[AmberGlaze]

Annalisse, struggling with a basket containing two rambunctious kits, looked around. Supposedly she was supposed to meet her father here, and part of her was truly excited. Being seperated from her father and two brothers as a kit, she often wondered what it was like to have a father. Lucky for them, her kits had a father who would always be with them. Clearing a bench, she rested the basket on top.

"Oh now, please hush you two. I've been listening to your wailing all day!"

Annalisse picked up the two kits carefully, and placed them on the forest floor.

"I expect your grandfather to be here soon, and I'm awfully nervous. The last thing I need is to have an earache because of you!"
The kits looked around, sniffing at things they had never smelled before. This was their first time out of the Pen, and they became facinated with what the world had to offer.

[Fallen_Snow]

Ryvr was careful to find his way through the forest. He looked at his map again, turning it this way and that. Suddenly he ran into a bench. "Oh!" he said loudly, suddenly noticing a kuhna on the bench. "Hello. Um, do you know of a... this place?" he said, pointing to a place on the map, holding it out to Annaliese. Then he realized that this was probably the only place he would find a bench. "Anna!" he said loudly, jumping onto the bench next to her. "My, have you grown. Last time I saw you- oh, look at your kits!" he said loudly, looking at them with warmth. "They're so cute! What are they going to grow up to be?"

[AmberGlaze]

Annalisse smiled with happiness.

"Oh, daddy!"

She exclaimed, jumping up next to him. Licking his cheek, she nuzzuled into his fur.

"We haven't named them yet, but we know they'll be wonderful. Patriot and I are as happy as you and mom. By the way, how long has it been since you've seen her? Being lifemates and being so far away must be tough."

[Fallen_Snow]

Ryvr was suddenly stunned to silence.

Who told her that he and Present were lifemates? The last time he checked, his lifemate was Melody, the Elder Kuhna. He sighed, then said, "Anna, dear, your mother isn't my lifemate." he said softly. He felt that this was too soon to be talking about it, but he figured that there was no reason to lead her on. "I have a lifemate, though, and her name is Melody."

He wasn't sure how his daughter would react to that.

[AmberGlaze]

Annalisse stared at him in shock.

"You have a lifemate named Melody?" She asked.

This did come as a shock to her, and she couldn't say she was happy about it.  

"But how could you?" She asked jumping up.

"You had a mate knowing you couldn't truly love her like you should?"

She put each of her kits in the basket.