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 Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2026 10:11 pm
 It was good to feel the days lengthen again, festivities abounding and the cleaning finally out of the way. Now, all of his and Alexandria’s work to prepare things could finally culminate, a gathering of their family, welcome to all. He’d bounced ideas off of Suma for quite some time, until the sphinx refused to plan for another detail. After all, there was truly no preparation that would be adequate if his father actually showed up.
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2026 10:12 pm
Waiting for a reunion was excruciating. She knew it was important to Seiram, to bring his family together, and to honor his father. All of it chafed at her though. Sure, this was home, but she always considered it more of a base of operations. A place to return to, frequently to be sure, but not fully settled. It had been days since she’d felt earth beneath her hooves that didn’t have traces of sand mixed throughout, and she was starting to get the whole area fully mapped out to the latest bud to have bloomed of the early spring flowers. In the morning, she’d finally get to change that. When she’d agreed with Seiram to host this gathering, to stay settled in one place for the longest time since her children had been yearlings, that was her caveat. Clean up their base, remind the area that they belonged to it and it to them, as much as anyone could call a place their own, see their family, and then be on their way. Southeast this time. Not to any particular location, that was never the goal, but because the last time they had headed that way they had followed a stream instead of continuing in the direction they had been heading, and who knew what she might find if they had ventured further on instead. At least her son was here. Pharos had that streak of his grandfather’s ego that pushed him past his father’s confidence, without enough experiences to go along with it. It would just have to be up to her to bring him back to earth, just a bit. As a mother she’d never clip his wings, but he could do with a good teasing. “So, what’s this I hear that you met a mare recently?”
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2026 10:13 pm
Most sons wouldn’t dare roll their eyes at their own mother, but Pharos was a bit more than most others. And if his mother was bringing up mares then there was simply no telling what would come next. “I meet mares all the time, Mom.” At the n** to his shoulder he huffed, looking away a bit sullenly. “Alright, fine, I did meet someone, but it may not go anywhere. I certainly wasn’t going to subject her to coming here. Not with his royal highness threatening to come.” When he’d heard that Khufu had been sent with a divine proclamation that his lord would be gracing the reunion with his presence, he’d almost turned around and went home, right then, right there. There was more than enough personalities in the clearing to last a lifetime. Then he’d thought of his Dad. He knew exactly how it would go. Calm acceptance, understanding, a tinge of pity for his grandfather ringing forth, and in his eyes that flare of disappointment that he wouldn’t manage to cover before Pharos saw it. Yeah, he knew how all of that would play out, and this wasn’t the day he was disappointing his old man. It was just the one time this year, and that was it. Perhaps next year he’d have time to come up with a better excuse. It was true that he’d met a mare, and he was sure he could charm his way into seeing her again. If not her, there were sure to be other mares he could spend the spring festival with, or even a stallion. There were plenty that would be delighted to have him attend their reunions. He was startled out of his thoughts with the sounds of a new arrival. “Oh gods, not her,” he groaned.
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2026 10:14 pm
“Oh good, nothing important has happened yet!” Not that anything could have. She was just now arriving, and all it took was a quick look around to see that Daddy wasn’t here yet. Not even stuffy old Khufu was here, so it’d still take a few minutes. Fashionably late as always! Maybe she’d mistimed her own arrival, but it wasn’t like she was the first to show up. It was always weird to her how so many others seemed to shy away from her. Pharos barely responded to her chipper hello before slinking away to join his sister, which was pretty impressive for such a large stallion. Alexandria just seemed a bit distant, addressing her greeting kindly but then gazing off, like her head was in the clouds or something. Weird. Seiram was pretty decent, even if he was, well, peculiar. Sometimes it felt like he shirked his responsibilities. Not really acknowledging his position as heir apparent, one of Ramses’ firstborn. And he didn’t even come from a magically appearing basked like she did! He was one of Sienna’s, Ramses’ chosen, a blood heir, and he didn’t live up to it! Weird. But then, sometimes, he did things like this. Bringing everyone together, celebrating the season’s…now that was heir responsibility! “Good job with the reunion, it appears to be a success so far.” She would have said more, and it would have been good to catch up a bit, if not for the flap of wings that heralded a coming presence. “It is my great pleasure,” Khufu intoned, “to announce the imminent arrival of the great and magnificent, the divine and worthy, the patriarch you have all been waiting for, Lord Ramses. “Daddy!!” Perhaps it was a bit unseemly to squeal, but the guest of honor had arrived.
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2026 10:15 pm
Khufu had done a marvelous job, as was expected. With his announcement all the attention in the clearing had shifted, and everyone was looking his way as he emerged from the trees. Over the years he had perfected an entrance, and he knew that the way he majestically walked into the clearing would put all of himself in it’s best light. Not that he had a bad light, but still, it was good of him to grace his family with perfection. He nodded regally to Sesen, acknowledging his precious daughter’s greeting, but did not let it deter him from the speech he had prepared. “Thank you for gathering here today to honor spring, the season which foretold my arrival.” There seemed to be a few looks of confusion among his family, especially his child’s mate, but that wasn’t about to stop him. “As the years have turned, I have begun to realize how precious family can be.” He looked around, holding a stately arch to his neck. “It is time to consider what legacy I wish to leave behind. Therefore, it is appropriate that you have all come together. I have begun to suspect that you may have been concerned that with age I may someday leave you, but with the coming of spring I am instead here to instill you with a sense of hope.” He let the words linger in the air, maintaining a solemn sense of composure the entire time. “I believe it is now time to share my truth with you all. I have decided, and Khufu has confirmed, that I must be immortal.” His ears twitched at the gasps that went through the clearing. “Yes, it is a time to rejoice. There is no need for fear or sorrow, I shall always be here for you."
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2026 10:16 pm
Well, this was going about how he had expected it to go. All of his plans flung to the wind. One simply could not prepare for his father. It had been going well, his children and mate all gathered together, and his half-sister complimenting his gathering had been a welcome surprise. There had been a time when a disruption like his father would have annoyed him, and his ludicrous announcement may have actually infuriated him. Now, he had come to accept that his father was who he was, and there was no changing it. “Thank you for your announcement.” He stepped forward, offset from Ramses enough that heads would have to swivel, taking his father out of the limelight. “It was truly a surprise. Spring is always a chance for new growth and changes, even new announcements.” He caught Alexandria’s eyes and tossed her a wink and a chuckle. “No, that’s not an announcement of our own.” The sound of his son’s groan bolstered him further, and he kept speaking before his father could once again take over the gathering. “However, with the new, it is still wise to remember what we have, and to not let what is old fall to the wayside. Most of our family is together in one place for the first time in years. You are all important to me, to us, and I would like to encourage you to make this a tradition. To come together to remember our roots and what makes us stronger. Even when we cannot all meet, let us make an effort to reunite with at least one or two others.” He wanted to give time for a response, for a commitment, but with his father in the audience there were really only a couple of options. “Enough speeches though. Please, go back to your conversations. I look forward to catching up with each of you before we part ways.” He headed over to his father, determined to catch him up in conversation before he could begin any additional announcements. “Happy Spring, Father.”
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