The Elephant King walked slowly alongside his (very pregnant), gilded siren. He slowed in the snow behind their golden twins, his thick and hide brushing against her skin as they both placed part of each other and their companions on the tree. Though the King had now sired two sets of twins in Helovia (and had seen many other sets), it was remarkable how in tune these two were. Every movement made in harmony; it seemed even their breaths matched each other.

So a grin crossed his muzzle, both in approval and relief of their reunited family, at what the twins placed on the tree. And this his head turned, thick neck draping over Rexanna’s withers so that his muzzle could lightly rest on her swollen, pregnant barrel. He hummed in happiness for a moment, but then she teased him softly before bounding towards the now-floating and trinket-laden tree.

He chuckled softly and deeply watching her for a moment before his gaze left to sweep the crowd for any of his other children or family. But he found none—only children of others: Maude, Oizys, Libertad (he had not seen Nyx’s colt in seasons), Esinakh, Arakh, Vesper, Verro, Laume, and Gawen. All youth he had come to care for—some more closely than others. His gaze lingered on the bright plumage of the Korofi present: Graasvoel and Sunjata; brows raised slightly as they landed on Rein.

Was the boy crying? He had last seen Rexanna’s other golden colt here, in the meadow, seasons ago. His navy gaze snapped back to his mate, watching Marembo take his gift to her high among the limbs. He sighed softly, contentedly despite the unrest that Rein’s presence promised, and then moved up behind Rexanna.

In his mouth he now held the lion’s claw—a trinket he had so nearly discarded when he felt that Rexanna had discarded him. But now, in this moment, he was glad Anzanie had convinced him to keep it—though his eyes clouded slightly at the thought of his love-entangled friend. Shaking his great head slightly, he rose marginally on his haunches to place the claw-necklace on a limb near Marembo’s placement.

Mbwene, trunk wrapped firmly around her preciously painted glass tusk, shuffled forward to place it at the tree’s trunk. Her blue gaze eyed the floating base suspiciously, prodding the ‘folds’ in the snow as she gingerly placed her beloved trinket on the invisible fabric. She tooted once in alarm as it ‘floated.’ But then her attention was drawn by the Marembo—though her tail twitched in irritation. She was tired of looking after the twins. She was much more intrigued by the giant talking turtle.

So, snorting an invitation to the polecat, she shuffled towards the Turtle and trumpeted a ‘hello,’ her trunk upraised to investigate his carapace.

— My dear, but if I make the Pearly Gates

I’ll do my best to make a drawing of God and Lucifer,

a boy and girl,

An angel kissin’ on a sinner.