Welcome to Gaia! ::

Donovan chuckled, Saki and Arwen at times were made for each other he decided they both hadn't quite grown up so to speak. Even though they were very much adults.

"You shouldn't encourage her."

Arwen giggled into Saki's fur. "Come on, Donovan, she's supposed to be playful ... she has to keep in practice so that she doesn't lose her touch."

Roydon chuckled. "It's all right, sir, really," he assured Donovan. "It's a bit of a tradition between us now ... a competition, you might say."

"And one they never tire of," Haradhel added with a smile. "Come on everyone, dinner's ready, come sit down." And she beckoned for them to follow her to the dining room, where the smell of a large warm meal was wafting through the air.



Elros walked across the room and took his bow, quiver and sword from hooks on the wall, and once he had each of the weapons on his body he smiled at the children.

"Off we go," he murmured, heading towards the door.



Rose nodded seriously. "It was awful ... I was afraid to leave my home for a long time after that. But now I feel safe here, as long as I'm not alone." Her eyes grew bright. "And I can visit with my friends as often as I like!"

Kara giggled a bit more and took Donovan's hand, "Don't worry, the kids are with people we know and they'll be fine, besides it was roughly noon when we left so they should be okay."

At least no one was going to go hungry.


Toshiro hopped off the bed and made sure to stay close to Miyu, even though he was fine by himself.

"Alright," he agreed.


Lin followed along with others, it was only when she glanced out the window did she realize the time, but she was sure it was alright. It wouldn't be the first time any of them had stayed out instead of going back to the ranch house.

"That's good, I wouldn't like to be afraid of going out because I'm out all the time, I get to live in a large lake and it has a pretty waterfall and there are these water places where I can go and visit other people without walking and there are pretty flowers that grow on top of the water....." Naida went on, she was very happy to be able to live outside.

Feng giggled to Aliya, "Naida loves her new home, though at times I have to look for her because she forgets the time."

Kara put her hand over Donovan's mouth so she could say it for once and not him. Knowing Donovan he would glady do so just because he could.

"I'm going to have a baby," she told Elrohir and everyone else who had not heard, which was pretty much everyone else but Haradhel.

Lin watched as the other elves passed, growing up it had become a habit to see if there were any she recongized. Granted she never did get to really know all of the fighters of the Ranch (with the shifts that was never possible), but she knew most of the day fighters at least.

Miyu on the other hand kept close to Toshiro and Elros... or rather Toshiro was keeping close to her (kind of hard not to when she was hugging his arm) and therefore Toshiro was close to Elros.

"I don't think anyone would be pleased if you and Amdir disappeared for several months," Feng giggled, even though she would have loved it as well, "Though a picture I think I can manage. Well if I asked Serenity or Trisha that is."

"Yup so I don't have to worry about not walking yet, because I can get everyone at home and sometimes if we're going somewhere else I get carried like now!" Naida nodded happily.

"But knowing you, Donovan, you wouldn't have given her the chance even to say that much," Haradhel laughed as she began to serve everyone. "Honestly, I don't know who loves dropping news like that more, you or Ulrich."

Elrohir chuckled. "Congratulations, both of you," he smiled warmly. "I hope it all goes well for you. And speaking of which, how are Lore and Elnara and the twins? It's been a few years since we've heard anything."



There was one elf who passed the group that paused in his step and peered at Lin curiously. His hair was a light shade of brown, his skin a creamy olive colour, and his eyes were a vivid violet. Like the other fighters, he had a bow on his back, sword at his side, but unlike them he also had throwing knives strapped to his biceps and a throwing knife sticking out of each boot - though they were nearly invisible.

He looked up at Elros. "This is her?" he asked in elvish.

Elros nodded, a single nod of the head.



Aliya's eyes lit up. "A picture from Serenity would be wonderful!" she agreed happily. "It's been so long since I've seen her at all ... her work is better than Halmir's, and that is saying something. He's the best artist I've seen in this world - on canvas or paper, at least. When it comes to wood crafts, I've never seen work to rival Ada's."

Rose giggled at Naida and leaned forward a bit, and some of her long black hair fell in front of her shoulders. "You sound as if you have a lot of fun in your new home," she smiled warmly. "How long have you been living there?"

Elrohir nodded thoughtfully. "It would be quite the adjustment," he agreed softly, "to be together all day every day ... and then suddenly only in the evenings ... and how are the twins? How old would they be by this time?"

He was certain not very old, considering how slow time in Gaia went, but still, he wanted to know.



The man chuckled softly at Lin, his violet eyes sparkling mischievously. "Because it has been a long time since I have seen you, Lin of Gaia, and I could not quite remember if you were you at first."

He grinned. "And do you remember me, by any chance? It has been many long years since we have lain eyes on each other ..."



Aliya's eyes began to sparkle impishly. "And I think you've just given me an idea," she laughed. "If I ever find some spare time, that is. Between all of the children and the animals ... it's amazing I have time to take care of the house."

Adonijah frowned at his mother and murmured something softly in elvish, taking care not to look at Feng and Ryu as he did so.

Rose giggled and held her hands out to Naida. "If you want to play with my hair, you're welcome to sit with me," she invited her warmly. She looked up at Adanedhel, who smiled warmly and nodded, handing the mermaid off to her.

Elrohir chuckled. "I should have known better than to ask," he grinned. "Our months are so different ... I suppose only Lore and Elnara would know how old they are now. Or at any point of time, for that matter. Youll have to tell them to visit us again sometimes, can you do that for us?"

"Oh, and tell them to come to the Southland," Arwen beamed. "If we get word of their coming, maybe we could make it to the palace in time to see them!"

Roydon laughed. "I'm sure we could ... though we would need at least a week's notice in order to make it in time." By now he was used to the fact that his wife was of royal blood - and not only that but of one of the highest ranks - and talk about the palace, the queen, or anything of the sort no longer embarrassed him.



The man chuckled and nodded his head. "Very good," he grinned. And then suddenly he switched to English. "I suppose your father is here as well, is he?" he asked. "That means we will be heading out on a hunt in the next day or two ... I have begun to accompany the Hunters, I hope he will not mind if I also go along."



Aliya shook her head at Ryu. "I go for a visit once in a while, but that's it," she replied. "Elberon has a new stable hand specifically for looking after the horses' health, so we no longer have to do so. We have our own animals to worry about now ... though I don't think we had the time, the last time you were here, to show them all to you ..."

She smiled warmly. "Perhaps you could go along with Adonijah when he does his chores next," she suggested. "He's always calmer when he's with the animals, and even if he doesn't speak to you at least he won't be running away."

Rose sat at the table and giggled, brushing more of her hair in front of her shoulder for Naida to play with. "Arwen sometimes plays with my hair," she smiled, "but only when Roydon's away working or something."