Witch's Marsh You might need his help some day

Travel thread! Tags are for reference mostly. Much of the conversations referenced are behind-the-scenes, but I will edit if anything seems off!

Her mother was awake and it was Ibis that wanted to be at her side, basking in the glory that was Seabreeze, but she was still so hazy - half the time, unable to even look at her daughter. Ibis didn't know what to do to help her, so she left her mothers together. Olive would know how to handle things, she thought. But that also brought thoughts of daddy to her mind. Did he know what happened after Yule? Did he know that mom was awake again? Since she couldn't help her mother in any real way (and having grown somewhat despondent during her long-lasting sleep prior to her waking), Ibis was eager to get away from the Willows and do something — anything at all — that might help. If her efforts simultaneously got her away from her troubles for a while, then so be it.

She enlisted her dear brother @Okeanos first, proposing to him that they go and see their daddy. He might know what to do! Or at the very least, it would be an adventure shared between the siblings. Seeing Terance at the celebration that night had been difficult for Ibis, but she pined for the presence of a parent. Olive was fine, she was lovely and attentive and everything — but Ibis was feeling alienated, and she thought that a visit to her daddy might help.

Ibis found her mother and explained to @Olive what she wanted to do; but, since she'd only been home for a few weeks since her last attempt, it made sense that both the girl and her mother were wary about the danger. Ibis promised she'd not do anything by herself; she had mentioned her brother, but it was Olive that insisted that @Delight go with them. So, together the trio set off. It was good they had an adult with them too - he likely had some idea of where they were going.

It took a while but eventually they stopped for a drink, rest, and bite to eat. Delight went off to find something for the kids to munch on, leaving Ibis with her brother — just the way she liked it. The world was a great big thing swarming around them, and she was glad to have Okeanos with her to share the experience (even if they'd stopped in a gross marsh and the air smelled like dead animal farts, phew!).

mama's hurt has weighed heavily on the boy, stuck to her side like glue. oh, it's so hard! she's awake and that's good as far as he's been told, but it's like she's somewhere far away, her eyes unfocussed, her words slow or strange. he's a good boy, a strong boy, and he stays anyway, but he doesn't know what to do about it, or if he can do anything at all. when ibby comes to him with her suggestion okeanos agrees immediately, though he does not like the idea of being too far from mama--he can't let ibby go out on her own, it's his job to look after her. and it would be nice to see papa again--really, okeanos likes these little back and forth trips to the hollow. 

he lets ibby handle asking mama oly, also gladdened by delight's presence on their journey. as they travel okeanos asks questions, occasionally, both interested to get to know the quiet, effeminate parent of mali and brilliance, and to map out for himself their path, in case he and ibis decide to go again by themselves sometime. mostly, though, he spends time with his sister, plopping himself down on a relatively dry patch of marsh as delight goes to get them dinner. he peers at her from between his not-so-oversized-anymore paws, concern apparently in his apple green eyes. "how're ya doin?"

She's sitting upon one of the more stable segments of the marsh, looking down at the mostly-frozen pond spreading out before her. In some places the water reflects her pale fur. In others, the ice sheens and distorts her. Maybe this is what Seabreeze was feeling like right now — present, but not in the right way. Blurry and confusing. Ibis took one paw and reached towards the nearest bit of ice, touching it with her little toe beans and putting a little weight there; it was too much pressure, and with a crackle the ice split. She withdrew with a sharp jolt of movement as if the ice had hurt her. The split crept up and twisted through her reflection's face.

Then, there was Okeanos. He was close and leaning against her, sharing his warmth like they always did. Ibis was staring at the split in the ice for a moment longer but when he spoke, she turned her attention away from it.

I'm scared for mum. She started to explain, but even saying that much was difficult. Her throat felt like it was constricting and her tongue was so dry — so she was quiet again, and resorted to burrowing her little nose against his warm dark fur. Her big eyes reflected some of the ambient light, but that's all that was poking over his shoulder. Okeanos was so much bigger than her by now and he looked so much like daddy — a thought that made her sigh deeply.