Here We Are

Walk | Talk | Think

She walked ahead of her bunch in the hopes that the pups might look to her for guidance and example, and she carried herself accordingly. Her gait was easy but purposeful as light paws carried her along, her coat neat as she always kept it. She might have held little to no authority amongst her pack mates but she was queen within her family, and she let it be known in her stately posture and the swift assessing glances she continued to make sidelong over her shoulder, ensuring that neither of the three youngsters strayed or misbehaved. If she was going to be introducing them to the pack today, then they needed to be on their best behavior. Considering all that had happened to their family of late, it seemed of even more importance that it be this way.

A gentle sigh escaped her lips as she drew her gaze ahead again after another peek at the children, leading them along through the wood and toward the field and barn where a greater majority of the pack stayed. She had never meant to make this trip alone. Bane had always been planned to walk beside her, to solidify their relationship in a public display of their family as a whole so that no question would remain over whose pups she had carried when their announcement had been made. He had been doing so well, too, taking his demotion in stride and seeming unruffled by any of it. Such a shame that it was merely because he lacked any consideration for the ranks and rules of Seracia. He was paying for it now in solitude; and inadvertently so were the rest of them.

Regardless of what Bane had done, Tahlia still held a place here and she refused to let her mate's actions spoil the life she had plotted out for their children. She had made plans to introduce them to the pack and she intended to keep them; her pride refused things to be otherwise. "Nearly there now, children," she stated, as much to warn as to inform them. They might have witnessed it as some big grand adventure led by their mother, but in her eyes this was merely a demonstration of her family's strength and her own skill as - for all intents and purposes - a newly single mother. She hated to think that she might be viewed that way - it was worse even than being the widow she had arrived as - but truthfully there was so little to be done for it now. Events had already transpired that could not be undone; this was the life she was forced to live.

At last the treeline receded and Tahlia led the trio out into wintry sunlight, taking in the open sight of the large red barn, the still standing fence, and the field of overrun crops beyond. It was not her first time seeing it all but it was for her children, and she found herself curiously looking their way to gauge each of their first impressions. Nako, she was sure, knew plenty about the lands already, having been given a freer roam than his younger siblings from when Bane had brought him to stay with them, but for Jakart and Anais it was all new. Not for the first time she felt a sting that her mate could not be there; he was always so good at connecting with the children because of his relaxed ways. "Here we are," she stated rather uselessly, continuing to stand and glance around herself. Here she was with her family, in the midst of the pack lands. Now where were the others?

OOC: I missed my table, so bringing this back for a beat. xD Such brightness!