teya had not wanted to return to their island, not since @Sorana had almost drowned. she had insisted that @Reyes and herself take their daughter far from the lakeshore, to a rendezvous at the juncture of a sleepy riverbend and rolling, lavender-carpeted foothills.
butterflies flitted. bees bumbled to and fro. and best of all, it was close enough to jay and the others, with no water in between. 
the raven gently nudged sorana. "go and play," she encouraged, trying to keep her jaws from gaping into a wide yawn. there was little joy in the day, only in the happiness she hoped their little girl would glean from their new outing.