"So do I," the doe replies in a hushed tone weighted with exhaustion. She could only hope Irie was well. Brows furrowed, she studies the ground in front of her intently until she's pulled back to the present by something brushing against her shoulder. Phai traces the wingtip up to Akhen's face and holds his gaze for a moment before her attention drops back to the earth.
"I'm glad you've come back," she murmurs after a little while. "Aria needs all the reassurance she can get... and I've been a little overwhelmed." More than a little.

Dinah ♥ Ah, I wondered if you were having internet troubles :/
--

The doe gives a half-hearted chuckle that ends in a hacking cough. "I feel like hell," she manages after she's recovered. "I don't know names... I assume the family a fawn was stolen from some time ago... They went after Morioch - Thane's..." here she pauses briefly, wondering if Dinah knew him by another name. "Xetkal's," she amends, "son. I got in the way, is all. Not enough, though.. He was killed." Phai sighs softly. "At least, that's what started it. There's been a lot going on lately, seems like, and I just keep managing to open everything again."

Waning-

"Mm." He's right, of course, but what she doesn't voice is that she can't afford to let herself flounder. Not with Aria as she is, and a mess of fawns now without their best hope of a semi-sane role model and peace-maker, and Irie still missing, and... Well, she just has too much to do to be down and out like this. Not wanting to get into it, though, she takes the subject change readily. "Be glad you did, then. I'd hate to add 'hunt down Akhenaton for breaking my daughter's heart' to my list." She may or may not have contemplated wringing his neck upon his return, but at least she hadn't ever intended to maim him too badly. And besides, he can make himself useful, now that he's here.

Xetkal registered all right, and so did the unforgettable images of the damage he inflicted on Eraline so many moons ago.
"Xetkal's son was killed?" Was she comprehending correctly? Good. GOOD.

The family? This abomination had a family? What sort of family can exist with Xetkal in it's dynamic? Surely not a good one. Nothing good would ever come from the blood of Xetkal. Not Thane - Xetkal... the only name Dinah will ever call him. He doesn't get a new name. He doesn't DESERVE a new name. Why worry about his family? She wouldn't ask Phai this, because no answer would sit right in her mind. "Rest, Phaios. Need not worry."

Dinah-

Need not worry. Somehow she doesn't feel that way. The doe buries her muzzle into her carpus to stifle another cough. "My granddaughter is missing, my daughter's worried sick, a fawn I helped raise is dead and his father may tear apart half the Forest for revenge, and he's got three new fawns to twist against the world. What's there to worry about?" she replies dryly.

-------

Waning-

"Pride, tch. I think I lost that in the birch the other day, with my sanity." Phaios clears her throat, trying to rid it of an itch that threatens to make her lungs spasm again. "No... I'll be alright. Take care of Aria while I'm ill and we'll call it even for you leaving."

"Right now, worry about yourself. You NEED rest, and you need your strength." Says Dinah firmly. "Has your granddaughter been missing long? And as for HIM - karma will eat him alive, Phaios." A confidant smile on her face. "It has already begun. Just... STAY. AWAY. FROM. HIM."

She smiled softly and nodded,"Yes all seems well"she said touching the stomach with her nose. "They are heavy little ones that is for sure."She added though the smile slightly faded. "I havn't seen or heard from Authieu either..I looked for him but I think he's hiding again too."she admitted then sighed."Mother I know what I did with Akhen out of ...the moment was silly but I'm afraid I'll ruin these babies too"she said sounding a bit desperate but shook her head.There I go again...being selfish she thought. "Forget I said that, do you need any help mother?"she asked turning her concern to her instead."Water? Food?"

She felt silly forgetting about her mother's different habits. Perhaps it was her nerves making her mind blank. "Um medicine..do you need medicine!"she said perking up hoping that was a better suggestion. When she explained about her feelings as a mother she couldn't help but smile a little. "Thank you mother...I..I will try extra hard to do better with these little ones and..possibly make up with at least Autheiu"she said turning to look around as if she'd see him any second.

Wooo gotta love em

---

She thought about that for a moment. It was very true though she felt things were far out of her own compared to most others. "I guess I just need to take it one day at a time...huh..."she said with a crooked smile as she looked up at her.

She thought a moment then looked back at her,"I think two but there could be more"she said feeling as though all their movement made it difficult to tell."And we've discussed a few but havn't really settled on anything"she said with a soft laugh.

She laughed"Yes I'll let them know that "she said before sighing."After they are grown though..I...I need a break....no more kids for a while for me"she said looking exhausted just mentioning it.

Phai smiles faintly. "What, four's enough?" She grooms at Aria's feather crest gently. "Believe me, dearest, I understand." She has something like five running around her feet at the moment, plus Aria's two - though they've made themselves scarce - plus Aria and Oria and 'her' other grown fawns... And more on the way! None of them are even labeled as her kids and she's still worn out. Yeah, four's plenty.

Niri ♥

One ear flicks at the giggle. What was so funny about the story? But ah, well - kids will be kids. She raises a brow at the wriggling - hadn't they finished with that? And then it's just... quiet. Had Pica suffocated in her fur? Oh goodness... But no, there's a little tickle of breath against her neck. She had expected the fawn to be full of more questions, since it seemed she was a never-ending well of them, and she's rather surprised to find the fawn has gone silent. It takes her a few moments to figure out what exactly has happened, but it soon dawns on her that little Pica might have dozed off. Yawning, she figures it probably won't hurt her to do the same, since she certainly can't move until the little one wakes of her own accord. Well, she could, but she'd feel bad - so she doesn't. Content to snuggle with a little poof ball for the night, the doe lets her lids droop and nods off.

Is this the end of the roleplay? D8 -cries-
--
Pica dreams of swirls, feathers, fluff and the gentle voice of Pai telling her that mushrooms tasted good. In the swirling blue forest she said to the Pai-voice: "But Pai don't eat!" Silence.

Forgot to tell you, but decided on a speechcolour. -squee-

Doesn't matter to me - what do you think? As for the speechcolour - you'll see. >:]
--
Pica awoke with a muffled squeak, frantically trying to flail her legs to get whatever was squishing her off, the voice of Pai still echoing in her ears. The darkness had become much too suffocating - in desperation, she cries out; "Pai!" For the brown doe had been most mother-like figure to her since her mama, and she instinctively felt that she was the one to run to.

I love rockheads. o 3o
Did you notice the pun I did there? -nudgenudge- Teal. To be precise. o 3o
--
"Hrnn?" Dragging herself with a great fawn-effort out of the rest of her dream, Pica comes to her senses - and with an apologetic glance, crawls out from under Pai, the fresh air cold on her small sweaty form. Breathing deeply, the small fawn blinks at the bright sunlight before turning around to frantically nuzzle Pai again. "Uh-huh. Water." Was all she said, before sniffing at the air and bounding off in the general direction of the pond.

Niri-
Very punny : D

Phai rasps her tongue against Pica's forehead for some reassuring grooming. "Water?" Had Pica been dreaming about drowning? Oh... Oh, water, she realizes, as the fawn leaps away. Heaving herself up, the doe trots after the little brown bundle that bounds ahead. Better make sure she doesn't fall in.

----

Echo-

A smile flickers across her muzzle as the warm body of the fawn snuggles up against her damp side. "Hey, you," she greets him warmly with a little nuzzle at his cheek.

Echo-

"Hm?" She turns to peer at her company as well. "That's Geisha. She's a nice lady."

Niri-
Haha, that's exactly what Phai thought when she was a fawn x3
And I had a deer pattern I've modified a little... and black and white fabric... and I've been meaning to pick up brown fabric for a while now... and I have batting and noses and eyes...
So really all I need is to find my needles and thread and some brown fabric. o3o Might be my spring break project, haha.
Also, I've taken my sleeping pill, and typing is very difficult, so this is going to have to be the last one for the night and it may be slightly incoherent :<
---
Phai smiles slightly as Pica seems surprised to see her following. And... what's this jig she's doing? The doe chuckles to herself each time the fawn bounces up. Ah, kids. Oh! And off she goes. Lengthening her stride, Phai trails after Pica at an easy lope. When the fawn's head vanishes beneath the water, however, her steps kick into an urgent canter for several beats before that little nose re-surfaces. "Did you forget you weren't a fish for a minute there?" she chides gently as she reaches the banks of the pond.

"Oh." The little fawn examined the gashes on Phaios's back. He frowned. "Phay better soon?"

Isobel and Phai should interact here sometime. Not sure if it should be when she talks or what. ;-;

Adjjdjsbfusbdi Pica having a temper tantrum. I'd love to see what happens when she does that in an rp one day.
--
With her ears dragged down into the water from the weight of he wet fur on them, Pica thankfully does not hear Pai's imitation of her grumble and continues wriggling around blissfully in the slippery mud unsure whether the sensation of the cool mud pressing against her side was good or bad. Pica decided good, just because Pai was there. And if Pai were there, why shouldn't she join in as well? Rising stealthily, pica inches forwards, under the pretence of frolicking around.

Wonder what would the twins think about that...
--
Out of the corner of her eye, Pica sees that Pai is unaware of her master plan. As she allows a small giggle to escape, Pica suddenly splashes up the bank, covering the short distance in a few moments to flail and rub on Pai's back with her muddy hooves and sides, and making as big a mess and splash as she could possibly do.

lol phai XD