Hushed Willows His smile's your rope

They're hoooome! Slightly forward dated, other tag for ref

He'd spoken to @Kukutux before their departure; he'd hunted for Moontide's caches and had left gifts for the midwives' camp. It might have been good to stay longer, but Tybault was eager to be home, and the mothers of Moontide had already brought their children into the world. Now was as good a time as any to take their leave before another pregnant wolf appeared.

And before @Reina picked up any more strays. Tybault spoke little to their new additions, though it seemed inevitable that the youths would join them in their journey back to the willows. He'd let Reverie deal with that.

The journey was not a long one, and so he kept them on a tight schedule as they traveled. A few days of focused effort brought them quickly to the willows. Tybault moved ahead of the rest, calling out to @Everett and Reverie as they approached the border with a simple message: they were home, and they'd brought someone else along with them.

Carnelian and Peridot will be PP’d in Reina’s responses. Tags for reference.

Her eagerness to get home had been evident by her quick, though heartfelt, farewells to Kukutux, @Minnow, and @Tuft. The latter two had spread word to others around Moontide, searching for those who might claim the children, but there had been nothing found. The red healer could not leave the children behind, so she brought them with her, much to Tybault’s dismay. Many eye rolls later, she had put her foot down—they were hers and she would not let anyone, especially Tybault, tell her different.

Except…maybe, Reverie. She had a say in all of this, of course, and it was at the forefront of Reina’s thoughts that she may refuse to absorb them. The gilded female, made mother again, had her own little ones to tend to; for Reina to bring others, though older and more capable of caring for themselves, it could possibly be a hardship for the pack. She would have to deal with that if it comes.

The children had stuck to her like sticky sap, flanking her closely, on their journey home. Her words were reserved for the children, barely any said to their male companion. Carnelian had asked about Hearthwood, its story and those that live there; Peridot had remained quiet, always listening, though her anxieties were visible in the way her small body shivered and shook—regardless of the temperatures.

Reina’s own nerves felt taut, tightening even further as they neared their borders, threatening to snap as Tybault heralded their return. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest—not from nervousness, but from excitement. Her eyes remained glued to the borders, searching for the two pieces of gold she coveted the most.

He came at the sound of his brother's voice, having already been roving the Hearthwood for food or trinkets to bring back to Reverie, to lavish on both her and the kids. Everett sent up a quick note of his own, alerting his sister that he madder his way towards the border to meet their rangers there.

He'd had little time to think much beyond his family these past number of weeks. Children demanded a much as he remembered - and he thought of Caracal and Heda in moments as these. Other moments, he thought of his God, and offered many prayers for his nieces, his sister, his brother, even, and all the wolves who became family to him here. For Boone. For Kyrell, who'd left shortly after. For Dusty Rose, and Hypnos, and Abel, all who had stood by these shifting golden sands.

For Reina, who met him here, now, alongside Tybault. His watchful gaze found its way way to her first. A flutter of a warm spring breeze raked through his fur, and quickly he turned to address the moose in the room.

Who are these? he asked softly, silvered gaze now taking in the strangers, both young and clad in earthen fur. One trembled, while the other stood as a rock beside her. They both hung close to Reina's side. Everett's gaze searched their faces before he turned back to Reina and Tybault.