Bane awoke from where he lay across from Tahlia. The one remaining eye the elder had saw that Lior was curled against him. Gingerly the wolf picked up the pup by the nape of the neck and placed her against a teat so Lior could easily feed when she awoke. The packless mates newest additions would be molded by the wild to be strong, not burdened with concerns for non family wolves. Bane felt a gust of summer heat blowing in through the entrance and thought as he looked over his sleeping family what the river waters temperature was. He'd go wade for a bit to relax, then hunt for his den bound mate.

One of the pups, Kailos, stirred from where he lay next to Tahlia, his chin planting on his mothers hind leg. The still blind pup looked in the direction of his father with squinted eyes. A tiny paw worked its way over her leg as he settled down with a wheezing pup sigh. Bane remained just in front of the exit for a moment and went back to his son. A lick was placed on the sleeping pup's head and a nuzzle given against Tahlia's flank. With a backwards glance Bane strode outside and waded out into the shallow banks of the Rio Grande. It was almost morning, and as the elder just caught the edge of the sun peaking over the mountains he felt his last paw leave the steep dropoff of the riverbed. Weightless, save for the paw that came back to dig in the mud to keep him in place, Bane closed his eye in contentment.

Walk | Talk | Think Tahlia had not stirred as her husband exited the den, quite comfortable there within the summer heat and content to sleep longer. The children were taking it out of her, but she enjoyed every moment of it, recalling as she did the time when both Jakart and Anais had been this small, this dependent. They were off doing their own thing now, occasionally dropping by their parents' den to peer in and peek at their little wobbly siblings. She was grateful they had taken to the youngsters so well, and even more glad that they had decided to remain near though they no longer shared the den. As grown as her elder children were looking these days, she still saw them as her pups, her unruly, rowdy pups. It took Anais dropping by the den and poking her head inside for Tahlia to finally wake, and after a quiet conversation the mother wolf left with her daughter willingly and eagerly taking over her spot inside the den. It was her first time leaving the den in a while, and no sooner than she was past the entrance she stopped to stretch. She rolled her neck, her shoulders, extended her legs, working the stiffness out after what felt like forever holed away inside of the den nursing and caring for the pups. As troublesome as it was on her body - goodness, did she need to a good run through the woods, perhaps even a hunt to further exercise her limbs - she would not have traded it for the world. With a smile about her face, the russet and black she-wolf padded happily from the den and down toward the river, allowing the warmth of the morning sun to soak into her coat. It was not quite stifling yet, but at least it was comfortable. And there, floating about near the shallow edge of the river in one of its quiet pockets was Bane, seemingly restful and relaxed. Her smile brightened as she padded toward him along the riverbank, calling out to him amusingly when she was close enough to be heard above the noisy waters nearby. "As I recall, I am the one usually being interrupted in the water."

Bane lazily cracked an eye, they only eye he could rather, and dug his paw further in the mud. Tahlia was finally out of the den again, the only time for his mate leaving was when thirsty or to relieve herself. The elder lay with his pups during these moments so they stayed warm due to the lack of an assisting female. Wet nurses were definitely from a time past, around when humans once roamed until The Event happened. Not even he knew how the two legs vanished. It had been fairly rapid that was for sure. Some remnants were around the lands such as the Seracian barn or the ship wrecked along the coast.

The shallows in the riverside was a gentle whirlpool the way the bank curled in this particular spot, the current massaging his worn muscles. Tahlia coming up to him and standing on the edge of the riverbank, her snarky comment causing the old wolf to laugh at those memories. Funny times those were. "The life of a fisher is never easy when they're regarded as pretty by an interested male." Bane's gaze flicked down to the water then back up at his mate. He came out of the water and shook his fur out, giving Tahlia a nuzzle and a lick on the cheek. "Well, what do you want to do? Or talk about? I can hunt if you wish." Bane piped up curiously.

Walk | Talk | Think The laughter of her husband was greatly enjoyable, so pleasant on this day that she could finally get out of the den for a little while. Anais had promised from the beginning that she had no qualms with babysitting for her, had practically begged Tahlia at times to give her time with them to prove it, but finally she had felt the young ones old enough for her daughter's inexperienced care. Thankfully she had no intentions of getting very far from them, just a quick jog outside of the den to stretch her limbs and exercise at least a little. That was certainly one point of pregnancy that she disliked: her figure was altered for it. Pretty. Well, at least there was still someone who had an appreciation for her appearance no matter how she looked. The compliment was taken with a chuckle of her own, her paws stopping their progress as her wading mate drew himself from the river to shake and then proceeded to approach her. Golden eyes closing, Tahlia leaned into his touch, returning the nuzzle gently despite him still being damp from his swim. Did he know how happy she was? How delighted she was with their family and everything they were? It hardly mattered that they had lost their pack; in an odd way it had been a blessing, bringing them even closer than they had been before. She could only see things getting better for them, whichever way fate decided to take them. Despite having been doing so much for her already, Bane was quick to offer her another meal, and though she could have used it despite not being immediately hungry Tahlia shook her head. "You have done enough hunting for me already," she promised him with a smile, bumping her nose softly against his, "Besides, I could use the exercise. It has been too long since I have been able to really stretch." She was more than ready to give chase to something, simply for the satisfaction the exertion would give when she finally had her prize within her jaws. "Would you care for anything?" she asked curiously, tail wagging just faintly behind her, "I could treat you for a change."

A fluttering was to be had in the elder chest when their muzzles touched together, a gingerly applied lick being given along the side of his mates neck to the top of her left cheek. Bane tilted his head to the right side and took in Tahlia's golden eyes staring back at him. "I... I guess I kinda have. Providing food for the mate to feed the non-weened pups in a den all day is getting to be kinda tedious, as I'm sure just lying in a den nursing and cleaning them does too." The elder joked. "Does it get tedious sometimes?" Bane caught himself as he described to monotony of the male and female perspective of raising young. "Touch? to that double entendre ma jolie fleur." Bane glanced away with warming cheeks, gaze returning when he felt her nose touch his.

The elder flicked his tongue out and grazed over her lips. "I haven't said I love you today Tahlia, I love you." His ears perked. She wanted to do something for him? "Ahhh, how about a fish? The salmon have been making their way up the river these past few days." Tahlia took note of this and turned towards the river, Bane not noticing if she said anything as he made the first motions of sitting down before getting back up and stalking away for a moment. He hoped the sounds of the river would mask his escape and that she wouldn't turn around.

The wild iris was easy to find and smelled as good as it looked, the river blossom being severed from the main plant in a snap of his jaws. He stalked back where she left him in a rather cheery mood. Bane then lay down on the river bank, a gleam in his eye as he watched Tahlia fish. Placing his head on a foreleg he toyed with the flower clenched in his maw, watching the river flow by without a care in the world.

Walk | Talk | Think "Sometimes," Tahlia admitted regarding the tendency of caring for pups to lose a bit of its charm after a while. It was hard sometimes not to look longingly after Bane when he would leave the den on his own outings to fetch her meals, wishing that she could have the same freedom. But every time she consoled herself with how big the children were getting, how much stronger they were since the last day, and before she knew it they would be out of the den and on their own, just as wild and independent as their elder siblings were. Then it would just be her and Bane within the den, something that she was beginning to realize they had really gotten little of during their lives together. Her smile softened and sweetened as he kissed her lips, murmuring happily, "And I love you," when he made his profession. Yes, she did really want to spend more time with him, another perk that would be offered to her when the children were older. After all, he was advanced in age, her senior by a few years, and though she often forgot about it because the symptoms were not always obvious it was still a present fact. One that held a reminder in their children. Her husband had his answer to her request and it was not all that surprising. She rarely bragged as it was an unbecoming habit, but she did consider herself quite the fisher and had offered her skills on a few occassions to be passed on to others when they had been within Seracia. It was something of a long standing joke between them, her fishing and Bane's distracting part in it, so her reserved grin was knowing and understanding as she nodded her head slowly. "Salmon," Tahlia repeated, beginning to turn and head in the direction of the river, "this should be fun." Her steps became almost prancing as she paced a little further where Bane had been wading, easing her way into its coolness before she ventured to a spot where the waters were picking up speed but still relatively clear. She was more used to the waiting game posed within a still lake; having the fish come to her was going to be much more interesting. As she took up her position in the river, paws planted and tail still just above its surface, her dark gold eyes narrowed assessingly as she awaited the salmon, and her wait was hardly anything at all. They should have been spooked by her appearance there in the river, or if it had been a still lake, but here her movements in the river were lost among the energetic flow of the water against her. She was poised, patient, and with a quick leap forward she was successful. Her jaws were closed firmly around her still squirming catch, lifting it clear of the water as she turned and hurriedly made for the riverside. Water streamed off of her sides, her tail, plastering her black and russet coat against her, and briefly she paused to shake herself free of as much as she could. She made a sound of victory around the fish she carried but it was not until she was before her resting mate that she realized what he had been up to while she was busy. It sat there gently between his teeth, a beautiful, fragrant iris, and he lay there innocently as if he had done nothing but wait patiently for her successful return. Eyes upon him, Tahlia set the fish down on the ground between them, made speechless by the simple yet endearing gesture. "For me?" It seemed silly of her to assume otherwise but she could hardly fathom what else to say. No one had tried giving her a flower before.

The woes of raising pups, Bane and Tahlia at least agreed that they were weary of the first monotonous couple of weeks that new life required. Two month of milk, two months of chewed up meat. Bane had to hunt most of that but it would pay off in the end. It would be criminal not to suffer a little for the ones you love. Perhaps Bane had suffered more than most but he like'd to think that that it made him stronger.?The elders single eye had seen salmon swimming upstream a few times, and it was his hope that it would be a few moments until Tahlia caught one if the scarcity of the fish was anything to be considered. He lay on the shoreside and watched Tahlia leap forward with a splash into the meandering river.

The scales of her catch shimmered in the early morning sun as she pushed along the bank and shook herself off once ashore. Bane gave his flower a spin with a flick of his tongue around the stem and eyed Tahlia as she strode up to him with pride.?It took her a moment, and the elder couldn't help but give a slight smile with his acknowledging nod. Bane stood up and traced his muzzle over her ear and along the back of her neck. Over her shoulder and across her spine. He gingerly brought his legs around Tahlia hips and leaned forward, working?the stem out of the corner of his maw and digging it into the fur behind her right ear. Bane held himself there for a moment just licking Tahlia's neck before he slid off the side of her back. A nuzzle was given along her chin before he picking up his fish and lay down to feed.

Walk | Talk | Think Her sweet, surprising husband. How sneaky of him to steal away when she had her back turned and fetch her such a lovely little surprise! She certainly had not seen it coming and was still rather awestruck by it. It was only a flower, she knew, a simple token to bestow, but it was more than that. It was a representation of his adoration for her, his appreciation for her role in his life, not to mention it was incredibly pretty. Tahlia's vanity was typically kept under wraps but she was quite positive Bane knew her too well; appearances meant a lot to her, typically, and so the color and condition of the flower, both attractive and with a delightful smell, immediately appealed to her. An answering smile spread across her muzzle as the greying wolf rose to his paws and came toward her. As he reached out with his muzzle she closed her eyes in anticipation of feeling him set the bloom that he still carried within the fur behind her ear, but he did not. Rather, he brushed his muzzle through the fur there, flower trailing along with it, and continued across her neck. It arched at the contact, prolonging the touch that caused her skin to tingle beneath her fur, but it seemed unnecessary. He did not stop, continuing to trail down her neck and shoulders and along her spine. Just what was he intending to do? But though confused she said nothing about it, indulging instead in the attention given to her by Bane. It seemed he was ready to surprise her again with the progression he was making, stopping only once he was behind her. He rose to lay across her back and her heart began to race, anticipation evident in the stillness of her body as she waited for what past encounters had proven was to come next. But he made no such move. Rather, he reached across her and worked the beautiful iris into the fur behind her right ear with only a few licks placed to the back of her neck before he slid away. A quick nuzzle was received upon the chin and allowing his attention to shift her husband turned away to lie down and feed upon the fish she had caught for him. Tahlia stared on in surprise, dark gold eyes watchful as he ate. Oh, the tease. And when the children were not so very far away either! Not that they had been at the forefront of her mind, but he should have known better. And yet she found herself more bothered by the fact he had failed to keep going, to make good on the suggestions he was giving her. Well, if that was how he wanted to play this game Tahlia was ready to accept the challenge. A new determination set, the black and russet she-wolf stepped over to join him, a new sway to her movements. She settled herself down upon the ground close by, her side pressed to his, and nuzzled his shoulder with a murmured sigh. Tongue sneaking out of her muzzle, she placed a small, lingering kiss upon his jaw, his neck, and then upward behind his ear, placing a few more there on impulse that grew more sensual with each one just to be assuredly distracting. "Are you satisfied?" she whispered during a pause, tempted to graze her teeth over the ear she spoke into. Instead she ran her nose teasingly through the fur of his neck as she drank in his scent, strangely calmed by it though she continued to try and excite him as he had done for her.

The flesh and scales easily gave way to his fangs, bloody meat from Tahlia's presented salmon gratefully appreciated to the father wolf. A different taste after all the lemming and rabbit he'd dug up in their holes and brought back to his den-bound mate. The blue of the iris was a far different contrast to his female's russet and black pelt, a gesture of love all the same if the color didn't quite match. Perhaps a red flower would have gone better? Bane just lay there and finished off the choicest meat on the fish when his she-wolf sauntered up and lay next to his side. A calm sigh was exhaled and the pale wolf closed his eye at the touch of her pelt, the caress against his shoulder and neck, his ear.

Tahlia roved her nose and tongue over the side of his muzzle and a satisfied rumble reverberated from the elder as she varied in the places she touched. Bane opened his eye and stood up with a shake of his pelt. It was very suggestive of him how the flower was placed in her ear. It had certainly gotten Tahlia interested as was intended. And it had been all up to her. It wasn't in good taste to bluntly ask her about that matter where they were all along the riverside, but instead make it subtle. Definitely not right here though despite being along the riverbank where the newest two additions were given life. They would have to find a quiet place downwind to mate with their young so close and wandering.

At her question Bane could only smile with warming cheeks and look down at his paws. "Yes I am," he looked up with a slight grin. "but you aren't... anything I can help with?" Bane touched his nose to Tahlia's and meandered away a few paces with a playfully bow. The pale wolf gave a toss his head and smiled back at Tahlia. The rogue male loped around the bushes and sought a quiet clearing so the mates could finally be together for the first time in a few months.

Walk | Talk | Think The downward look that he made was so coyly done, so convincing, and yet when his single blue-eyed gaze rose to meet her own she could feel the mischievousness within it, his intent written clearly behind that smile. She knew him better than to think his actions had been entirely innocent, that he honestly had no idea what he was doing when he had risen over her simply to set a flower behind her ear. No, he was an experienced wolf, as passionate as she was. He must have known, must have known and had been waiting for her to respond in this manner before he had even risen off the ground after fetching the beautiful bloom. But knowing it was all part of a plan was of no consequence anymore. He might have ignited the spark but she was going to fuel it, until even he could not deny the fire any longer. But, knowing them, she doubted it would be too difficult. Such a casual tone as he asked his question, playing cool while she warred with desire. "I believe you know exactly what you can do," Tahlia murmured with smooth confidence, an impish smile of her own set upon her muzzle as he touched her nose with his. Her dark gold gaze was still on him as he moved away, retreating a few feet to drop into a play bow meant to incite her into following before he drifted away further. Tail giving a few eager wags, the russet and black wolf gave chase, a sudden giddy laugh escaping her. She had missed these private moments alone with Bane, moments when they were no longer father and mother but husband and wife. They were few and far between really, what with the newborns needing constant care, but soon they would be grown. Soon they would have more time together than they would know what to do with. Tahlia looked forward to it. Her own loping gait was bringing her closer to her husband ahead of her, leading their chase along. On impulse, as she came up beside him she leaped, intending to topple him over and end their race away from prying eyes, but her timing had been poor. Rather than land upon the forest floor, they tumbled on down the slope, landing in a tangled heap at its base.

Tahlia's laugh still echoed in Bane's ears as he drifted through the trees of the river. He was looking for a quiet place. A place where the wolves could be tied up for a while, away from their worries and woes without fear of discovery as they bonded intimately between themselves. Yes. He knew exactly what he could do, the wolf humorously reflecting on her statement before the lazy chase began. The paw steps grew ever closer behind him as the pale wolf stopped at the edge of a low hill to ask Tahlia if she thought they far enough away from the den. She didn't stop however, either she didn't see him or it was due to some other cause but Bane was sent over the edge along with Tahlia.

He closed his remaining eye on the way down the minor incline and came to rest on his stomach, a cheerful rumble reverberating through his body. A rather fun little tumble, Bane shifting to look where Tahlia lay alongside the elders shoulder. The greying wolf reached over and nosed her cheek with a lick and brought his forepaws over to both sides of the females neck before she had a chance to move. Bane's tongue gave slow deliberate caresses along Tahlia's maw, his chest fur mingling with hers as he rested across her. The desire she'd shown him a few moments ago was wooed and teased with as Bane administered a few more licks. A rumble reverberated from the males chest as he straddled his mate, his pale jaws parted and holding the base of her throat as they found their time alone with one another.

-Fade to Black-

Walk | Talk | Think She had landed upon her back, the dense foliage that had gathered at the base of the rise cushioning her fall, and yet the surprise of it alone was enough to steal her breath for a few seconds. As she recovered, staring upward and then over at her husband who has landed beside her, she laughed, a bright, unrestrained sound, until she realized that even at this distance it might still be audible to her young beside the river. No, she did not want to alert them to their parents's stolen time alone, and so she quieted quickly, still smiling brightly as Bane reached for her. She mimicked the kiss to her cheek with one to his own, and only realized a second later how the greying male had effectually pinned her in place by crawling over her. It was enough to set her heart racing for a second time, certain now there would be no more waiting. He drew out the moment for a little longer, each kiss and nuzzle tortuous as it burned her desire brighter and caused her to squirm longingly beneath him. His rumbling growl was answered with a broken whine, and as his jaws came down to latch upon her throat, Tahlia eased her head back and closed her eyes, giving herself over to the moment that had been created for them. -Fade and skip- She lay securely within her husband's embrace, snuggled close with her head tucked beneath his chin. A paw moved lazily and absently through the fur of his chest, a far cry from the urgent press it had before, and her sleepy sort of expression spoke of nothing but contentment. She was glad that they had been given a moment for themselves. She had not anticipated it going this far so fast, but then who was she to complain? It was a pleasant surprise, as it always was, and was made all the better for knowing that even after two sets of kids, after being confined to their den for so long with little to no time to devote to her vanity, she was still desirable to her husband. Her right ear flickered and with a slight, bemused frown, she asked with quiet laughter in her voice, "Have I lost my flower?" Her dark gold gaze roved across his exposed shoulder, watching the way his paling fur moved as she brought her roaming paw toward it to expose the scarred flesh below. Exactly how many more of these did Bane possess, how many more that she had not noticed? "How did you get this?" Tahlia asked quietly, pressing her nose to the long-healed scar with a gentle lick.

The pale wolf hovered over his prostrate and motionless mate, heavy breaths through his nose disturbing the fur of Tahlia's neck. His remaining eye finally opened and his tightened fangs loosened from the base of her throat. Bane looked down at his mate for a moment, a lick administered along her jawline before she brought her head underneath his chin. Satisfaction was all he felt now, even as she brushed a paw against his chest the aged rogue was thankful for their time alone and that a pup hadn't wandered across them. It had been wonderful to bond again intimately, to simply relax in one another's presence especially after the exhaustive first few weeks of rearing pups. Tahlia looked pleased as could be, a huff leaving the wolf as he let a nuzzle of his trace over her forehead to the tip of her nose. She had indeed lost the flower, Bane looking back at the scattered blue petals trailing down the rise.

"I'll get you a new one." He murmured into an ear, a smile creasing his muzzle at the laughter of his mate. A paw touched his shoulder and Bane looked to the side at the Talutah scar he wore. Mixed emotions were all he felt when she inquired as to it's origin. "From my old pack... from my adoptive father..." The pale wolf mumbled as he stepped over his mate to lay on his side. The leafy earth felt good, a lazy nosing of Tahlia's cheek followed by a lick. He couldn't help but feel after all the bad things to happen in his life, that Tahlia and had to be the best thing to ever cross his path.

Walk | Talk | Think With her attention still focused on Bane's shoulder she failed to notice any sense of hesitation or uneasiness, assuming any pause that he might have made to have been over recalling the story attached to the specific scar she had pointed out. As she roamed her paw through it, she recalled her own story attached to it. She had been so focused on the tree that had pierced his shoulder that she had not really taken notice of it before, and only after, during a conversation he had had with their children, had she realized that the curved scar held purpose aside from adding to his rugged, warrior's appearance. He answered her shortly, failing or choosing not to go into very much detail, but what he offered was enough to get her thinking. Adoptive...? This was news to her, though considering how much Bane spoke of his family it was likely a minor detail. Her gaze turned from his scarred shoulder to his face as he rose and lifted himself away from her to settle on his side next to her in the comfy leaf litter. Following him, Tahlia rolled from her back onto her side to face him, smiling gently with eyes closed as he nosed at her cheek to place another kiss there. "What did Anais do to earn hers?" The question was spoken casually, calmly, which might have made it more unsettling than had she gotten into a huff about it. But she was past the point of being mad. Too much had happened after the fact what with her becoming pregnant with their second litter and being exiled from Seracia for her to have spent too much time dwelling on it. Now, however, spying it as she had cuddled closely with her husband, there was nothing stopping her from asking questions. Her expression might not have been hardened with dislike, but there was a sternness there about her dark gold eyes that wanted answers, wanted to understand why her beautiful daughter had been scarred just like her brother. "Was I going to be told about it at some point?"

The feeling of his mate's paw rubbing against the fur of his shoulder still caused the wolf to focus on the warm sensations of a lovers touch even after a moment of laying together without contact. His partner shifted onto her side to face him. Calm breathing flowed against her nose as Bane nuzzled Tahlia's muzzle, a gingerly applied lick rasping along front of the she-wolfs jawline. Her next question caught him off guard, an uneasy feeling forming in the pit of his stomach. Anais... the day he marked her shoulder. Bane's head rose to stare at his mate for a moment.

"You were going to be told when you asked. It was never my intent to dodge this question and I... I just wanted her to be happy and unexcluded. She really wanted it." Bane put emphasis on the 'really' and laid a paw on her shoulder. He shifted with a grunt and eyed Tahlia. Unsure of what else she wanted him to say or do. His nose slowly came over to touch hers with a weak whine.The pale wolf mouthed the words 'I'm sorry.' To confused too vocalize words, she should have known that he wasn't able to ask for her permission about marking Anais, for the pup was alone when she came to him that day. Bane and Tahlia were once far, far away from one another but now they were close. Bane didn't want to drift anymore and hoped his mate wouldn't press the issue to much more after their time spent alone together.

Walk | Talk | Think Surely she had surprised him. It was likely the last thing that had crossed his mind when she had brought up his own. Tahlia was quiet, watchful, waiting as he shifted to lift himself a little from his side enough to raise his head and look at her more fully as he spoke. With her limited knowledge regarding Bane and his past, or whatever previous pack it was that his strange mark, as well as the ones that marked both Nako and Anais, she had always supposed it to be some ritualistic thing that had brought it about, some right of passage that each would have had to meet in order to receive it. It surprised her greatly when his answer was simply that Anais had wanted it. Her dark golden eyes blinked, a slight surprise softening her look of hardened anticipation for an answer she would not have liked. It had not crossed her mind that Anais had actually wanted the marking, that she had gone out of her way to receive it secretly away from her mother. Though she understood why. If she had asked, Tahlia would have refused, and now without having been offered the chance to decline her daughter's request she was irrevocably scarred for it. With such a strong aversion to them, it was hard for Tahlia to feel okay with it. She and her daughter were not the rough and tumble men of the family, who were expected to fight and challenge each other and earn a scrape or two along the way. Women of her upbringing were supposed to keep up a presentable appearance, to behave with a certain amount of dignity and refinement, a different set of codes. But Anais seemed just as headstrong as her father and siblings. How was Tahlia ever going to help set up her future if she was always too busy running off and doing her own thing? Though a part of her still placed some of the blame on her mate - he should have said something to her, despite everything that separated them at the time - she reminded herself again that it was over and done with. Nothing she could say or do or wish for would change the fact that her beautiful daughter was now scarred with the "mark of Talutah" just as her father and brother were. She only hoped whatever future prospects she set up for her would not be hindered because of it. He placed his paw against her shoulder, reached forward to touch her nose with his as he made a pleading sort of whine, obviously trying to diffuse the tension the topic had stirred up in her. She sighed, relenting, and lifted her head off the ground to press her cheek to his, forcing the thoughts aside. "I worry about her," she stated quietly by way of an explanation for her sudden curiosity on the matter. "She is so unlike me, I hardly know how to react to her at times." She snuggled closer, hoping to comfort any worry that she had brought about in Bane. "I want the best for her. I just fear she might not get there," she added, stopping herself from finishing the thought proper. Without my help.

His remarks seemed to dissatisfy and satisfy his mate at the same time, a certain unease in the pale wolf's single eye gaze. A slow unsure blink was given as Tahlia took a few moment to contemplate his words. The she-wolf had accepted the facts spoken it seemed, though not all of it, and comforted her mate's uncertainty with a touch of her cheek to his. Bane let his tongue slip out just past his muzzle and graze over the side of her jaw. "I worry about all of you." The aged wolf sighed. "I worry about how I can't keep my eye on all of you." Nothing he could to about that, and it was just the feelings of a parent who's young grew bigger as much as their time away from him and his mate, out doing their own thing.

The sons he had sired were now fully grown and with it Bane's unease that they might leave and never return one day. He knew that they would but still, the day when he had been cast out by his adoptive father was a hard one. It had been winter, and he had almost starved to death even while living with the assistance of a pack. Tahlia had situated herself closer to him so that their sides were touching, Bane's absentminded thought's distracting him from her bodily gesture. It hadn't been a fight the two wolves had, or and argument or a disagreement. A tense inquiry.

Anais and her mannerisms were brought up again, Bane pressing the tip of his muzzle against Tahlia's and slightly intruding his tongue into her maw. He closed his eye, letting a rumble reverberate through his body in an attempt to distract his mate from her worries during their time alone. "We'll figure out their futures when the time comes and must return to being sire and dame." Bane murmured as he withdrew from his kiss and just stared into the she-wolfs golden eyes. He pressed his side against hers, a wanting for her to be without weary thoughts deciding that the romance they'd shared should be hinted at again. As long as she worried and fretted Bane would try and distract her. The aged wolf brought his upper body over Tahlia, muzzle snaking around the side of her head to give a nibble behind an ear.

Walk | Talk | Think Oh how he had been right. It was hard to keep an eye on all of the kids, in particular their eldest. They had known freedom too long, and her paws were kept too full by Kailos and Lior to be after them. She only hoped, when she saw them and had moments to speak with them between nursing and refereeing the play in the den that they were keeping themselves out of trouble, that they were not testing any of the dangers afforded to them for living as they were. As rogues at the mercy of the wilds. She could have gone on, easily, but was stopped by an intruding kiss. That tongue that snuck past her lips quieted her voice, caused her own tongue to follow as it retreated to place a couple quick kisses against his lips, a few more upon his jaw, to feed the sound of that rumbling growl that had sparked up within his chest. She loved that sound, loved to feel it as she pressed against him, so dominant, so sure. It sent up a quick flurry of giddiness that started in her stomach like butterflies and spread outward, warming and exciting her as only he could. He might as well have ordered her to be quiet the message behind his words was so clear. They were done discussing the children and the aspects of their lives that revolved around them. For now, they were not mother and father but husband and wife, and as he pressed close, rising to lay his upper body over hers, Tahlia gratefully gave herself over to the distraction he offered. A satisfied, "Mmm," was murmured through a growing smile as his muzzle disappeared behind her ear, her dark gold eyes closing happily. She shifted beneath him, rolling slightly to wrap her forelegs around him and hug him close, pressing against him as she turned her muzzle into the grey fur of his neck. "I love you."

Tahlia pressed their muzzles together and forced her tongue past his lips just as he had done to her. The she-wolf's coarse tongue withdrawing to tickle the fur of his chin, Tahlia humming her contentment and shifting beneath him. Her forelegs came up just around past his shoulder blades too urge that he lay upon her, Bane feeling her muzzle turn along the side of his neck and his breathing quickened at the words she whispered. The wolfs remaining eye would close as he brought his head back and tilted his muzzle to resume their newly explored sign of affection. The tip of his maw pressed against Tahlia as he passionately kissed her, tongue slightly intruding into the she-wolfs muzzle again. Both of the wolves hormones were at a fever pitch, the male's forelegs closing on either side of her neck and bringing her head up closer to his.

The rogue's breathing quickened as he brought the side of his muzzle next to hers as his hind-leg rose to straddle her. He kept their coupling quiet with firm presses of his muzzle against hers while he worked, hot lustful breaths washing over her face when the two wolves were done and satisfaction was all they felt. The period of time where they remained bound and just laying together from their coupling was all sensual as Bane remained atop Tahlia as they waited, constant kisses and nuzzles administered by the she-wolf's mate to pass their time bound together. Bane was finally able to roll off to lay at Tahlia's side, a rumble of content satisfaction shaking his body as he lay in the afterglow of the time they had shared. Bane turned his head and eyed the top of the slope where their responsibilities were denned up and gave a relaxed sigh.

They had both needed this. This time together to renew their bond, a real treat with such a complying and uncomplaining mate, who by her own appearances and mannerisms seemed a bit too prideful to partake in such activities that were seasonally asked for in the frequency he'd requested she lay for him. But she had wanted this, and he had been happy to oblige her intimate needs after such a time spent stuck in the den. Time to themselves. The pale rogue dug his chin just behind her right ear and pulled on a tuft of fur. His left foreleg was laid across the base of her neck and grazed his teeth over the outside edge of her right ear. "I just died in your paws Tahlia." The pale rogue would murmur, his leg rubbing her sternum when he had held her with tightening fangs. "I'm the luckiest wolf alive, I want you to know that." Bane mumbled as he tried to lay there and recover some energy.

Walk | Talk | Think Spent. That was how Tahlia felt. Spent, but completely and utterly satisfied as she lay beneath Bane, breathing in deeply, quickly, as she recovered. Could he move? Not that she wished for him to - his weight felt steadying against her - but she was not so certain that she could even if she wanted to. Her grip around him slackened, relaxed, and her legs folded against her chest as he rolled away to lay at her side. She stared upward and released a heavy breath in another murmured, "Mmm," another shiver stealing over her. She had thought to ask him directly, to leave no question, that she wanted him again, but he could read her better than she had thought. And she was so very pleased he had. Her eyes closed as he tucked his muzzle behind her ear to tug at her fur there, delighting in the feel of his cuddling with her as he laid his paw across her neck. A dazed smile cross her lips as his muzzle busied itself along her ear, the grazing motion of his teeth both tickling and tingling. He spoke and she laughed airily, following it up with another deep breath. That makes two of us, she decided, opening her eyes and turning her head to look his way. Such contentedness, such joy. It was so wonderful to know, and see, his adoration for her, to feel it in each little touch. His paw roamed, and as it did so he commented further, his words drawing her smile about more strongly, nearly into a hazy grin. "If you are lucky," Tahlia countered boldly, "then I have been blessed by the gods." Surely someone had to be smiling down on them, on all that they had become together? The black and russet she-wolf finally turned, nestled there on her side, and stretched her neck toward him to kiss his muzzle, a slow lick conveying her love for him. She could have repeated herself again, proclaimed another time that she loved him in every way imaginable, but she chose to keep quiet. Scooting a little closer she reached to tuck her muzzle beneath his chin, content to lay with him for as long as they had left before the risked alarming their children with their absence.