Palina dove into the water with her goggles on, a splash coming from behind her as Alyssa dove in after her wearing similar goggles. The two swam through the water, Palina smiling at the child next to her. Alyssa smiled, kicking her feet. The duo surfaced, Palina gently tossing her up to Iscan who rode over on Basculegion, Asante and Athena riding with him. He caught her, setting her down in front of him. Paulina smiled catching Athena, the two vanishing under the surface, swimming back to the shore. Asante dipped his head into the water then lifted it out, shaking his wet hair. "Wasn't that fun?"Palina chuckled carrying Athena. She froze, her eyes widening. Eddie stared at her, looking highly unamused. "So for the past week they've been here with you both, Adaman blew a fuse and nearly called war on Ember and the Eclipse Clan had I not calmed him and promised to find the brats"Eddie explains walking over. He faced Iscan, his gaze cold. "You would've been exiled had he found them first...be lucky I'll keep my mouth shut"Eddie warned.
"Both of you are lucky I'll keep my mouth shut"Eddie huffed turning and walking away. "I thought you were loyal to Adaman." Eddie froze in his tracks, looking at Palina with narrowed eyes. "I don't know what he'll do to them either...and I also hold loyalty towards Alya"Eddie retorts coldly. He turned and continued on his way, trotting down the beach. Palina started after him, then turned and ushered the kids the other way. "Can we play sea monster?"Athena asks looking up at her. "I don't think I'm strong enough for that"Palina chuckles Iscan giving the kids an apologetic smile when they looked at him. "But I am." Melli smiled at the three, chuckling when the triplets tackled him down. "Uncle Mel!"Athena beamed happy to see him. "Yes, it is I your favorite uncle in all of Hisui"Melli announces looking proud. "Silly, Ember is our favorite uncle"Alyssa giggled Asante nodding. "Oh how rude, and here I came to play with you all! Hmph I mind as well take my leave"Melli says hiding a grin.
"NO! NO! Play with us!"Asante yells his eyes wide as he shook his head. "But I am not your favorite uncle, only the favorite can play with you all, and alas I am not that uncle"Melli sighed pressing a hand to the back of his head being dramatic as usual. Palina rolled her eyes in amusement, smiling slightly. "We love you as much as Uncle Ember!"Asante yells his head tucked under Melli's chin. "Yeah, you're both our top uncles, Uncle Melli!"Athena agreed beaming at him. "I only have one word to say to that"Melli sighed shaking his head. "Huh?" Silence followed, a cheeky grin spreading around the mans face. He let out a roaring sound, the kids squealing, laughing as they ran away from him. Water splashed them all, Irida grinning at the kids. "TWO SEA MONSTERS!!"Alyssa squealed laughing. "RUN!"Asante yelled laughing. "OUCH!"Athena yelped crashing into someone's legs. She blinked and looked up. Mai stared down at her with a blank expression.
"Hi Aunt Mai..."Athena greets glancing down. Mai smiled, tilting her head to the left amused causing the child to perk up. "Roar~"Mai grinned Athena laughing as she bolted away from the woman. "THERE'S THREE!" Palina laughed, watching them play, her Growlithe sitting on his hunches beside her. Mai caught Athena, falling over onto her side, the two chuckling. She released the child and sat up, dusting the sand off. "What's going on with Adaman?"Irida asks sitting beside her. "....he's fuming right now, Eddie managed to stop an all out brawl between the Diamond and Eclipse clan"Mai responds looking down. "...he's a completely different person and he gets worse by the day, I'm starting to get more worried than before"Mai sighed letting the sand fall between her fingers. "I understand he misses Alya, but he's taking all of this too far." Irida watched the triplets, then looked at Palina. "You and Palina have it the worst"Irida comments sighing. "You two got to be the ones at her side in her final moments."
"Yeah...I guess he feels bitter about that as well"Mai sighed closing her eyes. She opened them, staring at Asante. "....Asante looks exactly like Adaman when he was young...the perfect copy of his dad"Mai mutters watching Asante dodge a laughing Melli. "He makes his mother expressions perfectly though"Irida adds Mai giving a small nod of agreement. Melli spun around, gripping Alyssa's hands, a grin on his face. Mai dug her heels into the sand watching them silently. "I should've been watching her better...other wi-"Mai begins looking down. "It's not your fault Alya is gone, she knew one way or another she was going to die and she found joy in being able to give the kids a chance to live"Irida corrects quietly. "RAWR!" Mai perked up in surprise, Athena pouncing on her. Laughter made her grin, Ember looking at her amused. "You let your guard down and the mighty huntress caught her prey!"Athena announces. Asante pounced on his sister, grinning. "And the mighty prey saves his prey aunt!"Asante cheered.
"No fair!"Athena whined sand in her hair. "Asante, release your sister!" Asante leapt to his feet and ran off. Mai sat up, smiling as she watched the two go. Her gaze fell to a brown seashell, gingerly picking it up starting at the patterns, wondering how different things would've been had her friend survived. A sigh came from her, deciding not to dwell too much on possibilities when the choice had already been made. "I should head back, Eddie might be having trouble with a certain clan leader"Mai suggests giving the seashell to Asante and watching him run off to show Iscan and Palina as Athena and Alyssa held onto Melli who was laughing and trying to throw them off his back. "You stay safe then"Irida nods standing up getting ready to join the fun again. She got to her feet and turned around, nearly bumping into a familiar form. She froze, her eyes widening slightly and looked up. Adamant stared down at her coldly. "I see you've known where they were the whole time"Adaman greets everyone frozen in alarm at the sight of him.
~~~~~
Adaman stared at the triplets, Mai and Eddie present in the tent with him worried gazes on him then flickering to the other then at the frightened kids. Mai closed her eyes, instantly remembering how hard it had been to convince Palina to let the triplets come as to not cause any more problems. Her eyes opened, looking at a silent Adaman. "I hate looking at you three." Athena flinched, looking startled as the man scowled at them. He pointed to Asante. "You make the wrench's expressions too perfect for my liking." His gaze locked on Alyssa, causing her to jump in surprise. "You have the miserable woman's personality..and this one." His gaze turned to Athena, staring her down then looked away. "Forget it.."Adaman huffed resting his chin on his hand. His eyes darted back to them, glinting dangerously. "Don't you know...it's not polite to waste food?"Adaman asks Asante covering his mouth. Asante threw up, hugging his stomach. "Asante"Mai says stepping past an unconcerned Adaman.
"What about you two..?"Adaman asks tilting his head to the side. Alyssa reached for her brother but froze at the mans sharpening gaze. "I asked a question." Both girls trembled, their eyes welling up with tears. "Dad!"Alyssa blurts out. She covered her mouth trembling when the man perked up. Adaman sat up straight, lowering his hand with slightly wide eyes as if his mind finally clicked about what she had said. Her eyes widened at the amused smile spread across his face. Adaman perked up and looked away, the smile instantly forming back into his usual cold frown. Eddie coughed, hiding a smile and a chuckle. "You alright?"Mai asks placing a hand on Asante's back. "You..say it too." Adaman stared at Athena with a pointed expression, Asante looking over. "Daddy..."Athena forced out. His eyes narrowed, his lips twitching. She forced a smile, reaching for him. "PAPA!"Athena forces out feeling close to fainting at how embarrassing this was. Hands lifted her up, her eyes widening in surprise.
She jolted in shock finding Adaman holding her, hands under her pits. "You reached for me, was this not what you wanted..."Adaman huffed narrowing his eyes. She shook her head quickly and plastered a smile on her face, holding back tears of pure terror. The mans gaze flickered to the boy on his hands and knees, a flash of dismay glinting in his eyes. He looked away and set Athena down. His hands grabbed Asante, tossing him right into Eddie. "I hate this one, remove him from my sight"Adaman orders Eddie looking shocked. "B-But Adaman-"Eddie started stunned. "I don't like it..remove it and return the creature to Palina, tell her the girls are staying with me, it's about time I take responsibility"Adaman huffed waving him away. Asante stared in shock at being called an it and a creature, feeling his heart drop past his stomach. Mai took Asante from Eddie and walked out, her hand on his back. Adaman glanced back as the two left, Asante looking down his chin on his aunt's shoulder.
