Wheeling Gull Isle I could stay here for a lifetime.

Hoping for @Daiyu but AW!

Trips beyond the threshold of the whelping den had become a more regular occurrence in the days since that first venture, but timid little Luli never wandered far. While the more bolder of her siblings roamed the area and tested the adults' patience, the dappled seadragon remained on her best behaviour.

She watched the world go by that afternoon, tiny ears twitching curiously at the nearby caw of seagulls that argued over food. The sun warmed her face and the youngster closed her stormy blue eyes, content to lay sleepily at the mouth of her family's hollow.

The koi colored girl was the dancer's favorite, the one that always listened and never tired to push her boundaries. She was the cinnamon roll of the litter, the little one that mined her ps and qs. There was never a problem with the little sea dragon, she was content with staying where she was.

So it was no surprise to find her spotted head in the mouth of her family's hollow, there was no telling where the wilder bunch was. A smile played on her lips as she moved with the grace of what she was, a dancer. Entering the humble abode before mimicking the little girl's posture and form, if she wished to talk she would.  As if right now, this was nice. Peaceful

Her big blue eyes cracked open, startled by the approach of another's paws. Her surprise dwindled quickly, however, as her gaze found the familiar mismatched eyes of her guardian upon her. Luli cooed happily, always glad to share Daiyu's company, and her little body wiggled along with the joyful wishes of her scruffy tail as the adult swept in close to greet her.

She mimicked the adult's infectious smile, though her own was considerably wider. Luli pulled her lips back to reveal pointed little milk fangs in the toothiest of grins, before she stumbled over the babysitter's dark forelimbs so that she might bundle in close to cuddle.

The little koi came closer, an adorable little smile on her face as she did so. Oh man, she would have anyone wrapped aroudn her little paws with that smile. Seriously, there was a reason the little girl was coddled and given affection more readily than the other little ones in the den. She watched the little one closely as she moved closer, her baby soft fure brushed against her forelimbs. She stumbled and the dancer quickly steadied her with her nose as she gathered between her paws, oh how cute! The dark girl gavethe child an affectionate lick on the top of her head,cuddling her closer.

The koi arched into the warmth of her guardian's affection, happy to babble nonsense as she settled in to snuggle.

A fond kiss was delivered between her rosy ears and, eager to return the gesture, Luli twisted her little body and reached out, tiny tongue aiming for the adult's raven chin. Mission accomplished, the youngster flopped to her side and rolled onto her side, belly exposed and prepared to be tickled.

The raven dancer was given affection in return, a tiny pressure of a tongue and nose against her chin. This was where she was jealous of her siren queen, grateful that she allowed someone like her to be in charge of sure precious beings. It made her want some of her own but she shuddered on how to accomplish that, instead she focused on the koi dragon before her. Her belly up and exposed for an invited tickling, she would do exactly when she was told. Her nose skimmed over her pale belly fur before wiggling back and forth,  a smile blooming on her features. A sparkle in her eyes.

In the company of her most regular and beloved babysitter, happiness came easily to little Luli. Although she was unable to provide the option of nursing like her mother could, Daiyu offered a level of comfort in other ways: with regurgitated meat, with words in the cubs' mother tongue, with unlimited snuggles and endless playtime.

The koi had adored her from the very beginning, this secondary parent, and looked upon her dark features with utmost love. When a delicate snout poked at her pudgy underbelly, the child laughed gleefully and batted playfully at a whisker with a dainty paw.

"Yuuu," she cooed, joy in her attempt at butchering the guardian's name, and her scruffy little tail did not cease its rapid wagging.