In Dire Straits

[Image: daddyghost1_by_arkyls-dc3i3gw.png]

What was sleep? A distant, well loved, friend that hadn't come for a long stay in what began to feel like years. Heavy eyes lifted, small snores bouncing along softly behind him. Where his pale eyes melted at the sight of Xenia and their five new, perfect, beautiful, Daughters. Five Daughters. What were the chances that five Princesses would bless them? Ghost lingered by the doorway after shuffling away from his family, eyes gooey like fresh honey as he watched each small baby snuggle closer to Mom. Heart aching with fullness, who knew the iron King's undoing would be these tiny little girls. Who could barely stumble along without toddling over into one another, to full blown face planting under their fat bellies.

Ghost pulled himself from the warm Den to carried his large self to get a drink. Taking his time to watch the fish flicker by, and to allow a pang of pain for the disappearance of his dearest friend Moons. He would have loved her to meet them, be their Guardian should anything ever happen to himself or his Queen. She'd been aging, and after years of dedication to the Monarchy... Simply vanished into the thin air. Quietly he sent his appreciation to her, telling her all about each of his new Daughters.

Despite the fog of grogginess, Ghost stalked into the stream toward unsuspecting fish, snapping unsuccessfully at first toward a few large Salmon that darted away. It took some time before he found his rhythm, and piled a few fat fish away from the water to await his mate and the children if they'd like to try something new. A hint of a sleepy smile on his face as he plopped himself down beside them to guard their breakfast, and wait for them to eat together.

He was rattled awake by the pressure of tiny feet climbing him, as Elias shouted her victory on conquering their Dad. "I WIN! I got here first, and I beat you." She squeaked with a spunky eyebrow raise and grin as her chin lifted high into the air. Peridot tugged on his remaining ear, tiny feet pressing against his cheek. Belioh had climbed up with Elias, her fluffy head plopping down as she slid down Ghost's forehead toward his face. Luna tucked in beside him with her lovely little laugh at her siblings, and finally, Pieces snuggled by his legs to watch it all unfold. Xenia likely following behind to laugh at this entire scene.

"I missed you Princesses." He'd exclaim brightly, playing as if he was weighed down by the two on his back. Exhausted, hungry, but utterly in heaven.

Semi-Private; babies and Xenia first. Then Haylyn, Haven, Kashmir, Cockatrice may join!

Welcome to your family Raining, Akante, and Rhiow! We had such a difficult time choosing, we were forced to add a bonus slot to this litter. Look what you've done to us. Now show us what you've got Princesses!

♥ ♥

✦

When one of them woke up, it was an eventual domino effect, and now was no different. Bel's grey eyes fluttered open and she squinted out the mouth of the den as she lifted her nose to try and scent what and who was just outside. What she got a good waft of was something extra smelly and the brown toned girl snorted loudly. What in fresh new hell was that? Carefully the one of now many princesses rose to her paws a little unsteadily, and made a cautious wobbly trot out after the loudest of them (for the moment). Her expression was not pleased as it was brighter out here and that fish smelled like--

"Dad!" she suddenly exclaimed, with a bubbly giggle and she did pick up her paws and followed Elias to clamber on her father. But she took a different path. One that would lead her onto his big ol' head so she could look in his big ol' eyes. That maneuover had her front paws slipping down his forehead, but apart from a momentary panicked look, she rolled with the new position and just ended up licking at his eyebrow. "Missed you too," she admitted with a quick wag of her tail. Not that she understood just how much time had gone by, a few minutes for a pup was enough... even if she had been sleeping.

She stepped gingerly forward, her belly now brushing against his head as she tried to peer into his eyes. " 'm not hurting you, right?" she asked as her head canted to the side as concern blossomed on her face. She wasn't that heavy was she-- a thought came to her and she looked to Elias. "You're too heavy," she commented, because surely Bel wasn't hurting anyone. Especially her father, or theirs.

And then, because her attention span was not very impressive...

"Peri, stop slobberi- oh no!"

She stepped towards Peridot who had been biting at Ghost's ear and stepped too far down his head and slipped the rest of the way down his nose.

It was morning again. She was beginning to lose track of how many mornings had come and gone in the sleepy hollow they called home. It felt like eons. There was a chill to the air, but she dreamt of summer. It was hot in her dream, but she didn’t mind it. It felt like home, like nestling between her soft, loving father and her strong, protective mother. Like settling in to eat among siblings. Blue, red, white. It smelled like golden grains and mother’s flowers. She was free to run, as her sisters ran now after their father. She slept a little longer, comfortable in the dream until the spaces her siblings left behind grew cold and reminded her that she didn’t know what summer was.

She woke up. The cold hurt her nose. Delicately she tucks it into her mother’s side and drifts for a moment, hungry for things she didn’t know, hungry for something she hadn’t had, hungry for something—food. That was it. Even mother was courting wakefulness. Father was gone, as he’d been in her dream. Sleep was unlikely to return with her curiosity piqued, so she abandons summer and with all the strength in her small, growing body, she journeys to water’s edge. There she found her missing family, all rough and tumble, haphazardly piled. While nobody paid her any mind (she hoped), she sniffed at the pile of still gasping fish, jerking her head back when one slapped its tail at her.

“What are these…” she mumbles quietly, peeking over the scaly things at the mountain that was her family. Giving them a wide berth, she carefully steps around her father’s tail to tuck against his haunch, supporting herself against his comforting (and, importantly, SOLID) warmth. Her sisters were cutting up, clambering all over their dad until he had no choice but to wake up and address his horde. “You got up… so early,” she sighs, leaning her head against him, wordlessly showing that she’d missed him, too. It felt like he’d been gone for a long time already. Was it just this morning that she felt him leave, or one of the other mornings? She was having a hard time keeping track.

That, or she was falling asleep again. Warm again against his side, her head dips and she threatens to sway. It’s hard, being a little princess.

Bump for my babbiiesss pleaseeeee

Ghost

Arkana

Belioh

Pisces

Kay ✨