Redtail Rise The story of your little success

She could see that her sweet, once-lost boy was a bit more comfortable in Ashlar's presence, and while she grieved to not be able to hold him tight and hear him cry her name in her ear, she would have to still take this as a win. She did her best to remain strong for her children, who were confused- all of them. Etienne and Suzu had grown from babies to youth, knowing every day that there was a search for their brother, Requiem. Requiem, on the other hand, had his existence, and his experience here. All he could recall, anyway. 

Theo questioned Requiem, gently, and she could give him some time to answer, but reassuringly gave her eldest son a nuzzle. It hurt her too to see Requiem introduce himself, as though those first few months, precious, spent cuddling, snuggling and being fed, had completely been forgotten. 

"You 'ave quite a story, Requiem. Some day, per'aps Monsieur Ashlar will tell it to you,
 'ow you flew wid' de eagle, an' came to live where you do." 

Displacing the child again...She feared it might make him even more shy. Here, at least, he was with Ashlar and Theo, should her eldest choose to stay as well. 

"I be Chacal, an' I be your Maman, sweetling.
Etienne, Suzu an' Theo, dey be your siblings.
Months 'ave passed
since we saw you last,
but we be just so 'appy to see you again." 

She hoped at least that the impression she made on Requiem now was a good one. She turned to Theo, then, and drew in a breath. He'd frightened her, when he had disappeared- but it was in their nature, at this age, to want to travel. She reached to brush her muzzle along the golden cape he wore. He was getting so tall...Her children were outgrowing their stay as puppies each and every day. 

"My Theo- it 'as been told to me,
dat you mebbe wish to stay. 
If dis is what you want it to be,
you may stay, an' train away." She said. 

She looked to Ashlar then, and while she still felt completely overwhelmed by the entire situation- finding her two lost sons alive, and facing the reality that perhaps, they'd found the place they wanted to spend the rest of their youths away from her- she felt without a doubt that she could trust them here, with Ashlar. She gave him a smile, and mouthed merci to him. It was an understatement of how she truly felt, but she would have to save those words for another time.