Deeply upset about something they imagined was true--and it wasn't... The first piece of parental advice for dealing with children, and yet...

Cadenza was an adult, if somewhat lacking in life experiences, but they realized this may have been exactly what they had done with regards to their dragon-dad's words. They had taken the words spoken by him poorly and ran off upset. Yet, their dragon-dad had not meant to hurt Cadenza with his words, would never mean to hurt them in any way.

Still, Cadenza merely dipped their head in acknowledgement. They would explain and talk to their dragon-dad when they returned. For now, they were here to talk to and gather more advice from their deer-dad.

And there was more advice to listen to now already. The idea of their children wandering off was unnerving, yet, this advice was sound. "What if they want to wander off in different directions? I cannot split myself into three." Unless there was magic for that, though that sounded like the more dangerous sort of magic if it existed.

They paused, realizing they had gotten somewhat distracted from food yet again as hunger reminded them of its existence. "Could we start going to Eridanus now?"

@Acheron

Acheron had nothing to interject, here--she had no parental experience whatsoever and herself didn't feel mature enough to try. She was, in many ways, still a 'kid' herself.

Still, a nugget of wisdom prompted her to offer up a thought a few moments after Cadenza had spoken--a brief, thoughtful idea. "It might be worth talking to other parents, too, while you're out here--to get as many perspectives as you can!"

She couldn't really think of any other parents off the top of her head--and half her mind was already in Eridanus, now, looking forward to a meal.

Pride laughed, loudly and heartily, at Cadenza's first question. He was not laughing at them, but--as would become clear by the good-natured tone of his laughter and his answer--at the idea of children doing this, in general. "They may. No--they will! You have to tell them no. At least, when they are younger," he corrected. "Older children will explore by themselves, and learn--that's the way of things. But if you have--if I had--three young who wanted to go three different ways, I'd suggest a journey of all four of us to each place in turn. An adventure they all can learn from. Perhaps travel to one cave, explore it for a day, then rest and move on to the next! And I'd ask what they expect from it, to tailor it further so they enjoy it."

The easy way he spoke of this suggested, too, that he'd faced similar things before. That he'd learned, via having kids of his own and dealing with similar issues, to adapt. It didn't sound, either, like it would be much of a problem to handle with, at least via his own perspective.

"Let's go, then. Mischief--you can stay or come with us, back to Eridanus," he said, glancing back at his familiar. She scrambled up against his neck, then settled there, answering that question with firm action--and Pride shot an amused look Cadenza's way. "She's like another child, at times," he confessed, with clear humor.

He turned, picking his way back the way he'd come, hooves clicking on the rock. "So tell me, what sort of foods exactly do you prefer..?" Perhaps their tastes had evolved a little since their last visit to the gardens--and Pride knew Eridanus well.

red deer img credit - dan seagrave

exit? Want to put up an Eridanus thread, or we can off-screen, or I can put it up? Idm whichever!

@Cadenza

Cadenza looked thoughtful. More perspectives from other parents was likely a good idea, but for now, they were content to hear from their deer-dad. They would likely ask if he knew any other parents at some point, but not right now.

Their deer-dad's insights were fascinating and helpful, just as they had hoped. "That is very helpful, thank you," Sincerity radiated from the antlered dragon, as it always did.

"Fruits are good! But so are grass and other plants. Actually, I met another gembound that shared with me the concept of cooking food. Have you heard of cooking? It is... making food into tastier food, as it was described to me," They were content to happily ramble about this subject, especially considering their hunger.

For now, they allowed themself to be distracted from their worries.

[Exit Cadenza]

@Acheron

i am unsure at the moment, since i have some catching up to do with regards to replies, but i'll let you know after that which it will be, if that is okay?

"Fuck yeah," murmured Acheron, "fruits." She said it quietly--her father didn't always strictly approve of the language she'd picked up around the caves--but it seemed that she was a fan, at least, of... fruit.

Her hooves clicked as she trotted on. "Cooking-? What's that?"

Behind her, Pride fell silent, striding amiably along, keeping quiet watch as they walked.

exit Acheron & Pride!

@Cadenza for visibility--yeah that's fine!!