Little claws scrabbled for a hold on her brother's hide as she crawled over him, until she was interrupt by a descending swan's neck and a large, insistent nose. They smelt of home - but she was in the middle of something - intrusion, unwelcome and yet inherently welcoming. Bright. Ow. "Gahraoww!" What was supposed to be an annoyed counter nudge was embued, accidentally, with unstable magic.

He pushed their nose away with more power than they appeared to be capable of, a small wumph! Of air and matter pushed where he willed it. Surprised but satisfied, he clambered over his sibling, and proceeded to lick Alek's head from above, hitting several eyes while he did. His echo. His brother.

The other sibling was left tragically unnoticed - for now.

@Cadenza

They could not describe the feeling that came with Sprig's decision to accept parenthood, even as they tried to think of words. Whatever the feeling was, however, it was undeniably positive. It was a kind of awe, maybe, they thought, but their heart felt warm and fluttery again.

Cadenza's head was unexpectedly knocked away. It seemed this child, at least, expressed magic differently than her parent. They winced. That could have been bad. Cadenza had seen a small bird killed with magic such as that.

"That, little ones, is magic. Be careful how you use your magic, especially around family, because it may hurt others. But, it can also be used to help." They tried to keep it simple. It was good that they were going to their deer-dad, since he had volunteered to teach the children magic.

Cadenza watched their pale fish-child, and after ascertaining that she meant no harm to her brother, they glanced at Sprig, hoping their ember gaze showed their warm feelings towards the lion hybrid. He was going to be an excellent dad to their children.

Then their gaze was surveying the area, in case of dangers. After determining it was safe enough, they continued. "We should get going now," They spoke, hoping the worried undercurrent in their tone was only audible to Sprig. They did not want to rush their children, but it was sadly necessary. They gently regarded the clumsy kooru-child.

"Follow, little ones. I will lead the way." They moved at a pace that the children could keep up with, glancing behind to make sure they were following. They would have plenty of time to speak on the way to Orion.

[Exit Cadenza?]

@Alek

The blue-grey draconic fish-child had been so focused on his dad that he had missed his hissing sibling's intent to tackle him. Whatever the intention of his sibling, she had been gently nudged away. But now she was back and licking his face, causing him to miss the explanation of magic.

Affection was nice, he decided as he endured it, his many eyes closed so that saliva would not get in them. "Mhm!" He answered his dad with a noise that sounded vaguely affirmative. Then an actual word. "Good!"

He opened his eyes when he heard Cadenza moving. He needed to stay close! He stretched his neck around to gently nip at the sibling clambering on him, then licking him back to show that he appreciated the affection still. "Follow!" He informed him, and then shook him off as best he could.

Walking was weird, he quickly decided. His limbs felt all strange and awkward. But he followed, still.

[Exit Alek?]

It seemed that neither of them actually payed attention to Cadenza's explanation, intent to do what seemed to come naturally to both of the fish children - gnawing at eachother's face with affectionate abandon. Her sibling made more noises, and she similarly disregarded them.

What Alek meant as reciprocation was poorly recieved. The gemling shrunk away, the skin that wrapped itself around his skull wrinkling with displeasure as he let out a low, long hiss. They untangled themselves, and the goblin gave his brother a head-bob of acknowledgement. 'Follow' had been the only word he cared to listen to so far.

She scurried forth to follow her family, away from a threat unseen.

[exit Gaheris]