His little Kea companion had found Deathbelle. She had followed the Empress’s bird, back to the island she was living on. Her report had told her how the Empress was slumming it without any of her usual comforts. So, he had wrapped up a pillow, some soaps, a coat, a water canteen, swiped some of Io’s best alcohol, and taken a bunch of the dried meat from storage. Everything but the coat was wrapped in an oiled back and slung over his shoulder. The coat was too big to fit, so that he tied up around his head and shoulders as best he could. He wanted to try and keep it as dry as possible for the upcoming swim.

Thus prepared, the young man had left Armada, travelled to the mangroves, and swum to the island. Once he was on the shore, he raised his head and howled to the Empress. Determined not to be turned away.

Deathbelle had been here on the island longer than she thought, the days and hours spent with Lament didn’t seem so long. He made her smile, her made her forget everything. Everything didn’t like being forgottten though, despite her sudden beach vacation Deathbelle wouldn’t be left alone. Lament had left her alone and the Empress woke from her nap deprived of his arms as the sound of Mort’s voice reached out over the island.

She sighed heavily as she lifted herself from the small den that she shared with Lament and made her way to the shore. This was likely the most disheveled Mortis would have ever seen her. Though she enjoyed a bath from the springs with Lament she wasn’t groomed near as nicely as she had been by Seven. Her fur was messy not only from her nap but of her morning with the fire marked man.

He was a constant reminder in the way she walked, her soreness apparent in her gait. ”Mort, what are you doing out here?” She asked him worriedly. Venom had been notified, surely she’d told anyone who needed to know that their Empress was fine, and just enjoying a weekend getaway.

It wasn’t long before Death appeared. He put down his bag, and gently placed the coat on top, and then ran into Death’s arms. He hugged the woman, forgetting for a moment that he was taller, and awkwardly repositioning himself to suit his superior height.

“I was worried” he explained. “Saph said it didn’t look like you had much, so I brought you some things” he pointed to his Kea companion, so there would be no confusion with the name. He then stepped back a bit, giving her some space, and grabbing the bags. “I didn’t know what you needed, so I brought some food, and water, and soaps, and wine and stuff” he explained, showing her the contents of his bag.

Mortis raced to her and enveloped her into a bear hug, she hadn’t begun to expect him to visit let alone act like he hadn’t seen her in a month. Still, his love was heartwarming and she hugged him back. She sighed as he finally sat back and explained himself, her royal features shaking as she shook her head back and forth. He was such a sweet boy trying to take care of her like this. Maybe she had indulged too heavily in Lament, she’d forgotten how primitive they were living compared to the palace back home. With his gift she could certainly linger here quite a bit longer than she had intended…

”Mortis, thank you so much.” She grinned brightly at him as she smashed down any memory of his father the boy might raise. ”That was very considerate, I appreciate it.” She told him as she gathered up the bag. ”You came by yourself? Your father didn’t send you?” What worried her was staying away for so long and returning to a situation that was irreparable. How was Sirius going to forgive her? Deathbelle hadn’t even thought of Zee yet, the one she really needed to be worried about.

His tail wagged gently as she picked up the bag, and the belongings he could think to bring for her. He longed to pester her with questions, to enquiry exactly why she was here, and what was going on. He was considerate enough to leave well enough alone, however. That she was out here away from her comfort seemed pretty telling to him. He didn’t want to make anything harder for her.

“Uhhh.. he didn’t exactly say I couldn’t come.” He said, pointing out the greatest loophole of all in the rules of adults. His dad didn’t say he could come, but he hadn’t said no, either.

Lament seemed to make it so that Deathbelle didn’t realize how much she was missing from home. The feeling of just needing him was foreign but also exciting, if not slight uncomfortable at times. She was pretty sure that she hadn’t gone this long without a bath since the famine. Perhaps she’d have Lament help her scrub the hard to get places later… The Empress tried not to blush at the thought here before young Mortis. His sweet and innocent face did much to give her hope. The woman knew she would have to make her return to the real world. To face Sirius again…

She felt a relief as he admitted that Seer didn’t send him and that likely he didn’t even realize where the boy had gone off to. ”Good,” he seemed kind of nervous that she might chastize him for coming without the man’s knowledge. She definitely preferred it. Deathbelle glanced at him curiously for a moment, wondering if she should let these words from her lips. ”Does he know I’m here?” If Mortis could find her likely Sirius could have found her if he tried hard enough. Not that she would have answered his call.

His grin returned in full force, and his tail gave an easy few tugs behind him at her word. She didn’t seem inclined to tell him for coming, and potentially breaking his father's rules. Well, he hadn’t, but it might have been a rule if Sirius had thought to tell him before he had made his way here.

Mortis scrunched up his nose and considered Deathbelles words for a moment. “Honestly Auntie, i’m not sure. Saph intercepted your bird delivering a message and followed it here. So if Sirius knows, maybe he found another way, maybe not. He’s been in a bit of a funk since you left. What… what happened?” he didn’t expect Deathbelle to tell him, but he couldn’t help but ask.

Mortis was a yearling now and that granted him many more freedoms than his younger self had. Hopefully Sirius didn’t find his location too interesting that he’d be question or come after. Deathbelle still felt far from ready to look at the boy’s father again, sitting here with his spitting image was hard enough. Mortis told her that he didn’t know and the Empress turned her features towards the vast ocean, her attention still on him as he went to question the events leading her here.

Deathbelle sighed softly and reclined on her haunches as lavender eyes returned to Mortis and his innocent features. She had to look up, just like with his dad. ”Before your father and mother got together I was in love with Sirius.” Deathbelle couldn’t lie, she still was and that feeling would never go away. ”I’m not sure why it was so easy to fall back into old habits when he visited the other day.” She didn’t know how much he could understand but spoke anyway. ”But I kissed him.” Belle admitted softly as she dropped her gaze from his piercing blue eyes.