"I keep thinking they'll leave," Taliah sighs as she leans on the counter. "But then they're there." She says, talking of Hawk and Bear and some of the others who'd been part of the mercenary group they'd traveled with. "Hawk's been giving me a dirty look, more than his usual face. Think it is because I opened one of the packages in the truck before we got here. Apparently he was planning on using face cream y ahora tengo que buscar otro." She waves a hand. "And now I better find another." Taliah cracks a grin, only because it is a bit funny. In a this is a crazy man and he might try something but at least it's a story to tell? sort of way. She takes a bite of the sugarless cookie, nodding to her friend. "I think they'll go in the spring? Maybe when weather's better. They do not seem like they want to rejoin the Cross pack." @wilddwcrds
Taliah moves around the infirmary, careful despite her newly bandaged and slung arm. The wound caused by a wolfs-bane coated bullet still smarts but less with medical attention. She knows some others from their group are being brought to the infirmary after check in and decides to wait for them. The guy checking people in mentioned something about taking names down and getting back to them so she'd given her brothers names, and her cousins, Danny and Azize's family too. It's been a while since she's been part of such a thorough process, but she tells herself not to get her hopes up. Hawk and Bear might want to move on and she needs to think of how best to stay put, to split off despite technically being in their debt still.
Thoughts swirl around her restless mind as she waits, free hand ghosting over some supplies she sees set up for the next patient. Her hand hovers over some bandages, picking them up to consider if it's worth taking when she hears the door to the infirmary swing open. Clutching the bandages tighter now, Taliah spins, hand behind her back. Any well-formed, at-the-ready remark about being grateful for their hospitality or when are the others coming through die on her lips when she sees who's standing in the doorway. @manybcdthings
Taliah was born and raised on Equinox to a family that worked within medicine research and nutrition. From a young age she was struck by the way their research and medicine helped their community and wanted to do the same.
She grew up a spunky child, always keen to lend a helping hand and speaking out when something wasn't right. She's fiercely protective of those closest to her, especially her sisters, and her family in general. It's why she enlisted as a Vanguard Officer, making it through training to become a Patrol Officer. She thought she'd have made more progress in terms of ranks by now, but remains a steadfast officer, keeping the peace on The Station.
She's not too keen on Olympia residents visiting Equinox, though, since they tend to act entitled and like they own the place. And since Soraya's heartbreak, Taliah has been even more on her guard, warning her youngest sister off about getting involved with anyone from Olympia. Especially since she herself fell prey to their easy charms and laid back manner. She thinks that it's easy to be relaxed when you've never had to worry about anything. At least that's what she told herself when Phineas Belcourt pulled away, probably breaking some other girl's heart.
But Taliah is an optimist – she bounces back and has thrown her focus into her work as a PO. Recently, she's befriended a newer PO who's been assigned on various patrols with her – she and Juniper Belcourt becoming fast friends despite her negative feelings towards her brother. Taliah thinks that a sister should't be judged for a brother's actions and she respects why Juniper enlisted in Vanguard. She can't imagine losing her sisters and finds herself sympathizing with the Belcourt despite their differences in life.
Since Julian Verner's death, however, things have grown tense and Taliah is even more on her guard as she can sense a shift in the air. Her job is to keep order, but she wonders if it's only a matter of time before that's no longer possible, for any of them.
"Here, you should finish it," Taliah offers the protein bar to Teddy as they wait for her dad and Phoebe to finish talking. "We got a while to go too, so if you gotta take a piss, might as well get it out of the way before we hit the road," she says with a slight smile. It's been a few months together but she's still aware of keeping things lighter where possible. They'd all been through terrible darkness in those facilities, and it's near impossible to escape what that does to a person, even once you're free. "I think we'll probably hit another town this week if we keep going in this direction. Maybe this one will have hot water," said with a wistful look. Cold water washes in a creek certainly wake them up but that doesn't mean it's pleasant. And though she knows that it's unlikely anywhere has hot water, or the energy to expend heating it up, it's nice to think of those things. After all, it's hope for the little things to keep them going. @rviner
Born to Gabriel and Mariana Ramos, Taliah grew up in a loving family and a tight-knit wolf pack. Ever eager to prove herself growing up, she was known to throw herself head first into any dare issued her way or any challenge that looked impossible to overcome. Her childhood was littered with broken bones and bruised limbs as well as an abundance of laughter, her father's encouragement and her mother’s care. Taliah was always trying to prove herself, earnest and hasty, making her a danger to herself but also a great student, keen to learn and master anything she was taught.
Her pack was never one to integrate as much with the outside world, keeping to themselves and their small town for the most part. But whenever her dad would go on trips to other towns, Taliah would beg to tag along. She was impatient to see what else the world had to offer. And though she was definitely her father’s daughter, she admired her mom's heart and wanted to be as caring as she was. Taliah had a big heart, but her mom had purpose.
It’s why when the war broke out, their pack was swayed by Mariana, sharing their resources and security with other wolves in need. Her mom always said that if they could help others, they should. And so they did until everything came crashing down around them on Christmas Day 2020. Their town had been discovered and overnight, humans launched an attack that would see their home and several other werewolf safe haven towns destroyed. Taliah can still remember the scent of Christmas trees burning, the soft shimmer of holiday lights against a backdrop of violence as she and her parents were taken that night.
Tortured for several months, there didn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel until a riot broke out. Hope swiftly turned to horror as she watched her mother being taken from them as her dad came to save her. It was a sight she'd never forget and one she was constantly reminded of when faced daily with the reality that she and her dad were the last two members of their once vibrant pack.
Over the next two years her dad trained her as they both made it their mission to rescue others, knowing it's what Mariana would've wanted. To help those who couldn’t help themselves. Never staying in one place for long, they continued throughout the states, fighting back where they could. When they helped liberate another facility about four months ago, they met Phoebe and Teddy. The two other wolves were on a mission to get to their pack in Canada, and without anywhere else to go, Taliah and Gabe joined their journey, determined to help them get their family.
All of their efforts, all of their focus on helping others has been effective in chasing away the nightmares of the facility, of watching her mother being taken from them. Taliah still carries guilt over the fact that her dad saved her instead of her mom that night. But she strives to make sure that Mariana's sacrifice wasn't made in vain. Despite having to work through the turmoil that comes with loss, the two Ramoses have only grown closer over the years and Taliah considers her dad her mentor and best friend. She's promised herself that she won't let anything happen to him either. She couldn't help her mom, but she can protect her dad.
