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With Alessio through, Nithel jumped in, dragging Leana with him, the boy under his arm still screaming and kicking.

Things swirled before he thudded on the ground. The boy scrambled free. Nithel groaned, lightly, before lifting his head. Kids were sprawled in a cluster around him, with any number of strange emotions crossing their faces. His gaze landed on a little girl, with fiery red hair covering her face like a web, as she pushed herself off the ground. Leana? He blinked rapidly, jaw dropping. Zounds. You’re going lunatic.

But when her hair fell away, he had no doubt. That little freckled face, shaped just like her mama’s. Those blue eyes, like her grandma. He was too stunned to move a moment, then wildly looked about him. He tried to guess what each of the children would look like, years from now, and came up with an almost sick feeling in his stomach. Woe.

He looked at Alessio, still gaping at what had happened. Nithel held out his hands in front of him, and turned them, soft… like the day he was formed. No callusses. No scars on his arms or hands. He touched his head. His hair was curly, thicker, barely a finger long, if that. (And it’s stunning gold, again. Not tinted with gray, and not faded at all. Though he can’t see that.) Woe. Shucks. I hope I can still walk.

“Daddy?” Leana whispered. Her voice that soft mouse, it used to be. Her saphire eyes were wide as saucers, when they weren’t blinking.

Oh… Nithel’s heart flipped, but in a good way. How many times did I wish she could be like this, again? “Yes, flower?” He scooted toward her, not wanting to test his legs yet.

Her lips tightened, and she cocked her head in that way Avigail always did, when suspicious he’d just stolen food before meal. He almost let out a cry of something but managed to swallow it. “I… Wow.” He breathed in slowly and looked at the group. “Is… Is everyone alright?” Wait. I’m the only one not a child… *wonders how he might explain this, if put to it* He looks at everyone, but particularly Leana and Alessio.

Leana can’t seem to stop gaping. What just happened? Looking at herself, all she wants is to change back. I waited seventeen years to look sixteen… I’m not going through that again. But. Woe. Is that my dad? *more blinking* *honestly thinks he’s a bit… hot… * Mama, you didn’t pick too bad… His hair sort of… glows, almost. And dimples! I didn’t know Dad had dimples?????

Wait. We jumped through that ‘magic’ pool. No. Dad dragged me through. Not that… I blame him for that. But remembering the look in his eyes, the mad determination, fiills her with new wariness. He’s been gone for two years… He’s changed… as much as me. How well do I still know him? 
Don’t be ridiculous. He’s still Daddy.
Yeah… Super scary, changing-age Daddy, who thinks magic might be okay, and- yeah. 

Ohel sits legs spread out wide, eyes wide, shaking his head. He slowly begins backing away from the group.

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@this-is-not-an-alien @hannahrenner @ragnarok