The gibbon Watched James leave and take a place a few yards away as he began tugging out his own feathers. STanding there watching James mutilate himself, Sun wanted so badly to take what he had said back. But then he also didn’t. He didn’t want James to physically hurt himself, but it seemed that the emotional pain he caused had turned into self mutilation. Sun stood there on the balcony watching. He was eerily calm as he sat on the balcony watching.

Soon James began to make his way back to him. The horse lay on his belly and opened his wings to Sun. He was offering a hug, the comfort he had been seeking. But was he ready to have it coming from James, he wasn’t sure. In a low voice James gave him a soft apology. Sun blinked away tears as he reluctantly took a few steps forward. He wanted so badly to feel James wing’s wrapped around him like they did so often when he was a child. He wanted to go back to when he and Aristotle had been happy, when Sun rode on James through Orion so happily. Slowly Sun made his way to James’ chest and sat down gently leaning against him. Sun began to sob uncontrollably.

@James

James almost broke down in relief as Sun crept forward, not daring to move until he crouched against his chest. Finally... he had his son back.

Tears fell down his snout as he hugged him tightly, warm wings wrapping around him. He tucked his head down and closed him in, sniffling wetly.

"I'm so sorry," he said, voice barely a whisper, "I'm sorry I left. I-I'm sorry you had to endure all this. I'm so sorry."

It was all he could do to comfort. To let Sun know that he regretted what he did and what had happened because of it. All he could do now was get better. For his family.

"You won't be alone. They won't be alone," he breathed, "Never again."

He wouldn't let them down again. They were his family. His wings. The reason he lived each day.

"I'll never leave you again," he promised.

@Sun-Wukong

Sun reluctantly situated himself against James’ chest. Part of him still wanted to yell at him, to hate him, to make him hurt. But a stronger part, a more primal urge, an urge that told him what he needed to do, not what he wanted to do. It told him he needed James. That things would be okay as long as James and Comet were with him. The gibbon though no longer a child as he was, he openly sobbed into the fur on James chest. He cried for the loss of Aristotle, he cried for the almost loss of James. He cried for himself and for Comet. He couldn’t hold it in any longer. Everything just came tumbling out all at once when he felt himself enclosed in the safety of James’ wings and embrace.

Reaching up Sun wrapped his arms as much around James’ neck as he could and held himself there just hugging the winged horse close as he cried. ”I’m sorry Renny.” Sun sobbed into James’ neck. He had wanted him to hurt as bad as he had and now he saw he may have made him hurt worse than he wanted. ”I’m sorry I yelled at you.” He cried”I just wanted to make you hurt like he had when he passed away.” Sun cried painfully through gritted teeth.

Sun let go of James neck and fell back down into his sitting position nestled against James chest. ”I don’t want to be alone. I’m so scared to be alone Renny.” The gibbon sobbed balling his fists against him. ”I don’t want my siblings to know the pain of being alone, they don’t deserve that.” Sun explained how he didn’t want them to know how he felt being alone tending the chrysalis’ on his own.


@James

James was silent, listening to Sun talk, holding him tightly and wrapping his giant wings around the gibbon, hiding him from the world, protecting him and comforting him. He curled his neck down and rested his chin against Sun's back, holding him close.

"They'll never be alone," he mumbled, "They have you, and each other, and myself and Comet and Pegasus. They'll never, ever be alone."

He breathed out and nuzzled Sun's fur gently, remembering how Aristotle would groom him and Comet when they were upset. He dragged his tongue, wet and smooth over Sun's head, trying to comfort.

"I forgive you," he mumbled, "I only hope that you'll forgive me, and that we'll never have to raise our voices or be harsh to each other ever again."

He hoped Pride was proud of him for fixing things. His eyes drifted closed and he sighed gently, ears down and feathers drooping, relaxed.

@Sun-Wukong

Sun sobbed into James’ chest, his body shaking with each breath. He ran one hand gently along James’ chest. He wanted to stay where he was. As he often did as a child. He wanted to remain in the safety and warmth of James’ wings and embrace. As he spoke his body shook, though one hand still gently brushed along James’ neck.

As James promised that the children would never be alone, and promised that they would always have at least one of them. He nodded lightly, his sobs beginning to subside into small hiccups and sniffles. Feeling James run his tongue over his head, it brought a light smile to his lips as he continued to run his hand over James neck. He wasn’t sure how much comfort or help he could be at this point to James but he now wanted to try. He wanted to mend everything, to try and mend the family for everyone’s sake.

As James said he forgave Sun and that he hoped Sun could forgive him, the gibbon nodded gently rubbing his head against James jaw in the same motion. ”I can forgive you. I might hurt still, but I can forgive you Renny.” The gibbon spoke softly through the sniffles and little hiccups. He had worked himself up so badly that his diaphragm was spasming. Do you want to be here when they hatch? I’d really like it if you were.” Sun asked his other father to come for the special day that was to come. The day that the chrysalis’ would hatch, when Aristotle’s children would be born. Sun wanted very badly for James to be there for that time and day.

@James

James nodded gently against Sun's golden fur, moving into a slightly more comfortable position. He closed his eyes and held Sun, gently rocking back and forth to soothe, his ears down and tail swishing to rest atop his legs.

"Thank you," he said softly, stifling a relieved sob as he nuzzled the gibbon tenderly, "I would love to be here. For you and for them."

He clutched Sun tightly and decided that maybe he'd keep quiet about his conversation about Ari to Pride. The gibbon was suffering enough.

"I have a home being built in Pegasus. Now we have one in Orion, one here, one in Pegasus, one of the new caves," he said, "It's beautiful, Sun. Grasses and trees and rivers. Places for Comet and Peggy to run, and these children too, should you wish to come with us. I was thinking about bringing Peggy there so I could teach him about his magic and allow him to grow up being able to run and graze all day. There's plenty of prey and I don't doubt Ari passed on his carnivorous habits. Comet could teach them to hunt-"

He was getting ahead of himself, and he fell quiet, looking down.

"But I told you I wouldn't leave. And I won't," he said, "Not unless you'll come with me. I can carry everyone there, I've got a sling that could easily carry Comet, and big enough for Peggy. But you'd be leaving here."

But James wouldn't leave Sun. Not again.

@Sun-Wukong

A soft sigh finally escaped Sun as the hiccups subsided. He sniffled, smoothing his head fur down where it was wet from tears. Reaching back up as James shifted into a more comfortable position for himself, Sun took a moment to do so as well. Then reached back up with another hand and began stroking James’ neck again.

As James thanked him, he nodded his head, again rubbing it against James’ jaw. ”We’re family, we need each other.” Sun commented softly as he admitted he did indeed need James. ”I would very much like you and Comet to be one of the first three adults they see.” Sun explained, he wanted them to know that they would have a family around that loved and cared for them. As James clutched him close he snuggled in as close as he could get to James chest and let out a soft cooing noise.

Sun tilted his head as James spoke of having a new home and having this one. Then he said he had a new one being built somewhere else. He had only ever sadly been between Orion and Eridanus. He had been too insecure to go explore unlike his bold and adventurous sister Comet. Then James began talking about this new place and smiled sadly. ”Is there fruit trees?” He asked genuinely curious. But he didn’t want to leave right away. In fact he wasn’t sure he wanted to leave Aristotle. He wasn’t sure if he was ready to leave the last home they had shared.

Sun smiled lightly and continued stroking James neck. ”You can go home to Comet and Peggy. They need you. I don’t know if I’m ready to leave daddy.” Sun admitted in a soft voice cracking as he thought of leaving.


@James

"Plenty," he said, "Pears, apples, peaches, and so many kind of berries! Strawberries, blueberries, it's amazing."

James nudged Sun gently and trilled, cooing in the back of his throat, "They need me, yes. But you need me too. I'll stay for as long as you need me, Sun."

He opened one of his wings wide, exposing his soft (and slightly pudgy) belly for snuggles, his eyes hopeful, "Rest a while? I have nowhere to be, and you can keep watch over them from here."

The stallion wasn't in the most comfortable position, but that didn't matter as long as Sun was comfortable. He'd just gotten him back.

"... A word of advice," he mumbled suddenly, "I think the Collector is to blame for at least some of this. He manipulated Ari and myself. He made Ari bring those stones, intending on killing them, forcing him into a situation he didn't want to be in. But later, he told me that Ari killed the stones himself. Stay away from the Collector, Sun. He's caused our family enough strife, and I'd hate for him to cause anymore."

@Sun-Wukong

Sun sat listening to the kinds of fruit and berries that grew in this new place. So many things he loved to eat. But would it be good for the children? Would moving so soon after they had been born be a good thing? Would taking them away from where they were born be something that would harm them? So many things he worried about, but he didn’t want to be alone.

A light smile spread over Sun’s lips as James said he would stay as long as he needed him. ”If you like, bring them here until your house in Pegasus is finished, there's plenty of room here and plenty of pelts for everyone to sleep on.” Sun offered for them to stay with him here until they had their other home ready. Perhaps by then he would be ready to leave.

”I can’t leave here for while. They still have another week or two before they’ll hatch. But if you don’t want to or can’t bring them here I’ll be okay until the little one’s hatch.” Sun explained that he would be alright for awhile. After all he had tending to the chrysalis’ to keep him busy and from thinking about the fact that he was technically alone. Besides, Comet would visit him soon again anyway. ”Comet will come visit soon again, I’ll be okay until then.” Sun was doing his best to assure James that he would be alright, and partially trying to convince himself that he would be alright on his own again.

Seeing James expose his warm soft belly, Sun let out a soft sigh and scooted down to snuggle against it. His eyes kept a watchful look on the four chrysalis’. He would protect them no matter what. He lay there against him listening as he spoke. Locking into his mind the name The Collector. He had heard Aristotle mention him when he had gone to get Last Legs, and several times as Aristotle had told him stories of the past and things he had done. The things he regretted.

”Daddy told me about the Collector. He told me about how they killed the stones. How he nearly attacked the Collector to try and get the bag of Gems back before he could kill all of them. He was willing to give up his life to protect those gems once he realized what he had done.” Sun explained now that they weren’t yelling at each other, he thought James deserved to know the truth. ”Speaking of, I haven’t seen Last Legs since daddy died.” He admitted thinking about it. He wondered where Last Legs was, and if it had gone back to the Collector.



@James

James draped his wing over Sun and nuzzled him gently, "I'd like that. I'm sure Peggy would love it here. It's warm and fun to explore. With you and Comet here to protect her, too."

He was silent as Sun described the Collector, and nodded. That's what he'd figured out, too.

Suddenly, he hissed, feathers fluffing up and his ears pinning flat against his head, "That snake. Of course he'd curse the thing to return to him. I should have known something was wrong with Ari the moment that bastard offered Last Legs to me."

He hated the Collector with all his being. Hated him.

"... Go to sleep, Sun," he said softly, "I won't go anywhere until you're awake again. I'll go and get Peggy and Comet and bring them here."

@Sun-Wukong