Walk | Talk | Think
Nothing. Not a howl, not a bark, not even a whine to let them know where it was the banished elder was. The silence was worrying. Tahlia had been expecting him, anticipating a call back to let her know that he heard, to know from him that he was alive and ready to see them again. More than anything she wished to hear in his voice his happiness, to know without a doubt at its sound that his affection for them all had not faded or dulled during their time apart. She needed the peace of mind not only for herself but for her children as well. Where are you?
Even as she waited, still holding out a few more seconds, the mother wolf heard her children speaking, Nako addressing the fact his father's scent was scattered about the place, evidence enough of him being there. Without a sign from her, they began to follow it and belatedly she fell into step behind them, still somewhat lost in thought. This was not right. Had Bane been well he would have answered. He would have come charging toward them in his eagerness to see his family, to greet his children. Was he injured worse than he had been? Had the plants Loccian administered to him not been enough to stave off infection? The worry churned within her gut as she trailed after Nako, Jakart, and Anais.
She became aware of their location when the river came more fully within sight, and only realized too late that the den had been found. Anais, always reckless, was already there, peering within and testing the boundary to its singular exit. "Anais, wait-" She tried to speak up, to stop her daughter from startling her father in dangerous, unclaimed territory, but even as the warning left her muzzle the golden-grey pup was already disappearing inside, her cry of greeting punctuated by Bane's warning growls.
Heart suddenly pounding, Tahlia pressed forward to stand there at the den's opening, relieved instantly to see Bane smiling and Anajs in one piece. Her fearlessness is going to be the death of her. Dark golden eyes fixing themselves upon her husband, Tahlia smiled in a mixture of apology and joy, eyes just slightly watering knowing their family was together at last. "Bane," she murmured gently by way of greeting, restraining herself from rushing forward and collapsing on the floor beside him. But no, their children did not need to see just how much the separation from their father was affecting her. She needed to be strong for them, and so she would keep her ground with the promises that later, when finally they were alone together, she could crumble beside him until her heart was content.
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