He was warned of falling victim to the ravine that lay hidden between the forest that the pack boosted. He eyed the area critically, considering how much time would be added to a journey to go around it. In times of distress in the pack, he held no hope of leaping across its gaping edges. He explored the area above first, scoping out the landscape, surprised at the lush greenery found so close to the edge of the desert. It was a good choice in that regard, with prey to be found both beneath and above the territory. The lake was a reliable source of water, with lazy fish seen from the waters edge. He did not know how to fish, but he strove to learn as soon as he found a capable teacher. Once he had finished this exploration, he found a path into the ravine, and made his way downwards. He was yet to decide on a location for his den, and well he knew in his heart it would be as close to Deathbelle as she allowed, he entertained the idea of building one inside the rocky walls of the ravine. "Speech"

She decided to make her den here in the ravine, after a bit of thought its location was obviously superior. With her pups on the way they would need a sage place from their enemies. At the bottom of the ravine there was no danger of falling in either. The Empress had what furs the Empire had amassed brought to her, however sparce they were their covering of the floor of her den was welcome. While she should have had one of her seevants arrange it all the need to flesh out her own den was strong.

The Klein Empress removed herself from the comfortable den. She was still becoming accustomed with the idea of her pups slowly developing within her. There were only a few that she had given the knowledge, and today she knew she needed to make mention to her faithful servant Seer. Belle wasnt sure how he was going to react, she hoped he would take their safety and well being as seriously as he took her own.

Deep down she wished they were made with Sirius instead of Archon, but she knew that could never be. These pups would be born of duty and superiority, instead of love and the devotion Seer gave her. She shook the thought from her head as she lay her tired body on the sun warmed stones that bordered the stream. Her belly still didnt show the contents within unless you knew what to look for.

She sighed conentedly as she sprawled luxuriously on the dark stone.

He moved further into the ravine, his steps heavy as he moved along the edge of the stream, that had appeared at the bottom. It's slow burble across the land was a comforting sound, it soothed his heart after memories of famine and drought. Deathbelle had done well for them here, with multiple sources of food and water. Likely the past had driven her to pick this land, to ensure the future of her people, and comfort them after what they had been through.

He looked up from the waters edge after a moment of carefully picking his way across from it, and looked up to see her sitting there. She sprawled regelly across a stone, her dark shape an outline on its form, and he found his gaze moving her face. A warm smile appeared on the titans lips at seeing her. So, she had built her den here had she? It seems they had both been drawn to the same place.

He hopped up on the rock beside her, careful not to touch as he sat, his form towering above her prone one. His manner protective, and unobtrusive. It was day, so he understood why she was napping, and well it had been good to explore the terratory, being beside her was like coming home.
Unless she spoke to him, he was happy to fade into the woodwork, silent, protective in the presence of greatness.

The sun dapples down on her obsidian and alabaster pelt, magenta gaze closed as she soaked up the Autumn sun and drifted in and out of wakefulness. The sound of paw steps cause her eyes to slip open, but they soon resumed their place as she took in Seer’s massive fanged form. She snuggled comfortably back into the rock as he settled beside her quietly. He was always exactly what she needed. Well, almost. He’d refused to love her.

Belle often had to put the thought from her mind with his return. She’d thought him dead, she’d though him gone forever. Especially now she wished he’d allow her to call him her own. If she commanded he would yield to her, but that wasn’t what she wanted.

”Hello, Seer.” She rumbled pleasantly as she rolled over to gaze at him, head still laying on the rock as she did so. ”I have news.” Belle offered with a smile as she wondered, not for the first time, what her servant might think of her coming litter. She felt herself grow more excited with each day despite the discomfort that plagued her as well.

He always felt at home when he was near her, he had known for a long time now that at her side was where he belonged. There was a discomfort of course, how could there not be, when the two held feelings for each other that was inappropriate for their individual class. He had to hold himself apart, keep the devotion he felt for her platonic. He would keep her safe, even from himself.

"Your imperial majesty" he said politely as she addressed him by her chosen nickname for him. He was enjoying her new, lofty title even more then he had of 'Princess'and was using it frequency. It also helped to highlight the deep ravine of differences between them, and his place as her slave. He used her title like a shield between them, to remind her of who he was. Of course, it was very likely she had moved on at this point, she had presumed him dead for seasons. Perhaps that was a good thing. He tried not to feel the ache in his heart at the thought.

"Then I would gladly hear it, Empress" he replied, shifting himself down on his rock so he did not tower above her. His light blue eyes blinked at her from beneath the darkness of his coat, and the white scar-markings that streaked across his eye glowed in the sunlight. His eyes where only for her, and the way the sun danced upon the darks and lights in her coat, and settled pleasantly upon the amethyst of her eyes. For the moment at least, she had attention only for him.

Much happened in the time between when she was forced to leave Sirius on the battlefield and the moments leading up to their reunion. She hated to think how things might have been different if she’d even had the slightest thought that he was still alive. Not that she was given much chance to make sure. Her own life had been in danger and she’d been ushered onward so she might survive the ambush. Internally she shook the thought, she could never know what could have been.

His response was polite and he had changed the title he’d once called her. She almost missed him calling her princess, this one was longer and much more formal. However she couldn’t chastise him for being proper no matter how much she wished to. A nervousness welled up in her stomach as she peered into his infinite blue eyes. She took in a breath, ready to rip off the bandaid. ”I’m pregnant, Sirius.” Belle couldn’t help her lips curling up, she hadn’t expected to get so excited for this pregnancy. It had been planned out of duty, but as they became more real with every day she was more eager to meet them. Even though she didn’t know his reaction she couldn't help but smile when speaking of them.

He let himself gaze at her, seeing her for all of her entirety. He knew her heart, who she had been as a child, and who she had become in adulthood. They had shared many moments together, for he was so often at her side. For much of it he was a silent companion, at her side, a step behind her, submissive and protective of the one he had been given to. He had seen much of her the day she had asked him to be more, in a quiet moment of the old Empire, and he had wanted nothing more then to give himself to her. His loyalty and servitate was too ingrained, and well he wished to give her everything she desired.. This.. this he could not. He ached to press his nose in the softness of her coat, something he had done so rarely, for their companionship had not been one that allowed such close touch. As he gazed at her so closely, he would see the trepidation in her gaze, and found himself frowning. What could she possibly tell him that would make her nervous? His stomach roiled, and he contemplated, for all of a moment, she she might ask him once more to be his. After all, neither of them had to bow to the whims of her parents any more, she was Empress here. Would he be able to keep up the walls if she asked him, here and now. “--pregnant, Sirius” the last of her words broke his thoughts, and he blinked at her, startled, mute. He had lost his tongue, he could not remember how one used their mouths to speak. If anything could have been the polar opposite to his thoughts, it was this. Her lips curled up into a smile as she finished her words, and his lips parted. He wished to bare his teeth and growl, but he did not dare make such a gesture in her presence. She had chosen another, and well he had expected it, encouraged it, he wasn’t entirely certain how he was going to come to grips with it. He breathed softly through his mouth. “Th-then I vow to protect and serve them, as I do you, with love and honour” he whispered, void devoid of emotion. "Speech"

He was stunned into silence. Belle didn’t know what to expect, but she couldn’t help but imagine it couldn’t be easy news for him to hear. If he had sired a litter of puppies how might she have felt about such news? She hadn’t known Sirius was alive when she made her deal, other than their pact of puppies Belle felt nothing for the Abraxas lord. He was strong, intelligent, and she wanted to believe him a demi-god so that her own offspring might be god touched as well. Just in case the deity was real. Her first choice had been dead, though she would have given near everything for them to have been Seer’s, that ship had sailed a long time ago.

Her loyal servant gave her a hint of a smile as he seemed to recover from his shock. He was good at hiding his emotions, but Belle had known him for a very long time. The news hurt him, no matter how much he wished to hide it. His breath was soft as he took control of his tongue. Though his words spoke of love, the emotion was vacant from his voice. Her gaze grew soft as she gazed upon him, only guessing at the turmoil within.

”I would have waited for you, Seer.” Her voice was barely audible as she resisted need to find physical comfort in her old friend. ”You were dead. The Klein name.. must live on.” She didn’t know if she was convincing Sirius of her decision or herself. There was no regret, Archon was the only one worthy of the title. Sirius had denied his claim a long time ago. The deed was done out of duty to her bloodline and the position she had grasped. Not out of love like she felt for Seer. ”I don’t love him, I’ll never love anyone like I’ve loved you.” Her gaze was lowered to the stone beneath her now, unable to face her quiet guardian.

”If you need time, you are released from my presence.” She looked back up to him, ready to see his silent rage. He had never so much as shown a fang against her (and they were very much not covered by his lips), she knew he wouldn’t start now but she felt like she deserved it. This was not how the Empress was supposed to feel.

The soldier rose to his feet, lifting his gaze from Deathbelle for a moment to settle somewhere behind her. He knew this would happen, knew it from the moment he had told her that he was unworthy, that loving her would ruin her reputation. He had told Bee that the only way he would be with her, was if she ordered him, directly, and unmistakably a command. Being her guard and Vessel was all he knew how to do, how his fate would be twisted and strange if he and her wherever to become more. The Klein where still his masters, he was a slave to the entire family, even if he had been given to Deathbelle as a companion. If they were to be.. More, it would not be as equals. It would tarnish her reputation, and he could see nothing but misery and death in that future. He looked back at Deathbelle, hurting, as she told him how she would have waited for him. He was dead, and she had been forced to move on. He should have been grateful, this was better for her, after all. All he felt was heavily, like gravity was pulling him down. He wanted to succumb to it, to sink to the earth, but he allowed no weakness in himself. He stood strong instead, eyes guarded as she told him that she did not love the father of her children, only him. Only Sirius, son of none. She had shifted her gaze from him this time, looking to the stone beneath their feet, as through she was ashamed of what she admitted. He took a step closer, paused, and then lowered his upper half as he knelt down beside her, like a knight swearing fealty to their queen. “You are the Empress of the Ashen Empire, in you now is the legacy of your family and all the greatness they have achieved over generations” he said, head still bowed before her, humble and obedient. “You have some of the strength they left you, in experience, and blood, of your family members who flock to you now, but your grip of power on this new world is tenuous and new. Would your family still followed you if you stood with one they considered a slave, that they had happily commanded and abused all their lives. Would they respect you, or see it as a weakness in the Empress?” he said softly. “I serve you best at your side, as a silent threat of death to any who disobey you. I am yours to command, always and truly. My body, heart and soul belong to you, and follow your commands like an extension of your own body. I will Always love you, Deathbelle Ravage Klein, more than I have loved another soul, but I will not risk what you are building, not unless you command me, order me, to be yours, and then I will a slave of a different sort, but not your equal, Bee, never your equal.” he whispered, heart aching. His body still held in the submissive, kneeling stance before her. "Speech"

Deep magenta eyes found his form again as he lowered himself to the ground before her, like he had when he pledged to her all that time ago. His words were soft, but they cut her deep with the truth. She didn’t want to believe it, her own mother had started out as little more than a passing fancy of her father. She didn’t want to remind herself that she had chosen Archon for that reason. For his superior blood and those traits he would pass on to their children. Belle felt herself loose control of her emotions again. Tears welled up in her eyes as he told her one more time that they could never be together.

She felt a pain crawl under her skin and her vision blur as she swallowed back the lump that had formed in her throat. She remained there for a few moments as Seer went silent. His words making their point, and breaking her heart again. She couldn’t walk away from him this time though. As he stood stoically before her Deathbelled felt herself lean forward to place her forehead against his. Tears fell from her cheeks as she squeezed her eyes closer and grit her teeth. Belle couldn’t describe how much it hurt not to be able to hold him tightly to herself.

She was the Empress, she should have been able to do whatever you want. Knowing when you could and shouldn’t was what she would cling to. Ashen did not need their Empress lowering herself to be with a slave. She hated the very thought of it, hated that her love could never be fully expressed unless she wished for the fall of her newly risen Kingdom. She sobbed softly, trying to rid herself of the pain, but knowing it would linger long after her tears dried. There was nothing more to be said, they were forced into their respective roles and it would never change.

He hated to say it outload, to bare to her all the truths of his heart, of how he loved her, but truly believed that to give into it would be to sabotage her. He hated himself, because he knew it hurt her. That thought in and of itself was almost enough for him to cast aside his doubts, and kneel before her, and ask her to honour one who would never deserve it. He turned his eyes away, lowering them, as he embraced his unworthiness, the truth of who he was and what he had been raised to. As he crouched there, eyes cast to the darkness, she would lean forward. He would feel the softness of her coat as it pushed against him, and feel an ache in his heart and in his body. There was no wolf in the world that compared to the beauty of his Empress. She was otherworldly. If ever there was a time that he believed in gods, it would be here and now, with Deathbelle before him. A wolf destined for utter greatness. If any could rise as a deity to this world, it was she. He pushed gently against her forehead instead of spurning her touch, leaning into it, closing his eyes, and letting a soft sigh escape him. “I love you, Bee” he whispered softly, that weakness still inside of him. “My loyalty to you is absolute, I would kill, die, and live by the honour of being your vessel.” he continued in a soft, quiet tone. As through a lowered voice might not carry across his pain. She sobbed, and his fangs parted in a grimace. He did this, he caused her this pain. He wished he could rend his flesh, in the way he felt his heart was tearing asunder. “Please, please don’t shed tears for me.” he begged. "Speech"

No words he spoke were not truth, and every single one of them stung. An Empress should not be told what she could and could not do, but he was correct. Many of her family would look down on and potentially spurn her should she take up Sirius as her husband, though she craved to do so. She knew this moment would be the closest she was ever allowed to be with him. For both of their sakes. Tears continued to fall from her eyes as he spoke, using such an informal name she nearly broke their touch.

Her heart broke again as he confessed his love, and she clenched her teeth harder as pain raced over her body like fire. ”I love you, Seer.” She choked with sorrow as he begged her not to cry for him. ”I cry for us” Deathbelle chanced only a bit closer contact, trailing her nose along his muzzle as she prayed for the moment to last just a bit longer. ”For a life we should be able to have.” Was she selfish to want so much as to choose the one who truly held her heart in his paws? The one who was raised from the dead to return to her side with more loyalty than any other. She cursed her heart for wanting the only wolf she could never have.

She wouldn’t stop crying, and the emotionless Titan couldn’t help that his own eyes where liquid, through no tears fell from his blues. He wanted to hold her close, and whisper sweet words of love in her ear. She had always been near him, always encouraged him, and her orders to him had always been gentle. She had never tried to break him, or give him more than he could take - except for this. “Oh Bee”[ /b] he whispered at her words, shivering at her touch as her cool, soft nose trailed across his muzzle. He closes his eyes, and trembled slightly, overtaken with emotion. [b] “We shouldn’t be doing this” he whispered, indicating with his words, their closeness, their confessions. He feared that he would not be able to stop himself if she kept it up much longer. It was agony to hold himself still, to not respond to her touch. When he opened his eyes again, they fixed on her, wide eyed, and mildly panicked. He reached forward as through to kiss her cheek, but his muzzle fell short, before hanging in the air before him in defeat. He wanted her, he wanted nothing but her, as he always had. It would be so much easier if she did not share these feelings for him. "Speech"