Rose glasses squinted into the sunlight at his back, wings creating a shadow across the sands as he descended, faceless to her. Not until his voice rang out to her did her features clear like wind blowing away storm clouds, revealing recognition and relief. It is reassuring to see her lips stretch in a smile, to see the sincerity of it. Hopefully nothing was too terribly wrong, to drive her to her brother's lands, and her smile- tired as it was- gave him an inkling of relief. She spoke to him in kind and his features softened, appreciating the familiar lilt of her voice as it caressed his harks.

Ranjiri had changed. Cera truly should have expected it, after all those seasons apart, but he couldn't help remembering the tiny lass that could hardly even coordinate her legs. Her voice was no longer squeaky and small, but rich and sure, portraying the maiden she was growing to be. Cera sighed softly to himself and gave a bittersweet, nostalgic smile as his eyes searched for hers. "You've grown so much, baby sis," laughing softly as he shakes his head, unable to hold back the comment. Sometimes he wished to go back in time, to those days of sweetness scattered among the lonely, when he could enjoy life with Hototo and spoil Ranjiri rotten. But time was an unforgiving continuum, they had all been forced to change, to grow up.

Relief floods through him at her response, to know she is well, but it also cranks his curiosity and confusion up into staggering levels. So...why had she come? Cera certainly did not mind her appearing, but he had the feeling this was not some spontaneous trip made to visit him. Even when she smiled and softly responded that she had missed him in return, his gut feeling was generally always right when it came to his beloved princess, and it had yet to fail him. Her hesitation only made him surer about his assumptions, but he patiently awaited the words that slipped from her tongue.

A place to say? Cera's lips twitched as his response formed, only for his jaw to go slack and breathing to freeze in his lungs as one midnight black wing was parted from his sister's side to reveal...to reveal...a foal?! Through the buzzing in his ears he heard her words, amending her previous statement for the plural version, and Cera wondered why the world was spinning so violently beneath his hooves. A tenderly touch was offered to the foal, and Cera's heart clenched to see the absolutely adoring motion.

"Cera, this is my son."

If he could have fainted then, he would have, but Ilaria was sharply prodding at him, viciously claiming his attention. Stupid! React bad! Cera shook himself, clearing his throat after a shocked whimper. His gaze dropped to the foal once more; silken black hide, gold and red flowering upon it as the primary colors, hetero eyes and three growing horns. Gods help me... Cera whimpered in his head. Had Ranjiri...she was too young! There was no way she could have...but he had been silent too long, he needed to say something, make sure Ranjiri knew he was not angry and would not turn her away.

"Ranjiri...I don't..." he swallowed uneasily, Ilaria clambering back to his shoulders as he moved, her shade presently removed. Air was blown from his nostrils in a great whoosh, trying to process everything that had just been shoved upon him. "Ryuu...it's nice to meet you, I'm your uncle, Cera." Even in the whirlwind of his mind he could not deny the love he held for foals, the desire to ease the little one strong, for if Ranjiri was seeking shelter surely the child would have a tendency towards skittishness over a new territory and an unknown face.

Sighing softly, he smiled gently down at Ryuu before straightening, eyes sliding over to his sister. "And his father?" he murmured, eyes sharp with a sudden intensity, for Ranjiri had been abandoned with a newborn at her side, and Cera would murder the bastard that had decided to leave her so soon after. Breathing deep to erase those thoughts, storing them away for later contemplation, he glanced around them at the home she was clearly desiring to make hers. "The Throat will always be a home for you, sister. With my position...surely your acceptance will be swift. You are my family, after all." Smile was soft as it was directed at his hybrid sister, wishing he could speak freely with her without the youngling overhearing.