Slowly her children would start to trickle in; led by, no surprise, Warja. She offered the girl as reassuring a smile as she could muster. "In time." She promised, knowing that the waiting was going to be the hard part… for both of them. Her daughter’s companion joined them and she smiled kindly at him. She silently hoped that wherever Warja went he would accompany her, she had never said anything about it but he was such a constant in their life that he felt more family than stranger.
Next would be her son, punctual for once. His offer jogged her memory and the woman glanced behind her, pleased to see the usual perch for her companion empty. Elliot rarely needed prompting these days and though she hadn’t said it she was grateful that he was so willing to help with Keiki. Shaking her head she turned a smile towards Eirik. "It’s alright." Then Saga too would join them and she couldn’t help the small smile at seeing that. She didn’t know the girl much but just as she was glad that Warja had found a friend so too was she happy to see her son find the same… now if only Keiki could do the same…
Before the last of her children could arrive however Akemi would join them. It was a pleasant surprise to be certain, she wasn’t close with the smaller woman but she knew that Rune trusted her and that was more than enough for her. The white woman listened patiently, though her mind was already made up… it would be good for her children to have options if they so wished.
Finally Keiki trickled in, settling in next to her brother and the snowy female spoke once more. "I am grateful for the option Akemi but I cannot accept…" She shook her head and glanced down at the pups at her paws. "Winter is coming and for my pup’s sakes I cannot stay, they will need a pack to protect and feed them." She glanced up at the woman again. "However the moment you come into power I will be there to support you, I promise." She wanted nothing more than to stay, this was more her home than anywhere else in the wide world and it was killing her knowing she had to leave it behind, but she couldn’t afford the unpredictability of a winter with no pack… not with her kids still so young.
"I cannot speak for all of my children however…" She shifted her gaze to her three grown children, a sadness tugging at the corner of her smile. They were adults and she could not force them to do anything, though she hoped they would stay with her she wasn’t deluded into thinking that would be all of their first choices.
