Flycatcher Downs the veldt

she had not seen their kind here—he had expected as much. still, the confirmation made his shoulders sag, if only slightly. his siblings were out there, somewhere, but the vastness of the land made them seem more lost than ever.
eywa prospers. his voice was warm, a reassurance rather than a mere statement. the great balance remained, even if his own world felt unsettled.
he exhaled slowly, thoughtful, before answering her question. three, he said. his gaze turned distant for a moment, scanning the horizon as if they might materialize from the tall grass.
they are... he trailed off, lips curving into something caught between exasperation and deep-seated affection. well, i never get a dull moment. and when i do... he shook his head, a quiet chuckle escaping him. i worry.
it was the truth. the absence of their noise, their bickering, their endless energy—he had thought he might enjoy the quiet, but instead, it gnawed at him. made his thoughts restless.
it is... different, he admitted, flicking his tail as he considered her words. having them. they are part of me, the same way my hands or my feet are. even if they are stubborn. he cast her a sidelong look, as if she might understand. it is not always easy, but it is never lonely.
he let the words settle between them before his gaze softened. and you? how is it to be only one?