Noah all but glimpsed down at the conversation at Elann’s prodding with her fingers. No one was directing words at him, so he went back to taking in his surroundings. He wanted to see what had been changed and what stayed the same in the three years he had been gone, something he was determined to do as an animal in a semi-new setting. No prodding or beckoning from Elann, casual as it was done, could stop him from doing that, lest she commanded it. Since she hadn’t, and Jocelyn didn’t give off an air of neglect because of his lapse in attention, he continued to do what he set his mind to.

Jocelyn nodded at Elann’s words, not paying much attention to Noah in the moment since her attention was on the Benshira before her. As said Benshira gestured to the food and asked if she was ready to eat, Jocelyn nodded and sat down properly, scooting up her seat to the table but not taking any of the meal. While Aimee and Ryon had sat some time ago during the start of Jocelyn and Elann’s conversation, they had yet to touch the spread of food.

Pulled aside, Noah’s attention then went to Elann. While his survey of the kitchen had yet to be complete in full, he figured what Elann had to say or ask was perhaps more important. He raised his brows to her question, looking up to the archway towards the main hall of the house, considering Elann’s whispered words.

“Papa,” Noah called through the archway in a voice only a little louder than casual conversation in a loud room. It was all that was needed for there was soon shifting coming from the archway before Viktor appeared, his book folded over his thumb to keep his place. He held the book to his bare chest, looking at Noah with question, singling out his son’s voice with precision.

“The food’s done,” Noah continued, his voice lowering. Though his father was technically across the room, he knew he didn’t have to keep up the elevated tone in order for the dire wolf to hear. “Did you want to eat?”

Viktor’s pale gaze turned from Noah and Elann towards the spread of food he had long smelled. He nodded and opened his book, tucking back the corner, before tucking the entire thing under his arm and holding it there. He moved past Elann and Noah towards the table where he took up his place and gathered hefty portions of the dishes being served, kissed Aimee on her temple and patted Ryon on his head affectionately before rounding the end of the table and going back out of the archway into the main hall. His faint footsteps were heard until they weren’t. It was upon his total disappearance that Ryon, Jocelyn, and Aimee began to fill their plates.

Noah nodded towards the table. “Let’s eat,” he said to Elann.