Tamsyn stood next to the river that flowed down into the falls, peering closely at her reflection and turning her head one way and another. Ever since the temperatures began to drop with the newly dawned winter, she noticed more and more white hairs growing in around her eyes. A few graying hairs here and there around her muzzle had become a common feature and wasn't nearly as surprising, but these seemed so strangely stark white and far more concentrated around her eyes that she wasn't really sure what was causing them. Already they were just a few weeks into winter and she had white hairs completely surrounding her eyes. It didn't seem to be effecting anything but her looks so she supposed in the grand scheme of things it didn't really matter, but it was very curious if nothing else. With a hum she leaned away from the water's surface and let her eyes scan the territory instead, walking along the river till she reached the top of the falls so she could look down over the rest of the land the pack owned. Everything was lightly dusted with snow from this morning and occasionally a cloud of mist filled the air in front of her nose.

Winter seemed far more harsh right away than last year, though she did remember the nasty snow storm she got caught in with Sirius. A small smirk crossed her lips as she thought about the memory, remembering how she had to convince the Warlord that the little bear they came across was no threat to them. It was crazy to think that was just a year ago... oh how things changed so fast. A chittering behind her made her lift her head to look at the bare tree behind her and saw Blue climbing down to reach where she was. Tamsyn chuckled softly and walked over to the tree, pausing to let the lemur climb down and find his usual place on her back, holding on to the fur on either side of her neck. "Couldn't we move further south now instead of waiting till spring?" His speaking had improved by leaps and bounds over the last few seasons, which Tamsyn fully credited to the fact that he had to communicate with her more often now because of the pups so he was forced to put his lessons into practice.

She gave a little bark of laughter and a little shake of her head as she went off at a light trot to head toward the border to do her patrol. "Surely you don't want to try and move all the pups in the middle of winter," she reminded him, though she did wonder if perhaps it would have been a good idea to make a quick move in the fall before the cold set in. Of course, she knew that they could certainly make the trip now, but it would be much easier in the spring when the pups would be even closer to being a full year old. "Besides, don't make me leave the den I love before I have to!" She got a few disgruntled chitters in response, but otherwise he didn't comment again. She chuckled a little, but otherwise left him alone about it. She knew this certainly wasn't his preferred climate and she had thought about sending him on ahead of them to Auster to wait out the winter, but he was such a big help with keeping an eye on the pups as they roamed on their own. Besides, as much as he probably wouldn't admit it, she knew he had really taken to helping Gwynevere with her herbs. It was adorable to watch and his nimble hands really did have a knack for that sort of work.

She started working her way around the border of the pack, doing her usual patrol with practiced steps that she barely had to think about any more. There was a path lightly worn into the ground created by her and the other fighters of the pack from their frequent patrols, leaving almost a visual representation of their border. Of course, the dirt line was sightly obscured by the snow, but even with that coverage she still knew exactly where she should walk. There were a few worries that lingered on her mind about the move that Resin had planned, but having to learn another new home again was certainly one of them. She knew that she would be able to without much problem, but when they had moved here she had been less worried since it was pretty much right next door to the Armada and she had been through here several times before. This new place in Auster was almost completely unknown to her and she only worried because they would be taking their family there. Of course they could certainly scout ahead before they moved everyone over and she was almost certain they would, but... she was still prone to worry all the same. That was something about her that only grew ten fold since becoming a mother.

Her patrols would certainly get more difficult as winter wore on and more snow accumulated over the ground, but for now she just had to put up with the cold numbing her paws. Her fur blocked it out for the most part, though she did feel it a little more where her fur wouldn't fully grow around her left leg. It was a bit concerning that this cold had come on so dramatically and she worried that the winter would only get worse from here. Her mint eyes shifted upward to look at the cloudy sky above them and she gave a flick of her ears. She wanted to hope that she was wrong, but none of the signs pointed that way. She walked in silence for a while, but eventually gave a glance back at Blue over her shoulder. "What's your favorite season, Blue?" The lemur scoffed in response, as if the answer wasn't clearly obvious. "Summer, of course," he answered as he buried his face into her scruff, almost completely blending into her fur like a strange lump on her shoulders. Tamsyn laughed lightly and grinned with a little shake of her head. She couldn't disagree though. The weather was far nicer and it was also the season when her children were born. Although it would be slightly bitter sweet for every summer going forward since that meant that their pups would be getting a year older every summer. She was proud of how they were growing up, but they kept getting farther and farther away from the little fluff balls they were as newborns.

Eventually she found her way back around to the den she shared with her family and as soon as they got close to the entrance of the den she felt Blue stir on her back, hopping off of her and running inside - going to burry himself in a pile of furs if she had to guess. She snickered and shook her head at him again before turning away from the den to go find her lover. There had been so few times for them to be alone together since the pups were born and for once they all seemed to be off and occupied with something else - one small benefit of them getting older - and she wasn't one to pass up on such an opportunity.

wc: 1247

"Tamsyn" | "Blue" | think

Resin's favorite place of late was an outcropping of rock that bordered the river. It was a good place to rest and contemplate and that's just what the ashen woman was doing now. Snow had fallen but she'd dusted enough of it off of the rocks to lay comfortably. Sleep had been against her of late and she was never sure how long she'd be out in the elements so she'd brought a thick bison fur along with her and now had it pulled up over her back like a rich brown cape. Many things had happened, the most important and impactful being the murder of one of her pack; Rue. It was unacceptable and yet there was nothing that could have been done. Since then, the giant woman had caught predators on Hallows land several times. The influx of new packs and the close proximity was forcing other predators inward as they sought out prey. And prey was scarce. Next time the one being hurt or killed could be one of her own children. That... that would never happen. And so decisions had been made without the input of her council. Paws on snow brought the woman's head tilting just enough so that her lone golden eye could rest upon the approaching form of Tamsyn. She still found the smaller warrior as beautiful as ever. Even more so with the strange markings that had recently begun to form around her eyes. They were striking and served to frame the kind, mint colored eyes that Resin so loved. "Tamsyn," she rumbled in greeting before lifting the fur between her teeth, holding it up so that her lady might join her beneath its warmth. "Speech"

It didn't take long for her to spot Resin perched near the river, covered in a warm fur. Seeing Resin like this made her smile and for a moment she was tempted to hang back for a bit and just enjoy the rare sight of her lover actually resting and being so beautifully silhouetted against the snow, but she was far more interested in joining Resin to do that. The snow gave away her approach and soon Resin's golden eye turned toward her, making Tamsyn's slight smile widen and her tail wag gently. She knew their moments alone were much more limited these days, but in a way it made each of these moments more precious. "Hello, my love," she greeted in return, giving Resin's cheek a lick before gratefully taking the invitation to join her under the fur. Slipping her smaller frame into the opening Resin created, Tamsyn turned to face out toward the river as well and settled in against Resin's side, finding her spot there like a well fitting puzzle piece.

She leaned happily into her lover and nuzzled her face into the warm fur on Resin's neck, unable to keep the smile off of her lips. She had been craving some time and attention with the scarred warrior and this was exactly what the doctor ordered. Of course she loved every moment she spent with their children and she was proud to put so much effort into this pack that they had built, but her first love had been Resin and nothing would change that. "This fur was a great idea," she commented with a chuckle, grateful for the warmth that it gave along with the warmth she got just from being pressed against Resin. It felt like she could block out the whole frigid, wintery world under here. Blue would be jealous if he had stuck around to see it. "The winter seems awfully harsh this year, doesn't it?" She looked out over the downward slope of the falls with a small frown, taking in how snow covered it had gotten so soon after the beginning of the season. "I don't remember it being this icy so soon last year."

"Tamsyn" | "Blue" | think

As her lover settled in beside her, Resin lifted her front leg, draping it over the smaller woman. She pulled their bodies together, shifting her position slightly so that they fit together perfectly. Even after all this time, Resin still enjoyed simply being with Tamsyn. The obsidian fae complimented the fur and the grey lady chuckled. "Might as well be comfortable. Who knows how long it will be before sleep claims me." Resin had always had trouble sleeping, but things seemed to be worse as of late. There was a lot weighing on her mind and, though she shared some of her concerns with others, she generally kept most things to herself. Such was the burden of a ruler. Tamsyn commented on the sudden onslaught of winter and the scarred woman rumbled her agreement. "Much colder already this year than last." With a soft sigh, Resin rested her head against that of the woman beside her. "I planned for us to move in the spring, but I believe we'll have to move as soon as possible." With the death of Rue and the influx of predators, their current location was becoming very unsafe. And with so many puppies obsessed with exploration, every day was worrisome. Resin was feeling the stress. She would rather move her pack in the beginnings of winter than stay for a season and end up with murdered children. "I've already started going through things and deciding what to take and leave." They would have to borrow the cart from the Armada. Possibly convert it to a sleigh. "We'll have to take as much food and as many furs as we're able. Everything else can be replaced." Things could be replaced, but her family couldn't. The urge to move immediately was intense. She was sending Askan on ahead to explore and prepare. "We need to leave soon." The woman curled her neck slightly so that she could look upon the face of her lover. Concern was evident in her golden eye. It had been weighing heavily on her mind. "Speech"

A small, slightly sad smile touched her lips for a moment when Resin mentioned how sleep might claim her at any moment. She knew Resin didn't sleep well and it seemed like that had only gotten worse since creating the pack and since their pups were born. She felt that stress as well, but not as badly at Resin seemed to. She wished she could find a way to ease some of that worry, but she had a feeling that even if she told her lover not to she would still carry the weight of it all on her shoulders.

Her brows lifted with surprise when Resin mentioned moving sooner rather than later, listening curiously as she explained the things she had already been working on to prepare them for the move. While she didn't have any issue with them moving now instead of waiting till the spring, especially not with the concern she saw in Resin's expression, the realization that Resin had been doing all this preparation on her own without asking for help made her frown. She tipped her head forward to gently lick the end of her lover's nose before giving her a stern look. "You've got to stop doing this all on your own. Not just sorting through our supplies - that's not that strenuous of a task or anything. Just acting as if you have to do it all on your own..."

Her ears flicked back as she messed with the fur on Resin's scarred limb, her claws tracing over the uneven skin. "I agree that's a wise choice. This weather is only going to get worse the longer we stay here so there's no reason for us to linger here any longer. But... let me help you. All I've ever wanted out of being in this pack was to support you. Don't keep that from me." She brought her gaze back to Resin's while she waited to hear her response, wondering to herself if she had ever given her love a reason to not rely on her more.

"Tamsyn" | "Blue" | think

The larger fae's ears pulled back as her lover reprimanded her in soft, chiding tones. It wasn't that Resin was trying to keep Tamsyn from helping her, it was simply that she'd always been self sufficient. It didn't even enter her mind to ask for help the majority of the time. When did she ever ask anyone else for help? Never. If she wanted something done, she simply went and did it herself. Besides... Tamsyn had seven children to care for. Seven. Resin did what she could to help with their brood, but Tam took the brunt of the responsibility for them. Asking her to do even more... it didn't seem right. As Tam began to trace the scars on Resin's leg, the maned woman's golden gaze lowered to watch. It was a simple action, but it took her back to a time when they were both brand new and trapped together in the hollow of a tree. Tam had traced her scars so gently then and it had won the warrior over. Since then there had been only her. So, seeing the hurt on her lover's face made the stoic woman feel like a scolded child. She felt bad for denying Tamsyn things that might make her happy. With a sigh, Resin pressed her forehead against that of the dark fae beside her. "I apologize," she spoke softly. "I try to spare you because of the children, but I'm also used to doing everything on my own. Asking for help doesn't even enter my mind. I'll try to remember." She wasn't sure what she would even ask for help with, but if it would make Tamsyn feel included, then she would make a point to do so. Curling her neck across Tamsyn's, Resin pulled her close. "Artorias has been asking some very heavy questions. Has he spoken with you?" The boy had come at her with some very weighty concerns. Things that bothered him and she had promised to rectify. "He wants a surname, not only for him and his siblings, but for you as well." What would Tamsyn think about becoming a Scarpaw? Or perhaps they would choose their own surname together? Resin wouldn't be opposed to that. "Speech"

A small smile pulled at her lips when Resin's forehead rested against hers and she listened to her lover's agreement in remembering to include her in her tasks to care for the pack. "That's all I ask. I don't want you to feel strained when there's no need to be." She of course understood where Resin was coming from, especially when she brought up the pups that also had to be cared for, but the children were getting bigger and bigger by the day. Very soon they wouldn't need her constant attention - even now she was beginning to feel as if she could let them go on their own for at least moderate amounts of time. As much as the boys pushed the limits, she did trust them... at least for the most part. Now was the perfect time to give more of her time back to Resin and back to The Hallows.

She curled into Rein's embrace as the woman pulled her closer, snuggling into the warmth of her and the fur that rested over them. When the larger woman mentioned Artorias and the questions he had been asking, she looked up at Resin with a curious tilt of her head. "No, he hasn't. What about?" When Resin went on to explain the things that had been bothering their son, her eyes widened with surprise and she blinked as she processed the issue that Artorias had brought up. It was something that had never really occurred to her. Surnames had not been a part of her life in the pack she was raised in. Families were determined by who their oldest male was, not by names. It was something she had only come to find significance in after meeting Zee and Sirius.

She had been content with their relationship so far, but... maybe there was something to the idea. They were a family now after all, it wasn't just the two of them. They had a whole legacy ahead of them now. Their children, the pack... "I... I've never thought about it," she answered honestly, a little smile pulling at her lips. "I'm not against the idea though... Actually, I... I like that idea." The longer she thought about it and the more she got used to the idea the more she started to love it. "So I'd be... what... Tamsyn Scarpaw?" A grin crossed her face when she said her possible new name out loud, feeling a surprising amount of emotion squeezing at her throat. Even just a year or two ago she never would have imagined that she could have had any of this... Even the idea of a safe home was a wild thought in her mind at one point in her life. Now she had a family, a pack, children, a woman she loved... And now a family name? It was almost more than she could process.

"Tamsyn" | "Blue" | think

She wasn't surprised that Artorias hadn't spoken to Tamsyn about the issue. He had seemed a little bashful to even bring it up when they'd spoken. It seemed though that her lover was on board with their son. She liked the idea of having a surname. A family name that tied them all together. The look on Tamsyn's face as she spoke her possible new name brought a soft chuckle from the ashen fae. She nuzzled into Tam's dark cheek and sighed. There were many choices, but they would make them together as Tamsyn had insisted. Pulling back, Resin looked down upon the woman beside her. "Scarpaw is my chosen name. A joke turned against those who bestowed it upon me." Her next words were delivered with a furrowed brow. She'd never told anyone this part. "My given name is Resin Carpathius after the mountain range that my family ruled. My father was the chieftain. My mother was the high sorceress." Why she felt the need to share that bit, she didn't know. Maybe she felt that Tamsyn deserved to know a bit more about her past. Again she buried her nose in the sweet smelling fur of her lover. "Either of those would be fine, or we could create a new name." One paw stroked down Tamsyn's side. It had been such a long time since they'd been alone together. There was always an inquisitive pup peeking their head in to disturb every kiss and every caress. Now though... the pups were old enough to be on their own for a time. They knew not to leave the den at night under pain of punishment. The realization was stoking a fire in the giant woman. Gently, she altered her position, shifting to the side in an attempt to gently roll her lover onto her back. No doubt Tam would see the hunger in that singular gleaming eye. "So what will it be, Tamsyn? Scarpaw, Carpathius, or something new?" Ears were perked for Tam's answer, but she had other ideas in the meantime. Teeth began to pull softly through the ebony fur of the woman's cheek and throat. A soft growl of pleasure rumbled in the ashen woman's chest. She was going to take full advantage of their alone time. "Speech"

Tamsyn always enjoyed when small pieces of Resin's past revealed themselves. It didn't matter that the details about her parents wasn't necessary to the story behind her name. It was still nice to know more about her lover and what had eventually led her to this point. There was still a lot of mystery around Resin's past for her, but Tamsyn had never wanted to pry or question. She knew from experience how unpleasant the past could be so she would much rather focus her attention and care toward their present together and the future they got to build. And part of building their future... was giving their family a name to carry on their legacy.

While she was musing over the choice between the name options that Resin gave her, she was soon distracted by the feeling of her paw tracing down her side. With how long it had been since they had gotten any alone time together, even the littlest affection was enough to stoke that attraction that Tamsyn had felt for Resin since the very beginning. There was not a hint of resistance when the larger fae rolled her onto her back and Tamsyn easily stretched out for her lover under that warm fur, casting an equally hungry look toward Resin. She grinned a little as she thought back to how uncertain and timid she had been the first time they delved into this side of their relationship, but Resin had successfully chased any shred of that away.

She hummed thoughtfully when the question was posed to her again - Scarpaw, Carpathius, or a new name? She could certainly see the benefits of each of those options, but it was difficult to focus on any sort of reasoning while she was enjoying the feeling of Resin's teeth against her cheek and neck. Another grin played on her lips and she tipped her head back to give Resin even more access to enjoy as much as she wanted. Forcing herself to focus enough to give some kind of answer after a few moments, she replied, "Carpathius does have a nice ring to it... Would you want to have your given name again?" As she spoke she let her paws come to rest on Resin's shoulders, letting her claws lightly trace over the thick scars that ran through her skin there. She'd be happy with any name really - it was more the fact that there would be something tying their family together in a more significant way that she cared about. Carpathius felt regal and fitting for a family that would soon take up residence in a castle, but if there was some hidden bad blood behind the name then she would be just as happy with taking on Scarpaw or thinking up a name just for them... She was sure Resin would want her to just say decisively which she would prefer, that just wasn't possible for the indecisive Seraph.

"Tamsyn" | "Blue" | think