Deathbelle called to her vessel as the sun dipped below the horizon, and stars became their only source of light. The bluish color made its way down into the ravine, and he walked beneath it as he made his way to his Imperial Majesty. He stopped before her form, offering her a smile, as he dipped his head in an elegant bow. He wasn’t certain where they stood in their emotions at the moment, but he knew that he would always hold absolute loyalty to her. “Deathbelle, you summoned me?” he asked her gently as she rose, surprised to find himself using her name instead of her title. He found himself in lighter spirits, through he couldn’t quite fathom why, he still did not have Deathbelle as his own, nor could he imagine it as a reality. He hopped up on the rock so that he was beside her, prepared to follow her wishes to the best of his ability. "Speech"

The night was just beginning, and she would finally make plans to rid Ashen of its leopard problem. There was a large tom that took up residence in the lake territory before Ashen made its claim here. He hadn’t been quick to heed his eviction notice so Belle decided his life was forfeit. She called Sirius to her side, but quickly appeared and she stood and smiled as he greeted her by name. The Empress felt her ears warm as her name fell from her lips, and more so the Klein would welcome high spirits.

She resisted the urge to offer him affections in greeting, knowing it would make all of their efforts more difficult than they needed to be. However, Belle gave Seer a bright smile, one that was reserved for him. ”Seer.” Her voice was equally as pleased as he found her side. ”Are you keen on leopard hunting tonight?” She wasn't so far along in her pregnancy that she couldn’t help her vessel in this endeavor, and even felt herself looking forward to it. Working in such high stakes conditions would only work to bring her and the mammoth Samurai closer.

Her bright smile warmed him greater then any sun could achieve, and her nickname for him fell from her lips past her content expression. It was times like these that embracing her was more difficult, it was difficult to forget why when he had no reason for sadness. “Leopard hunting sounds like the perfect way to spend my evening” he agreed pleasantly. He had heard of the cat that refused to leave the pack's territory, and was in agreement that it was prudent to remove the creature. Not to mention how the fur was going to be used to make a beautiful coat for their Imperial Majesty. He and Zee had finished collecting feathers, so he could take all their resources to the crafter once they were done here, and hopefully they would have all sorts of comforts to return to the woman who rightfully ruled them. The warrior stood high at her side, intent to embrace the new responsibilities she had given him, and to fight at her side as he had not in so long. Of course, he couldn’t help his overprotective streak, especially with her pregnancy, but he knew better than to smother her. "Speech"

There was much unsaid between them, but they behaved themselves and both kept their distance as Sirius agreed to her leopard hunt. She nearly purred she was so happy. Too much time had passed since they last fought together. Her mind was drawn back to the ambush they’d attempted to fight off. Where she was forced to leave Seer presumed dead. She thanked any divines that would listen for returning him to her. He seemed so stand a little taller, he boasted more pride. He was everything she wanted. He was her perfect Samurai.

”Alright Samurai.” She challenged, alabaster tail lashing behind her. ”Show me you have what it takes to be Daimyo. What’s your plan of attack?” He would have to consider their numbers and her condition. He would need to take the brunt of the heavy lifting in this fight. She knew where the cat denned, and if they hurried could catch him before he went on his nightly hunt.

She wished to challenge him, did she? His eyes alighted upon her, a spark of interest in his eyes as she consulted him on the best approach. He mentioned the rank of Daimyo again, and well he was still coming to terms with the idea of being Samurai, she had sparked an ambition inside of him that had never been there before. She came at him with the tactic that he could be more, rise to more, through his own merits. Alright then he thought, and grinned at his Empress. The dismissed one, then two ideas from his mind, and settled on one that he at first rebelled against, and then considered for a second time. With a Leopards climbing ability, and the way it spent time in the trees, they would need to entice it from its branches, and then keep it from returning there. “We need bait.” he said, eyeing Deathbelle, a crooked smile on his lips. Would she offer? No matter her words, he would presume to suggest it himself. “To drive him from his tree, and then someone to stand between him and his tree, to keep him grounded. The bait would only need to draw him forth, before the blockage got his attention, and the bait can get in the first bite…” he laid out the bones of his plan, letting her see it for herself without spelling it out to her. He wanted to see if she agreed with the potentially dangerous plan. Did she trust him enough? He would die before he let anything happen to her, and knew he could charge like a bull if there was even a hint that she was in danger. "Speech"

She watched the gears turn and change as he thought about what she said, about what plan he might take. Her ears perked when finally the words left his eager lips. Bait. Light brows furrowed as she saw instantly where he was going. She allowed him to continue, noting that he didn’t quite come out and say what or who would play this part. ”Are you suggesting your Empress should be used as bait?” Belle questioned him harshly. He really was doing his best to impress her. Or test her trust in him.

”If this is the path you wish to take, so be it.” She muttered confidently, her eyes never leaving his as he dared her to take this chance on him and his plan. She took a deep breath, allowed herself one more glance at her beloved servant and turned to go take her place as bait. This was one of the larger trees in the territory, it would make one of her wolves a good den. She stood unabashed before it, her eyes searching for the leopard, but being unable to catch sight of him. She knew he was there, she could feel his eyes on her.

Slowly Belle backed away from the tree, ready for the cat to spring upon her at any moment. She tried to remain calm, and nonchalant. Her hackles remained smoothed however fast her heart was beating.

He couldn't help parting his fangs in a grin as he kept hi eyes onto Deathbelle, she got it alright, and brows furrowed to him. Her voice was a bit harsh, but he didn’t panic, just raised a brow of his own. “Oh no, of course not, Imperial Majesty, but if your offering… ” he said with a sly smile. This was more like the banter they had played back and forth as a kid’s, and a side had shown less since returning to her from his near-death experience. Deathbelle didn’t want to spend anymore time on chit chat, and moved forward, and he pushed off the ground to keep to her side. As they approached the tree, he left her to go on alone, and scouted quietly around, putting himself into the shadows of the night. He had let Deathbelle get a little closer first, to ensure the leopards eyes where upon her. He was caught for a moment in how she looked, calm and unafraid as she played the part of bait beneath the tree, slowly stepping away from his sleeping place, inviting him in for a snack. Sirius crept closer to the tree, and watched, and waited. He saw the movement of the branch bending beneath the weight of the creature, saw the flicker of color that blended to the leaves, and then it was pouncing. Sirius roared a deep, bellowing cry that started the leopard mid-jump and its hackled rose, and it twisted in the air and landed on the ground between them. It’s strike on Deathbelle falling utterly short as it looked to the titan of a wolf. Sirius smiled, slow, and cruel at the shorter beast. He held its attention with that grin, keeping it off balance so Deathbelle could sneak up behind him. He knew his Empress would want the first taste of its blood. "Speech"

Even she jumped at the sudden noise that boomed from the shadows. She had finally seen the leopard, its bright yellow eyes met her magenta gaze. She saw death linger there, he had every intention of killing her. And then Sirius was there. The cat had to switch his attention, Seer was not a wolf to be ignored. She could be though, and with a quick few stealthy steps she grabbed and pulled on the cats tail.

She hoped Sirius realized what she was doing. This would be a quick kill if he could get his jaws to the leopard’s throat. A quick kill and it wouldn’t harm the cape she wished to make of him. She dashed away as the cat turned towards her, angry at having its tail pulled, not realizing how open it left itself to Seer’s attack. ”Try not to mar the pelt!” She called out as she let the tail loose and swung back around to where her Guard stood.

The titan grabbed, and kept, the attention of the wolf, and it raised its hackles and watched him with guarded eyes. It wanted back to its tree, but he stood in its way. He was curious to see if the creature would attack him to get free, but he never got the chance to find out. Deathbelle grabbed hold of its tail, and the cat turned towards her. Sirius prepared himself to leap, and hurt the words Deathbelle shouted to him. Ever obedient to the wishes of his liege, he subtly changes his trajectory, and pounced at the cat. He drove it into the dirt with the weight of his body, and dug one long, elongated fang into its throat. Puncturing the skin and the artery, he heald the best still with his body, ignoring its bucking, flailing, death throes. He let its life blood wet the floor before him, until it last it shuddered and fell still. That had to be the cleanest kill he had ever managed, other then a bit of blood that soaked the front of its coat; that they could wash out, it had nothing but a small puncture wound on its neck, and nothing else to mar the coat. Pleased with himself, he untangled his limbs from the beast and stepped back. He licked blood from his fang, and turned his attention to Deathbelle. He looked her over with a critical eye, and was pleased to note she had sustained no injuries from the beast. This really was the cleanest predatory kill he had ever managed. "Speech"