Despite the turbulence of his emotions as of late, the very moment Orphiel saw Devi he felt his heart lift in his chest. A wide smile spread across his mouth and he tossed his head, sending his brown hair snapping, and pranced to help close the distance faster as she rushed toward him. The contact of her pressed up so tight against him was both the most wonderful thing he could ever remember feeling and the worst all in one fell swoop.
Wonderful because he’d missed this.
Worse because he knew why he couldn’t have this any more.
“I missed you so much,” he admitted in a hushed, emotional voice, tears stinging his eyes before he clamped them shut and tucked his head over her neck, pulling her into his chest. He held her there firmly for a moment just to enjoy the fact that he could and then finally caught himself, took a steadying breath and let her back away if she needed the space.
“You’ve gotten so much bigger,” he marveled, looking at her and wondering where that fresh-faced, darling little filly had gone who he’d had fun playing with in the Thicket. “Before long you’re going to outgrow me.” Orphiel teased and again set aside the pain that stung at that. It shouldn’t be such a shock to see her suddenly so much larger. He should have been allowed to watch her grow every day just like he had since she was born. He should have always been able to have been there for her, whether she actually had his blood or not.
Well, she… kind of did have his blood, even without him actually having sired her. His stomach tightened and he distracted himself by glancing back off at the Inlet. He couldn’t help but quickly let his gaze return to meet hers. “Do you like it here? Are you happy?”
Is your mom happy? Does she miss me?
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