Welcome to Gaia! ::

Naveen sighed as he approached home several days later with a heavy heart. How could he tell Cynthia what he witnessed? How would Acacia deal with it? "I'm home," he called, unable to prevent a smile from forming on his face as he entered the cave and saw Acacia sticking to Cynthia like glue. "How have you two been?"

Naveen smiled in amusement. "I can see that." Glancing at Acacia, his expression saddened slightly. "... She can't go back to them," he said finally, unhooking himself from his cart. "I wouldn't... ever be able to forgive myself if I took her to them." Acacia slowly and almost reluctantly left Cynthia's side to go to the stallion's, nudging his foot until he leaned down to nuzzle her. She let out a happy squeak as she nuzzled him back. "Da?" she asked, glancing towards Cynthia for the answer to her question.

Acacia seemed satisfied with the answer and returned to Cynthia's side. Naveen sighed as he joined the pair, wearily resting his head across his mate's neck. "The mother might've been capable, but she was in shock. She barely looked able to keep up with taking care of her other foals. The father..." His eyes narrowed. "He acted as if... she was property. He offered to sell her for me if I wasn't willing to bring her back." He closed his eyes and sighed again. "I couldn't do anything at that point but just walk away." It had made him sick to his stomach... Acacia looked up at them and whined, gently touching her nose to her new father's. "Da?" The tone was worried instead of questioning this time. Naveen cracked a smile and nuzzled the filly. "I'm alright, sweetie. Daddy's just tired."

Acacia whined, licking her mother's face. "Mama, Mama," she whimpered. She didn't want her to be sad. Naveen gave Cynthia with a weak smile. "It's going to be alright." He nuzzled her reassuringly. "We'll give her the best life we can." They'd make Acacia as happy as they possibly could. After all, now she was their daughter.

Acacia let out another happy squeak as she was nuzzled, happily snuggling into her mother's side. Naveen chuckled, curling around them the best he could. "That she is." He would protect her. When she was older, he and Cynthia could take her out on trips with them. The valley was nice, but it was isolated; he wanted their little girl to experience life. He was sure Cynthia would understand that need; she'd spent most of her life sheltered as a princess. It wasn't until she went on this adventure with him that anything changed. "She's just as empathetic as you are."

"Longwei," Naveen replied after a moment. "I'm sure that's why he entrusted her to us." The dragon always seemed a few steps ahead. Maybe he knew that little Acacia Winter would be just as wonderful for them as they'd be for her. Indeed, he couldn't keep the smile from spreading across his maw as he watched the little foal cuddle close. "A wonderful winter present," he murmured as he closed his eyes. He was exhausted. Normally trips didn't take this much out of him, but this one had been so emotionally straining...

Naveen let a sleepy smile spread across his face at her laugh. "He is very wise," he mumbled. The stallion let himself relax, his head resting across Cynthia's neck. "G'night, Princess." Acacia yawned as her father fell asleep, looking up at Cynthia. She wiggled happily. Naveen was tired, but he wasn't sad anymore. That made her happy.