Somehow, he would always manage to mess everything up. It seemed inevitable. Something always went wrong at one time or another. Psyche left, though whether it was something in Mauja that drover her away or just a restless soul he still didn't know. Together with Ulrik he'd provoked Ricciardo, making it a slightly bad start. He'd nearly attacked Keahi... And now things were going to go to hell, too.

Monster showed up briefly before shrinking back, and thoughtfully he stared after the black beast. Did he disapprove? Or was this just not his thing to observe? Who knew what that pet of his thought... The warm, soft touch of Tamlin's muzzle on his shoulder brought a smile to the King's face, and he brought his large head down to blow air onto his small forehead. "Tamlin," he breathed onto the child, feeling the name in his mouth. He would not have minded being here to help name him, but now he was Tamlin and Mauja would not argue about it. With the anxiety fading, affection settled in his bones and in his pumping heart. Devotion. Love, even. He was not a father merely in donating his seed, he was a father in his soul. Too busy committing his newborn son to memory to notice the flowers, it wasn't until Lotus spoke that he glanced down. By then Coris was starting to make his retreat, and the newly made mother's muzzle breathed against his cheek as he peered at the flowers. "A strong child," he was saying even as Snö's scent came closer. And then, Lotus said words which made his heart hardened. He didn't look at her, pretended as if nothing had happened even though his son curled up next to Lotus to sleep under the lynx blanket. "Yes," he agreed, and even though his voice was stern it was not cold. "But he is not my heir."

Said heir - or, well, Mauja didn't really believe in heirs - metaphorically elbowed her way onto the scene. His eyes flashed to her, drinking in her dislike and anger in a single moment before exhaling softly. "Snö..." he began to say even as she fled, shouldering poor Coris aside. For a moment hurt shone upon his face, confusion too, and he gave Coris an apologetic glance before the crafter fled. And so, he was alone with Lotus and Tamlin, but the joy had been sucked dry, stolen right out from his heart. The very nature of fatherhood prevented him from choosing one child over the other - despite the fact that Tamlin was merely minutes old, he was still Mauja's son, unconditionally loved. And so was Snö, even though her reaction had been troublesome.

What could he do, really? Split himself in two?
Glumly he cocked a hip and stared vacantly in front of himself.