Welcome to Gaia! ::

Adan grinned at Tao and patted her on the head.

"Hi!" he said brightly. "I'm Adan! You're real pretty," he cooed, snuggling up against her side. "Nice and warm, too." And he scratched her head and shoulder at the same time with his hands.

Ulani laughed at Feng's comment. "Yes, I remember the attention glutton part quite well," she grinned, watching Tao interact with her grandson. "I'm sure it will be fine. You might want to talk to Aliya about it - though I know she's been anxious for your visit anyways. Why don't you head in and find her? I think she was doing some mending or something when we brought the kids outside."

Tao cooed at the little boy, she liked this it was double the pleasure as far as she was concerned.

Feng giggled, "I'll go in and find her!"

The hyper mer turned to get Aliya, fortunately for Aliya, the mer at least had enough calmness to knock instead of just entering.

It was only a few short moments before the door was opened by Aliya, who looked slightly tired but otherwise quite well.

"Feng!" she exclaimed upon seeing her friend. She threw her arms around her and hugged her tightly. "By the Valar, it's good to see you again!"

Her voice was strangely quieter than usual, despite her glee, and as she took a little step back she grabbed Feng's hand and tugged her into the house. "Come in," she said excitedly, "but keep your voice down, there's something I want to show you."

"Just making sure I hadn't forgot, I wasn't sure for a moment," Lin explained as she shifted her latest doll aside.

Making sure to close her bag well she looked back at Storm.

"What do you plan to do while we're here?"

Aliya was positively giddy with excitement, and she linked arms with Feng and led her quickly to the back of the living room, near the fireplace, where there was a basket on the floor with a bundle of blankets in it. Wrapped in the blankets was a tiny baby - ruddy countenanced and wrinkled, hair so light it was nearly invisible, little more than fuzz, with chubby cheeks, eyes closed tightly in sleep.

Aliya squeezed Feng's arm excitedly. "Look at him!" she cooed softly. "Little Adonijah ... only a week old ..."

"I'm probably going to visit Elros, for more language lessons, and I have something for him so..." Lin nodded, "And then I should visit Halmir and Arthael, their baby has probably been born. I'll probably also visit Aragost, but later, since Miyu probably wants to see him first and oh!"

Lin looked at up her Daddy with a glee.

"The new fighters must be here! So can I see them with you too!"

Donovan nodded absently, "Like I could stop you," he murmured, "Sure you can come with me on that account, you know the usual rules."

"Yay! I wonder what they'll be like!" she was nearly bouncing.

Aliya grinned at Feng, her eyes sparkling brightly.

"Not nearly as mch as Amdir and I are," she repeated softly. She reached down and gently brushed one finger across her son's cheek. "I still find it hard to believe sometimes," she smiled, looking up at Feng. "I mean ... you know what it used to be like between me and Amdir ... and now look at us!"

She laughed.

"Four children already ..."

She held one finger up, grinning. "Ah, and I almost forgot to tell you," she giggled. "We went to the Westland last summer to visit Amdir's parents."

"A ranch is a place where animals are raised and bred, in the case the ranch looks after horses," Donovan explained to the two, "As for the fighters, well things aren't as safe as they use to be. There are bandits and slavers, and since the ranch is here to save children taken by slavers it's better to be safe rather than sorry, but slavers do seem to have been coming around every once in a while, so if you go out of sight you have to tell an adult where you're going. The fighters is to keep the Ranch safe."