#sand ray

But I can't get over the bit in the meeting with all the Heads of House and Felize, when Declan breaks in and says "The sand ray's giving birth in a zone that's not been cleared."

Like. This thing is bigger than a bus. She's massive! So, she's out in the wild because there's no way she can be a habitat. And she just wandered away to where she could presumably be seen to find a comfy spot to give birth in.

The Sanctuary team (Cairo, I would think) are probably in an uproar because oh no! What is she's seen? What if someone sees her and her babies? What if someone could hurt her?

There's no way that they're going to get this massive creature that it's pain and giving birth to go anywhere, though they're going to try.

(Art hastily done by yours truly, click for quality, I guess?)

Basically:

And Helen just tells them to give her sugar to ease her pain, but. Again. Bigger than a bus. So the Sanctuary team out there is basically doing this to deliver mama sand ray some painkillers.

We never get an update on the sand ray, aside from the fact that Declan says he thinks she's having triplets (no idea why? I doubt you could tell and where is he getting this information in real time any way).

But after the sugar, she's probably like this:

I put her on her back because her little burritos are hopefully not being born straight into the sand so they can breathe.

You can be angry or hate me all you want. I know now that you want nothing from me.

On this Earth, there’s no one who’s more caring or loving than you. Though I’ve been nothing but an asshole to you, you were always there for me.

Sand, please understand me. Being with me requires some patience. But if you don’t want to put up with me anymore, that’s alright. I get you. No one can put up with me.

But please know this, Sand. Ever since you walked into my life, I’ve been so happy. So damn happy, Sand..Thank you, Thank you so much..”

That speech right there made my heart break into million pieces as a person who relates Ray..

(He’s also having fun undressing him)

Ray remembered that day. Vividly. It has been deeply embedded in his mind, and he has been trapped there ever since.

It was his fault; he knew. He is a ray of sunshine, they say. But his rays are too much for others to handle, so no one tried to stay by his side. No one could withstand his heat.

Until he found the Sand. It was smooth and warm. It took away his heat in more ways than Ray could ever imagine. But a mess that he is, Ray used it just like what it is known for.

He walked on the Sand.

He stomped his feet as hard as he could on the Sand, testing its strength, but it still helped him stand straight and move forward. He callously walked and scattered the Sand's pieces, overwhelmed by the fact that the Sand was still there no matter what. It is everywhere.

Until it is not.

He woke up one day, submerged in the water. There was no Sand to keep him from drowning. There was no Sand to gather his tears, his blood, and his grip. There was no Sand to throw or build.

There was no Sand to collect into a vial to take home. No Sand to stick to him as if it's a second skin protecting him from the harms of the sun's Ray.

It is everywhere, until it is not.

Now he is drowning, and he lets himself be. He was waiting to get to the bottom until he could feel the Sand again. Even so, he loses his breath and all of his being.