He was filled with grief, despite clinging to the positive thoughts of his daughter and mate. As he completed yet another duty on the borders of his home, he sought them out, intercepting the filly that was his mischievous daughter as she tried once again to sneak out of the lands. Managing to distract her from her wants to escape the lands, as well as distract himself from his own grief, the stallion picked up a game of chase with the sky-stained belle. They galloped and bucked together across the plains, and Azzuen admired his daughter’s improving ability to lift herself from the ground, she was even gliding short distances with ease now. He showed her more exercises she could do to strengthen the muscles around her wing joints, though they would have to grow larger still to enable to truly fly. But seeing her innocent mind absorb his words filled him with joy and pride, and they made their way to the lake of the lands, eager for a drink in this forever lingering heat. It was remarkable, Azzuen thought, how such simple things could distract him from his grief so easily.

Nudging the filly with wet whiskers, Azzuen asked her, “where’s your mother?”. The filly shifted her weight, not meeting his eye as she guiltily informed him that she had slipped away from her mother’s side (again). Azzuen couldn’t help but chuckle, though he gave her a gentle nip upon her nape as well, and he knew that Cassiopeia wouldn’t have allowed Cirrus to drift from her side if she was truly concerned about the filly’s ability. After all, the filly had both of their blood running in her veins, and at least his bloodlines gave an inherent disrespect for rules while young and foolish. Cirrus, in attempts to distract her father from chastising her again, bounded into the shallows (though they reached up past her knees), and invited him closer. The stallion smiled, though he let a deep baritone leave his maw, an echoing call for his mate to come enjoy the water with them – and also a reassurance that Cirrus was with him. Stepping forth, he flapped his wings, enjoying the breeze made from the motion on his wet hide. Relief from the heat was hard to find, but they were fortunate here, in their little Oasis.