though her hands are full with mou's recovery, reed keeps an eye on the little ones -- aralez's, yes, and the children of the island, who are growing in leaps and bounds. a small mean (meaner than the usual) part of her is jealous of them in a way -- reed and droman were the island's children once, but they were ripped from it's shores for a brief interlude. even if the memories of her time on the mainland have mostly faded into snatches of sensation (older sibling's fur, mama's milk, arturo's teeth) she cannot wholly claim her childhood for it.
but this is a silly thing, an adolescent bitterness that holds no real sway on her opinions of them. and when she spots the small body out and about by the den, she picks up her pace, in time to watch her dear sweet fern jolt back from a crab's claw.
the nerve of the crustacean! the titian fearghal is quick to close the distance, winding her body around fern's -- the crab's escape is too hasty for reed to pursue, although it would be satisfying to slay the creature that dare hurt her dear. "this is why we don't play with crabs," she scolds instead, leaning to gently examine the small red line that's formed across her perfect little nose.
of course fern does not understand and of course reed does not begrudge her for it. satisfied the nick is exactly that, just a nick, she gives her nose a gentle lick, releasing the child from the shelter of her titian form in order to take a seat with her. "crab," she repeats, half correcting, and sighs and gives a second lick when she sees that tiny crestfallen expression. "they are smaller than us, and frightened of us, and so they pinch to scare us away," reed explains, her tail thumping against the ground in a reassuring beat. "it's best to leave them alone," she adds, clicking her teeth in apparently imitation of crab claws for added emphasis.
[font]the girl seems to heed her advice, letting reed lead her away from the dangers of sharp-clawed crustaceans without complaint. once she is satisfied fern is safe and sound within her den properly, she takes her leave, pausing on her march toward her den only to grab a tasty crab snack.[/font]