Sun watched over Long faced daddy’s long neck as fluffy daddy walked around the cave thing investigating it curiously. Sun himself was quite curious about it as the thing held objects he had never seen. Sun gave a couple hoots of excitement as he bounced on long faced daddy’s back. He wanted to get down and go investigate himself but he knew long faced daddy wouldn’t let him down. He would be afraid he would wander off most likely.

Sun let out a brilliant laugh as long faced daddy nuzzled his belly with his huge nose. In response to long face daddy nuzzling him he stretched out his arms and hugged long daddy’s nose pressing his cheek roughly to long faced daddy’s nose. I love you! Sun chimed aloud his first sentence being something he had heard the two of them say to each other far more often than they probably thought they did.


@James

James stared at Sun for a moment before looking at Ari, jaw open.

"... He said it!" James squealed in joy, "Sun said- Ari! Did you hear!"

He wanted to prance and buck in joy, but only managed the smallest of rears, which was really only him getting an inch off the ground, not even bad enough to get Sun off his back. He looked at Ari and grinned even harder at his suggestion.

"Oh I'm so glad," he said, "I met with some people recently, they want to start a village in Eridanus. A proper village! I didn't know how to tell you, I didn't think you'd want to leave your garden. But I thought about how wonderful it would be for the children to grow up surrounded by people who loved them and thought you'd like it."

James smiled and nuzzled Ari softly, "The only thing is... how are we to get it all there? Carrying Abraxas was hard enough, but all those trips would take so long!"

@Aristotle

Ari

Hope is but a waking dream

Aristotle stood watching the exchange between Sun and James. It was a beautiful scene to see the tiny gibbon loving the horse back holding his tiny arms around James’ nose. As Sun spoke his first sentence a brilliant smile spread over Aristotle’s muzzle. Sun, I’m so proud! The lion cried out his voice cracking with excitement. As James was practically tripping over himself to talk Aristotle just nodded his head and smiled. I heard. He’s learning quick. Aristotle said as he watched James and Sun. He couldn’t honestly have been any prouder.

As Aristotle bridged the idea of moving back to Eridanus, James seemed to deflate with relief over him bringing up the subject. Though he simply blinked for a moment staring at James a bit confused as to why. A village? What was even a village?James I don’t know what a village is but it sounds nice. As for leaving my garden it’ll be alright. We can always come back sometime. Aristotle suggested they could always come back to his garden. Besides it would put them much closer to his little hideout in the darker part of the tunnel.

Aristotle purred loudly as he returned the nuzzle from James. There was the question he had been not wanting to bring up. I’ve heard of a creature in Canis, they’re called The Collector. I hear they can give you things in exchange for something. I was thinking they could give us something to help us with our move. Aristotle brought it up, he knew James would want to go with him, but it was going to be dangerous and besides someone would need to stay home with Sun. I’ll go ask them by myself and see if they can’t help us. Aristotle wasn’t sure how James was going to take him saying he was going alone.


@James

Sun hooted happily as he snuggled into long face daddy’s nose. When he spoke long face daddy seemed to get so excited his body was vibrating. Then he was stammering falling over his own words trying to talk to fluffy daddy. Sun was quite confused as to why long faced daddy was so happy. Had he done something to make them proud?

Whatever he had done he hooted and whooped with excitement. If daddy’s were happy then he should be happy too! His little hands tightly gripped James’ mane as he bounced and bobbed from side to side. The little monkey giving out a squeal of delight as long face daddy reared ever so slightly, this he seemed to like strangely. It would seem that Sun was getting quite good at riding on long faced daddy’s back.


@James

James pressed his head into Ari's mane and hummed, "A village is a group of people who live in one place. Sometimes they make families, like our's, and sometimes they live alone, but they typically make their own housings. But the villagers- those who live in the village- typically have a role to play. Like... building things, growing things, babysitting the children while the parents are working. Things like that. And maybe there will be other young children for Sun and Abraxas to play with."

He licked a wet stripe up Ari's face and smiled, "The Collector? I haven't heard of them! Stay safe, alright? I can look after Sun and Abaraxas while you're gone and get some one-on-one time!"

James turned to nose Sun again, cooing at him in utter adoration, though he didn't use a baby voice, "How does that sound, Sunny? Wanna hang out with me for a while? We can play some games and I can teach you how to run with me."

@Aristotle

Ari

Hope is but a waking dream

Aristotle purred, pressing into the affection from James. I see, that actually sounds rather nice. Do you think they would let me practice my medicine and keep everyone healthy? In more than a few words, it was clear Aristotle wanted to be a doctor of some sort. Perhaps through the means of utilizing plants and their natural properties. I’m sure Sun and ABraxas would like that very much. I bet the poor little guy is lonely only having us to be around. Aristotle noted that Sun would need the social interactions with other children to grow up to be a good and well mannered boy.

Yes they are a mysterious creature that wears a cloak, whatever that is. And they wear a mask over their real face so no one knows what they really look like. Aristotle took a moment to explain. The only way the lion had heard of them was in his walks he took through the ruins and the voices he caught from inside the ruined dens. He had stopped for a moment one time just to listen to the story for a moment to learn a bit. He thought one day the information might come in handy.

Aristotle lifted a bit so that his front paws were off the ground and he was up high enough he could nuzzle into the crook where James’ neck met his shoulders. The lion pressed his face in nuzzling James affectionately. I will stay as safe as I possibly can, I promise. The lion would do his best to come home in one piece, but he had no idea what The Collector would ask of him when he asked his request. Standing up a bit high on his back legs his front legs hanging down so his front paws touched his belly. The lion leaned forward gently nuzzling Sun’s belly before dropping back down on all fours. Taking a few steps in direction he had learned to go he stopped and looked back one last time. Finally he turned around with a heavy sigh he took off in the direction of the room of bones.


EXIT ARISTOTLE TO GO FIND THE COLLECTOR
@James

Sun squealed happily as long faced daddy nuzzled his belly again. Sun bounced joyously on long faced daddy’s back, his hands gripping the sides of long faced daddy’s muzzle. Gently Sun let his hands slide to the top of long faced daddy’s muzzle, his fingers opening and closing them on the soft black flesh of his nose. Long faced daddy’s breath tickled as he breathed in his belly fur, this ushering out a giggle and a squirm as Sun pushed at long faced daddy’s nose. Tickles! He burst out as he tried to push away Long faced daddy’s nose.

Then fluffy daddy and long faced daddy were talking about things he didn’t understand he occupied himself by playing with long faced daddy’s mane. Then fluffy daddy’s mane was tickling the bottom of his foot, as he showed long faced daddy affection. Then he stood up as tall as he could and fluffy daddy pressed his nose into Sun’s belly. Then Sun watched him drop down back to his normal posture. Then he was leaving, where was he going. Long face daddy wasn’t following fluffy daddy! Why weren’t they going? Go! Go! Why no go!?! Sun cried in protest as he watched fluffy daddy leaving them. Sun bounced up and down and this way and that trying to get long faced daddy to move and follow him.


@James

James watched Ari go and grunted as Sun started bouncing, turning to face the gibbon, "Calm down, Sunny! You're going to hurt me if you do that too hard."

He licked at Sunny's hands and snorted, turning back towards the ruins, "Dad will be back soon, I promise."

He made his way back to their place, so colorful and bright, full of life despite no one being home with all the baubles hung up. He turned to look at Sun and smiled.

"If we're going to be going all the way to Eridanus... you need to be able to stay on me no matter what happens," he said, "For if I trip and fall, I can't catch you so easily.
So today we can practice your hanging on and bailing. All you have to do is grip my mane super tight, and when I say, jump off. Can you do that?"

@Sun-Wukong

Sun let out the angriest sound he could possibly muster, and it came out as a mix between a growl and scream. Sun stopped bouncing but slammed his hands down on the back of long faced daddy’s neck. We go! He protested obviously not wanting them to split up. The little Gibbon let out an angry huff and watched as fluffy daddy disappeared around a wall, now gone from sight it caused the little Gibbon to slump forward. Softly he let out little hoots and coos as if he were moping. Daddy no go. The little gibbon spoke in a muffled soft voice.

Slowly the little gibbon lay out across long face daddy’s neck. He wasn’t crying, however he was very clearly pouting. Daddy be safe? Sun asked long faced daddy worried that he would come back hurt. He knew fluffy daddy was strong and able to take care of himself, but would he be okay by himself?

The little gibbon sat listening to long faced daddy talk. From the sounds of it they were going somewhere, and weren’t coming back here for a long time. Gently the little gibbon flexed his fingers in long faced daddy’s mane. Then he was explaining that he needed to jump off when he was told to. The little gibbon glanced at the ground. That was a long way for such a little gibbon. Will try. The little gibbon responded in a rather unsure tone. He would do as long faced daddy said, if he thought he could do it and still be safe. Then he trusted long faced daddy.


@James

"Don't hit," James scolded, "He'll be back. He'll stay safe like he promised. He has us to come home to, afterall. Daddy has claws and sharp teeth to defend himself, and he can run very fast, too. He will be fine, I assure you."

He got down to his knees and lay down, looking back at Sun, "We will start slow. Ari told me you're like one of his friends, who climbs trees. So you might be good at climbing too. Why don't you try climbing on me?"

James wouldn't get Sun to jump from so high up, especially not on rock. He'd perhaps practice with the bed near, so that if the child fell, he wouldn't get so injured. He sighed, wishing he had a hand to hold Sun's, to provide some sort of comfort to him. But he'd have to make do with his nose for now.

@Sun-Wukong