Mouse Kid Meeting

//Amily Kid Meeting; one time event, triggers in camp, requires pure Amily

As you're stretching your limbs and just relaxing for a moment, you hear an animated voice from behind you call you back to reality. Turning around, you see Amily rushing up to you, waving excitedly.

[say:[Name]! [Name]! Oh, you've gotta come with me, right now. Marae help me, I just can't stay still!]

It's very cute how worked up over this she is, but if she doesn't calm down, you're not going to be able to get anything out of her, so you ask her to take some deep breaths and start from the top. She heeds your advice, slowing down and centering herself for a moment before launching into a proper explanation.

[say:It's our kids, [name], they're visiting! They sent a messenger ahead—apparently the village they're building is doing well enough that they have the time to come here. Oh, I just can't wait to see their cute little faces.] She pauses for a moment, struck by a thought. [say:Oh, but they're probably not so little anymore. Well that's fine, it'll be nice to see them grown, too. But oh, what if they don't remember us?] She continues oscillating in this fashion, but you can tell that it's just nerves.

[Meet Kids] [Leave]

[Meet Kids] //tooltip- You would be overjoyed to be able to see your children all grown up.
Her elation is infectious, and you soon find yourself following along behind her, hand in hand, as she babbles about all of the things she wants to ask them and all of the things she's worried about. You're swept along right up until you see a small grey blob on the horizon, which grows slowly but steadily until you can start to make out individual mice in its mass.

Amily is almost bouncing beside you as you wait for your progeny to arrive, but luckily, it's not too excruciating, and you can soon hear the first of the various squeaks and calls that herald your children.

When they properly reach you, it's complete chaos for a few minutes. A veritable army of your kids vies for your attention, and you're completely occupied by shaking proffered hands and accepting incoming hugs. It's hard not to step on any tails, but you manage well enough, and eventually, you're able to greet all of the present mice.

The lot of you move over to the camp proper, taking seats around the fire in the center, many of your children making use of convenient rocks, logs, barrels, and other miscellanea for furniture. You have a grand time talking with all of them, surprised at the breadth of personality and experience you find there despite them all having come from the same source.

You can tell that Amily is enjoying herself just as much, if not more than you. She's laughing, smiling, dancing, and shining in the center of her family, surrounded by the fruits of her labor. Watching her revel in the shared love sets a warm feeling deep in your chest, and you elect to just sit and watch her for a time.

Such things are far too rare in this world, so you cherish every second.

After a few hours of cavorting and merrymaking, it's clear that the energy of the crowd is flagging. Several of the most senior mice start making preparations, corralling the younger ones and making sure everyone is accounted for.

When everything's been said and done, the mice all line up and say goodbye to you individually. There's a medley of crying, jokes, and hugs, and one little mouse-girl even plants a warm kiss on your cheek. But eventually, they have to go. You wave them off as the merry band sets out back for their village. Amily stands beside you, trying to stay strong even as her lip waves a bit. It might be sad to see them go for now, but the thought that they're out there, not just living, but prospering, fills your heart with a warmth that will last long into the night.

//Four hours?


[Leave] //tooltip- You don't really care to waste your time like this.
You tell Amily that she can go if she wants to, but that you'll be staying right here.

She doesn't quite understand at first, asking you for confirmation, but soon deflates entirely, her eyes hollow and her voice a bit hoarse as she says, [say:I... I understand. If you ever... No, it's okay. I'm going now.] She's trembling as she turns around, and you're almost surprised she's able to walk properly, but she soon finds her stride, rushing off with a surprising speed until she disappears from sight.

Well, no matter, you're sure that your kids will be fine with just meeting their mother.

//+4 hours of unwasted time.