Autumn was well underway on the islands. This time around, Emhyr had resolved to keep all four hooves planted firmly on Tinuvel soil until the season concluded. Last time he had wandered he had allowed his self control to slip its leash and ended up with a whole child he was now responsible for. It'd been jarring to see Eythora on his shores with a days-old foal, and even more jarring when he learned the colt was his.

He'd settled into fatherhood... not easily, honestly, but better than he had anticipated. He hadn't the faintest clue how to be a parent. But his mother did, and he thought of her often when he was with Enver - of what she would say or do if she were in his position. He did his best to emulate the kindness, patience, and affection she had so often shown him and his siblings, though it was, at times, difficult.

Especially when Enver simply would. Not. Shut. Up.

It'd seemed like a good idea to invite Enver along on his mid-afternoon patrol. He was plenty old enough, and it provided ample time to get to know one another. But Emhyr was, as ever, ill prepared for the barrage of questions that seemed to spill endlessly from his son's mouth. Some came in such quick succession he scarcely had time to speak his own thoughts. 'It's a good thing that he's curious, Emhyr reminded himself as Enver launched into yet another round of questions, this time about some birds he'd seen scatter from the shoreline ahead, 'it's good we're spending time together.'

After half an hour of walking, Enver finally had the thought to ask, "Where are we going?"

"To check on the borders."

"Again? You just did that this morning."

"Yes, and now we're going to do it again." Emhyr replied, his tone one of fond exasperation.

"But why? Why do you do it so often?"

"Because I want to make sure our home is safe."

"Can't someone else do it?"

"I guess. But I'm the king so it should be my responsibility as well."

"Hmm. How'd you become king, dad?"

"Fell, your grandsire, was king before me. He was... absent, and so I stepped up to take his place while he was - is - gone." At the time it hadn't seemed like anyone else wanted to, though Emhyr had since acknowledged that his eagerness had likely denied his siblings or his father's seconds the chance to express their own interest. Yet none had come forward since to oppose his rule, so Emhyr could only interpret their silence as acceptance.

"Oh. Where did he go?" A question asked in innocence, but one that made him ache nonetheless. Emhyr's dark gaze drifted towards the horizon, an intense look in his eyes - like if he stared long enough, or hard enough, he could will Fell to manifest from the foaming waves and deliver the answer himself.

But Fell's return would mark the end of his time as the Bay's king - he had promised himself such when he took the title. He had meant it when he said it would be temporary, that once his father returned he would graciously step aside and allow the beast of the bay to reclaim what was his. But the months had continued to pass in a blur and the longer Emhyr went without laying eyes on his father, the more he began to think of his new title with permanence. He had, slowly, begun building his own life, his own family. He had made friends and allies, and life seemed... good. Would he be able to give that up now? Would he want to?

Finally, after a long moment, Emhyr mumbled out a reply: "I don't know." In a bid to change the topic to something less sore and perhaps keep Enver distracted enough to forget any further questions, Fell-related or otherwise, Emhyr turned to his son and offered, "Want to see my secret patch of salmonberries?"

"YEAH!"