Roan could hardly contain his snickering when @Faelyn was more than willing to keep hit little footsies warm. A boyish grin made its way across his aging features before starting to wiggle his toes beneath his wife in hopes to find a ticklish spot in the process. The mauve man let his childish antics wain off, though, as the conversation moved to that of their own progeny. Kids. They could hardly even be considered that by now. Well, maybe Valka still qualified, but the rest were well into adulthood. It would only make the man feel older to learn that he had grandchildren out there in the world somewhere.

The masked Hodari listened with intent, genuinely curious as to what his kids in the Summit had been up to lately. "Hm, perhaps we have a budding ambassador on our paws," he mused about Valka's interest in watching the challenges. It was always a good source of information for more than just the outcome of the fight. Brows rose, though, when Fae mentioned a suitor had been visiting their eldest daughter. "A suitor?" The father questioned as only a father could. "I should like to meet him if he comes around again. Do we like him?" Because, yes, it was a we thing on liking any potential partners when it came to their children.

As for the boys, it didn't surprise Roan to hear that they hadn't been around for a bit. Well, maybe Hero, as he'd been the only one who seemed to stick with whatever pride his sisters and parents were part of, but even he had to spread his wings sometime as well. Baka and Tai, though, had always been wanderers, and Jai... Well, who knows where their eldest was anymore. It felt like years since they'd all been together, but that was probably because it had been years. "I'm sure they're all fine. Just out living their lifes," Roan would seek to assure his wife with a warm smile. There was no use in worrying over their whereabouts anymore. They were all adults. Fae and Roan would just cherish any visits they received.

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He did indeed find a ticklish spot, and she snorted an undignified laugh in the process. Not that carrying herself with dignity had ever been one of her goals. It was really only her pristine white pelt that lent her any regality, as she certainly didn't go looking for it.

Perhaps, she agreed, or possibly she simply enjoys watching the fights, and maybe getting into some of her own. She had seen Valka return with the occasional cuts that suggested she had been getting herself into trouble, and while it was a cause for concern for Faelyn, she also by this point believed she could fend for herself. She was scrappy, in a way that Faelyn never had been and could never have hoped to be. Not that she'd ever wanted to be.

Faelyn considered what she knew of Hendrix and nodded in response to her husband's question. I think so. He's from the Plains, and is training to be a medic, she said. Hendrix is his name.

Yes, the boys were most likely off living their best lives, and she had given up on worrying about them and simply trusted they were fine. So she smiled in response to and acceptance of her husband's words. Exactly. Though I do hope at some point they come back with grandchildren. She did so want some (not realizing she did in fact already have them).

@Roan

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Roan couldn't help himself from joining in on some undignified laughter. @Faelyn's amusement was infectious, after all, as his endeavor to tickle her persisted. In an effort of kindness, though, the masked man wouldn't keep his wife in a rough state for too long. She needed to breathe at some point, so eventually his toes would cease their searching for any ticklish areas before allowing himself to just settle into comfort beside the white lady.

An ear flicked as he continued to listen to Fae's observations about their youngest daughter. "Hmm, maybe a Paladin, then," he mused with another nod, reluctant to assume any child of theirs would pursue a Barbarian path. There was nothing wrong with fighting so long as it was for the right reasons. Most Barbarians he had known, though, seemed to go looking for a fight a little too often. Never mind the fact that Valka was going to be an assassin. Maybe it would be best to keep that little bit to her self.

As for Hendrix, Roan mulled the name over for a few minutes, wracking his aging mind to try and remember if he'd ever met the boy before or not. Being from the Plains, it was unlikely. He probably only ever knew Ghyslaine from that pride. So long as Faelyn was unopposed to their daughter hanging around the boy, Roan would have no qualms either. "Always good to have more medics in the family," the mauve lion joked with a smirk.

The masked Hodari did his best not to worry about his sons, but a father couldn't help his mind from wandering down all the what-ifs from time to time. After everything they'd been through in their lives, sometimes it was nice to just dream about having all of their family together again. It was a dream Roan knew was likely never going to happen, but he could still hope for it someday. "For all we know, we might have some out there already." Again, the man smirked with a lighthearted chuckle. Between Jai and Tai, he knew it could be possible, those two being the sons they saw the least. Hero and Baka seemed to check in every so often, so Roan figured they'd tell their parents if they had expanded the family by any means. And Alvena and Valka were still with them, so unless the girls were hiding away some secret family of their own, Roan was apt to believe they were aware of the size of their family thus far. How wrong he was, though.

With a little bit of a stretch, the old man shifted slightly, still working out the creaks and kinks of his limbs after the long journey. "I'll have to find Morrigan or Talisa in the morning," he mused as a yawn parted his jaws. "Let them know I'm back and need accepting again." The formality of it all was tiresome, and truly he wished he didn't have to bother the leading ladies. Maybe he'd just mull around in search of anyone else to accept him back into the pride, but for now, Roan was ready for a bit of rest. Politics could wait until morning.

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A paladin? She hoped so, though she had a feeling that Valka had a bit of a spitfire streak running through her veins, untempered by either Faelyn's upbringing or the cool weather up on the mountain. Perhaps she got it from her biological parents. There was no way to know. Their loss, at any rate.

At the rate you boys get into scraps, it is, she agreed, though not unkindly. She had somewhat hoped one of the kids would be interested in learning medicine, but she certainly hadn't been going to force any of them into it. She was perfectly capable of taking care of all of them, and would be for at least a little longer.

Her ears perked at the notion that they might have grandcubs out there they simply weren't aware of. That is possible, she had to agree. It had been a while since she saw Tai or Jai. She did worry about them both, she'd admit. If only she went to the occasional pride fight over the Mire, she could have found one of them. But, those had never been her scene.

Well, they did say our family is always welcome to come and go, and I am their Lead Medic. If they have a problem with you being here they can take it up with me, she replied, tipping her nose up as she put on a regal air that was incredibly brief because she couldn't take herself seriously for that long.

@Roan

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Roan smirked at his wife's comment. "Oh, but you love patching me up," he teased @Faelyn while aiming a quick kiss at her cheek. For every fight he'd ever been in since they got together, the mauve man always knew he could count on Fae to take care of him, not to mention everyone else. There could never be too many healers in a family.

While the Hodari was all for having grandkids to dote upon, he wasn't entirely enthused about the notion that the pair could already have grandchildren out there in the world somewhere. He'd like to think their kids would bring that kind of news home to them someday, but who knows how far away some of the boys had gotten by now. Maybe it just wasn't feasible to make the journey with young children. He knew the trip to see his sister had been long enough already.

Speaking of which, Roan could feel the need for sleep start to creep in on him, limbs feeling the ache after such a long journey, not to mention the climb up the mountain to get home once more. While he knew the queens had always been very generous with allowing their family to come and go so often, it was still nice to have things official whenever he came back. With Fae being Lead Medic, that made things a little easier, and saved the man a trip to find a higher rank to accept him. "Works for me," he smirked, amused at his wife's momentary facade of regality. "I'll just blame you for accepting me." A toothy grin cracked across his face as the masked man aimed to curl around his small wife, intent on a bit of sleep if she'd join him. "I could use a nap first, though." A yawn then parted his lips, though the ghost of a smile still hung on.

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She couldn't help but chuckle at his comment, and preen under the implied praise. It was true, she did enjoy having the knowledge to help her mate when he needed it, since she wasn't skilled with fighting herself. At least this way she could do something besides standing on the sidelines. Everyone had their part to play, herself included. Yes, yes I do.

She really didn't use her rank as a position of authority, like, ever, so it was a little odd to her to do so now, but it certainly made things simpler. I accept full responsibility, she said with amusement. As if anything would happen that would cause her to get into trouble over that. The idea was hilarious.

Ah yes, you've had quite the trip. A nap does sound nice, she agreed. When one got to be their age, a nap was always agreeable. So she settled in beside him to enjoy some quality nap time with her husband now that he had returned.

-exit via sleep?-

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Roan just looked pleased with himself when @Faelyn "admitted" to enjoying the need to heal his injuries over the years. Luckily, he hadn't needed her services so severely for a while, but surely the Medic's skills were still useful in their shared old age. Arthritis could be a bitch.

After another yawn, the mauve man chuckled at his wife's words. "I hope you don't regret those words," he teased once more. "I can be a reeeeeal handful." The banter continued as Roan rolled a little more onto his back, getting more comfortable as the time passed. With Fae joining him for the nap, no further movements were needed. His body relaxed around hers, finding comfort in the rhythm of their breaths. Sleep came fast for the masked man, happy to be home once more.

exit Roan via sleep

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