Broken Antler Fen hope

for the family! have presumed everyone is gathered up for this. :)

They were small and perhaps they wouldn't understand, but Eljay knew that Ibis' children deserved the truth: their mother wasn't coming back. With some effort, he and @Maia had gathered @Jasmine, @Roswell and @Diantha as well as @Sylvie and @Hymnal. He knew that Sylvie and Hymnal would be too young to truly understand what was going on, but maybe some of it would stick. Eljay second-guessed his decision to include his own children in this as he and Maia settled down before them, nerves flitting in his stomach. What if the other three responded badly? But then again, they were a family now; all of them. It wouldn't do to try and shield Sylvie and Hymnal from this.

Before they could begin, Diantha had be pulled off Roswell a few times, who she was constantly pestering. He clearly had enough of it, but she kept going; probably because it earned her attention from Eljay and Maia who would fuss trying to get her to stop it. Eljay'd only ever dealt with two children at once, and he felt very out of his waters on this. Especially because they were Ibis' children...

Finally the children settled down and Eljay shared as he looked at Ibis' three: We wanted to let you know — all four of us — he gestured at Sylvie and Hymnal as well as Maia, even though Sylvie and Hymnal were too little to really agree on anything; — we want to welcome you into our family. Your mother, she... She went to sleep, uhm, he knew using 'sleep' wasn't the best, but Eljay didn't know how else to say it, She won't come back. Her body sleeps nearby in the Fen, under the ground, so we can still visit her, but we won't be able to talk to her anymore. We'll take care of you and we'll all be a family together, from now on. Eljay felt like he was totally flunking on bringing the news in any good way. Nervously, he watched the faces of the three children, while he kept a welcoming and open smile on his own face.

As Eljay gathered them, Maia sat with them, wanting to be there when they got this news. It was hard to know how they'd react; they were old enough to understand, but not old enough that she thought they'd get past it so easily. And even if they were older, losing a parent was never easy.

She was glad that Eljay volunteered to tell them because she didn't think she could have done it so well. We're here. And we love you all so much. She added quietly.

Roswell had curled into himself since the entire thing began, and Maia didn't think that would change, though she would try to show him that it was okay to come to them. Diantha was more expressive with her feelings, but it would take patience to deal with her with the thoughtfulness she'd need. Jasmine seemed to have come to rest somewhere between the two... and Maia gave them each a small, gentle touch with her nose. It was okay if they didn't have anything to say.

I didn't want to pp reactions too much <3 since this is a biggie. But if there's anything y'all want me to edit in here lmk

she can be skipped for now

Hymnal stared at the three older pups from where she was comfortably perched between her father's front legs. They were here all the time now, but she hadn't been able to figure out why. They smelled different at first, which had caused the sensitive girl some distress before she adjusted. Now they smelled familiar, and she found them very curious. She could often be found snuggled up to mom or dad while she watched them carry on. 

And today, things seemed tense. Their parents' tones made her want to be quiet and listen even though she didn't quite understand what was being said. She understood mother and sleep—and love; she knew that word well. But the rest of the words were gibberish. Still, she watched, her gaze moving over everyone present. 

But being so young meant that her energy never lasted very long. Soon she felt very tired. Hymnal yawned and snuggled closer to dad, swiftly falling asleep as she liked to do.