Dadda dadda dadda dadda,they babbled, and Aurin could have wept.
“Cern said we should come see how you all were getting on. He said the visitor to Tenebrae should be gone by now.”
“They’ve been and gone already? Is everyone okay? Do you know?—”
“Everyone’s fine. He just said the visitor was the type better off not knowing about your younglings. Said nothing good would have come from him knowing. Guess you’ll be hiding them away for a long while yet.”
“Yes. We will.”
“We’re keeping watch for you,” Fyn said. “No threat will come through these mountains, rest assured.”
“We appreciate that,” Salem said. “It means a great deal. Please pass my thanks on to Cern on behalf of myself and Aurin.”
“I will. He’s gone away for a bit,” Fyn said. “As he does. You know, old gods business.”
“Hm,” Salem hummed.
And Aurin wanted to go out there. He wanted to see Fyn, to say thanks. To be beside Salem.
Pappa? Pappa pappa pappa, the babies chirped.
Aurin gave them a nod.Yes. We’ll go see Pappa.
Aurin crept out of the den and saw Salem’s human form in the water, so Aurin morphed as well, still holding their babies inthe water. He shook his hair out, and he smiled when he saw Fyn on the shore. “Hi, Fyn.”
Fyn’s whole face lit up with a grin. “Hello!” Then he looked down at Aurin’s chest, where he was clutching their little ones, and Fyn’s face lit up even brighter. “Oh wow. They’re... oh, they’re the cutest.”
Two of the babies shot over to Salem and hid in his hands, chirping madly. The two that stayed with Aurin—the bigger firstborn and their little girl—were more curious. They peered up, trying to get closer, so Aurin lifted them out of the water, just for a moment.
It made Fyn laugh, his grin and eyes wide. “Amazing,” he said. “I shall deliver the good news that all is well. The next generation of godlings are perfect.”
“Godlings?” Aurin asked.
Fyn laughed. “Salem is a demigod, yes? Son of a god and a mortal.”
Aurin looked at Salem and chuckled. “Of course.”
Salem blushed, embarrassed, but his gaze tracked back to Fyn. “Thank you for coming by. Please pass on our regards to Cern when he returns.”
“Shall do.” Then he grinned at Aurin. “Unless you both want to come up for our next festival celebration. The honey mead is already brewing.”
“Oh no, thank you,” Aurin said quickly. “I’ve had enough of that evil stuff for several lifetimes. But thank you.”
He laughed. “You’re both welcome. Actually, you’re all welcome. When your little godlings are ready, I would love to see them again.”
He turned to leave, but Aurin said, “You’re welcome at the Cove at any time. No invitation necessary. We would love to see you again as well.”
He gave a nod and walked back into the forest, disappearing into the thickets with no more than a rustle of leaves and the sound of fading hooves.
Aurin looked at Salem then. “Our babies are protected,” he said. “Our little godlings. Isn’t that the cutest word ever?”
Salem sighed with a faint smile pulling at his lips, but then he remembered... “They said their first words! I heard them!”
“Yes. Dadda and Pappa,” Aurin said, so happy, it made him laugh. “They were worried for you.”
Salem melted into the water so he could hug the two godlings he was holding, then he brought Aurin in and hugged them all.
A chorus of chirps and squeaks along with overlapping echoes ofPappaandDaddamade Aurin’s hearts sing. Then there was one very tinynom nom, and then another joined in, and Aurin laughed and laughed.
