Witch's Marsh You might need his help some day

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?"