To Silver, it felt like the transition between being in school and being on the ferry went in the blink of an eye. One moment he was near dozing off in History class, the next he was passed out on the bus seat, head falling against his father's shoulder. When Lilia asked how the ride went, Silver could hardly recall any of the noise and crowd the others complained about. The briny air tickled Silver's nostrils as he took in the sight around him. Foothill Town was not unfamiliar to the boy, for he had taken a number of trips to the lively hamlet for school supplies and the like. Though, he hadn't really explored further out past what was considered close to Night Raven College. Now, before him, were cobblestone streets decked with parasols, and taupe boardwalks that reminded the boy of talons, penetrating between the very hide of the ocean itself. The sea lapped at the high rising rocks, nearly touching the bushes lining the top, creating an almost barrier between the sea and her people above. This was Craneport, specifically her east operation. The family had stopped off in town briefly to purchase some food and supplies for the ferry trip. Now, they stood before the very boats, lazily pulling against their tethers. The three fae of the group complained of feeling a sickness, for they were more sensitive to the air than Silver.

"This is why we shouldn't have come, this air reeks of salt", Sebek repined. Though still without his usual gust, Silver couldn't help but smile at him and say,"I thought crocodiles liked saltwater." The scaled fae gave him a cold glance and replied, "I prefer brackish water, not water where the entirety of a salt factory was dumped into it." Silver was expecting Sebek to go off on a rant about how the swamps back in the Valley were of such consistency and that made it the finest water due to this balance and that Silver should already know this, but it never came. The moonlit-haired boy sighed and walked over to where his father and Malleus were standing. All of their bags had been brought aboard, so the elder fae was chatting with the ferryman to kill time. A rattish beastman he was, with scraggly black hair and whiskers, and equally as ragged and torn ears and garb. Silver swore he caught a name, "Will" or perhaps "William"? He wasn't too sure, not that it really mattered. Before long the rat yelled, "ALL ABOARD!" with a flick of his tail and the pull of a valve and off the whistle blew after a series of bells rang. The sound was almost haunting to Silver, like a sequence of long, droning alarms followed by several quick blows, and the sequence would repeat. Lilia explained this was the ferryman's unique call, as most operator's had their own.

The steamboat was of a smaller build, as there wasn't a need for the larger, fancier kind. As Lilia had said, "We'll take anything that can get us to Cape Sunrise. Really, if there was any rowboats around here I'd be willing to use one". Silver had spotted some rowboats on the farther end of the dock and had ushered Lilia in the opposite direction to show him a stand offering native fruits instead. A sidewheeler with a decently sized hull, topped with two irregularly shaped stacks that blew out dusky steam. The bow, with enough room for several groups of people, was tipped slightly upward towards the tip, and a jackstaff stood with the iconic flag of Sage's Island. The stern dipped low, with equally as much room as the front, and was littered with crates. Oddly, a cargo crane was befitted onto the stern as well."Captain, is this not a ferry?" Malleus questioned."Aye, she is," the ferryman croaked with a twitch of a whisker. "Used to be a cargo ship before she got refurbished. Never got the crane taken off, just in case". The dragon nodded and peered out across the railing, decorated with buntings of the colors Foothill Town was veiled in: red, blue, and white. A staple of the town. They popped well against the mostly white ship with it's body and stacks of inky black. The old beastman was much like his ship, nearly blending in with his mixes of ebony, ivory, and splahes of gainsboro in his frizz. A tune of some sort began whistling out of his withered, chapped lips.

The ride to the Valley's Cape Sunrise went quite uneventfully. So much so there isn't a need to describe most of it here, unless peering out into the endless sea and casual conversation is of any interest. Though, there is one event that stood out amidst the humdrum. As Silver was leaning against the rails of the bow, hair blowing in the gale, his stomach began to rumble. Dread began to slowly fill him. He hadn't realized it before, but it had been nearly a whole day since he last pooped. He had, thankfully, gone last morning before class in one of the bathrooms. After that, the tempest within his guts had calmed, until now. He was getting used to peeing within his diaper, already having been changed since the first one was soaked through. Pooping, he had yet to try out again. The boy gripped the railing as the pain in his lower abdomen continued to get worse."Please let it just be gas, please let it just be gas..." Silver prayed desperately to the Great Seven. Carefully, he opened up his hole and pushed out some of the pressure he was feeling. He was thankful there was no one around, as the foul scent hit his nose immediately. He was also thankful for wearing such a poofy diaper, as it muffled the noise that sputtered out of his rump. It alleviated the pain, but only briefly. Silver could feel his guts churning again.

This time, he bent slightly over the railing and pushed. This fart lasted much longer and was of a higher volume, leaving Silver gasping by the end of it. Still, the relief was only for a brief moment, before it was replaced with more gas. He rested his head within his arms on the balustrade, a blush blossoming on his face. This felt so wrong, he felt like an immature child. Yet, as his bottom continued pumping out more farts, he couldn't deny the joy he was getting from it. As a child, he loved keeping his dirty diapers on for extended periods of time since he loved being stinky. Even now, the putrid scent wafting into his nose was doing funny things to his head. As he repositioned his legs to get ready for an onslaught of more gas he felt something solid this time."Shit", he thought. He knew he couldn't hold it forever, and with how much the pain in his lower abdomen was rising, his time was limited. There was no way in the Underworld he was going to poop in his diaper, especially not with all these people around. Silver rushed across the deck to the entrance of the guest room him and Lilia were sharing. A white door donned with red and blue ribbons across its casing, the number "59" plastered in gold in front of Silver's face. With a gentle knock, he turned the gilded knob and entered.

The room was dark, outside of the light upon the wooden desk Lilia sat at. An old book in his hands, and sat upon the bridge of his nose, spectacles. In the dim light, those eyes looked like that of red wine as they glanced the boy's way."Hello, Silver," said Lilia. "Hello, um, may I speak to you about something?" his son said with a bit of urgency in his voice. The fae set down his book and raised his head, "Is something the matter?". Silver glanced down the wide expanse of the deck and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him."It's-" as he began a sharp pain stabbed in his guts, followed by a loud groan."Ngh... I've really... really gotta poop." Lilia blinked at him, "Well, then go. Is something preventing you from doing that?". The boy fidgeted, gripping his stomach."I'm... I'm not sure if I'm ready to go in my pamper." Another shot of pain hit him and he nearly doubled over. His father took off his glasses and motioned the boy over. "Sweetie, I know you're nervous. I could show you to the restroom but it's a ways off and I don't think you can hold it for much longer in your current state". Lilia was right, Silver could feel his control over his anal muscles loosening."Father, what do I-"

"Come here, on my lap, hurry". Without a second thought, Silver did as he was told. He climbed onto the small of Lilia's lap, wrapping his legs around him as much as he could on the woven chair. As his father wrapped his wings around him, Silver realized he was trembling."Just go, baby, it won't hurt anymore if you do". The moonlit-haired boy couldn't hold it any longer even if he tried. He buried his face in his father's shoulder as a loud, bubbly fart cascaded out of him. Shame burned across his cheeks, but all he got in return were back rubs and kisses right beside his ear. His hole began expanding around a long, girthy log, made soft due to the amount of Lilia's milk he had drank yesterday. It quickly slid itself out, barely needing any effort from it's owner. He barely had time to relax before a rush of near liquid shit gushed out of him. Silver gripped onto his father, shivers rushing up and down his spine. In between kisses, Lilia would whisper "You're doing great, baby"'s and "I'm so proud of you"'s among other sweet nothings. The boy felt near light headed from it all. Another semi-solid log began pushing out of him, a line of drool from Silver's own mouth following with it. It curled into his Spindlehug, resting atop the previous log and coatings from earlier. Soft moans escaped past his lips as more and more poop pushed out of him. As his tank was starting to feel empty his guts expelled one last roar, a foul flatus whose noise couldn't even be muffled by his pamper. The pressure, at last, was finally gone, and with it a satisfied sigh from poor Silver."All done?" and as if to answer Lilia's question, a loud hiss began soon after. Whatever shame his boy had been feeling was thrown out the window in pursuit of this feeling. This wonderful feeling of relief, of ridding the body of it's long-held waste, of-

"Nnph!" Silver gasped and sat up straight. Lilia's claws were gripping onto the front of the boy's crotch, rubbing and squeezing. Silver could feel the sensation through his pamper and dorm uniform jodhpurs. Even as he continued to pee, his cock jolted from the touch."L-Lilia!" he exclaimed, and while his mouth moved the words didn't follow."Silver, I remember we used to do this as well. We had so many intimiate moments like this, before you swore it off as well. The noises and faces you'd make were so beautiful. Do you remember our first kiss, back in the cottage?". Oh, Silver remembered quite well.

Young Silver knew what kissing was and that he received them throughout the day from his father and one on his forehead before bed. However, there was one day when Malleus came over, as he usually did. Lilia had told him and Sebek that the two of them were going to be busy inside the cottage for that morning. The two friends had deduced it was boring, adult stuff and went to pretend play outside. Sebek, the faithful knight on his steed (branch), going to save Princess Silver from a raging direbeast (barrel). Come noon, when the boys were covered in sweat and their tummies were rumbling, Silver ventured back inside to ask his father what they would be having for lunch. Upon entering, Silver was greeted to the kitchen, with not a fae in sight. He could pick up a faint noise coming from upstairs, so up he went. The old, wooden door had been left ajar, the noise becoming much louder now. Silver peeked inside and was greeted with a sight most unfamiliar. His father was lain against his bed with Malleus flush against him. They were completely nude and were making noises the boy had never heard before. With eyes closed and their mouths kissing, in such an aggresive and strange way. He didn't understand, and after watching a bit more decided to leave and ask his father about lunch later. Yet, he felt a sense of sadness. Why hadn't Father taught him about this new kind of kissing? After Sebek and Malleus had went home and the sun was beginning to set, Silver tugged on Lilia's peasant blouse and said,"Papa?". It was hard for most clothes to fit bat fae, due to their unique wing structure. As such, clothing either had to be specially tailored around the wings or magic was used to make them phase through. In this case, Lilia had made them phase through, as he loved the sleeves of his blouse too much to have them cut. He was busy putting away the kitchen supplies used for the meal they all shared prior. A meal quite mediocre, which, based on Lilia's other culinary explorations, was fine dining."Yes, baby?" said Lilia, looking down at his boy.

"Earlier I saw you and Malleus kissing, but in a different way. Papa, why haven't you taught me how to kiss that way?" said the boy, looking quite distraught. Lilia set down the large pot in his talons, mouth agape. After a few moments of silence, he bent down to be eye level with his son and said,"Sweetie, I didn't know if you were ready for that. If you want to try it, we can". Slate locks shook furiously in a nod and the bat fae guided the boy to a nearby chair strewn with handmade quilts. With a pat on his lap, Silver climbed up and watched his father eagerly, the light in his eager eyes lunule in shape."We're going to start off slow, you're not much used to me kissing you on the lips, are you? Afterwards, we'll move on up a level," Lilia thumbed his cheek and guided his small face closer."Wait, Papa! Why do you kiss on the mouth?". The fae chuckled,"An excellent question, Silver. Well, it's to show you really care about someone and love them". He then quickly added after, "Not that I didn't care and love you before, this type of kissing can just be quite intense". Not wanting to stall a minute more since his own excitement was getting the better of him, Lilia pressed his lips to Silver's. It was a quick kiss, broken off after a few seconds. The fae's eyes fluttered open to find the boy staring back at him, surprised. Then with a curve of his little lips he exclaimed, "Again! Again!". Lilia chuckled, his son was too precious."This time, move your lips like I am against yours, alright?" Silver nodded, his eyes fell shut once more. Those lips returned to his own, and began to move. He tried to mimic the movements as best he could, earning him a "You're doing well, baby" against his mouth. Lilia lifted his arms, one wrapping around the middle of his boy's back, the other gently stroking his hair. They stayed connected for a few moments longer, the elder being the first to pull away again. Silver, having been so focused on the task, took a few moments to open his eyes. His breathing had grown heavier, a light wash of pink dabbed his cheeks, and his hands weren't too sure where to put themselves.

"Wanna keep going?" the thrum of Lilia's voice broke Silver out of his daze. The boy nodded eagerly once more, and so Lilia began to explain the next step,"I'll now show you the kind of kissing me and Malleus were doing. These kinds of kisses generally last longer, but if you need air don't hesitate to signal to me. Tap me on the shoulder three times, how about that? When we resume, I'll start prodding your mouth with my tongue. I want you to open your mouth when I do that, okay? It's going to feel strange at first but I'm going to slip my tongue inside". The fae couldn't help but bark out a laugh at the look Silver was giving him."I know it sounds quite wild! Really, it'll make more sense once you experience it. Once it's in there I'm going to start moving it around, feel free to move your own tongue against mine. Ready?". The boy, quite bewildered, after processing what he just heard nodded again. It was the strangest thing he had heard since finding out people besides fae existed! There were men of the sea, and men with not a lick of magic, and now you can kiss with your tongue! Silver just had to know the ins and outs of this, his curiousity demanded of it. Their lips joined once more, starting off much like before. After a few moments, Silver felt it, the prodding of Lilia's tongue. Hesitantly, he opened his mouth, and was immediately met with the most unusual sensation. His father's tongue felt massive inside his own small cavern. It licked and prodded and grazed every inch of his mouth, as if savoring every last bit of his boy. Silver remembered his father's words from earlier and began moving his still tongue. He tried to curl it around the large invader, and in response it curled around him. It was as if it was saying, "I'm here for you, you're okay". Silver trailed across the entirety of the beast, every bud, every vein and dip, memorizing it's form. The boy was beginning to grow dizzy, both from lack of air and the overwhelming sensation of it all. He wanted to hold out, to make his Papa proud, but once he began to tremble Lilia pulled back. A thin line of saliva trailed between their two open mouths.

"Silver, sweetie, I said to tap my shoulder if it was becoming too much! Are you alright?" though as the fae gripped onto his boy in worry, his little one simply smiled back. His eyes were now hooded, and his face in a deep flush."'M okay, Papa. I feel funny though, down here," the boy huffed, and pointed down to his pamper. Lilia paused, then a grin befell his equally as flushed features."You know, Papa's feeling a bit funny down there too. I assume you saw what me and Malleus were up to upstairs yesterday?". Silver nodded and his father pinched his cheek gently."Naughty, naughty little boy. Well, to put it simply, me and Malleus were also feeling funny down there so we were taking care of it." The moonlit-haired boy blinked in confusion,"Is that why you were both naked and making strange noises?". Lilia nodded, "If you want, I could also show you how to do that as well". With a nod from the boy, the fae began to shucking off his blouse...

Silver shook his head, preventing himself from finishing that flashback. Even just the memory of their heated kiss made his cock throb within the confines of his Spindlehug."Is it alright if I do this, Silver?" the voice of his father sounded in front of him, his claws still lay pressed into his pamper."I-I..." his son stammered, brows furrowed. He removed himself, perhaps a bit too quickly, off of Lilia and stood before him."I'm sorry, I just... I need some time to think about this. My answer isn't no, but, it's not yes either. I'm not sure what I want". Though looking a bit hurt, Lilia offered a nod and a sad smile, "That's alright, dear. Take as much time as you need. If you ever want to discuss your feelings, I'll be here for you". Silver nodded and as he gripped the golden doorknob to leave, he froze."Um, Lilia? Can you please change me?". The fae blinked up at him, stupidly, "No? Why would I do that? Your diaper still has a few uses". If Silver had ever wanted to strangle his father, now would be the time."Lilia! I can't go back out there like this!".

"Well, you could stay in here with me for a time. You do need your fresh air, though, before the sun comes up, it'll help you sleep better".

"Lilia, I'm being serious!"

"So am I!"

As a flash of anger ran through him, Silver stomped his foot and huffed. It was so unexpected Lilia couldn't help but laugh a little. So very child of heart of him to do such a thing. Silver would do this a lot years ago, and every now and then Lilia would catch the boy doing it at Night Raven College when he was truly pissed off. As annoying as it could be, the fae really enjoyed the bratty, temper tantrum throwing side to his little boy. Seeing it come back now right in front of him made his own heart swell. He decided to fan the flames some more,"What's got you all worked up? If you're worried anyone will see your pamp your jodhpurs and coat cover it well enough".

"Fatherrr, I can't go out there". There it was, couldn't have a temper tantrum without that attitude. The drawn out words and scrunched up face that used to make Lilia want to choke the boy. Now, it was welcoming and down right adorable."It's not about them seeing it, it's about... the smell", Silver said the last part shyly."Silver, if I have a nose ten times stronger than most other creatures and I can deal with it, I'm sure the passengers aboard this boat will be fine. I didn't bring an endless supply of diapers, you know. We've gotta make them last". Another huff and a stomp responded to him, this time with a bonus eyeroll, how lucky of a father was he! "Besides, weren't you the one who loooved staying in your dirty pamps because you loooved being stinky?".

"F-Father!"

"I'm just repeating what you used to say to me, Silver. Your words, not mine. Is that why you truly spend so long in the bathrooms at school? I'm sure your incontinence is partially to blame, but are you also in there huffing yours or perhaps your classmates-"

SLAM! Went the door and Silver was gone. Lilia guffawed harder than he had in a good while.

As mentioned earlier, the rest of the boat ride went quite uneventfully. Everyone was off doing their own things, mostly separated, outside of Malleus being stuck on Lilia, like had become the norm. In total, the trip from Sage's Island to Cape Sunrise lasted around two days. Sebek watched as the bow grew closer and closer to the sun cloaked land. The others of his family were fast asleep, as they were fae of the night, and Silver blessed by the moon. During school they maintained a diurnal schedule, but whenever they returned back to the Valley they went back to being nocturnal. The crocodile couldn't sleep, in fact he hadn't gotten a good night's sleep in what felt like ages. He would wake up at random hours and be unable to lull himself back into slumber. Mind racing, heart thumping, and on more than one occasion his mouth dripping with black. It was one of the early symptoms of pre-overblot, as was the irregular sleep schedule. Sebek never told a soul, though, and would deep clean his mouth till not a spot of ink could be found. He would not end up like Malleus, he would not, or so he kept repeating to himself throughout the days. Yet, no matter how much he cleansed his mouth, the nauseating taste of iron wouldn't leave. It's texture was that of honey, and everytime he opened his jaws he could almost feel it's stickiness lingering. He would not end up like Malleus, he would not.

The hawthorns, oaks, poplars, and yarrow lining the small beach began to take clear form. The midday sun seemed to almost illuminate the usnea dripping off them. Sebek lifted his snout to the air and inhaled deeply. Rosemary, thyme, lemon balm, and even a hint of sloe tickled his nostrils."The folks on this end of must of not harvested their blackthorns yet", thought the half-fae, for October was prime time for picking. Come the first winds of frost down from atop Mount Dread, they shuddered the skins of every sloe in Briar Valley to a softer state. The fae preferred them this way, and intentionally left the harvest till this time. Unwittingly, Sebek's tail had begun to swish back and forth, and from there a stirring within him. What was this feeling? The whole time Lilia had been blabbering on about this stupid trip, it made the boy want to go less and less. Yet, now that he was here and the Valley before him, he felt just the slightest bit glad he came. Only slightly. He despised the idea of this trip mainly because he didn't want to be around the others. Ever since Malleus's overblot, ever since Lilia's death, an eye seemed to open within the half-blood. Sebek wasn't unfamiliar with the concepts of overblotting and death, yet to him they were both not real in his world. Like stories one would hear from others, the impact and weight of them isn't truly felt unless one has experienced it themself. That May, a reality set into the boy. His world, once perfect and unchanging, now had it's very foundations struck. The people he knew and loved could, and someday would, be snatched away from him and there was nothing he could do about that. It drove the boy into a maddened spiral a week after the incident, and after being discharged from the hospital he made his decision. If the very people around him were kept at a distance, if their lives and experiences stayed as those distant stories, how could he ever get hurt? Sebek thought it over to himself day after day, month after month, and each time concluded this was for the best for himself and others.

So, when Lilia just about forced him onto this trip, he knew he was in trouble. His very plan could not be executed when this old fool wanted to bring them all close again! How could he not see, this is what would lead to all of their downfalls! It's what lead to Malleus's downfall, for he had grown too attached to that which was temporary. Sebek could never let himself fall back into those ways, he would not, no, could not end up like Malleus. To love was to surrender one self to the inevitable fate that was departure. An inescapable outcome that so many doomed themselves to. Why had the prince been so foolish, why the general a coward to not stop him? Then there was Silver who-

Silver. The name panged in the crocodile's mind and he nearly bent over the railing from the intensity. If this trip had just been the two faes, so be it, they'd be mostly by each other's sides anyway. Silver tagging along had to have been the worst mistake possible. He gripped onto the tops of the buntings, flapping gently in the cold breeze. Sebek had to get away from that boy. If there was one person who knocked down every foundation of his plan in one foul swoop, it was that blasted fool. He had grown up obsessed with the human, which was later explained to him that he was actually in love with the boy. Even now, the knight's heart yearned for his princess, trapped in a tower he had locked himself. Sebek had planned on spending his entire life with his silver haired friend, only to learn he'd outlive him. Of course, not as long as a full blooded fae, but enough to where he'd spend a few hundred years without... without...

A rush of ink spilled out of Sebek's maw, causing him a coughing fit. It dripped from his nostrils, and he swore he was going to tip over from dizziness. The crocodile fae stayed there for a few long minutes, grasping his head and trying to focus on his breathing. He had to get his mind off that damned boy. Then, covering his lower face he rushed to the nearest bathroom to begin the deep cleansing process all over again.

It was evening by the time the steamboat docked at Sunrise Pier. Considering this was his only destination, the old beastman had no troubles letting the family rest aboard until moonrise."Briar Valley, eh? Never actually ventured it meself, heard it's changed a lot", growled the rat as the four padded down the gangway."That it has-" Lilia began, Silver missing the name of the ferryman again."If you were there to see it back when it was known as Briarland, you'd see how different it was. It's only in more recent times this cape has started to get it's vegetation back." The scruffy ferryman raised a bushy brow and huffed, "Really?".

"Really. After the human settlers came in and took our land, they tore down all the beautiful forests that once lined Sunrise. Things haven't been the same since they've arrived. They've waged war against the Valley's denizens for centuries. Even now they're still causing us issues, though not to the extent they did before. Once the Council agreed to, or rather were forced, to give up some of their land the humans seemed to mostly calm down after that. Now they take up the entire east end of this island, along with the Day Court fairies. Those greedy bastards still come to the Council demanding this and that be enacted. A lot of the previously established laws and culture were changed due to their occupance". The old man shook his head and puffed out his lips,"That's just mental. I had heard a few things here and there from fae passengers in the past. Corruption and power, that'll do things to the mind and turn people into fools". With a grin of crooked and near black teeth, the ferryman waved them off and wished them well on their travels.

Lilia took in a deep breath and sighed,"Isn't it good to be back home, boys?". Malleus toddled over, the sound of his diaper crinkling barely audible against the crashing of the waves behind them,"Papa, we aren't going to be setting up camp here, are we?". Lilia giggled, "Kehehe, no of course not, silly. I think I've had just about enough of this salty air. There's a reason I never took you kids out towards the edges of Briar Valley, it reeks. Here, I brought a map so we can keep track of where we're going". Lilia reached into his knapsack and pulled out a rather old looking map, furled up and tied with mahogany string. Undoing it's bind, he opened it up for the group to see. It was a map of the island of the Valley of Thorns, with fresh markings done in gouache."I already marked some of the places I had in mind, but we can go off course a bit if needed". Silver noted that their entire journey seemed to be taking place in Day Court-Human territory. He felt a bit disappointed they wouldn't be stopping off at the cottage."It'll be a few days of travel, but we'll be setting up camp near Loch Maria, right here", the elder fae pointed on the map."I've heard it's a wonderful relaxation spot, and we'll have easy access to water". This time, Sebek spoke up,"Lilia, have you never been here yourself?". It was true, Lilia spoke of the entirety of the Valley of Thorns as if it was the back of his hand. Yet, Sebek couldn't recall many times when the Day Court-Human territory was mentioned, outside of war recollections."To be honest, no, I have not Sebek. During the war I was supposed to come here as part of a surprise raid on the Silver Owls. That position eventually went to Raverne, instead", Lilia said with a doleful tone, and gazed out across the endless sea. After many long moments he spoke again,"I've never really had any desire to come since then".

Sebek looked as if he was going to say more before Malleus interjected,"Why choose here, then? We could of set up camp closer to Mount Dread and still come to Mount Lysá". The elder fae spoke, his eyes never leaving the swaying waves,"Because, the longer you avoid the problem, the bigger the wound grows". The other three looked amongst each other, puzzled. Lilia had a habit of being vague at the most inconvenient times. With no signs to give elaboration, the bat fae motioned for them all to gather their belongings."While the night is still young, let's begin our journey!". So, without another moment's hesitation, the gang, with sacks and possessions in hand, set off for Loch Maria.

The trip to Loch Maria from Cape Sunrise lasted around 3 days. Some of the human residents offered to let the 4 stay temporarily in their homes overday, though Lilia denied any offerings of food."Iron flaking", Lilia grumbled as Malleus started to complain."I'm sure you've heard of it. The humans used to throw handfuls of it around their homes or even hide it in their food to drive fae away. Even after the war they continued this practice. I should know, swallowing iron leaves your throat burning for weeks!". The drake tried to explain to his father that the practice of iron flaking had been made illegal a century ago and barely any reports of it have happened since then."Malleus, I am thankful they offered us shelter, but I can't risk anything. What if we were the unlucky 1 out of a million to be flaked? I had a soldier go blind from having that stuff thrown into his eyes, you know". Malleus's long ears drooped and he nodded, seeing no point in trying to debate the once general any further. It was he who had taught the young prince to open his heart to the humans, a practice that had come from his own biological father. Yet, there were still some fears and prejudices deeply buried in the old fae's heart that he couldn't shake.

Loch Maria was beautiful, to say the least. They setup camp a small ways away from the lake, in a small but well covered clearing. The area was populated with poplars, willows, ashes, and a couple of hawthorns, many draped in capes of usnea. Lavenders, rockroses, edelweisses, and a touch of pasque sprouted between the undergrowth. Overlooking Maria herself was a great weeping willow, seeming to drape over the entire north end of the lake. Daffodils and marigolds intermingled along the bank. Maria's body was littered with large patches of algae, lilypads, and leaves and branches that had fallen from above. Along the western end of the loch, poplars and blackthorns reached out their talons from the very water itself. In between the tangle of branch and leaf above, the moon peaked through to illuminate the viridescent water below. As Malleus peered out over the tarragon lining Maria, his own scaled face stared back at him. Young carp swam across his reflection, making his features ripple and become distorted. He settled himself down into the tarragon, resting upon his legs. Him and Lilia had already finished setting up their tents, so he had time to unwind while the others were still setting up. The end of the fae's barbed tail flicked gently as he grew lost in thought. Malleus knew what he did 5 months prior, as if the press, his classmates, and his own grandmother didn't remind him enough. Yet, much like a toddler in trouble, he didn't quite get the severity of his actions. Much like a toddler, what he cared about most was potentially getting his toys taken away, or in this case Lilia and his family. He threw his tantrum, made a mess of things, and afterwards everything would go back to normal. That's how things always went when he got in trouble or didn't get his way back at home. Yet, this time was different. Malleus would never describe getting in trouble as leaving any sort of feeling afterwards, let alone dread. It was unfamiliar to the dragon, and it left him quite puzzled when the feeling still persisted.

He didn't quite understand why everyone made such a huge deal out of it either. His other mishaps were, at maximum, spoken of for a week and then they were let go. Perhaps it was due to a closed mind, or perhaps it was because of his position on the spectrum of being a child of heart. Many denizens, of Sage's Island and beyond, were deeply affected both physically and mentally by the events in May. While he was asked to give his response to this, among countless apologies, the dragon didn't fully get why everyone wanted a response out of him. A few apologies seemed reasonable, he's had to make those before, but this was different. It set a certain gravity into the young fae, one he was still processing and grasping. As Lilia had told him,"This affected many people, it wasn't just me or Silver and Sebek. It wasn't like old times where it halted the work of your old castle maids and the guards, or annoyed Madam Maleficia. This affected the world, Malleus". The world, but a small concept in the fae's mind. His world was his friends and family, and everything outside of that didn't really much matter in his mind. No deaths were reported and any injuries were taken care of, and that was that. The world, which the more the fae thought on it the more it grew in size, couldn't move on, and deep down, Malleus Draconia, couldn't either.

So, he sat for many long minutes more. Maria gently licking the bank, the crickets purring to their loved ones just across her long body. Viridian eyes stared back at him through the carp's nightly dance, as he repeated to himself, "I affected the entire world", over and over again. A droplet of black fell from his lips, drowning his reflection until only his right eye stared back.

After every tent was set and the campfire had been lit, the family gathered around it's warm glow."For the rest of today, I say we rest. We've had quite the trip from Sage's Island to here with very little breaks. Tomorrow is the big day when our "Research and Recovery" project really begins, as I'm calling it", Lilia chirped, gazing at the others. He pulled out a book from his knapsack,"Hey, that's that same book you were reading on the boat. What's it about?" asked Silver."Curious little thing, aren't you?" cooed the bat."Before I get into that, I brought along some clothes for us all to change into. I figured since it's a special occasion AND we'd be returning to the Valley, I specially ordered traditional Valleywear for each of us". Lilia scrambled over to his tent, sifting through the larger travel bag he had brought. When he returned, his talons were full of a variety of colored clothes and accessories."Come now, each of you! I made sure each outfit was equal amounts cozy as it is adorable!".

Lilia was the first to get changed, his excitement not hidden in the slightest. He wore a ruddy and gamboge dress, with a black bodice atop it. His chest fur poked through the gaps of his top, as he neglected to wear an undershirt. Upon his feet were black boots, and upon his shoulders a crimson cape secured with a golden clasp. Atop his head sat a matching hat, adorned with golden accents and three feathers of garnet, emerald, and sapphire shades. Much like with his other clothes, magic was used to make them phase through his sizable wings, knapsack included.

Malleus was the second. Covering his torso was an olive tunic, with a turtleneck underneath of a slightly darker shade. A black belt was fastened at his midriff, an emerald shining upon it. Though offered dark green pants, the drake declined as he preferred going around pantsless. The tunic, though long, wasn't long enough to hide his big, poofy black diaper underneath. Scales ran across his legs and down into the brown boots covering his feet and calves. A green cape draped across his shoulders and lower back, clasped with a triangular emerald. Laying on his head was a pointed hat, a chartreuse veil encircling it and falling down his back. A purple pacifier was clipped onto one end of his cloak, it's ribbon striped with lilac. Malleus's tail wagged and his frills shook with delight."Papa, these are splendid!".

Next was Silver, who was quite red in the face. He wore an almost ball gown, with long sleeves that were puffy at the shoulders. Atop his dress was a bodice, and underneath a white shirt with a collar. Clipped onto his chest was a pacifier, a Spindlehug pacifier to be exact, it's design mimicking the diaper's. The dress flowed down down to his ankles, the white petticoat making his mismatched socks stand out. In fact, his entire outfit was mismatched with shades of rose and sky. The outfit did not come with pants, so his d-"Father!" Silver cried out, pulling the sides of his dress over his front."Yes, what is it?", the elder fae blinked at him."Surely this outfit has to come with pants, I can't go around like THIS!". The dress was completely exposed in the front, Silver's Spindlehug in plain sight."Oh, don't worry, baby. Unlike back at home on Mount Dread, this section of the island tends to be warmer, so you won't really need pants anyway". Silver huffed and stamped his foot, knowing fully well his father was playing stupid as to what he was referring to. This caused his sneakers to light up on the sides. Silver had actually picked these out for himself before he started attending Night Raven College. He never had the chance to wear them until now, since he feared everyone would make fun of him if they caught him with them on. They were yellow and white, with mismatched pink and blue accents, the brand of "SB" embroidered onto the tongue. Red, green, and blue lights flashed on the sides around the three fairies depicted. Trailing across the front of the shoe were sparkles, as if the silhouettes were making a journey across his sneakers. Lastly, instead of a hat the white-haired boy fastened a golden headband on his head. A veil was attached to it, azure and thulian trailing behind him.

Last was Sebek, who after much begging and arguing, finally put his outfit on. He donned an aegean tunic with a black turtleneck underneath. Much like Malleus, it was held with a belt, this time with a sapphire instead of emerald. A darker skirt ran down his legs, and a black boot tapped the ground angrily. A long cerulean cape flowed down his back, a circular sapphire holding it together upon his shoulder. Sebek's hat was similar to Lilia's, though this time in a shade to match his outfit. A crown hugged it's base and shone brightly against the moon's rays. Last, a scowl painted his features and his tail flicked in irritation."Oh, don't look so upset, Sebek. You used to love wearing these kinds of clothes when we were back in the Valley". The crocodile gritted his teeth and spat,"Our dorm uniforms were just fine. This is ridiculous. This is a research trip, not some cozy, sleepover". This time Silver spoke up,"Sebek, you heard Father, this is a "Research and Recovery" project. Headmaster Crowley wants us to gather information about King Chernyy, but he also sent us out here to recover. We all haven't been doing well since May. This is our time to relax, might as well dress for it... even if this dress makes me embarrased". In the first time in what felt like forever, Sebek and Silver's eyes met. The croc tried to argue back but the words wouldn't escape his throat. All he could do was stare into those pearlescent eyes, flickering with orange from the flames just beside them. Those eyes, for he knew them too well. To others they read as emotionless but to Sebek, clear as night, read loneliness and despair. His slitted pupils flicked down to the human boy's outfit, to his pamper. He snarled and whipped his head away, saying nothing more. Silver swore he could see a blush forming beneath his scales.

"Alright, boys, whose ready for storytime?" interupted Lilia. Malleus eagerly chimed in, and Silver couldn't help but do so as well, for he was interested in the book Lilia had been so nose deep in. Sebek said nothing but watched in curiosity. The 4 gathered around the fire, ears perked and tails twitching. The moon was nestled just above them, as if she, too was harkening. Lilia presented it's cover, leatherbound in juniper, and decorated with golden lettering in old fae letters. First he said it's title in his mother tongue, a mix of harsh snarls and almost delicate purrs and huffs. Then, he repeated it,"King Chernyy and King Beloca. I figured we should all go over the tale again before our research begins tomorrow. Oh, I remember I used to read this one to you all around Halloween". He opened the book, cleared his throat, and began: