| The morning was cloudy, the temperature colder than it had been in quite some time, reminiscent that Fall was rapidly on it's way. The winter born Sea Spawn spared a glimpse at the thick, dense clouds that drifted across the sun at random intervals, as they drifted lazily across the sky. He was no Naturalist, but he wondered if it would rain in the coming days. Sea green eyes flickered back to the sand beneath his paws, his toes dug into the warm grains of earth, reveling in the feel of it, of being close to the Mother Sea once more. Their journey had not always afforded them the luxury of being close to the coast and he was relieved to be by Her once more, sure that the Adepts he had been tasked with protecting and serving on the journey were, too. He only felt at home in Her presence, having taken to his Nereides ancestry like a fish to water. He had not entirely spurned his mother, Nasak's beliefs in Atka and Sos for his father, Kerberos believed fervently in Atka but Kerberos had never had reservations about telling the truth even when it came to being torn between the two. Atreus had been given the choice when he had been six months of age and it had never been much of a choice. In his dreams and waking hours the Sea had called to him, singing her siren's song. There was no contest to what his decision had been and Atreus had been well aware of what he had been signing up for when he had sought out the Nereides and joined with them. He had sacrificed many things to serve the beautiful and feral Siren-Amazon women but he felt that he had gained so much more than he had given. He understood he might never be chosen as a breeding consort, that he might never have his own children, that he would never take a mate. Atreus was ok with that, had accepted it long ago. He had been painfully shy as a child, much like his father, but the Nereides and Mother Sea gave him a purpose and broke him out of his shell.
What was hidden in the timid shell that he had clung too like a security measure came to find that perhaps the Kesuk blood ran stronger than anyone had originally guessed. Sass, it would appear, had been something he had also inherited from his wild spirited mother, though luckily for Atreus he was nothing if the obedient servant when spoken to by the Nereides — anyone outside of them, however, was free game for said sassy behavior. His loyalty was paramount to the Nereides, he was strong willed, territorial and fiercely protective over the women though they hardly needed him. It was ironic how he had been tasked with protecting Aella and Leukothea when in reality, they could probably take care of themselves. Even so, it was nice, Atreus deduced, feeling needed and he intended to fulfill his task as 'Escort' to the best of his abilities to prove himself. If he provided for them and did as they asked of him perhaps they would put a good word in for him and that his ability to protect her daughters the Mother Sea would be pleased with him. His eyes went to the two women protectively, having chosen to stand a bit away from them, not wanting to get closer unless he was invited to do so, contently dining on his strip of seaweed he had taken when the Sea had offered it to him. |