Hushed Willows [IPS] Homeward Bound

The first to come upon them was Lily, who burst forth with more vigor than Ibis had ever seen. She felt her own heart grow three sizes as the woman neared, unable to contain the unabated happiness upon seeing the familiar face — her tail wagged like a willow switch, and soon she was being covered in kisses! Ibis tried to return a few of them but the chaos of the warm tongue across her face was almost too much, so she eventually stopped trying and let Lily do her own thing.

As soon as the woman pulled back and began to ask her questions of the group, Ibis had a moment to breathe and to try to formulate a response—as it was her job to be the messenger—but she barely had a moment of thought before more bodies arrived. First was Olive, who caught Ibis' attention by speaking her name. Then there was Seabreeze—

And all thoughts towards her duty and her aspirations fled her mind. A wet sheen of emotion blurred her vision to the rest of the gathering as Seabreeze closed the distance and wrapped the girl in a big hug, and for a few moments Ibis felt the warmth and the love there, not wanting it to end. She buried her nose against her mother's plush coat and held back a happy sob, administering some fleeting kisses instead.

Ibis didn't want to part from any of them now that she was present among them; but she knew as Seabreeze pulled away to give her air that she had a job to do. It would hurt too much if she lingered here much longer— oh. But what of those smaller bodies, and why wasn't Olive joining in on the hugging? The girl stepped smoothly around her mother's slight figure and looked, seeing the baby boys and felt a strange twist of—well, to be truthful, Ibis wasn't sure.

Were those her brothers...? Thinking of brothers, Ibis wondered where @Okeanos was and felt another wave of that deep and twisting feeling, like her heart was being plunged in to ice water. Mama— Ibis murmured, addressing both of her mothers as her brows furrowed, Who are they?