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Incanthis sat up right with a squeak, dragged from his dreams as something heavy landed on his stomach, "Ah! Huh? What?" Looking around for a moment he then looked down at his lap, finding himself starring into the eyes of Junior who was starring up at him. Incanthis blinked slowly before giving a soft, sighing sound as he reached out to scratch him under the chin, "Did you escape again, Junior?" He asked of the little baby, leaning over to kiss him on the snout.

After that he pushed to his feet, setting him down on his feet he walked over to his dresser, scooping it up so that he could scoop up a comb, as well as some books, "Come on, let's go to the gardens to study. Once Abie is awake I will make sure you get back to him. Again." The little whelp was pretty adept at escaping from Abie and the rest of his clutch, always finding his way to Incanthis, as though knowing when the Shifter needed company somehow.

Even now he couldn't recall what he'd been dreaming about, having been dragged out sleep so abruptly that he just couldn't remember his sleep. He thought on it only for a moment though, deciding that it wasn't important. If he couldn't remember then he take that as a good thing, his dreams were often dark after all. So Junior had saved him from those dreams. Heading out into the courtyard, Junior at his heels, he settled down to comb out his long hair while Junior went about running circles around him as he did so.

Incanthis seemed oblivious to the fact that Abie was nearby, his eyes on Junior, watching him as he chased butterflies. A moment later he lunged forward, snapping down on the insect, and set to chewing before swallowing the colorful bug. Pausing in the task that was combing his hair he asked, "Was that actually any good?" He asked as the little whelp came over to him, one wing still hanging out of his mouth. He was just reaching out to him, about to take the wing when arms suddenly looped around him, capturing him in his hold.

The Shifter's entire body went stock still, with him jerking back against the one that held onto him, about to panic... when he heard Abie's voice. He turned his head, glancing up at him through his long, silver hair, before he gave a sighing sound of relief, "Ahh... Abie, it's you..." He murmured, glancing toward Junior, "I'm guessing you're looking for the escapee again? He decided to be my alarm clock for today." Which was nice enough of the little guy.

Incanthis reached a hand out, brushing back a lock of Abie's hair, neatening it before he sat back again to resume running a comb through his long hair once more. Once he had it done he set to putting several braids into it instead of just the singular one he usually did, wanting to do something different with it today. Not because he was vain but because it was a calming thing, braiding his hair. It made him think of old times, back when his mother was still around and they'd all worked on his hair together. It was something their father tended to look down upon, seeing such things as being weak and pathetic.

He looked toward the others as they set about chasing down the various bugs in the courtyard, the bunch of whelps snapping at and eating them. He watched a moment before he said, "They are getting better at hunting. Soon enough they will be able to catch bigger prey." He murmured before looking at Abie, giving him a smile, "Ahh... you're near ready to leave? Have you decided where you wanted to go first?"

So they were to go through Jauhar first? He found himself wondering for a moment if he should go and visit his mother's grave. If anyone would be alright with his return despite everything that he'd done and had done to him it would surely be her? The question became what if some of his other brothers were around? Those that weren't as forgiving? What if they got angry with him for visiting such a place? He gave a soft sigh before he said, "Jauhar is a nice place, warm, with plenty of rivers that they could play in. Given the various root systems of the giant trees though I'd be afraid they might get lost. Get them brightly colored collars to wear so they are easier to spot might be a good idea." He suggested to Abie, not wanting any of the little ones to get lost because they became too curious.

The idea of visiting everywhere else, well everywhere else save for Zena, had him nodding slowly, "That sounds like a good idea, we don't want the little ones to get too cold." He murmured, reaching out to pet one of them as it ran by, giving a little smile at the chirping sound the whelp made in response, not stopping due to the fact that it was hot on the heels of a good sized beetle.

Looking back at Abie he gave him a long look before he set to putting another braid in his hair before he said, "Of course, but only if you want me there. This is an important trip for you as a tamer in training after all."

Incanthis gave Abie a glance, then let his eyes sink closed as his friend scooted closer and set to braid some of his hair. It would take a while to put a lot of smaller braids into his hair given how much of it he had. He knew that it would likely be easier if he cut his hair off... but their hair had always been important to his mother and it was something that he had worked hard to keep intact no matter what happened to him. That Abie would help him with the braids made today easier at least. Glancing over at him he gave the younger male a gentle smile as he said that 'of course he wanted Incanthis', something that sounded quite romantic for a moment there... until he was quick to say that it was for Junior's sake.

Giving a smile he said, "I won't leave you alone then, I can only imagine how much of a troublemaker Junior would become if you were to leave without me." Actually, to be fair, he didn't think that Junior would go with Abie unless he got him a harness and leash. Something that might be a good idea so that the little one would listen better instead of sneaking off constantly to find Incanthis. Not that he wanted that to happen since he rather needed them, Abie, the whelps, even Aqio when he was around to chat with. He seemed to be busy these days with his own training.

"Hm? Oh, yes... I could show you around and there is a place I want to visit... if that is alright?" He murmured, turning his head as he saw a squeak caught his attention, giving a laugh as he saw Junior there. The little one dropped a dead butterfly in his lap, seemingly wanting to share with him. He decided that it was a good distraction from where his mind was wandering, back to Jauhar and to the place he wanted to visit.

"Thank you, Junior. How about we share?" He gave Abie a glance and a smile, "They really are sweet, aren't they?" He carefully plucked the wings off the butterfly he was given, tucking them into one of his books, before he gave the middle part back to Junior to eat.

Incanthis's silver eyes got a bit wide as Abie suddenly announced that he meant it about 'wanting him' words that seemed to be quite grown up for someone Abie's age. That wasn't all that there was to his confession though. He went on to say that he'd left an impact on Abie, as well as the little. It was a rather sweet sort of confession, the sort that anyone might go for... anyone that wasn't like Incanthis. He was tainted by his past, marked inside as well as outside, and not just by the brand that his he wore upon his shoulder. He'd been through a lot that made him think tha the wasn't worthy of something so simple as love, something that everyone should be allowed to experience.

As though in response to his silence Abie was suddenly saying that he'd stop because he was 'scaring Incanthis' which wasn't true. There were many people in his time that had scared him, but Abie wasn't one of them. It was something that caused Incanthis to give him a gentle smile before he lifted his hands to rest them against the Water Tribesman's cheeks, leaning in to give him a kiss on the forehead, "You're a sweet boy, Abie." He murmured, then gave a soft sigh, "You're far too good for someone like me... but if you want me to come with you I will only be too happy to be allowed to follow you, to Jauhar and beyond if that is what you want."

More rather romantic words were sent his way, soemthing that caused Incanthis's cheeks to grow impossibly hot. It would seem that either he didn't understand what Incanthis had meant or else he didn't seem to think the same way. Either way it was quite embarrassing for the Shifter who was just trying to ward him away from making a mistake that he would regret later on. He deserved someone 'good and pure' if you asked Incanthis, at least the latter of which he most certainly was not. As for the former... it was something he was striving for though reaching such a goal could be difficult.

Turning his attention to Laqui as he appeared with his bettle he gave a smile, "You did very well, Laqui." He said, reaching out to scratch his eye ridges gently before turning to look toward Abie, "Hm? Oh... well, I know it's a bit of a hassle since I have so much hair so don't do anything that will tire your hands out. You need them to prepared for dealing with a swarm of babies after all. I'm sure I can finish up the last few braids if you want to make sure they are all accounted for?" Junior was a sneaky little thing when it came to escape and Incanthis worried that some of his siblings might attempt the same... only they wouldn't have an obvious goal like Junior always did.

Incanthis watched as Abie shed his shirt before he started his training, something that reminded him that it was what he should be doing. He gave a bit of a smile before he turned to reach out, picking up one of his books, and set to reading it. It was a little difficult to do with Abie working on in front of him but he knew that it was very important. If he didn't concentrate on his studies then he wouldn't be able to better himself and his magic. Like Abie he also needed to train, especially if he wanted to help his younger friend and the various whelps out in the future.

He gave a pause in what he was doing when Junior came to lay across his lap. He glanced down at the little beast, giving a smile as he reached out to pet him with one hand, holding his book in the other, "You going to help me out, Junior? Thank you." He murmured, going back to his reading. After a time he lifted a hand up, making a couple motions with it, gathering magical energy to it. Once he'd gathered the power he needed he then set to transforming the energy into an actual spell. His eyes were drawn for a moment to Abie before he gave a smile, using the energy to fuel a wind spell, one he sent swirling around Abie in hopes of cooling him off a bit.

"I hope it helps a bit to cool you off." He said, giving a smile before he set to summoning up more energy for another spell, though he was still debating which one to try out this time.