Being around Hymn felt remarkably like home - she suspected she'd always feel that way around her boys, no matter where she ended up. She hoped Psalm was doing as well as Hymn, but she supposed only time would tell if she ran into him again. Her expression was soft as she gazed at him, far more a man than a boy now, though it was hard to look at him any other way.
He didn't seem surprised by the news, saying he'd searched for her there first. She nodded slowly in understanding, but his question caught her a bit off guard - where was she going? She hadn't truly decided yet. "I'm.. not too sure yet," Ara admitted gently, her gaze still seeking a reaction from him, if any would come. Part of her feared he would be upset with her for not staying in Fiori's lands, despite the years that had passed that had all but proven Novel wasn't coming back.
'I've.. been traveling with a woman named Athena. She was in Fiori for awhile - perhaps you remember her?" She eyed Hymn inquisitively. What she and Athena shared was merely companionship, an unspoken agreement between them that neither of them wanted to be alone any longer. It worked, and she tried not to question it too much. "We have plans to perhaps go north, and enjoy the snow awhile before finding somewhere to settle more permanently, together."
Ara shrugged gently, hoping he understood how difficult being alone had been for her. She was too old to do it any longer. "But enough about me. What about my handsome son?" Her grin returned quickly, eyes gleaming playfully. "Where have you been? What have you been up to? Tell me everything!" If as though to prove she had nowhere to be, and wanted to listen so long as he would talk, she plopped down on her haunches on the damp earth and watched him.
