ooc: @Alvena and @Valka are also welcome in this thread

It had been a long journey, once again. A journey the mauve lion didn't expect to take again so soon, nor so suddenly either, but when he had found his young niece cowering away from all the chaos that Amaryllis had to offer, he knew he couldn't just force her to stay here. Stories could only prepare a child so much for the real world. Seeing it first hand was a completely different experience. And at such a young age to be away from her parents and all that she knew, Roan just couldn't let her be miserable in Amaryllis. He wasted little time in taking her back home, but now that man was simply tired.

After so many times coming and going, the Hodari didn't even bother stopping at the borders of Illyria to call for someone to accept him back into the pride or to apologize for yet another disappearing act. So long as the scent markers still belonged to Morrigan, Roan knew he'd be fine just crossing into the territory without escort. His slow trek up the mountain took the masked lion directly to his family's den among the snow. A light dappling of flakes melted into his thick fur as the large feline rounded the last bend in his path. A quick sniff around the den's entrance gave him hope that his family was still in Illyria, and that hopefully at least some of them were inside. Peeking his green gaze around the cavern wall, Roan gave a quiet chuff into the darkness. "Fae?" He wouldn't want to startle his wife with suddenly slipping in alongside her, after all.

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She knew patience was a virtue. She just had to wait and eventually her husband would return from the war from his journey. It would likely be faster, this time, as he already knew where he was going. But, just because she knew that didn't mean she wasn't delighted to hear his voice again when he spoke from the entrance to the den. Her ears perked up and she rose, already purring as she made her way to the den's entrance to greet him.

Hello my love, she said, tucking her head in its usual place under his chin. Did you have a good trip? Obviously it had been safe enough as he was now back home with them but it was still a long trip. She did wonder if he would eventually want to leave and permanently move to where the rest of the family was. She would go, if that was what he wanted of course, but she would have to admit that after so many years spent within Amaryllis she felt like it was home as well.

You missed all the snow this winter, lucky you, she commented, though obviously not all of it as he was a bit damp from melted snow.

@Roan

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For every time Roan found himself wandering away from Amaryllis or every time he lagged behind in following his wife to their next home, the maybe was eternally grateful for @Faelyn's understanding. The masked lion was greeted warmly as his own purrs could be felt and heard the moment the couple made contact. Relishing in his wife's touch, the Hodari pressed his own head in a little firmer against Fae's crown, nostrils flaring to take in her scent. "It was fine," he practically sighed in response to her question. "Long, but fine." There was a tiredness evident in his tone, only further accented in his tired smile as he aimed to move further into the den.

Finding their usually 'spot' in their den, Roan took a little circling motion before deciding where would be comfortable to simply flop down among their bedding. All the while, his minty gaze hardly left his wife's stark white form, hopeful Faelyn would come to join him. The corners of his mouth lifted with a light chuckle at the woman's words. "Well, most of it," he smirked, noting the droplets of water along his plush coat that were in the shape of snowflakes just a few moments ago. "It's still cold though," the masked lion started off with a raised brow "Could probably use some warming up." There was a clear glint of mischief in his suggestion. He'd been traveling for so long. All the man wanted to do was settle in his den with his wife right now.

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She almost wanted to go see this place the rest of the family had found for themselves, but she had a feeling that at their age they wouldn't be as excited about making the trip back. Which wouldn't be a big deal but she did actually enjoy life in the Summit if she was being honest, and she didn't want the kids to wonder where they'd gone. Now if @Roan decided he wanted to head out there permanently, that was another story. But he hadn't brought up anything like that yet.

True, there's still a bit left to enjoy, she commented. Soon enough it would melt from the lands, and she would no longer blend in except within the snowy peaks they lived within.

Oh, but of course, can't have you getting cold, she agreed, more than happy to snuggle up next to her mate. All the years that had gone by had done nothing to cool her affections for her husband. She loved him just as much as she had when they had first become mates.

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ooc: I am sssoososooosossooooooo sorry!

The winters used to bring back fond memories of his childhood, as fond as he could muster up, at least. It was so long ago by now. The passage of time had a way of making it easier to put a rose-colored film over some memories. Playing in the snow with his siblings, climbing their family's mountain. A much simpler time, but things always were at that age.

"Can always go out to the Freeze if I'm feeling nostalgic," the masked man chuckled lightly before deciding to roll a little bit into the furs on the flood of their den. A poor attempt at drying off the remaining droplets from the melted snow before his wife might join him where he lay.

Roan aimed to move with @Faelyn as she came closer, wanting them both to be comfortable as they snuggled up together. Her warmth returned to him, a welcomed blanket against the bitter cold of the mountain air outside. The purrs returned as his larger frame practically melted into hers. "S-s-sooo c-c-cold," the Hodari teasingly stammered, as if to goad Fae into snuggling up even closer, if that was even possible.

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((All good! <3))

That's very true, at least it's always cold there, she replied with amusement as she watched him roll around. She'd only been a couple of years old when she'd left the frigid lands of her youth, and now had spent almost a decade away from them. At this point, she couldn't even remember what they looked like. Her family was an even more distant blur, lost to time and distance. But she had a new family here, both the sprawling one she'd married into and all the little ones she'd had and adopted.

She joined him on the furs, a soft purr leaving her as well. She leaned into him, laughing at his teasing comment, their thick fur meshing together. Oh no, your poor toes might freeze, she said with mock horror, covering one of his paws with her own as she nuzzled her nose into his cheek.

@Roan

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"Home away from home," he murmured with an amused expression. If they ever truly missed the cold, the Freeze would always welcome them. Of all the places they had lived now, though, Roan supposed he would always favor the mountains above all else. The mauve lion found his breathing settle into rhythm alongside his wife as they drank in each's scents and warmth. He missed these intimate moments whenever they were apart. These quiet times just spent with one another.

Roan chuckled once more as @Faelyn played into his game. "I fear they may fall off," the old man practically whined in dramatics before lifting his free paw to splay and wiggle his frigid beans. Even in their twilight years, the couple could still act like children, from time to time. A spark of youth never lost.

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We could make a summer home there, she joked, though really that was an option. It was always cool there, and despite the lightness of her pelt she sometimes suffered in the hottest months of summer. Though, she supposed that she didn't really need to descend the mountain these days. Alvena was always more than happy to run any errands she needed taken care of, though she didn't like making her daughter do things. She supposed that was just something that came with getting older.

She had to giggle at his theatrics, like she was just a yearling again. Times like these she didn't feel her age. Though, she never felt her age around him. They'd had so many good years together, and maybe that was because they made each other feel young again.

I don't think I know how to stick toes back on, she said, still chuckling.

@Roan

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The thought of spending the summers in the Freeze actually sounded lovely to the plush-coated lion. Though Roan always told himself that the land didn't matter when it came to a home, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't simply over the heat and humidity some places had to offer. Knowing there weren't many years left ahead of them, if any at all, the masked man wanted to spend them as comfortably as he could. "Now that's an idea," he murmured with a light chuckle. Like his wife, though, Roan questioned the desire to travel up and down the mountain at their age. It would only get harder as time went on. Still, it was something to think about.

Amused with @Faelyn's response, a smug grin made it's way across Roan's face. "Then I guess we best keep them warm," the man snickered before attempting to tangle his toes within his wife's plush coat anywhere he could reach. It was at that moment he was grateful they had the den to themselves. He was nearly certain any cutesy little antics of their would likely embarrass their kids to some degree. With that thought though, "So how have the kids been in my absence?" Little did he know Hero had wandered off somewhere on his own, but at least Alvena and Valka were still in Illyria. He did feel guilty in not being able to spend more time with the girls before taking leave of the Summit again.

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She did have some of the oddest yet fully functional ideas sometimes. Perhaps it came from being in a place where such a concept of summer and winter homes was impossible, considering it was the same all year round. Snow and ice. Just as it was at the Summit, so really she'd simply come full circle in her life except that the altitude had changed precipitously.

Yes, that would be best, she agreed, perfectly content to sit upon her mate's paws like a brooding hen to keep them warm. Oh goodness, they've been behaving, mostly, she said of the children, thinking of how often Valka disappeared on an excursion into the lands after some call or another went up. Valka likes going to all the pride challenges, I think. And Alvena had a suitor come visit from the Plains and stay a while, but I haven't seen him in a bit. I haven't seen the boys for a bit either, but I presume they're fine. It was all she could do. She simply assumed they were off having their own lives and adventures, and perhaps one day would return to tell her all about them.

@Roan

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