*No. Not here in the village.* Rois tongue rolled over her muzzle as she hedged. She did not like speaking of it, afraid of suspicion. Afraid her welcome would become unwelcome. At the back of her mind was a worry for the truth, or a hint of her whereabouts slipping back out the shield and finding their way to him. Much as she'd never seen him, she had sensed his shadow just behind them for years.
It was a hard fear to shake, even with rational thinking. Twitching shoulders did nothing to reassure her. *It was before I came here, and I do not know the name of the place.* Would it be enough? She was afraid to outright lie, in case he sensed it. So she spoke truth without real answers. Moira knew Rois had come from outside the shield, but she had kept most of her secrets close, what the pack leader had told her brother, Rois did not know.
Tail flat down her legs and ears half pinned to her skull, Rois demonstrated her submission. She did not lie, but she could not tell him the full answer to his question due to honest ignorance and much needed secrecy. He seemed to accept her answer, and was pleased by her easy acceptance of his fatherhood. Rois did not like it in her bones, but she knew when she was beat. Knew too that a male of shared caste and Jewels might be of help to her son.
*Yes Daithi.* She hoped it did not come to that. She had been warned he was strange. Submitting was easy, a central part to Rois' own nature. Unable to roll over and expose her belly only because Tadg was close and in need of minding. That she had to entrust his care to a male with admitted memory problems was terrifying. Maybe she would ask Ephram more about Daithi, he most of the pack in some way. *Thank you. He is a good natured boy, and has made his raising mostly easy.*
Though that changed the bigger he grew. More curious, and worse, more bold. He ventured father now that he had his wolf skin, and his Sapphire made his stupid in fearlessness. Daithi relaxed, laying down into the grass and drawing Tadg near. The boy peeked at him, and was stepped on by his mother as Rois backed up, startled as Daithi rose again, hair on end until he was nearly twice the size he had been.
She crouched low, nearly sitting on Tadg, tail tucked under her belly. Tadg was less worried and more curious. *It is a good change.* She did not want, but Rois gave way, tongue lolling over her muzzle nervously, and then licking at Tadg's face as he edged around her. *We will join you when it is over.* She herded the boy away, into a thicket of tall grass and brambles. Privacy for the change, its agony familiar now.
Tadg took longest. Rois dressed while waiting for him, skirt wiggled into and blouse buttoned. Hard not to pet him while he writhed, but she knew it would upset his concentration and only slow him down. Probes sweeping outward to make sure Daithi did not interrupt either, or sneak up on them. "Done?" Weak nodding that allowed for her to stroke his damp hair and cleanse the air around them.
Rois helped him dress, a small piece of candied fruit dolled out to help settle his stomach. The sugar helped, she thought, taking his hand and leading him back out into the small break in the trees where Daithi waited. Tadg was quick to let go of her hand, boy measuring the man. Rois measured him too, less curious than her son, more unsure. "Prince." A quick curtsy, dark hair swept away from her face, Rois smiled at him gently, palm turned up in welcome.
This was home now. And this temper was now hers to bear as best it needed tending. A thing Rois had always been good at.
"Will I be that tall?" Tadg asked plaintively, making her laugh.