Northstar Vale the king stay the king

welcome to anyone allowed in the den! <3

Saleem awoke to a strange new sensation. Where once there was darkness, there was now light. They were only dark muddled shapes among a darker background, but Saleem's head wobbled around unsteadily as he took in the sights. Sylianos was nearby, and Saleem reached out a paw to touch him, squealing with delight when he made contact. His tiny stubby tail flailed back and forth.

"saleem."

each day she said their names aloud.

each day her weakness decreased somewhat, though tamar remained trembling and ill-set most often. but she had faith she would escape the malaise.

her son's eyes had opened. she kissed his tiny head.

Saleem’s tail helicoptered behind him. Saleem’s face yearned toward his mother. There was a swipe of tongue across his face, and he squealed with delight. Mother was a good thing, second only to his mirror.

he turned toward her.

there was an ache in her chest for antigone.

tamar began to sing, a tune about cacti flowering in the first dew of spring, settled over the sand like gossamer in the mornings.

Though his ears had not yet fully developed, he could hear a muffled version of his mother's voice, and the boy swayed his head side to side in tandem with the beat. The effect on his vision was a pleasant one. Saleem blessed his mother with a giddy, open-mouthed smile. A rear paw grazed his brother's body, always assured that his twin had not left him.

they were always close.

two sets of twins. she wondered if it meant always it would be this way. but there was no complaint in tamar for it.

she mimicked saleem, passing her own paw over his brother's sleeping body.

When his mother's paw unintentionally swept his own off of Sylianos, the boy gave a disgruntled sound, positioning himself so that he was touching his mirror once more. Satisfied, he stared idly at his mother's face. It would become a clearer—and very familiar—sight in the days, weeks, months, and years to come.

she pressed her face close.

she blew air over his belly and paws.

she hummed, a smile lighting her face. "saleem."

we can probably fade here since it's getting a bit older. <3

He adored his mother’s attentions and the warmth of her breath over his body. She, like his brother and father, were constants in his life, and the moment one of them failed to be that, it was likely that the boy would have a hard time adjusting. For now, he was safe, relishing the maternal ministrations he received.