Her children were grown now, but not quite adults, and despite having all this time to spend elsewhere they liked to hang out around home. At least one of them did, the red and multicolored female was lurking in the shadows of her mother's den. While the father was present he hadn't actually gone through with marrying her mother so they were bastards of the royal family now, what fun.
Title's didn't really matter to the adolescent much anyway. Still, her pale gaze watched from a distance as she smelt a strange male outside.
Mariko, watching her daughter's actions decided to investigate but only a smile appeared on her lips as she exited the den. "Well, look what the cat dragged in." Approaching the familiar face she glanced back towards her den.
"My daughter had me curious as to who might be out here, fancy seeing you. Though, it warms my heart." She was glad he was doing well, it had been too long.
"Akeldama, it's a friend of mine. Would you care to say hello?"
Crouching down lower, tail whipping wildly behind her the adolescent tensed for a moment before relaxing, inching closer towards the dens entrance. Coming to a stop, her eyes and face visible she remained where she was.
"Hello."
Kids these days.