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The five of them sat on the Snap Dragon-covered hill outside of Bonesborough. Eda was seated already amongst the flowers while all the kidlets except Vee had clambered on her. Luz on her lap while Boe sat in Luz's, she used to laugh at the sight but now it's more common than not. Hunter leaned on her from the side with King in his arms, both their heads leaning on her while they slept peacefully. Vee lay on her belly on the opposite side catching the sunlight with Eda's hand resting on her back drawing pictures.
"Today kidlets is Manny's, Luz's dad's, death anniversary", She explained to the already tired gaggle of children. They had been silent as they reached the top of the hill. This morning had been an emotional one for everyone, with Manny's 2nd death anniversary brought tears from everyone but at the moment Eda needed to stay strong for her kids.
She could be vulnerable at home, not when she's watching the kids outside.
The kids had cried with Camila until she left for the human realm with Raine for support for her and Manny's family, sadly the kidlets couldn't go. This was a time for grieving and though the kids remembered what the kind and generous man did for them, it was going to be extremely heavy on Camila to watch over them as well.
They'd been laughing just before when Vee fell asleep in Eda's arms and when Hunter wanted to help carry the sleeping Boe and King but Luz had insisted she do it. So her little legs carried her as far as she could until her energy depleted and took King off her shoulders for Hunter to hold.
It warmed Eda's heart for her babies to be so comfortable and happy with each other.
All five of them looked over the township and at the boiling sea past the knee, It was an oddly beautiful day with the sun shining and no painbows in sight. Not even a cloud?
"Why'd Papa has to leave?"
Eda looked down to Luz who stared up at her bleakly.
"Well, Sometimes special people come into our lives, stay for a bit, and then they have to go", Eda spoke softly.
"But that's sad", Luz whined staring now at the Snap Dragons with her brows furrowed.
Eda nodded, closing her eyes and willing for her harpy form to come out. She enclosed them all in her wings like a massive, soft blanket.
"It is. But the bit where they were here was happy, wasn't it?", she said chuckling.
"Yeah...-", Luz began.
"We caught wild mushroom piglets together!", King exclaimed jumping out of Hunter's arms and into Boe's.
Vee yawned largely and moved resting her head on Eda's thigh, They curled her small tail around Luz's arm and clutched Boe's leggings in their webbed clawed hands.
Eda moved the sleeping Hunter closer so he was in her lap as well and surrounded the quintet of kidlets with her arms, kissing them all on the forehead.
"...Maybe that makes it all worth it".
Eda was content with leaving the conversation with that note and apparently, Luz and King were too. King quickly curled up into a ball in Boe's skinny arms and fell asleep. Soon Luz followed suit and Eda was left to guard her owlets.