Time seemed to forever ebb and sway here in the Dale. It was as if the world around seemed to rotate on a different pendulum as the hidden kingdom. Many times Talien found herself wondering if the kingdom worked in the same manner as the seasons for it felt many a time as if the Dale and its inhabitants were being lulled into the slumber of a fast approaching winter.

Rhaego had long disappeared, but Talien was not concerned. Like the changing of tides his return was eminent and despite herself she could not help but to feel reassurance in that at some point he would return. Grant it, he would be met by a seething mare of brandished gold with more than a few hard words for him and his absence... but he would return soon enough. A wolfish grin tugged at the corners of her ash dusted features as silver blue eyes glittered fiercely. Oh yes, quite a few words for him indeed.

Ragnar sneezes as the winds drift over his sun warmed cream colored hide. He gave his tiny head a shake, sending the growing plume of his dark sand colored tresses slapping audibly against his sleek neck. He groaned lazily and flopped back against the drying grasses, stretching his growing form out in the afternoon sun. Talien lifted her tiny dished muzzle now, twin harks standing on end amid the tangled curls of her chocolate colored tresses. It was not the boy's sneeze that startled the mare into alertness, nor was it his groan of relaxation... but instead the changing of the winds that drew her attention.

For so long now, she had been the sole source of movement in the changing zephyrs.... her air bending alone allowed the currents to shift from one way to another... except for today. Paperthin nostrils flare as the delicate woman takes a step forward, placing herself protectively over her resting colt. Somewhere nearby she could hear the ringing laughter of Baylor as the girl found amusement in the companionship of the other children of the kingdom. No doubt the pale buckskin woman's daughter was the source of her companionship for it had been many days now since first the two met and many a day since has been filled with laughter and amusement.

Keen silver blue eyes scan the horizon before her, seeking the source of the unease that gripped her soul... something was different... off... and it wasn't the absence of Rhaego alone.

The glimmer of sunlight upon cream colored coat catches her eyes as a small petite figure slides free of the shadows. There is a nervousness in the mare that is evident from even this distance... as though she were treading upon dangerous grounds instead of the peaceful lands that Talien has come to know the Dale as. She might not have recognized the pale creature were it not for the two glittering wings of pure starlight that shown brilliantly even in the dimmest of lights. Cherish.

A gentle smile curves across Talien's ash dusted lips as she let a friendly whicker escape from her depths before navigating her lithe frame down the hillside and towards where her pale sister stood timidly shifting her weight back and forth in nervous unease. "I see Chiyoko has given up my whereabouts." she murmured, carefully attempting to keep emotion from her voice despite the desire to know of how her eldest child faired. Despite the less than warm welcome she had given to the girl, Talien did care for her... but in all honesty, she was perhaps safest far from the reach of her mother. Curiosity clings to her mind now, for it was not like Cherish to travel far from Ichiro's side. Although Valerio might be his heir, it was the pale wined daughter that tended to savor the time and intellect of the aging pale guardian. However, for the time being, Talien does not give it much more thought and instead blinks back the questions that tug at her thoughts. "It is good to see you Cherish.. You have grown a great deal since last we met."