"Chick-a-dee-dee-dee!"
"Tawee! Tawee!"
"Zeeeeww Tee-tee!"
"Chi-Chi! Chii-chi-chi!"
"Na-whip! Na-whip! Na-whip!"
"Nee-nee-nee-nee-nee-ca-nee!"

A chorus of birds both familiar and unrecognizable clamored outside Caleb's window. He scrunched his eyes closed and rolled over, dragging his pillow atop his head. The screams of birds in search of food and mates would not be drowned out. A long loud groan escaped him as he sat up. Someone had left an old robe hanging from the foot board. Caleb pulled it on as he wrapped it around himself. It smelled faintly of woodsmoke and cloves and the scent enveloped him comfortably as he tied the belt around his waste. The robe was too large for him, but not unmanageably so. He shoved his hands into the pockets as he crept down the stairs. Something was crumpled in the bottom of one. Curiosity got the best of him. Cautiously he pulled out an old handkerchief. A clumsy JJN had been hand stitched with green into one corner, with a much neater, blue version on the opposite corner.

Caleb slipped the thin material back into the pocket of his borrowed robe. Barefoot and silent he made his way through the living room. John was stretched out on the couch, one arm thrown up behind his head, the other dangling off the edge. Kayden was curled up, wedged half on top of her father, and half between his ribs and the back of the couch. Caleb suspected she'd snuck down from Skyla's room where she'd started the night in order to join him.

For a moment, Caleb felt a pang of jealousy clench his chest. Right then he would have given anything to have what she had. A father he loved enough to make it worth leaving a warm and comfortable bed in order to sleep without a blanket in the cold morning air, just because it was closer to him. But that was not something that was meant for him. And he had someone worth venturing out into the cold for himself.

The back door was shut slowly so as not to wake the sleeping occupants of the house. Out here, the birds were much louder. They were significantly more annoying in the dawn air than they were in the middle of the day. Over the sound of their screaming Caleb could just make out the voice he had been looking for.

"Swim, swim my darling," the familiar tune drifted mournfully across the empty back yard. Caleb headed that direction, the wet grass sticking to his feet and between his toes. "When you get too tired," Edward's voice was soft, but strong. It seemed the early morning agreed with him. Though, being a creature of the cold, wet ocean, it should not have been a surprise that the chilly dew would be a welcome sensation to him. "-to me. Swim, swim my darling, and go learn to be fr-free." Punctured by the occasional sniffle and sob, it was clear the young hippocampus was doing his best to keep his own spirits up during the long, lonely hours. "When you g-get too tired, that is when you'll see. All the waves in...in the ocean-"

Caleb smiled. "Will bring you back to me?"

Edward was on his feet in a heartbeat. "Caleb!" He spun around and surged forward, almost bowling the weakened youth over in his enthusiasm. Caleb flung his arms around his friend's neck. Edward tucked his head down as if to pull him in closer. "I missed you!"

~~~~

"There you are, Caleb." Sara sighed softly as she surveyed the young boy and his friend. "You frightened Rainbow something awful when you weren't in your bed this morning. Come inside. We've agreed to hold our service before breakfast. Marrathew has just arrived." Caleb nodded and climbed to his feet. He patted Edward's neck reassuringly. Sara frowned as her eyes flicked across the robe he wore, but she said nothing about it. Instead, she turned for the house and headed briskly across the lawn. "Come."

Inside the family gathered in silence. John had his arm around his daughter's shoulders. Jake was standing apart from the group, his jaw set in stubborn determination not to cry. Mary held Skyla and wept openly. Roger and Marrathew stood together, seeming to draw comfort in that they were not alone in their pain. Rainbow and Ribbon were pressed near the front so they could see.

On a low table -so that Rainbow and Skyla could reach- stood two thick unlit candles. Roger handed Caleb and Sara two thin candles of their own as they joined the group. Sara drew a deep breath. "John first, then Herrown. I will light my candle and make a wish for our departed John. I'll pass my flame to the next person, and they shall do the same, then pass the flame along. Once we have all made a wish for our loved one, we will light the mourning candle together. Our wish candles shall be placed in the holders around the base, then we shall repeat with wishes for Herrown."

Caleb shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not part of the family, nor crew." He spoke up hesitantly. "Perhaps I shouldn't be part of this."

Roger set a gentle hand on his shoulder as he guided the young boy to stand beside Jake. "You are one of us now. We want you here."