It was snowing by the time he reached the Summit's peak, not that this was any sort of surprise. It nearly always snowed up here in the winter time and her icy hold would not relent for another couple of months yet. He knew neither of his mothers would ever be persuaded away from its divine beauty, though. He was fairly certain Morrigan would probably prefer to freeze to death up here before relinquishing it to anyone who might seek to deconsecrate Illyria.

But she was not the one he had come to visit today. He didn't bother to stop at the border marker as he could only imagine @Talisa would chide him for the foolishness of making her walk in to the snow to greet him, the though giving him a fond smile and he squinted through the winter storm, trying to keep to familiar paths where they were still visible. At last he found the frozen over stream that he knew led to his Mama most days and would chuff, just in case she were out in this somewhere and not in the den itself.

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Luckily for one of her very few baby boy's, Talisa was not too far from @Khal this day. Despite the cold and the light snow coming down she had taken to laying by the stream and catching a few moments of peace. A quiet lull as she felt the energy around her and the pull of the spirits that nestled nearby and likely all around her. Perhaps also trying to feel a pull towards Maua themselves but finding that she couldn't feel that much energy at the moment and Maua happened to put off a lot of it.

So when she heard her boy she opened her eyes quickly, adjusting to her surroundings and looking to see if he had already come into sight and realizing he was certainly not. Talisa got to her feet with a lean stretch before meandering more downstream. Slow going as it were because she did not wish to be tricked by what might have looked like soft soft on ground but really had ice underneath. Though when she finally spotted her boy and chuffed, she was not quite as careful as before. Quickening her pace and moving towards him, hoping to get to him and embrace him — berate him with all the affection that she had not gotten to give him last they saw each other.

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His head turned to the sound of her voice calling to him immediately, any nervousness in the news he carried washing away in the wave of her ever-present enthusiasm to gush over him. Even now as he approached seven years in age he still felt like @Talisa had the power to melt him right back into that little boy that used to hide beneath her legs until he outgrew his hiding spot.

"Mama," he greeted her, accepting her affection without fuss, taking the moment to look for some sign that time was catching up to her the way it seemed to be Morrigan, but he could find nothing except that lovely glow that felt like home. "I have some news for you," he began.

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Just like her baby boy, Talisa was all but too eager to let his figure move into her as though he were still that bumbling little child. The boy that had always clung too hard to her legs and she too delighted by his presence to push him where he might be uncomfortable. Talisa had always wanted her children to grow as they would because life was going to shape them either way and she was more than thankful for the child that she and Morrigan had raised. Quiet he might be, but there was so much more.

As far as the news went, she was quick to try and take a step back — honing in on the word news and recognizing that @Khal said neither good news nor bad. Nor did his expression give away to which side the news might lean towards. Well, let's hear it then! Talisa was beyond wasting precious time when she was to be given news by her eldest son.

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He allowed her scrutiny for a moment longer, letting the suspense build as his smile slowly gave way to the truth of the utter goodness behind his news, something he knew particularly that @Talisa would be happy to hear. "You have two new grandchildren to meet, granddaughters, both as lovely as their mother," he shared as obvious pride lit up his face in a way he'd perhaps never had such reason to feel before. The mother in question needed no clarification of course, as Khal had only ever had eyes for one woman, but he would assure her of her own good health all the same. "Voluspa has returned and we are together again in the Basin," he continued, "Though I'm sure they would all be glad to make a visit up here once the weather warms a bit more."

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There was a smothering blanket of air as she awaited whatever news @Khal had thought to bring her. Worry beneath the skin as she hoped and prayed that all was well in her son's life. None of her children should ever have to worry about things and yet, she knew that such was an inevitable price to pay when one breathed (and even when they didn't). So it was with great fanfare that he mentioned the greatest joy of all grand-daughters? There was inexplicable joy written upon her face at the idea of grandkids and although she had some already, she was happy to know that Khal and, presumably Voluspa, had finally been lucky enough to be blessed.

What are their names? How old are they? she asked in quick succession for narrowing her eyes playfully, and why are they not here now, hm? Perhaps that last question served into the question of how old were they but either way she was an impatient grandmama and needed to see them tout suite. She didn't know the precise translation of those two words but she knew it meant ASAP. Tell me about them. If she could not see them now then she wanted to know everything she could in the meantime.

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He couldn't have said he was surprised at the sudden bombardment of demands from his mother, but he still let out an amused chuckle at the seriousness of her interrogation. He tried to keep mental track of her questions but he certainly didn't mind gushing over his girls. It was the reason he'd wished to share this with @Talisa alone first. He knew Morrigan would be happy but not quite so enthusiastic. "Their names are Tove and Dresden, they were born in July before Voluspa's return. They're much like the rest of the women on both sides of their family," he explained, knowing that would likely speak enough to a hint of them both. "And finally they're not here because I hoped I might tempt you south to meet them?" Any chance to offer her a walk through the territories that had been free in her youth.

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There was truly nothing more exciting in this life than coming to find out that you will have more little cubs to love. Sure, she hadn't gotten to be there for their birth which was a little disappointing and something she would certainly dwell on in private but for now she was in her thrilled grandmother stage. Tove and Dresden, aw! She simpered, feeling as though @Khal had chosen the most beautiful and perfect names and that she only loved them more if that were even possible. Of course! she nodded her head aggressively, I will go to them happily. You just show me the way and I'll be there. Talisa would not miss out on showing her newest grandchildren the love of a grandmother.

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He couldn't help but feel like a boy again around @Talisa. She was just such the epitome of strength and motherhood, he always felt invincible when he was near her, but he could not deny the more subtle changes from his own youth. She would not be with him always, as much as he might wished. At least not like this, not as the physical mother he knew. It was an easy enough thing to agree to spend as much time as possible, and sharing her with his own daughters whom he could only imagine would also love her. "You tell me when and I'll be happy to," he grinned in turn, not entirely opposed to doing such a thing right this moment.

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Soon! Was her god honest answer and she was determined to make the trip to see her newest grandchildren. Perhaps somewhere in her long list of life-doubts she had reserved the fact that maybe @Khal and Voluspa didn't want children. That bringing children into this very dangerous world was a terrible idea and she would have never faulted them for it, either. Every single time she had a litter, she always worried about what might become of them and it always took Morrigan's steady words to convince her that it was good to worry but that Maua had chosen this for them. Perhaps that was her interpretation of the words but Talisa heard them nonetheless. So Talisa made some small-talk with her eldest son while mentally preparing herself for a long trip to the Basin. fade tali

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