The singular note died within a few seconds, and as his lips sealed, he tilted his head back down.
They will come, he silently told himself in his head as he took a deep breath. His ears twitched as he kept scanning the forest around him. To keep himself in one place, he tensed the muscles in his limbs, his composure nothing short of the definition a strict, but patient watchman. For some time his gaze sunk downward in thought, but as soon as he registered the sound of snow being kicked up, he retained his alertness. One by one, his youngest children came. Ryvet first, to whom he affectionately acknowledged with a low, rumbling growl to extend own his warm and cordial 'hello.' Then his youngest daughter, Calla, who eagerly greeted them both.
He couldn't help but to proudly beam back at the two ivory children at each of his sides. Adoringly, he craned his head down just enough to lick them both between their snow white ears. These two, he had to admit, he owed his utmost tenderness; having taken after their mother by looks and mannerisms, Ryvet and Calla were, for the most part, the least of his troubles on a normal day and he could usually rest assured that they were biding his and Jaysyek's rules. A small chuckle fluttered from his chest as the ashen girl pressed up against him, peering about his barrel-like torso with a giggle or two just to get a look at her look-alike brother.
As for Renier and Taima, the longer he waited, the more anxiety tried to creep up on him, to absolutely ruin the serious facade he had tried to plaster all over his being. It was only a matter of moments however until Renier arrived. He smiled at the boy, and took the time to look him over. Renier - and his siblings - had grown over the seasons, to the extent where they readily prospered and thrived. Neither stunt growths nor doubt had befallen this brood; and, because of such circumstances, these young Lyalls, at eight months old, were already nearly Borden's and Jaysyek's size. The patriarch watched as his eldest son respectfully greeted him then hesitantly settled, a sense of uneasiness easily picked from his body language.
The Leader tried to smile again at him; he knew his conversation with Kade might have fallen prematurely on his shoulders and might have even unhinged him, but at least Borden had this chance now to inform them of what he had found, what he thought he and their family and pack would have to do, and maybe how he felt. He took one step forward in Renier's direction, then, like he had done with Ryvet and Calla, he pressed his nose to his son's ear, a silent and simple gesture that he was glad Renier had heeded his call. His tail lifted just enough to arch it away from his hind limbs. He was about to ask Renier if he had seen Taima when the masked girl appeared. He beheld her rather haughty stance, and waited until he was properly greeted before he fully returned a greeting in kind. "Yeah, Dad?" she queried.
Borden swallowed as he slowly sat down, taking in the youthful faces around him - the spitting images of his younger self, Jaysyek, Trisden, and even his sister, Dove. "First of all," he spoke, his smile starting to leave his features. "I appreciate your being here. Secondly, I've called for the four of you so we can all talk." He studied Taima and Renier before looking to Calla and Ryvet again, quickly adding, "No one is in trouble. I just want to let you all be aware of what has been going on, why your mother, the pack, and I have been quiet these past few weeks. But, are there any questions that need to be answered before I start?"