Toxicity had an idea. She hadn't felt close to anyone but her mother, but her mother was so busy. She had finally thought of a way to help pay her mother back for all she had done. Tox had consulted Obi, and he agreed that she knew enough now to aid her mother in this process if she chose to do so. Toxicity figured she would see if her mother wished to do the ceremony, but she couldn't see why she wouldn't. In the meantime, she bundled the herbs and crushed them slowly, adding water to make a paste. she let that paste dry in the sun until it became a soft pellet her mother could take to induce sleep. After that, she went to the shrine and carved her parents' sigil large enough in the ground so that her mother could sleep within it. After setting up, Toxicity called out for her mother and waited for her arrival.

There weren’t many occasions when Toxicity called out to her, and not sleeping near to her anymore had put the Empress in a depressive state. She should have been overjoyed with the fresh start and the new lands. She really was, but the last few days had worn on her emotional and physical energy. Spending time with her daughter sounded fantastic. She lamented that the six of them had yet to gather here in Archon’s memory. Pesto’s recent lashing out had her doubting the child would be eager to join them.

For now it was just the two of them. Deathbelle approached quietly but with the hint of a smile on her face. ”Toxicity.” She greeted her warmly as dainty paws brought her to embrace the girl that already challenged her mother’s height. Belle didn’t miss the sigil carved into the earth ”What’s this?”

As her mother came close, Toxicity became a little nervous. What if her mother hated it? What if she didn't believe in God and thought Toxicity was just being a stupid pup? All these thoughts swirled in her head as she waited. Eventually, her mother appeared and Toxicity's eyes sought to meet hers. Her mother greeted her and then asked what all this was. As Deathbelle looked over the sigil, Tox found herself growing sheepish.

"I wanted to- uhm- give you the chance to... ascend and... meet... with Dad." her voice grew quieter as she spoke, her confidence failing her. "Um... if you.... if you want to," she nearly whispered, her eyes lying onto the leaf with the sleeping pellet below.

Deathbelle’s pale brows rose slightly as she didn’t go without noticing Toxicity’s nervousness. The Empress was still caught up in her talk with Pestilence, she hoped Tox wouldn’t also be telling her she wanted to leave Ashen’s borders. Keeping three of her yearlings would be a blessing, but her heart hurt to have to let them go after such a difficult first year of life. When the young girl’s words did come Deathbelle was taken aback. She was quiet for a long moment as her lilac eyes lingered on the sigil that meant so much to her.

”Please, Toxicity.” She said softly as she closed the rest of the distance between herself and her daughter and offered a gentle nuzzle of affection at her dark cheek. She couldn’t have dwelt long on her husband’s death, she had an Empire to run, and the thought of him was still so easy to make her heart feel as though it was breaking. She had to look the part of strong Empress, but sometimes she felt like a doll made of china.

Deathbelle said please, and Toxicity wasn't sure what she meant. Did she want to? Did she want her to stop? Whether she was saying, "please let me do the ceremony," or "please stop," was unclear. Her mother did, however, close the distance between the two of them and Toxicity allowed the closeness. Only for her mother. Maybe Obi if he needed to. She felt that the touch didn't feel all that familiar to her. She felt stony to it- distant. Toxicity wondered why that was, but didn't have time to dwell on it long. She held her mother's affections for a moment, then pulled away enough to speak.

"Do you still love Dad?" Her eyes locked to the sigil. It wasn't hidden that she spent time with others- many scents had faded on and off of her coat in the passing seasons. Right now she smelled like Hannibal, which Toxicity understood to be their uncle. She tried to hold the emotion from her voice, rather having it come out in a flat and dissociated manner, "Has his godhood in you weakened in his absence or has it become stronger?"

Toxicity pulled herself fully away from her mother, gesturing to the pills she had made as if she hadn't just asked her mother questions.

"If you wish to do so, I have made these pellets of ground herbs. They will help to lull you into a state suitable for temporary ascension. If you lay with your paws touching the sigil, I can handle it from there and you will come face to face with him again."

Besides Venom, who seemed to choose to spend the most time with her, Deathbelle had felt the closest to Toxicity of the children. After bonding over their shared nightmares and sleeping close so they would dissipate, her heart beat alongside her daughter’s. As she touched her now though, she couldn’t miss the stiff feeling of Tox’s body. For a moment she feared again that she was losing her too.

Their eyes met as Tox pulled away to seek her gaze. Her forest green gaze reflected Archon perfectly, whenever she looked deep within it she could feel his hulking presence beside her again. ”Yes,” her voice did not hide her emotions. She was honest and still felt his absence, but not as painfully as she once did. ”I wonder a lot how things would be different, if he had remained with us.” Belle’s godhood was assured with her own power, and though she felt Archon awakened it within her she was the source. She wasn’t sure how to answer Tox before the girl went on to offer the tablet.

Tears welled up in her eyes as her brief but true time with the man flashed through her mind. So much happened since his death, she’d attempted to bury and hide her grief but had only made the wound worse. She could still feel the weak seams where she had only just repaired her broken heart. ”I wish to.” Deathbelle returned softly as she positioned herself at the sigil as instructed. ”I need to see his face again.” The tears streamed down her face now, unshed sorrow returning easily as she embraced the memory of her husband.

Toxicity accepted her mother's answers wordlessly. She wanted to know- she needed to know, but for the purpose of the ritual, she simply needed to assure her mother's mind was only on Archon. They needed to connect heart to heart to allow Deathbelle to join him. As her mother positioned herself, Toxicity brought her a sleeping tablet on a leaf, placing it atop her paws. Then Toxicity went to the other end of the circle, facing her mother. "I will watch over you while you are away from your body, so do not worry." It felt like the right thing to say, but Toxicity knew physically she was still a pup. Obi lingered close by, however, and she had faith in his capability to deter any wolves from coming close. this was safe pack land now, after all.

Toxicity took a sharp stone and drug it against the back of her left forepaw, drawing blood to the surface. Slowly, it ran over her paw and into the rivet of the carved sigil. "Now listen to my voice carefully. Follow its sound as it rises to the heavens and you will find yourself ascending too." Toxicity kept her eyes even and waited for her mother to take the tablet. When she did, Toxicity would begin the speech in the language of the gods. Though she couldn't translate it yet, she had practiced under Obi to get the fluctuations and pronunciations right. With this, her mother would soon- although temporarily- ascend to her place beside Archon.

There were no more words now on Archon, only the ceremony to go. Deathbelle’s mind was fully on her late husband and on the hole he’d left behind in her heart. The constant ache that had filled her chest day and night as she struggled to sleep and continue on. The wound was fresh as the day the volcano erupted in that moment as the visions returned to her minds eye. Those last few seconds of Archon’s life and the way her heart had been ripped out…

She focused on Toxicity’s voice as she placed the tablets on her paws and took her own place. She vowed to watch over her mother as the experience took her. Belle nodded as she swallowed the tablets and nodded at Tox’s words. Concerned about the blood she had to sacrifice in order to attain the lofty goal. She stilled her mind and listened carefully to her daughter’s voice. Deathbelle was swiftly brought to sleep and whisked to the heavens above.