Alecto meanwhile, has been chattering with his sister in hushed giggles. She is telling him about her daughter, a darling little creature now at 2 years of age, and wouldn't you like to see her? He nods, enthusiastically, and Pippa leans down into the water again, easily scooping up a bundle of seaweed, barely visible to the human eye in the dark, within which was wrapped a tiny seal pup, drowsy and wriggling, clearly annoyed from being awoken. Alecto's entire heart clenches at the sight, as his sister hands over the tiny thing and he cradles her close, touching her soft, damp nose with his fingertips before turning back to Joshua -

He just now notices how the glow from the lantern catches on the dampness on his cheek. And he softens. With care, Alecto rises and bumps Joshua's jaw gently with his nose, trying to catch his attention again. "I know it's all a bit much, isn't it?" He says, kindly and a little apologetic. In his arms, the pup makes a fussy little barking sound.