When Aeil had first joined Seracia, she was eager to meet as many Seracian members as she could. It was in her nature to get to know her fellow pack members, to also know that they had a friend within the pack to talk to if they ever needed a lending ear. So far, the gray female had been able to speak with most of her fellow members, but a couple had slipped under her radar. One of them was Tahlia, whom had recently had a couple of pups with Bane. Congratulations were in order, and Aeil wanted to give them. With those warm congrats in her mind, she found herself approaching the den that the couple had chosen for their home. Her pace slowed and she stopped at the edge of the entrance before softly saying, "Hello?" Aeil didn't want to be rude and just pop her head in, but she also didn't want to appear to be a nosy wolf, either. Unsure of what else to do, she merely waited, hoping that the lady of the house would catch her scent and return her welcoming gesture. Talk like this

Walk | Talk | Think Getting the pups to settle down for a nap was a difficult task. They had so much energy, were so eager to be up and playing that half the time she felt like she was merely talking to the trees around her rather than the children under her care. Particularly with her daughter who seemed to have inherited a reckless, independent streak that she could hardly contain. But when Tahlia had been pregnant, before that even, she had had visions of her family, her children primly awaiting her instruction, conducting themselves as she had been taught within her own pack of origin. It might have been a rigorous structure for ones so young, but the stern mother thought that if she could have grown up within it and turned out alright then there was nothing from stopping her from having the same from her children. Her determination, even if it was not always rewarded in the same swift manner that she liked, seemed to win out in the end, and she had managed to get the kids corralled inside the den for a while. Anais seemed most resistant, still attempting to poke and nip at her brothers in play even when they should have been resting, but eventually she had given it up and quietness had at last fallen over the family. She watched them now, curled up at her side and snuggled in cutely amongst each other. Little Anais, sweet Jakart, and their half-brother, Nako. It was still a far cry from the family she had envisioned in her mind, each of the pup's possessing a personality and mind that was entirely their own - and on top of that one who had been brought into the bunch in an unexpected adoption - but she was happy and had hope that she might still get the well behaved bunch that she was sure they could be with a bit of patience. A noise at the mouth of the den drew her attention away from her restful pups and toward her unanticipated caller. The ashen wolf stood just outside, politely awaiting answer and with a little glance at the pups slumbering next to her Tahlia quietly and softly scooted herself clear of them so that she could slowly rise and greet the woman there at her den. "Hello," she said quietly as she tread the few steps toward the front of the den and stopped just outside its figurative doorway to stand and smile politely at the woman, less worried now about waking the children. Not an unfamiliar face - she recognized the wolf as having been one of those given promotions at the last pack meeting - but she could not quite recall her name. "I apologize, I don't believe we have been introduced. I am Tahlia. Carlier," she added, almost as an afterthought. It was a shame Bane had no last name for her to take; just another thing about her life that she had not anticipated.

The dark gray female caught a glimpse of the tiny life forms sleeping inside the den and her eyes widened. Had she known that she was interrupting naptime, she wouldn't have tried to approach Tahlia until later on. So, she gulped down the small amount of guilt that rested in her throat and encouraged further greetings with the russet-colored female in front of her. Eyes changed gears and rested on Tahlia as introductions were given. "Pleasure to meet you, Tahlia Carlier. I am Aeilanyllis, but you can call me Aeil." Her tones were gentle, indicating that she meant no ill will towards the newly introduced femme. Aeil's body became a bit relaxed as she took a few sidesteps away from the entrance. "I don't want my voice to wake up your little darlings," she explained, blue eyes beseeching the acceptance from Tahlia. "Especially if they have just settled down to get some sleep." A smile crept upon her face as she gently reclined to her haunches. "I'm happy that I finally have a name to meet your face...I saw you at the last pack meeting, but I wasn't aware of who you were." A light chuckle escaped her form, hoping it wasn't too much to ask the femme she just met. "speeeeech"

Walk | Talk | Think Aeil. That was it! She had been one of those to receive promotions at the last pack meeting, a rather newer face to the pack - or at least as far as Tahlia was aware - but clearly making a name for herself among them. A little sting of jealousy tugged at the russet and black woman as she continued to smile at her company, realizing in that moment that it had been some time since she had been given a promotion as well. Of course, much of her time had been spent devoted to the family, getting to know Bane and then caring for their children together. Soon she would need to get back out there and start proving that she deserved a higher rank as well. At the mention of the children, the golden-eyed woman turned her head to glance within the darkened interior at the resting bundles of fur situated there. Pride was evident in the curve of her smile, within the shine of her eyes and the minute wag of her tail. "Please, do not worry. They are sound sleepers once they are down," she assured her, hoping no sooner than she said the words that they would not stir simply to prove her wrong. But none of them seemed to shift or rustle where they were, so she allowed herself to look once again at Aeil. "I am afraid I was the same," Tahlia responded, "though, as I recall, you were mentioned regarding a promotion. Congratulations on that." she dipped her head politely, trying to show genuine happiness for the other wolf and her accomplishment. "And the pups I was expecting at the time," she added, casting another glance at them within. "There were two. A brother and sister. We - that is, Bane and I - named them Jakart and Anais." There was no hesitation to her inclusion of her mate's name, despite whatever tiptoeing had been done regarding it previously by others. Tahlia had made her vow to be his wife, and she intended to claim him as her husband as was proper, regardless of opinions around her. Not wishing to leave Nako out - the pup had become a permanent resident of their family since his arrival; leaving him out felt considerably cruel - Tahlia added, "The other in there with them is their older sibling, Nako, a child from Bane's previous litter." She did not mention the entirety of Nako's heritage, or the intricacies that had since involved from his creation, but she was sure Aeil would infer what she would. All of them knew pieces of the story if not the whole thing; she felt sure the woman would be able to put them together. OOC: Feels odd referring to her promotion in the pack meeting when she's had another bigger once since. xD Crazy liquid time.

The dark wolf listened with rapt attention as Tahlia spoke of her family and the pups that were bestowed to her. Aeil couldn't think of anyone else whom deserved such blessings. Her smile was warm and she started to think back to the meeting that the she-wolf had brought up. "Thank you, indeed, Lady Tahlia. It was a surprise, to be sure, but I wouldn't have declined by any means." She spoke with honesty, which was one of the traits Aeil proudly wore on her sleeve. "Jakart and Anais...those names are precious! I wonder what their origins are. It's amazing how much history and culture can be held in names such as those." The fact that Nako was her stepson didn't faze Aeil's opinion of the family. Every family was different and therefore, the way they were built was as well. "I hope Nako is becoming well adjusted to his new home, then," Aeil said, dipping her head in a regal nod to confirm her statement. "I am sure you love each pup with your whole heart, Tahlia. Being a mother is truly a blessing." The news of Bane's banishment had spread throughout Seracia like a virus, but Aeil didn't mention that to his wife. She was sure that the pretty fae was tired of hearing everyone talk about the situation, especially if she was conservative about her business. Instead, Aeil openly asked, "I hope Bane is doing well. I have only met him once, but from my first impression of him, he was a very nice wolf." She silently pondered if what she said was appropriate, given his circumstances. Speech, Table by Roams ♥

Walk | Talk | Think It seemed her companion had some interest in names, a unique quality that Tahlia had only heard of once before. The whole concept seemed a little strange to her, having mostly just associated names with those who had passed and held the name before, but there appeared to be a select few who looked far beyond that, to something within the name itself. Never once had it crossed her mind to wonder what was in a name, but now that she had been in a position to name someone, and therefore inadvertently attach whatever was associated to them, she found herself curious. "Hm. I wonder," she murmured thoughtfully, dark golden eyes watching the sleeping trio as she gave it consideration. At the mention of Nake, Tahlia found herself smiling with surprise. "He is. Very much so," she answered, quite certain of herself too. The swift way in which he had found his place in the family still shocked her, and how willing he had been to take to her as well. All the worries she had had from the moment he had been introduced as living with them had been for nothing; he was proving to be a welcome addition and just as much family as her own. "He plays with Anais and Jakart as if nothing separates them. He is their brother. And a son to me too," she added, unable to consider denying him when he so openly accepted her as well. The grey woman surprised her by bringing up her banished mate, the change in conversation quickly stealing away the smile that she had just been wearing. "I am glad he left a good impression on you," she answered, "he seems to have been doing very little of that lately." It was perhaps not the best way for her to approach the subject, and certainly not the kindest in regards to Bane, but even she knew there was truth to it. A gentle furrow beginning upon her brow, Tahlia surprisingly confided, "I hope so too. I worry about him. And miss him." Her eyes shifted from the grey wolf toward the den once more, peering inside at her sleeping children. "I plan to take them to see him. I would hate for them to grow thinking he abandoned them without a care."

It didn't come across to Aeil that the topic was a tender one for Tahlia until the female physically showed it. Immediately, the Grand Duchess wished that she hadn't said anything, but it was something that could not be done. Instead, she moved on with the conversation and gently nodded to Tahlia's words of her husband. Words did not come to her until the new mother turned her head to the sleeping pups in the den. After Tahlia told her she planned on taking them for a visit with Bane, she then found the words to speak. "I bet they will be very excited to see him, Miss Tahlia. There is nothing as amazing as a child's love for their father." She spoke from personal experience. Garth had been the kind of man she wanted to find for her own husband one day, and by finding Dragon, her wants were satisfied. "With you and Bane for their parents, I am sure they will turn out to be wonderful wolves." Encouragement was something Aeil wasn't a stranger to and she knew that Tahlia was also a proud wolf...Perhaps that was what Aeil found so impressive. Talk like this

Walk | Talk | Think Aeil's words of comfort and confidence heartened the wary mother as she considered how much the visit she had spoken of would help her children with their father's absence. She could practically see them all already, ever-patient Bane smiling amidst the three of them while the children romped and played and filled his ears with all of their stories and adventures since they had last seen him. Surely they would have much to say, and knew without question that he would be eager to hear of it all. A little the smile upon her face began to return and her dark golden eyes to warm, still envisioning the scene within her mind's eye. The statement from the wolf that followed caught Tahlia somewhat off guard, and it likely showed as she turned her head to regard the grey she-wolf mere seconds after she had spoken it. Did she really think that? Was she not worried, as Tahlia feared some of her other pack mates were, that the influence of the children's parents, in particular their father, might turn them into nuisances in the future? It had not been spoken of to her, nor had she heard the thought whispered by others thinking her out of earshot, but it had crossed her mind, her paranoia taking flight with its fancies. But Aeil seemed rather apart from everyone else, somewhat like Destruction though not quite so distant from the rest of the pack. She was apart of them, heard what they had to say, and yet her thoughts were not being swayed by it. She had not expected to feel anything very friendly towards the rest of the pack, especially after learning that her husband's fate had been determined and seconded by those who held considerable rank, but at the moment she was starting to see Aeil as someone that she might be able to trust. She was not judgmental, nor did she appear the type to carry false faces with her to each of those that she met. She seemed sincere, and considering everything that had been happening in Tahlia's life lately she thought a few acquaintances of that nature might be good to have. "I thank you," she responded with sincerity, her tone colored with a mild surprise, "You pay my family a great compliment. And I do hope you are right. I want nothing but the best for them. I only hope they realize that. I fear I am much harder on them than Bane would be were he here."