Darius didn't, quite, pace as he waited, but he did keep flipping his wings half-open and then folded against his sides again. He wasn't exactly nervous, but he felt the weight of the importance of today on his shoulders. He and his mate had both decided that as the foals grew to understand the world around them, each should be taken aside and taught something by one of them. It was meant to be a day spent together, bonding and learning together. He really shouldn't be nervous! However, his stomach was in knots and slowly turning like a mid-air barrel roll.
This was to be the first of their children that would be taken for a day of bonding. He really wasn't entirely sure what he was going to say or do. What was imperative to teach a foal? Oh, he and T'Cora had discussed some things, but at this moment, they were escaping him. Disgusted with himself, he snorted and pawed the soft earth beneath one hoof. He hadn't even been this worked up before greeting and courting his mate! Sternly he mentally took himself in hand, forcing calm and sensiblity into his attitude with a final flip of feathers. And just in time, it seemed.
For here came his mate and his son.
T'Cora had bathed and fussed tenderly over her son. In her heart of hearts, it felt almost as if he was taking those first tentative steps towrds maturity. She was losing the first of her babies. Oh, she knew that wasn't really so, but it was hard to watch her little ones grow up, even a very little bit. As she walked with Julian to the arranged meeting place, she looked down at him trotting quietly at her side. Touched by the poignant moment, she curved her neck to nuzzle him softly, blowing her warm breath across his face.
"Your father has been looking forward to this. Be good for him." The last was hardly necessary. Julian was a sober soul, not prone to spurts of frivolity and irresponsibility, despite his youth. Even so, the motherly spirit awoken in the unicorn mare was sometimes stronger than logic. Amused at herself, she turned to see her mate and nickered a loving greeting.
