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Jasper looked at Carlisle as he approached and frowned a little, he wasn't about to have this conversation here but he didn't want his father fighting, knew how much it went against his nature, he was a healer not a fighter.... and in Jasper's mind the guy had already sacrificed too much, it was Jasper's turn to protect him. The frown faded almost as quickly as it appeared and he bowed his head in appreciation all the same to Carlisle.

Orion was relieved when the group dispersed a little. Taking a visable sigh of relief. He looked at Eden, he hadn't thought of boys names.... but Sophia mentioning them brought the idea to thr front of his mind. "Are there any names you like?" he found himself asking softly.

Chandra hugged her friend gladly. "It seems the group is breaking up now anyways, perhaps you can help me gather some things for the party? While we are at it we can search for good plants to gather seeds from and see if they are in season yet?" She didn't want to rush things, knowing that nature took it's time and impatiences didn't make it go any faster.

Haki looked over at Heze, wondering what she was thinking even as he stayed silent. He had no intention of asking and disturbing the quiet 'truce' they seemed to have. His mind was still on fire and buzzing from the earlier development. Was he really about to prepare to try and claim her for his own?

Renesme smiled at her daughter, "We will see what we can do!" She chirped brightly before leaving with the other mares.

Alice kissed her daughters cheek, even as her eyes wandered to her father in concern, she hoped that he would stick to medicine, hoped he would keep his new apprentice Auva and go gather some stuff for their journey. He wasn't a young stallion yet... yet another thing she would look up in her visions later. It was going to be a long and exhausting day she feared.

Sophia blushed, "Not fair!" She pouted, even as she followed the pair to go in search of treats.

Carlisle looked at Jasper still, shaking his head, his nature or not they had all found out the hard way that you couldn't always be and expect others to be merciful. He| favoured healing and peace, but if they needed a fighter then he had the ability to fight. Being a healer could also make you dangerous because you knew better than others where to strike. He gave Jasper a smile, though different and not biologically related they looked the most like parent and child out of the family.

Eden nuzzled agaisnt Orion now he was no longer hiding in her mane, smiling at him softly, glad he wasn't too upset. "Well... Remember when we told mum and Crown the news I had an idea for a name? I think it would suit a boy best, though it would do well for a girl too." Kissing his cheek and watching the others wander off, leaving them to their soft talking.

Cael nodded. "Gladly, I'll be more than happy to help." Smiling, not having thought to bring the bag he had ket that had belonged to his |||mother, but they would manage, and he would keep an eye out for some treats along the way. Happy to walk off with Chandra.

Sonnet looked at Carlisle, having no idea really what he was doing. "As things stand currently I'm the only protector we have... Maion seems to need the space from responsibility so by default that makes me guardian. I intend to see that Maion has the rest and break he needs." He wasn't totally sure what had happened but with the bits that had been said and the fact that was had been around less and less Sonnet thought that Maion and his mate might be parting ways or close to it. Whatever was wrong it had hurt Maion deeply and he needed time, like anyone did, to gather his thoughts and let hurt feelings ease. "I know not all of you will want to take up a position as a protector, that's fine I'm not going to make you. Those that do can come see me individually. As it is, I'll ask that you all come to a few training sessions, we can see what everyone can do, do a little sparring and work out what strategy is best for us to use.... If we have the need. We are after all bringing a mix of experience and skills together. Tomorrow if you are willing we will start looking at what we can do and pooling out knowledge for how to best guard ourelves. We will soon be nomads for a while. And if anyone has ideas or suggetions, talk to me please, I've not had training for this so pointing out things I could do better is appreciated." Looking a little uncomfortable, he didn't know how to lead, but he had watched others and hoped that he was at least doing ok so far.

Heze shifted on her hooves as her father spoke, he was not a chatty stallion and in this meeting he had said so much all at once that it was so unlike him. Looking at Haki, leaning close enough to whisper to him. "Asante Haki" Tempted to add more but now was not the time.

Abloec nodded and listened, glancing round seeing the others scattering here and there to gather thigns for the party.

Haki looked at Heze as she spoke and nodded softly, "It would make me happy to help." He said slowly, hoping he got the words right, they sounded right to him.

Jasper cringed a little at his fathers teasing but chuckled good heartedly. "Yeah yeah... come on the great-grandpa... let's go find something that blows everyone out of the lake!" He smiled softly, excited to see the brood that Eden would bring into the world, and boys... he had a soft spot for boys. What would they look like he wondered? Sometimes he envied his mates ability.

Orion nodded softly at Eden. "Regel?" It was a pretty name, she was so clever for thinking of it. "It's lovely...." He blushed a little as he thought of his next question. "...will we call them Cullen's?" He had no idea, but he didn't mind either. It wasn't as if he had a family name, though he had heard his mother refered to as 'Ms. Dragonfly' in the past.

Maion stood looking up at the mountain, he had once called it home and now he was tempted to do so again. Would his old cave still be there? Or would someone else have claimed it for their own in all the years he had been away? Elijah wiggled on his neck and he wondered if the little fox could sense his mood. It was as turbulant as the Ocean itself, his emotions churning within him. He was trying to be rational, knew in his heart what he wanted to do... but all the wisdom in the world couldn't contain the flood within him. A gush of water from the lake sprouted forth and covered him, making him look very much like a drown rat. Turning in surprise he looked at the sleek waters surface... that hadn't happened in a long time, he really must be getting emotional if his powers were acting on their own again.

Sonnet wandered towards Maion, quirking his head a little and then looking up at the sky, not able to find a cloud there to block the view. Why was Maion wet? Shaking his head sure he didn't want to know he put a smile on his face and wandered up to his father in law. "Maion I've come to get you."

Heze nodded, subconciously confirming he had got them right, grinning at him and bouncing a little on her hooves, acting much younger than she was in her excitement. "A party! and foals! I've never seen a foal since I was one." Beaming at him happily. "What should we get?"

Carlisle was silently glad that Jasper missed off one of the greats there, giving a faint snort as he found a bag that would be ideal, and a large enough bit of slate to use as a shovel. "Jasper we are not making anythign that explodes, you will please go and find a mix of soft berries. I'm going to get some snow off the mountain top." Grinning, having made this long long ago before they had had to run for their lives, it had been a treat then and Carlisle had decided it was time to resume the tradition.

Eden smiled deciding not to correct him just yet, she didn't want him to think she was criticising. We don't have to call them Cullen, its a matter of if you want to or not. They will be Cullens weather we call them that or not."

Maion laughed at that, foals! Oh how joyous! Everyone knew he had a weakness for them, indulging them all and spending time and telling them stories. He would miss that most of all, though he suspected the winds may very well bring him back this way one day... for now... he just needed to breath, and a change of scenery would help in that. "Three boys? Poor Orion, I do fear he will be a little overwhelmed by them all, but I am sure Eden will keep them all in line. Stubborn as a tree that one." He smiled, the news putting him in much better spirits than he had been in a while. "I wouldn't miss the party for anything. I will be there." He said softly, already wondering if he should find a gift for the three young foals.

Orion watched Eden as she slept, content to do nothing more than protect her and keep her safe, even if his mind whispered that here, in the heart of their lands, was the safest place for her to be right now. He would strangely miss it here. But home was were the heart was, and his heart would forever belong to Eden.

Haki looked puzzled a moment, wondering if he got the wrong word... no, he was pretty sure it was right. "You find them on kitropiki (tropical) islands. Hot places." Looking around he wondered if they would find one in time. "If we fly now... I think we find in time." If not they would come back empty clawed, and that would be a shame. "They brown. Hairy. Full of...." He didn't know the word 'milk' wasn't exactly one that came up in every day conversation so he used his own word, not that he had shared that with Heze yet either. "Maziwa" (Milk)

Heze thought about it a little. tropical places, she had nver been anywhere tropical, she felt a thrill at the idea. "Lets go get one then, before it is too late, I really want to see one now." Grinning at Haki, a little flushed from the idea of an adventure alone together, all set to take off, still asking questions. "What is maziwa?" (milk)

Eden slept quietly, smiling and relaxed, havign snuggled close to her mate. Having total trust in her herd that she had no fear to travel with the foals, besides without everyone aroun them she didn't think that Orion and herself could manage so well with 3 alone. Starting to dream, imagining that her foals had others to play with, that the herd were home again and everyone was back to beign happy.

Sonnet smiled at Maion, glad to see him looking happier again. "We also have some old friends visiting, I'm sure they will be glad to see you too." Half tempted to tell him that he could think of a gift later, after all there was time till the foals arrived, but he didn't want to give away that everyone was moving on with him. "We are going to gather by the big rock, I think thats where they have left Eden and Orion, he wont leave her side and she had finally got comfortable." Chuckling softly remembering goingthrough the very same thing with Chan. Giving Maion a nod. "I'm going to take those big water holders Eden made over to the party area and fill them with water, do you think Elijah can find Mossup, I have no idea if she is with Eden but she hates to miss anything." With that he carried on past the stallion to find the water holders, thinking he might go up the mountain a bit to get the coolest freshest water especially for the party.

***Insert party blurb***

Haki was panting and sweaty from the training exercises, they had pushed it hard to discover what everyone could and couldn't do... his claws were a pain sometimes when it came to running, but he was still quick enough, and his claws gave him an edge in other ways. They had been doing this for days, not quite so hard as today, but still they had been training. Twice his eyes found themselves wandering towards Heze and he forced them away. This was not the time for looking like that... here they were nothing but soldiers to be uterlised for their cause. As he watched Jasper and Carlisle were laughing and joking as they walked away, he was sure he heard the words 'getting too old for this' , he almost smiled at that, though he wasn't sure which had spoken. He lingered still, wondering if he should leave too or not.... his beak flexed a little as he approached Sonnet, if he was going to linger it would at least be for a purpose. "You said to.... see you." He started, "if interested in being protector for herd."

Sonnet looked up as Haki approached, mildly surprised, he could almost feel Heze watching them, giving her a glance that sent her dashing out of sight chasing after Abloec who had put them all to shame in a flat race, the green stallion seeming content to talk to her with whatever she wanted to know. Not seeing the stallion promptly fall over a tree root as soon as he was out of sight of Sonnet and Haki. Sonnet nodded. "Yes, has Heze explained what a protector is in your conversations?" He would be stunned if she hadn't, it was nearly all she talked about for so long he was usually stunned when she was talking about something else.

Haki nodded in reply, once again finding himself stimead for what to say... instead he decided he would ask for some advice, he had not trained in this terrain, he didn't know it well... perhaps he could get some tips to make him better upon it. "Grass.... dirt... how best to run on it?" Yeah, it sounded like a silly question, probably was, but he did have his awkward claws to deal with too.

Sonnet processed this a moment, looking down at the claws that made up Haki's front feet. "Hmmm what are you used to walking on?" That might give him an idea of how to help, looking back up at the stallion.

Haki wonder if he was compensating incorrectly. Maybe he should just run more and figure it out, he hadn't exactly had reason to run much since arriving here... flying being his mode of choice. At Sonnet's question he looked to his claws and flexed them.... sticking? "They are not sticky." He said, clearly having misunderstood the meaning of his words in this context. He moved on the spot, trying to figure out his issue. He moved each of his clawed toes as he would in the dessert, a way to keep the sand from simply sliding below him and causing him to lose his balance. He only did it when he ran, finding the slow pace of walking enough to keep him moving forward.

Sonnet shakes his head and used his hoof to dig a shallow line in the grass, the dirt all clumping together. "No, the dirt, it stick to your claws?" Lifting his hoof to show how small bits were sticking to the smooth curve.

Haki flexed his legs and claws, suddenly nervous as he watched Sonnet back away to let him run. Why did he feel like he was a meal on display before being devoured? Still, he would do this. Do this for Heze. He was unaware of the purple blurr within the bushes, his mind currently too focused on not making a fool of himself.

He braced himself. One. Two. Three. He took off. His rear legs killing off fine against the dirt, but his claws continued to do what they did while he ran on sand, each of the fingers moving at a different pace in a -one-two-four- pattern that allowed him to move of the sand with ease, or to grip onto the rocks before leaping to the next. To him though, this felt natural, was simply the way he had been taught to run, was the way he had always ran.

Sonnet watched quietly, his gaze firmly on Haki's feet, a small frown of concentration on his face as he thinks about this. Moving after a short while to examine some of the tracks Haki was leaving, thinking the core of the issue was in how he moved his claws, he seemed to flex them in a pattern, like drumming fingers, but the soil was not as fine as sand, his claws wouldn't drift through it, though they could slice into the soft damp soil easy enough. Thinking before looking over at haki again. "Does it feel like something holds your foot when you run?"