Cerulean Cape harvester

days had passed since the last time the young boys had seen their family. 

it had been an afternoon like any other.  golden light shimmered down where the dense foliage above broke to reveal the sky.  elias was further from home than he should have been.  he was alongside the river's edge, playing with his reflection and the dancing sunlight.

then, he slipped —

and though he had no memory of it, he cried out before his head had submerged.  it was @Panacea who had heard him, though when his brother arrived at the river's edge, there was no one to be found.

— the next thing he knew was a pain so great it was indescribable.  his eyes and lungs burned, his throat was raw, his breath shallow and ragged.

the first thing he saw was panacea, who had run to his aid.  the next was his savior; a woman so pale and benevolent she seemed to glow. he was awashed with the feeling of safety before once again he succumbed to unconsciousness.

the woman carried him, leading panacea up the coast.  she was in no place to care for these children herself and had been unable to find their parents.  unwilling to explain herself, she told the children to wait and disappeared, certain that one of the many nearby packs she scented would take pity on what she assumed to be two poor orphans.

tags for reference, making some assumptions.. pls dm me if anything needs changed

though it took great effort on her behalf, she had left @Ego's side to set out for akashingo.  she had spoken with @The Listener.  spring had come in full, and it was time for her to meet again with the pharoh and retrieve belen. instead, she would retrieve something else.

she was not far from blackwater when she found them.  washed of their scent, she could not determine whose they were.  overcome with concern, she spoke softly: young ones.  are your parents nearby?

cameo post! feel free to pp him arriving & tag me, if needed <3

Ego had not tried very hard to stay behind. Any excuse to escape the weather-beaten island grove was good enough for him -- and tracking Marina along the coastline was entertainment enough. He thought she might laugh to see him padding after her like a tethered dog; he felt slightly foolish, himself, but he loped on. Privately, he wondered if she would insist that he give her space, as she traipsed alone from pack to pack on her dutiful ventures. He wondered further if he could comply with a deal like that.

She was his mate, of course, so naturally he felt he belonged where she was.

He was still a ways behind for now, out of sight and perhaps out of mind, but gaining steadily on his mate's position as she paused to intercept the lives of two fairly young children.

moving this forward with @Panacea's permission.  not in the habit of threading with myself so i'm going to close it here!

she asks him a question that falls on deaf ears.  she repeats herself, even softer this time.  elias shakes, his mouth parting dumbly.  m- muhh, ummm, he stutters, unable to conjure any words.  finally, he shakes his head.

come with me, she says, turning towards blackwater, catching @Ego's eye as she led them home.