Hemlock had left their little troop tucked in the forest, although against her best interests she'd felt that they were on to something. They were moving down towards Teaghlaigh, towards it's grave, and that meant that perhaps the pack Lagan had been a part of was somewhere on the other side of the mountains. She wasn't interested in leaving Tapat behind but she knew that the boy desperately wanted to see Lagan again and if she could find the Caldera she would feel more comfortable. At least she would know the people that her eldest might be left with. 

Another freaking forest later and Hemlock was exasperated. How was it she'd never noticed how many there were? Or was it that she was almost happy to have their tall powerful presences to watch over her family and now it was like leaving her children with strangers; every moment that she was beyond them it felt like she might come back to another tragedy. Still, she trusted Ceallach and Tapat to at least keep the children safe even if she didn't know from what - she was just glad that the winds weren't so bitter and cold as they had been on the island. Maybe they'd never had a choice. Maybe it was the most logical move. 

She let out a soft breath as she broke from the treeline on the southernmost side of the Bramblepoint. It was completely unfamiliar to her - although she had crossed some of the terrain trying to find Roarke. She only vaguely recalled the lake and Sebastian and Andalusia - they'd been looking for their lost people, too. Now the terms were very different and for the mother, it came with the horrific realization that they were the lost ones.

 

Hemlock did not expect solitude for long - not when she could smell on the wind the scents of many more. Oblivious to the rise of tension in the wilds at large, she had no idea of the expectations for war. It was nice in that sense to only have her own issues to focus on. To her though, Hemlock felt like she was drowning - there was not enough air in her lungs to support her needs. Nor, more importantly, the needs of her children. 

Before too long another female approached and while they were on a neutral playing field, Hemlock did not respond with abject submission. Her stance was proud, if not refined, hardened by her experiences. The question wasn't unexpected either - it was a common enough one to have when it came to strangers passing through the world at large. "Hemlock Kali," She answered smoothly. "And you are?" it was an expected response after all given a typical interaction. "You live near here?" Again, almost boring and utterly expected - but still Hemlock was curious about things. 

The pack to the south. She didn't know what pack it was but she was hopeful still. At the question Finley posed Hemlock shook her head. "No - my children and I have taken up residence in Neverwinter forest for refuge. I was trying to find Redhawk Caldera on behalf of my eldest son Tapat - he had a...... Well. A crush that lived there named Lagan." Hemlock felt herself smiling despite the reality of her situation just because of how pure Tapat was and how pure his emotions were. 

She would ask for more details if she was anywhere near the right pack and it wouldn't hurt at all for her to get some details about Lagan if she was, right? Either way. It was a mother's prerogative to snoop and neddle in their children's lives.

 


Hemlock was equally surprised by the woman's admission, her tail wagging a few times. It was the first stroke of luck that the family had in what felt like months, and she was going to cling to the feeling. The fact that she had found the woman and by proxy Redhawk Caldera was astounding enough but the fact that she was Lagan's mother was just the icing on the cake. "What luck," Hemlock mused. "My Tapat has memory issues - he struggles and has no short term memory. The fact that he remembers Lagan at all, especially after so long, means that he truly must be special." Hemlock said with a grin. 

"I believe Lagan was the one who visited us, Tapat would most likely have gotten lost - I unfortunately never met him when he was there." Hemlock was eager to learn more about him. Not that she didn't think he was fine, upstanding young man, but it never hurt to learn more about the boy who her boy was so obsessed with. 

Hemlock hadn't had someone grown to talk to in months it seemed. She hadn't exactly sought out anyone's company either - reclusiveness felt almost natural to her at this point. Having Finley there and having an adult conversation was so welcome - but of course it fell to their children. It was natural to most parents it seemed and Hemlock wasn't going to back off either. "Tapat has helped me considerably with my children as well - my wife died, and my husband had to handle business in his natal pack." She explained smoothly. It didn't even seem to register to her that she might need to explain her unique marriage, she was too focused on Tapat and Lagan. 

"So, do you wonder if we may be in-laws someday?" She asked with a little glint to her eyes. She wouldn't despise the possibilities especially of grandchildren but then Tapat wasn't old enough (Was he? She didn't actually know when he'd reach maturity. He'd always be her baby) and they'd have to have a surrogate. "If you can direct me I can bring Tapat to visit." Hemlock was eager to see how they all interacted so she could judge the family that might end up as part of hers.