Hushed Willows our time will come, too

okeanos is not yet at the meeting, dear sister, because he has taken it upon himself to appoint himself guardian over the other children. nevermind the fact that they are older than him and would, honestly, probably prefer for him to be dead, all things considered. okeanos is wise beyond his years and he knows it is his solemn duty to take care of not only ibby but poor mali and brilliance, because no one else seems like they're going to.

really, he'd happened upon mali snoozing by accident (again), and the call from his mama was coincidentally timed. he'd slowed, imagining that he'd walk with the silvery speckled boy, but then mali had yawned and went back to sleep as if he hadn't heard the call at all. now, okeanos is not naive enough (anymore) to think that maybe his ...friend?... really hadn't heard it -- mali has made his feelings about oke's family very very loudly clear -- but still! you can't just ignore a call from the adults!! 

"mali," okeanos says urgently, coming right up beside him and pushing at him gently with his paws, "c'mon, mama's callin for everyone!"