HuniPi wrote:

Under normal circumstances, Forward by Choice would have declined the offer and returned to his territory after having successfully handed over the familiar. But he was here to improve or at least maintain a cordial relationship with one of Heart's many children. Staying would be the appropriate course of action, he couldn't always rely on companions to handle social matters.

"Of course, Heart's aware of where she's welcome but she appreciates hearing it all the same." Forward didn't get to see much of Ember's den-mate before hearing the news about her, and while he can't say he was curious, it only made sense he use this opportunity to get a better look at her.

"Just some water would be enough. Thank you for the offer of a meal." Forward made sure to say that part out loud, putting into practice some of the little lessons he learned from observing Heart.

Forward's lion and eaglehound backed away to give Ember's own familiars the chance to observe and interact with the cave worm. "There were a few of them, deep in the zikwa caves. They're more aggressive than usual but if your familiars coordinate well together, it'd be easier to earn their respect."

doomsayer wrote:

Smoldering Ember recognized that hint of hesitation from Forward by Choice in accepting his offer. His mother had told him that Forward by Choice was quite withdrawn and "in his own mind" a lot when they first met. Though he could not relate to the older Totoma's disposition, he was still impressed by the latter's improvement with regards to socializing--especially in this scenario where he was not traveling with Heart and Home.

"I'm confident that Night Strike and Grove Guardian can reign it in. It will be interesting to see what its capabilities are and how I can put it to work helping around here, though I will most likely have to tie it up out here for the time being so Sun-Cursed and I can get her other smaller critters used to it and it used to them."

Together with his familiars, Ember corralled the worm into a nook on the outside of the mangroves. The lion and eaglehound of Forward by Choice assisted without being asked, spreading out in order to block any escape routes that the worn might have taken. It took some time, but after learning how sharp the flared hood of the worm was as it cut through the first attempt to tie it down, eventually Ember was able to get a vine securely tied onto the creatures' torso. He was amused at how feisty the worm was. He would have to name it appropriately once it came around.

Nodding to Forward by Choice, he turned to enter his den, "Let me get you that water and see if Sun-Cursed is up so you can meet her."

HuniPi wrote:

Sun-Cursed was half-awake by the time Ember came in to inform her that they had a visitor along with a new addition to their little family. "Good evening, My Warmth," she greeted muzzily, half-wanting to go back to sleep given the nippy air outside their den. But she knew the longer she resisted getting up, the harder it would be for her to leave the warmth of the bedding and her fluffier familiars. She grudgingly got to her feet, shivering slightly from the loss of her familiar's heat but she was more than happy to lean against the large, sturdy frame of her kimeti partner. "So warm," she sighed contently.

doomsayer wrote:

Smoldering Ember felt Sun-Cursed lean against him. He smiled at her and bent down to nuzzle his snout gently to her cheek. They had developed this habit of basking in each other's light and warmth as soon as one of them would wake or before one of them would retire to bed. It made the fact that they had to spend some time awake while the other slept much more bearable. Though he was shy about the physical closeness of it at first, Sun-Cursed's trust in him and her ability to put him at ease just by smiling made him warm up to the act quite quickly.

He whispered quietly in her ear, "Good evening, My Light. I'm glad you're awake. I want you to say hello to my mother's partner, Forward By Choice. It doesn't have to be a conversation, he's a Totoma of few words after all. I just want him to see you and me... and us... together."

HuniPi wrote: