Ocean's Breath Plateau ships going down, Captain

such an emotional place aiolos placed kukutux. she found herself silent a second time, stricken with the images that his words created. how could such a place exist? and how had he found his way out of it? in many ways it seemed similar to her own world, though kukutux did not think she would have spoken so openly about it.

to the man's revelation, the moondrop's tail sounded gently against the earth. "that is a good thing. you seem ... you are a good man," she declared, though with a new firmness to her voice. he had engendered so when he had proven himself to have a nurturing heart, with no request of kukutux. no demand for repayment. "i am glad you are here," she murmured, ears sidling downward with a sudden shyness. "she was ... powerful. but not kind. you are kind, aiolos."

and now he would be father. the duck felt that he had earned it, for all the trials he had suffered during his younger times. beneath the redgold of his brilliant pelt beat a godblessed heart, and kukutux felt secure in the goodness of his presence. eventually, however, she glanced toward the higher place they had left, shifted. "my husband will be worried," and it gave her a sense of rightness to say such words.