Neverwinter Forest lxxv. put your toes down in the water

@Fjall (& @Kjalarr perhaps assuming he stayed on with them?)

Time passed far too quickly, especially during the younger stages. 

Lótë woke with a gentle startling motion, conditioned by now to not move much whilst sleeping for fear she might accidentally crush or smother her newborn. But Fjall was a newborn no longer, as was quickly evidenced by what the cloudberry saw upon her veridescent gaze flying open. She'd been startled awake by the feeling of unsteady, almost scrabbling, movement against her underbelly. Movements caused by her son (who was already beginning to lighten from the color of dirty snow to wheaten ivory) as he attempted to find his way onto his feet and used her for balance. 

It was not the first time Fjall had attempted to stand or walk but it was the first time his mother had witnessed the woodlander's wobbly steps. Beaming, Lótë curled around to nuzzle him, cooing. "Little Ekkaiä," it was murmured in the pronunciation of her people, a full accent sneaking into her tones, "you are getting so big! Such a strong boy." The doe's tail beat against the floor. 

As she pulled back to smile at the tot, Lótë realized with another small start that Fjall's eyes were open to reveal the standard baby shade of slate blue.