Innocent joy is how Gilbert wants to describe it. In front of him nearly all of his clan watches the waves roll onto the pick sandy beach with looks of pure awe. While he hasn't seen the ocean himself in over a decade he doubts he ever acted like the younger men before him, at least he hopes he didn't. "Daddy look!" Leon squeals, pulling at his pants leg as he points down the shore line at where a few tall blue skinned Omegas lay sunbathing. "Birdy men!"

With a chuckle the father picks up his son, sitting the small Alpha on his shoulders. "Those aren't Avians." His voice lowers into a hushed whisper, watching the Omegas off in the distance. He understands why his son would think that, seeing the long orange fins in the morning sun almost seem to flow from a few of the Omega's backs like angelic wings. "See those tails?" Once Leon gasps Gilbert continues pointing out to one blonde man that appears out from the dunes, a long scaled tail dragging behind him. "They're fish folk."

"Fishy men."

"What are they?" Emil normally wouldn't dare stare but when one seems to stand on hind legs he takes a step forward, mouth agape as his heart suddenly quickens. He's about to take another step when a hand reaches out and takes his, pulling him back from the sudden thoughts in his head. "Let go." He says feeling a pull grow again to the bare chested man with blue eyes.

Natalia shakes her head, yanking him back to be by her side. "Unless you want to be used for nothing but your seed I suggest you stay over here where it's safe. That goes for her too."

While Emil looks on confused, the snow leopard smirks. "Oh they wouldn't want me. I don't have anything they'd want. Their kind only uses male Alphas." With that she pulls off her shoe and dips her foot into the cold salt water before giving the omega a soft smile. "Though it's sweet that you care."

"Really I don't. I just don't think the children should see either of you drown." Her hand tightens around Emil's though the Alpha doesn't say a word, his mind still in a tug of war between her and the Omega down the beach. "So I still suggest we leave, for now anyway." She doesn't wait for an answer as she turns on her heels and pulls the Alpha along with her.

Most look on amused at the sight, Natalia with her head held high as the younger Alpha looks down, face bright red. "What do you make of that?" Abel asks his lover in a hushed whisper so the two ahead can't hear. "She's not exactly the mating type."

"It is close to her time, but don't let her know you know that." Alfred answers, handing him one of their sons unsure of what had just happened between the two. There's electricity in the air that only he and the other Omegas can feel but unlike the single Alpha it's not drawing any of them towards the water clan. Alfred makes a mental note to ask both women later about it and if he'll have to worry about his mates but since they don't seem interested in the fish folk anymore he'll let it pass.

Nodding Abel takes Ethan into his arms, purring lightly at the small child. "Nice but my little brother isn't going to be used by her either." He doesn't want to come off as overly protective yet, to Abel the younger will always be that four year old clinging to his coat in the winter chill.

"She's never used anyone like that before." Allistor says looking down at the other twin sleeping in Alfred's arms. "She might actually want ta mate with him," he says eyeing the child carefully. Eventually he'll have to break the news to the parents about their youngest but for the moment he'll avoid the topic the best he can. He's a special child that will never speak and he's certain the other will eventually come to lose his eyesight, both effects of the attack that nearly killed them.

While Alfred catches the fox's eye, the Neko doesn't seem to notice. "I don't like it."

"It's only cause he's your little brother." Gilbert chuckles. "I remember when my little brother took a mate, I was hell bent against and she turned out to be...well a bitch but she is his bitch."

"Gilbert!"

"Oh he knows that word's not awesome for him to say it." He looks back at the group disappear back into the sea, a chill running down his spine. He's heard rumors about them; even years before seeing a fish folk lure a close friend to his death. They aren't a clan to be messed with and a part of him worries that they'll in time try to steal his son. "But I do agree that we shouldn't let the kids come up here alone."

"Okay, we should make friends with them eventually."

"Yeah...maybe." Gilbert shrugs slightly. Leon above him still scanning the water in amazement. "We'll talk with the elders once we're settled..."

Meanwhile Natalia keeps looking straight ahead. Marching away from the beach until she's sure the fish folk are far out of sight. "Don't go down there by yourself." She says in a stern voice only now looking back at him. "Understand?"

Emil sighs moving his hand away from hers. "Maybe I'd rather drown." Now out of the control of the water clan, he's well aware of what had happened. While he's grateful, Emil's not sure why she choose to save him.

"Please you're not an idiot like the other Alphas." She snorts, crossing her arms with hair falling into her face. "I'm sure you wouldn't want to drown just for a chance to mate with a fish."

"You don't know that. I'm a Neko after all and maybe it's a turn on." He can see the anger flash in her eyes but, he doesn't back down. It's almost amusing to him how quickly she can change though he's sure he's one of only two or three that can see it happen.

"I know more than you think." She says inching closer. "I've watched you from the moment you decided to join us."

He barely blinks. "I was invited."

"No you weren't. You followed that little Omega down to your brother where you knew Alfred was in labor. But since you never liked your brother the only reason you would join is to be a spy." It's a cruel thought for her and really she doesn't want to admit that it could be a possibility.

"No, there were other reasons."

Now she can't help but roll her eyes at the idea, even though a part of her is relieved that she could be wrong. Yet if she is wrong, what could have his reasons been? Nothing comes to mind, though so she shakes her head ready to fight him for the truth. "Admit it, no one wants to be colorless. No one just decides to leave everything they have just for the hell of it. We're outcasts, mistakes that for some reason decided to leave instead of ending it like we should have." The life almost seems to drain from her eyes until they're nothing but hallow shells. It's what she's told herself since she mated with Vlad, over and over for years until it sunk in making itself true in her eyes.

He gets lost in her cold eyes for a moment before opening his mouth. "How drunk are you?" Instantly he's rewarded with a slap across his face. "So that's a,"

"That's a fuck you." She snarls out, surprised how quickly she lost her patience with the younger man. "You,"

"You're a drunk, masquerading as a lost pained soul. You blame Jason and every other Alpha for something in your past. You'll cut anyone you can but really I'm sure it was all your fault and we both know it." He watches her mouth drop, surprised to feel a pang of guilt. He's done this dozens of times when he lived with the lions. Most would shrink away, two nearly beat him but never once did he feel the way he feels right now. "I'm not a fox, so don't go yelling at Allistor." Looking away he answers so Emil doesn't have to see how deeply he wounded her. "I was told everything."

"Arthur or Abel?"

"Another." The Alpha still can't look up at her, even as she pulls his chin towards her. "He follows you around."

While Emil half expects another cold slap to his face she doesn't move, the color draining from her face. There's only one name that comes to mind, no matter how foolish it seems to be. "Ivan?"

"I don't know his name." It's a bold lie that he regrets instantly seeing tears stream down her face. "I," His voice catches in his throat. "He says that he loves you and that he just wants you to be happy."

"I know." She answers in a timid voice that scares her. It's how she once spoke with her brothers and she vowed she'd never let another Alpha bring it out in her. But she doesn't feel the same anger if it was Jason or even Allistor. No, even if he's waiting for another slap she can't force herself to do it. "I..."

Emil nods. "Your heat, I understand." Slowly the Alpha turns around. "And to answer your original question sometimes...it's needed."

"Needed to be Colorless?"

With a shrug he watches a bird fly past wondering if after her heat she'll still treat him the same way. "It's hard to explain."

"We have time."

Weighing his options for a second the Neko nods, daring to reach out for her hand. "I'll try."