07-23-2020, 07:46 PM
On the day of Julia's birth, Raul had found himself once more in awe of the love he was capable of feeling. Each child that he and Warlight brought into the world was as beautiful as the last, each a unique soul to be treasured. They had meant to wait. They really had. But when their youngest made herself known to them, the gruff stallion couldn't help but feel a thrill of pride and excitement that they're family would be growing once again.
Now she was here, and he found himself delighting once again in introducing his youngest daughter to the things her elder sisters had already grown bored with. Beautiful flowers and fragrant herbs, strangly formed stones and the songs of every bird he could name. She drank it all in with wide eyes and a smile he couldn't deny.
That morning he had taken her to the sunny clearing where pumice and obsidian floes cut through the greenery. The dark glass shone black and brown in the daylight, and he'd pointed out how it formed from the lava Tephra's volcano produced. And then, yes, there'd been a bird with more colors than a sunrise, and he knew her attention was compromised.
When the brightly plumed creature had taken it's leave, the pair returned home, his little one chattering all the way and he slipping in answers when he could. His smile was fond as they returned to her mother's side, only turning concerned as his darkly patterned wife rose to greet them.
He too saw the parallels between the plague that had torn into her once, and her current condition. There was no arguing with her, though. As helpless as he felt again watching and able to do nothing but sometimes ease the symptoms, it was her path to follow. He did his best to support that, though sometimes he wasn't sure why. Often it made his own failure at the mountain sting all the more.
At the very least, it was no burden to have Julia as his little shadow most days, to be the source of parental guidance for the elder two when Warlight's pain was particularly ragged. Today though, she seemed well. Enough to greet their spirited daughter warmly, and to encourage more. Raul settled beside them, contented for the time being to watch this piece of his family be.
A soft laugh answered Julia's exclamation, his two toned eyes meeting the elder mare's. "I think we may be collecting feathers later." He added, wondering briefly how many different colored ones they could gather. Enough for a whole rainbow, he was sure. Perhaps even Laia would be willing to donate some shed plumage.
@[Warlight] @[Julia]
Now she was here, and he found himself delighting once again in introducing his youngest daughter to the things her elder sisters had already grown bored with. Beautiful flowers and fragrant herbs, strangly formed stones and the songs of every bird he could name. She drank it all in with wide eyes and a smile he couldn't deny.
That morning he had taken her to the sunny clearing where pumice and obsidian floes cut through the greenery. The dark glass shone black and brown in the daylight, and he'd pointed out how it formed from the lava Tephra's volcano produced. And then, yes, there'd been a bird with more colors than a sunrise, and he knew her attention was compromised.
When the brightly plumed creature had taken it's leave, the pair returned home, his little one chattering all the way and he slipping in answers when he could. His smile was fond as they returned to her mother's side, only turning concerned as his darkly patterned wife rose to greet them.
He too saw the parallels between the plague that had torn into her once, and her current condition. There was no arguing with her, though. As helpless as he felt again watching and able to do nothing but sometimes ease the symptoms, it was her path to follow. He did his best to support that, though sometimes he wasn't sure why. Often it made his own failure at the mountain sting all the more.
At the very least, it was no burden to have Julia as his little shadow most days, to be the source of parental guidance for the elder two when Warlight's pain was particularly ragged. Today though, she seemed well. Enough to greet their spirited daughter warmly, and to encourage more. Raul settled beside them, contented for the time being to watch this piece of his family be.
A soft laugh answered Julia's exclamation, his two toned eyes meeting the elder mare's. "I think we may be collecting feathers later." He added, wondering briefly how many different colored ones they could gather. Enough for a whole rainbow, he was sure. Perhaps even Laia would be willing to donate some shed plumage.
@[Warlight] @[Julia]