A Long Time Coming
10-02-2013, 11:46 PM
Walk | Talk | Think ((Summary: Tahlia gets upset and leaves. Don't feel obligated to read it all. xD)) She had anticipated a smile, congratulations, well wishes of that sort. Instead she only received a thoughtful look accompanied by direction to seek out their healer Loccian should she need any assistance during her pregnancy. It puzzled her immediately, Maverick's lack of obvious enthusiasm, though Tahlia did her best to write it off. Perhaps there was more important things regarding the pack that weighed on his mind, things that she had no knowledge of. Things that he might even be needing to tell them shortly once he called their meeting to order. With her own assumptions in place, the pregnant female managed to keep her expectant expression from faltering into disappointment and nodded a quiet, "Thank you," before she moved to distance herself from the royal family and find a place where she could sit amongst the gathered to listen to what they would be told. Thoughts were distracted as her dark golden eyes watched the rest of the pack slowly trickle into the assembly, a mixture of new and old faces that she only somewhat paid attention to. It was only as Maverick moved to speak and address them all that her attention seemed to return, watching closely as he first began by introducing his family. Tahlia smiled as each of the children were pointed out by name, a single one absent and another standing close by among them who was different from the rest. An adopted child. It pleased her to see that the king and queen had such open hearts to welcome in another child to their family, particularly one who shared no blood or connection that she could see among the pack. Another litter of pups - these ones belonging to Bronze and Silent - were next announced, as well as her own expectancy. The prideful she-wolf sat a little straighter in place as her name was spoken, glad herself for the time being to sport the growing swell around her middle that marked the little lives growing within. Yes, she was going to have children of her own, and she was greatly pleased by it, certain that they were long overdue and would be everything that she hoped they would be. Promotions came next, one for Aeil and one for Silent. Though she knew little of the latter, the first seemed to be making quite the name for herself around Seracia, and though she hardly knew the woman she was pleased to see the ranks within the pack not remaining stagnant. Admittedly, Tahlia would have been elated to have a promotion of her own, but being distracted as she had been of late with her new budding family she had shirked duty in favor of her own personal plans. No doubt it had been seen. Further rank changes were effected, or rather a single one. Bane was being demoted to jester, his children outside of Seracia being the cause for it along with his present absence. Surely her expression reflected the disappointment and surprise she felt even as she tried to remain as impassive as she could. It only then dawned on her that Maverick had failed to claim Tahlia and Bane as a pair in the same manner that he had done with Bronze and Silent, and in that moment it made sense. He was trying to spare her the burden of her mate's new status. He was trying to save her reputation. Quite suddenly the good mood she had arrived in dissipated. All she could think of was her mate - still not present - demoted and her association with him denied by Maverick before the whole of the pack. A part of her wished to speak up despite the time having moved on past the point in which she was still caught up, to belatedly claim Bane as her husband and that she accepted what he had done regardless of what the pack thought. It would have been noble, moving, perhaps even a little stupid in some eyes. But the words would not come to her. Not only had the conversation moved beyond the subject, but her pride stilled her tongue. How might she have looked to them - how did she presently look to Maverick? - wishing to still claim Bane as her mate despite what he had done? Would they think her a fool? Desperate? And what sort of burdens might it eventually place on their children, once their lives and parentage could no longer be hidden? Very much she wanted to leave in that moment, to steal away and seek out Bane so that he could assure her that everything would be fine, that they would find a way together to make it work. But it was expected that she stay, that they all stay, to see the meeting through all the way to the end. She fought somewhat for composure, her semblance of a smile abandoned as she clenched her jaws slightly while trying to keep her poise. Others were speaking up then, offering their services to Maverick's decision of creating a mentoring system for the young of Seracia. Any other moment, Tahlia might have jumped at the chance, but pregnancy had made her somewhat over emotional, and the events that had just transpired had considerably soured her mood. She made no move to offer her help, though likely when she had cooled down she would. Loccian approached then, offering her congratulations while at the same time tacking on a quick warning. She said nothing in response to the warning, merely watched as the other woman proceeded to walk away with her piece said. She must have thought she was being helpful. Truthfully it only made Tahlia that much more uncomfortable to be amongst her pack mates. Could not one be genuinely happy that she had finally gotten to settle down and begin her family? It was maddening, upsetting. She needed to lie down. Feeling completely useless, unable to really do or say anything that would have been of any help to anyone, the russet and black she-wolf glanced among the pack, noting a large portion of them were offering support or experience to Maverick's mentoring program, and proceeded to use the distraction to quietly slip away and out of the meeting to recoup from all the unwelcome excitement. -Exit Tahlia- |