Only Dead Fish Swim With The Stream

Aslatiel was incredibly observant. Though he tried to hide it, she had noted the despondency in her son for quite some time. The fawn and grey fae thought that perhaps he would be able to deal with the depression and sadness himself, but he hadn't been able to. She'd given him a chance, now it was time for her to step in. Never had Asla ever discouraged her children from speaking with her about anything. Quite the opposite, in fact. There was no subject that Asla wouldn't discuss with her pups. She tried to be open and honest with them in the hopes that they would be open and honest with her. As she tried to sort out the situation in her mind, the end that she always came to was that... perhaps Arcturus thought that he was saving them from worry by acting like everything was okay.

Once the wood was collected and the fire was crackling merrily along, Asla sat down and began gutting the fish, leaving their innards on a big chunk of bark that she would eventually throw into the river. Long sticks with spiked ends were used to skewer the fish and the woman made quick work of setting them up over the fire. They would dry out and would last much longer than a fresh fish.

After washing her paws off in the water with a bit of soap that she'd brought along, Aslatiel made her way back to the fire and lay down beside her boy. One paw raised and she gently pulled her claws through the bangs of his mane. There was a smile on the woman's face, but it was a little wisftul. "You and your sister are almost grown," she commented with a shake of her head. Where had the time gone. "I know that you haven't had a standard upbringing and I know that it's been particularly hard on you without having your dad around," They both felt Naiche's loss to this day. Asla's foreleg slid around her son's shoulders and she pulled him close, placing a kiss upon his brow. "You can tell me anything, Arc. I see how sad you are no matter how hard you try to hide it." One paw brushed her son's cheek and she brought his gaze to meet hers. "Talk to me."

"Aslatiel Indarra"