Blackwater Islands awaken, my love

@Carnation. @Akantha is welcome to stop in if ya want :)

Since finding their way back to the island, Kalika had not allowed her young Sprite to leave her side. Each time it seemed that one might wander from the other, she would bark and they would reunite, only for the child to find herself in Kalika's loving embrace. Her name before the Nereides was still unknown though there was no intention to change this. Before any training could commence, she would need a Greek name, but it only seemed right that they be able to choose together.

Prinkípissa, do come here, Kalika cooed to the Sprite, expecting her to come with haste.

The wee little sprite had been intensely studying a blade of grass, on paw tucked up under herself as she stood. Kalika's call made the girl's ears perk as they sensed her haste. She let out a sweet little yip, "Coming!" and bounded clumsily over to the fae. 

When she came upon Kalika, she slipped through her legs once before trotting to her side to keep up with her. She then tilted her tiny head, a silent, yet adorable, question as to why she interuppted the girl's playtime.

Kalika couldn't help but allow a smile to swell on her maw as her child came bounding to her side. As she weaved through her legs and again to her side, she laughed and nosed at the girl's head. You're so silly, she cooed as she nosed at her tiny head, licking the gray stripe which ran down its center. We have some important things to discuss. First, you need a Greek name. It is our language that we use, and that you will someday use, too! With this, a small boop! was placed on the girl's forehead. 

How does Calypso sound, hm? 'She who hides'; perfect for the young girl, in Kalika's opinion.

Carnation did not understand the word Greek, but smiled anyways, gazing adoringly at her new mother. Her nose crinkled as Kalika nudged her playfully, and her eyes crossed to try and follow the fae's movement. She shook her head afterwards to be rid of the dizzyness and chuffed.

She giggled at the sound of the name coming from Kalika. The sound of her name. "Ca-lip-so?" The sweet little fae tested out the sound of it questioningly, but then smiled joyfully. "I love it!" Her emerald eyes glimmered as she looked back up at Kalika.

Kalika smiled at Calypso, glad to see how easily the pair worked together. Motherhood seemed all but hard so far, though she knew that this was only the beginning. You say to agapó in Greek. Try it. It was important that Akantha see them making constant progress. Even if the girl couldn't find herself suddenly fluent in this foreign tongue, something was better than nothing. There are some other things we have to talk about, too. You see all of that water? The moon up in the sky? Kalika asked, looking her child over to make sure that she was paying attention, They are very important to us. Without Sea and Moon, we would be nothing. Do you understand?

The little girl paused her continuous movement, focusing on her task, "to agapó?" She asked hopefully, her sweet little face scruntched with concentration. After this she was intregued by what he mother had to say. I love the sky. She gazed up at the seemingly endless blue. She then repeated the fae's words, "Without the sea and moon, we are nothing... So does that mean the sea helped make me?" She pointed a paw towards herself, her mouth agape. "I always liked water." The little girl mused, peering around Kalika to see if she could see the sea from their vantage point.

The words streamed from the child's maw like honey and milk, sweet as can be. Kalika gave a sigh of appreciation and used her paw to smooth back some of the frayed fur on Calypso's head. The Sea helped make you and me. It helped to make Akantha, our Matriarch, too. The Sea is responsible for the births of all daughters. Now boys on the other hand...well, that was a conversation for another day. I have too. There was something about the Sea's movements which had always worked to intrigue Kalika. Even when she was angry at the Mothers for everything that they did, she couldn't help but to bathe by their side, allowing them to cleanse her of all sin. Of course, this isn't how she thought of it before Nereides, but she could see that this was how it had been all along.

Brief cameo!

Akantha had a great many things on her mind, but the one thing that permiated was the upcoming fertility rites, and the choice she would need to make. Though she lacked from Adepts to chose from, she wasn't terribly concerned; Salish and Tokitae both came from Themiscrya, and Kalika herself was well on her way to becoming one. However, she now had one Sprite to care for, and the Matriarch wondered if her young advisor would desire her own litter on top of the responsibility she now had caring for the little wayward girl.

She was moving through the trees of the Thistlewood en route to find @Tokitae and discuss prospects with the reclusive Siren when a pair of voices, one familiar and one small, caught her attention. Dutifully she changed course and drifted towards their direction—the conversation became clear, and a shrewd smile creeped languidly across her muzzle as she hovered on the fringes, wrapped in the towering shadows of the firs. Kalika was already teaching the girl the basics, and Akantha now felt a surge of pride for the woman she desired to stand in the role of High Priestess. 

The brush parted and she continued on in plain sight of Kalika, offering the younger woman a nod and a twist of her ear, before departing for the shore.

The naive, sweet little girl absorbed everything he new mother said, taking it all to heart. Her mind widened at the possibilities that she was newly learning of. How much else do I not know? Her mind had been sheltered all along, but these new beliefs would soon become all that she knows. 

The little fae did not see Akantha appear, but cocked her head when Kalika looked away from her. Her child mind quickly lost track of her thoughts, and she became entranced by the fur on her mother's chest. Her little paw reached out to pat its downy softness, which quickly became a game to the child as she brushed it one way and then the next.

Kalika's eyes drifted from Calypso to Akantha, to whom she offered a similar smile and nod. Then, back to the child, she asked, Can you swim? She drifted from their path to a moment and put her forepaws just beyond the shore, waiting for the Sprite to do the same. She motioned with her head as an invitation and gave a chirp to show that there was nothing to be afraid of. You'll have to learn how to swim, mikró peristéri. Otherwise, you will drown.

She should her small head at the questions, not remembering any past 'swimming' in her life. A slight tremor swept over her body as she trustfully followed her mother into the sea. The water was ever so slightly chilly, but she adjusted quickly, looking back up to the fae to see what she should do next.

Good, prinkípissa. Kalika turned so that her face was toward Calypso and took a few steps further into the Sea so that she was submerged to her knees. Remember what I told you about the Sea, and how we are nothing without Her guidance? I want you to trust Her, Calypso. Trust Her and She will keep you safe. Do you understand, love? Kalika continued to take steps backward until she even her back was covered in the water. Calypso wasn't expected to make the same success by any means, but it was good for her to have a goal.

The little fae nodded again, following her mother's example. She padded lightly into the water, to her ankles, her knees, her torso, and then her neck. All at once, the little girl was floating lightly attop the water as it craddled her. Until the tide pulled her out ever so slightly and she began to sink. The pup swiped frantically at the water, her eyes filled with fear as she called out to Kalika in anguish, "Help!!". Her head bobbed at the surface as she gasped for air.

Kalika sucked her teeth in a motherly fashion as she took a few heavy steps forward in the direction of the Sprite. Going underwater for just a moment, she managed to use her head to lift the girl back up to the surface, or at least attempt to do so. This made for quite the sight; a blanched femme with a soaked child riding between her ears. This mattered nought, so long as they were both safe. It's okay, love, it's okay. You have to trust Her. Kalika knew just how hard trusting Her could be when first coming into this new world, but she felt strongly that Calypso had the potential to do whatever she wished.

The sweet little girl trembled attop her mothers head, her paws gripping into Kalika's pelt. As her mother spoke, the girl calmed. She then responded seriously for a child of her age by saying, "If you trust Her mama, then I do to." enunciating the H just as her mother had. 

She then peered back down at the glistening water, her curiousity growing. Her childlish determination returned as she attempted the scramble down her mother's back. "I wanna try again mama!" She yipped with enthusiasm, wanting to please Kalika.

The little girl splashed into the water, this time anticipating sinking and furiously pawing underneath herself. Like near magic, she was swimming, well... in her own unique way that is. For a pup though, she was doing pretty well.

Mama.

No matter how long it was taking Kalika to adjust to motherhood, it was becoming increasingly clear that Calypso had already made up her mind. Kalika was a mother now; there was a child, damaged and broken, who depended on her for the support and love that she would need to thrive. Good job, sweetheart! Kalika cooed, finding her more enamored with the child with each passing moment. She slinked around to hold Calypso in a sort of circle, her tail near her muzzle to create a gate. You're doing great.

The sweet little girl swam in circles to hear hearts content until she grew fatigued. She looked up to her mother, a sort of mewling sound coming from her maw as she made her way closer to the shore. She looked back at Kalika lovinging, waiting for her to follow as she crawled onto the sandy shore and collapsed.