While I'm Away

Walk | Talk | Think

Alamea arrived first. She stepped forward with an awkward waddle, the sight of which drew an uncharacteristic yet unabashed smile to the proud Guardian's face. Any day now he knew she was going to give birth to their second litter, and she really did look like she was ready. He rose to meet her part way, understanding that her condition did not make even the simplest of tasks easy on her and glad to do anything that he could to lessen the burden those new lives placed on her - though he knew she would never speak of them as such. Rune nuzzled against her cheek as his little mate kissed his, drawing back enough to place a kiss of his own against her muzzle and peer over her face, searching it compassionately. "They aren't causing you too much trouble, I hope?" he asked softly, the tone just slightly teasing. She was strong, he knew, and this whole adventure was nothing new to her.

She settled in at his side and together they waited, though of course not very long. With their Healer being of the incredibly punctual type, there was practically no waiting to be done for Warja to arrive, which she did with a kind gesture of affection for her mother. Rune watched the young girl with approval, happy to see at least one of his children striving for something other than simplicity in their lives. Maybe all of his ambition had been funneled solely into her.

There was a short wait before Akemi arrived, and as he turned his pale blue eyes on her he nearly missed the little creature who clung to the top of her head, only noticing the addition once she had nearly reached them. There was just a slight edge of hesitancy in Rune with the little companion joining them - he had not considered eavesdroppers - but in the end he stifled it. Tiny was harmless after all, and considering what he had planned would eventually spread to the rest of the pack anyway there seemed no point in keeping anything from his group just because there was one unanticipated guest.

In fact, the little creature was quick to pipe up and ask about their purpose, offering the perfect opening for the conversation. "Secretua is safe. There are no dangers lurking on our borders," he stated, addressing all three of them even if his answer covered Tiny's question. "Which is why I wanted to speak with the three of you. We've been here a year now, growing and gaining stability. I feel like we're close to being stable, if we aren't there already," he explained, "and since we're doing so well I feel like it might time for us to start becoming more aware of our surroundings." Rune paused just a moment, glancing at each of them, before he pressed on. "I think it's time I began meeting with our neighbors, getting to know the other packs around us. We've proven we aren't going anywhere, and I think it would do us good to get an idea of what the rest of the world is like."

He felt better with his thoughts out in the open, spoken before those of the pack he trusted most, but also uncertain. They had stayed quiet so long, deterring any advances their neighbors might have attempted during that time. How might the world react to them, these secret individuals, when they finally came out into the light? "I wanted your opinions first, and to discuss it before anything was decided. I wouldn't go anywhere until you were absolutely ready," he added directly for Alamea's benefit as he was sure the thought of him venturing off on diplomatic ventures when she was giving birth soon would not go over well, "or before each of you thought the pack would keep itself together." Perhaps that was a bit offensive in a way, as if he doubted their ability to manage the pack in his absence, but he wanted to hear from them that they were able, that they were confident in themselves, just to put his mind at ease.