Lillth's trips out of the pack lands with Romulus certainly hadn't gone unnoticed by him. He noticed whenever he found their scents crossing the border during his patrols and and seen them leaving the castle together on more than one occasion. They had been glued at the hip since the Armada boy joined, but she always looked so happy and he was just glad that she had someone with her when she left the pack lands. Seeing her up and about, going on trips, exploring, training... The pride and joy he felt at seeing her do these things far outweighed any uncertainty he might have felt about all the time she was spending with Romulus. They seemed to always come back at the end of the day anyway so he couldn't really complain about day trips at the very least.

However, with everything that had happened within the Carpathius family, it still made him more nervous about her leaving so often. It seemed like all the incidents with this male that had attacked Gwyn and Artorias and caused some issues for Bowen had all been while they were alone and seemed specifically targeted at their family, but he wasn't going to be too careful when it came to his daughter. He made sure to get up particularly early in the morning to make sure he could catch Lillith before she went out on any trips, lingering around the foyer of the castle so he wouldn't miss her. He also just hadn't gotten a chance to talk with her in a while and it never hurt to check in and see how things were going.

Ulric Adravendi

She was a yearling and knew that she was allowed outside the pack's borders now, it was dangerous out there, as the events unfolding to the Carpathius siblings revealed. So there was no large burden when she brought Romulus along with her. They didn’t take extended trips, and she wasn’t so blind to have not seen Ulric spying her and the young Armada man when they returned more than a couple evenings. He hadn’t said anything and she wondered if he knew it was… mostly for training purposes. They were practicing their sparring (and kissing) in the snow.

Lilith was up earlier than she normally was today, still struggling with how much she liked to sleep in many days. Roman never chastised her long mornings so she never felt a problem with that either. She was excited today though, another trip but instead of going northward they were on their way south. Lil wanted to surprise Roman with how early she was prepared for their training today. Every trip she could walk farther and do more before they were forced to turn around. She was getting faster, stronger, and learning with Roman. Lilith was in the best shape of her life, and she felt like it. Things could only go up from here.

The girl raced down the stairs towards the food stores to get their lunch ready, and almost raced right past her father. Of course morning was the best time for her anyway, it was when she had the most energy and felt the best. She was zooming everywhere. ”Good morning!” She called cheerily before turning to make her way to the food stores. She had no real reason to believe he was waiting for her.

Lillith Adravendi

Ulric didn't have to wait too terribly long before he heard the patter of paws hurrying down the stairs and he looked up to see the gray and white form of his daughter. He grinned and chuckled at her energy as she rushed past him with a quick good morning before moving just as quickly toward the food stores. "Good morning," he said in return with a light laugh before getting to his paws so he could follow after her. He didn't want to interrupt her day since she obviously looked very excited about whatever she had planned, but but he also knew how difficult it was to find some time with her these days between his own duties for the pack and her trips so he could settle for following his busy bee of a daughter around.

"Don't mind me, I'll talk while you work," he said as he sat back on his haunches just inside the store room, chuckling with a good natured grin. The fact that she was this eager and energetic still blew him away. Even if she still didn't have the endurance that some others had or still had her good days and bad days, she was still lightyears beyond what she had been and it made him so unbelievably happy and proud just to see her like this. "I just wanted to talk to you about all the trips you've been taking with Romulus," he began, the smile lingering on his lips speaking to the fact that he wasn't upset about them - but he did want her to know that he knew. "You're being careful out there, right? He's treating you well?"

Ulric Adravendi

Her father returned her greeting and Lil was sure that was that, but she caught his huge form following her towards the storage and he quickly caught up with her as she went through and carefully selected everything for their meal at mid day. Ulric told her to continue working while he spoke to her. Lil worked on getting portions of a smoked ham while her father got comfortable, however much the girl wasn’t expecting him to bring up her day trips with Roman.

Her work slowed as slate tipped ears tilted back to listen to her father, a cursory glance back to find him still smiling. She tentatively returned to slicing the ham as Ulric went on, asking about keeping safe, asking about how Roman was treating her. Lil was a little guilty with how long it had been since she made time with her father, but he didn’t seem incredibly bothered. He had a pack to help run, Eska to look after. Surely not having her as a burden anymore was relieving for him.

”We’re always careful,” she assured him with a grin as she packed the cut ham away and replaced the cured meat in its place. ”He’s wonderful to me.” Lillith assured him softly. ”We’ve been training, and exploring… and having fun.” That was no lie, along with how much fun she had just going out into the world with him, she very much enjoyed how much fun kissing him had become. Not that she had any real desire to tell her father that even when she was always so open and honest with him.

Lillith Adravendi

Ulric noticed the trepidation she had when he brought up the topic of Romulus and their trips together, clearly expecting him to have a much more adverse reaction to it. Her glance back at him and how she seemed to relax a bit when she saw he was still smiling made him chuckle softly. Even he could admit that he surprised himself with how quickly he had adapted to the idea of the boy being in her life. He gave a lot of credit to Eska's positive influence and making him see things in a more rational light, but he also just valued Lillith's happiness more than anything else. He had seen her been miserable and withdrawn for so long and seeing her like this - vibrant and excited and ready to take on the world - warmed his heart and if Romulus was the catalyst for that then he wouldn't stand in their way.

It was still a relief to hear that they were being careful out in the wilds and that Romulus was treating her well, smirking a little as she slightly danced around them "having fun." He wasn't daft and could read between the lines. He hoped that they weren't having too much fun, but he also wasn't oblivious to what Ezra and Syanna were up to and how the fox-colored healer and moved into his son's room. He didn't want to be the hypocrite that put limits on what his daughter could do and not do the same to his son. He trusted Lillith to be smart and only do what she was comfortable with. She was a bright young woman. "I'm glad you're having a good time on your trips and I hope you're learning a lot. It seems like they've been good for you."

He got up then, walking over to where she was still busy packing their food for the day, and leaned his head down to tap his nose against her cheek. "I trust your judgement, darling. As long as you're being safe that's all I can ask. Oh, and maybe make some time to spend with your old man, huh?" He gave her a grin and chuckled, his tail wagging gently behind him. As much as he would love to spend whole days out exploring with her, he knew that was difficult with his current position so he most certainly wouldn't hold that against her or Romulus, but he did slightly miss how much time he used to spend with her. He wanted her to grow up and have bigger and better things in her life, he just wanted a small slice of her time occasionally.

Ulric Adravendi

Roman’s friendship had wrapped her up unexpectedly and swiftly after their first meeting. Her illness had been improving in that time as well. There was no way to tell if he was the cause or partial cause, but Lil felt like he was part of the cure. He was undoubtedly a source of happiness for the young girl, and when she was with him, or simply talking about him, that sweet little grin played over her silver features. By now the young she wolf had decided Roman was the wolf she would marry, not that she had said as much out loud. In her heart she knew.

Ulric didn’t say as much but she figured he could guess the deeper meaning to her words, they were having fun but it was a more mature kind of fun too. By now everyone could assume what Ezra was doing with his girlfriend in their now shared room, and she hadn’t dared to go that far with Roman yet. So at least their father didn’t have to worry quite as much about her as her brother.

”Would you believe me if I told you I’ve beaten him twice in a row during our spars?” She giggled softly as she looked back at her father after he mentioned how glad he was she was having a good time and learning. She really was trying to make up for her lost time as a child. Maybe one day she’d manage a victory over Artorias even.

Her father moved closer, nuzzling her cheek with a soft version of their affections. Lil grinned. Roman was helping her with her issues with affection too. Being close to him was so easy, that was making affection in general easier too. Lillith lifted her silvery paws as she leaned back onto her haunches and wrapping her arms around his neck. The girl embraced him tightly, showing her love through this rare and genuine show of love and affection. ”Whenever you want, Daddy.” She told him as she shut her eyes tight and leaned against him. ”I love you."

Lillith Adravendi

When Lillith admitted that she had beaten Romulus twice in a spar a huge, proud grin pulled across his features and he laughed as his tail wagged. "That's my girl!" he exclaimed among his laughter, absolutely thrilled to hear that not only was Lillith training and getting stronger, but she was doing well at it to boot. Even though only two of the four siblings from their litter had taken to fighting the two that had seemed to excel in it. He was proud of all of the things his children did - knowing there was just as much value in healing and hunting as there was fighting - but deep down he was extra proud that Lillith and Ezra were proving themselves to be strong fighters either way.

As he gave her their typical light affection he fully was not expecting anything in return and even just a little bump of her nose on his cheek would have been a surprise, but she blew him away as she settled back and lifted her pale legs to reach up around his neck. His silver gaze went wide with surprise, but he automatically leaned down some to make it easier for her to each. His expression softened with pure love as she leaned into him and told him that she loved him, a sheen of tears making him blink his eyes to clear them as he lifted a foreleg to gently wrap her in an embrace. Affection like this had always been rare and special from his Lil and no matter how much she grew or shed her former insecurities it would never stop stunning him when he did occasionally get moments like this from her.

"I love you too, Lil," he said after he cleared his throat, not quite able to shake the emotion that was thick on his voice before he spoke. He did his best to not be overbearing with his children since he was aware of himself enough to know that was something he could fall into very easily, but if he had his way he'd keep them all close and in as many hugs as he could manage all the time. When he felt her legs loosen around his neck he did the same, letting her step back as he gave her a warm smile, blinking his eyes clear again. "Well... I won't keep you," he said, the text book case of a dad that doesn't know how to do emotions with his daughter. "Have fun with whatever you have planned today, okay? And be careful out there. I know you will be, but I always worry about you. Just part of being a dad."

Ulric Adravendi

Ulric didn’t hide his pride as she told him about her victories against Roman, she could feel the pride in his words and in his gaze as he chuckled and praised her. She was training and learning from it, so much so she had bested Roman twice. Lillith grinned, always knowing he was simply proud enough of her for pulling through her childhood illness. When he’d almost lost her she knew amounting to anything would have made him proud, but excelling despite herself was everything.

She barely saw the way his eyes lit in surprise as she leaned forward to hug him, but she knew it was there. Lillith didn’t feel like she gave him enough gratitude sometimes. While she didn’t bargain with her affection she felt like her father needed to feel her love. Especially right now when he had mentioned how much he missed her. She knew he was far from lonely or unbusy, but he deserved more of her time and appreciation.

The emotion in his voice was palpable, and as she heard the tears Lil squeezed his neck, burying her face into his fur. She loved her dad, he was the one who was always there for her. Through every low and high she’d had up until Roman found her in the gardens. Though she would have hugged him all day Lillith had big plans, and as she pulled away Ulric knew that. He spoke softly, his love plain on his features.

”Just try not to worry too much, okay?” She chuckled softly, grabbing up her finished lunch sack. She was eager to be out, looking for her shooting star with Roman. Lil reached up and pressed her nose to his cheek and with a bright grin and flick of her tail Lillith was off on the next adventure with her boy.

Lillith Adravendi