Venom still wasn’t sure what to think of her new half siblings, in many ways she saw them as inferior to herself and her litter mates. Their father shared the same name as their mother and the lines of the law she had been given as a pup seemed to blur. Abraxas were forbidden to intermarry, yet the Klein side of her actively encouraged the practice. For now she would reserve judgement. Maybe as they grew reality would become more clear. Perhaps they really were cursed.

The young Princess made her way to the Shrine, finding herself drawn to prayer in this time. She closed her purple pink gaze and meditated quietly over the glowing water. Perhaps her father might guide her in the right direction. Venom evened her breathing and settled into a trance like state that would be easily broken by any passerby.

It had been a few days since his promised litter had been born. The male hardly slept due to the amount of work that came with new born pups as well as his own internal struggles. He worried a lot about his children and especially those that had just come into the world. Hannibal was aware that his older kids would have their reservations about their younger siblings just out of their own hatred for him. But, he also silently worried about Deathbelle's first litter. How would they react to their relationship let alone their spawn? Pink pads fell upon the earth carelessly. The albino ghoul found himself in the heart of their territory and didn't find a reason to saunter with silence. He was also rather tired and didn't care to conceal his movement. Yet, as he roamed further towards the shrine, the male found his eyes resting upon the heir of their prized Empire. Venom sat in front of the glowing pool in silence. Hannibal slowed his steps in hesitation, not knowing if he wanted to disturb the yearling. Nevertheless after a few moments the male moved towards Venom and stopped a few tail lengths away to offer greetings. "Princess." That horribly familiar grin stained pink lips as Hannibal dipped his head down in a polite manner before straightening back up. "May I sit?" ""

The sound of paws through the fall’s shed leaves brought Venom’s eyes open. She shifted her features to take in the sight of her uncle’s form making his approach. He looked ragged, but it was not much of a surprise when he had a new mother and pups to take care of. Her mother was mostly holed up in the den with the newborns. All of this was giving the yearling an introspective on parenthood that did not make her eager to make the step herself. Now that she was an adult and thought back more heavily on her father’s sermon’s she realized what was expected of her. She wasn’t sure how she felt about being expected so heavily to reproduce.

She kept the thoughts between herself and her father, though Archon had yet to answer her prayers yet. She knew he would in his own good time. Until then she would struggle through on her own.

Honestly the girl wasn’t very familiar with her uncle, and she was still divided about her true feelings on the union between himself and her mother. As long as the Empress was happy right? ”Hello, Daimyo.” She offered with a similar nod of her head. ”If you wish.” she continued, unable to deny him a place beside her. Her mother loved him and so could she. ”You seem tired.”

Hannibal would never desire to implement himself into Deathbelle's first litter's lives. Going for the role of step-father was something that the male would never do. All in all they were family and she was the heir to the Empire. He would treat Venom and her litter mates as he would if he and Deathbelle weren't mates. He knew some of the kids would have their reservations but he hoped that those opinions would not negatively impact their new offspring. The pups didn't deserve wrath at such a young age. Hannibal would happily take the brunt of the negativity on his back to shield the young ones. As Hannibal was invited to site he happily obliged. The ghoul lowered himself onto his haunches and rolled his shoulders ever so slightly. Eyes poured into the pool before them to watch his rippled reflected. He did look tired, that much was true. But, it was a tired he would take over anything in those moments. A lack of sleep due to his beautiful pups was a blessing in his eyes. "The pups have needs at all hours. But, I have no complaints." He glanced towards the Princess with a raised brow, "Have you had the chance to meet them yet?" ""

Venom was still conflicted about her new siblings along with her mother’s choice of mate to create those siblings. The heir couldn’t forget her father’s teachings, and she had a sneaking suspicion that they would feel the curse he’d talked about. Those of the same name should not reproduce, but even after that she couldn’t deny how much happier her mother seemed with Hannibal.

His words reminded her of her short bout of puppy wrangling with Zee not so very long ago and she realized how small her desire to make children really was. However much she was encouraged from both sides of her lineage. That fact she kept to herself though, didn’t want anyone giving her a hard time about that yet. ”I have.” Maybe a little briefly, but she didn’t want it to turn into her herding them again like it had with Zee. ”They’re beautiful. True Kleins.” She offered as she covered up any negative feelings that might have lingered around them. They were innocent for the most part, doomed to be cursed by their parents actions though. ”Do you think they’ll be able to keep up with their older siblings?” She asked slyly, knowing her superiority for having Abraxas blood in her.

Hannibal never grew up feeling the pressure to reproduce since by the time he was of age there was no denying his wandering eye. It was surprising it took as long as Nephthys for the male to have his first litter but the famine did away with any of his interests prior to Boreas. Yet, his experience with raising children was rocky at best. It was a hard concept to wrangle but now that he was much more settled in life and perhaps those wild days were in the past he was able to focus on being a Father. He hoped that if anything his children would have him as an example of what early parenthood could provide and maybe they would wait until the time was right. The male had faith in his daughters to wait, they hated him enough to do so. One and a half ears listened to the Crown Princess speak. 'True Kleins' made him rumble slightly as a small grin played at his pink lips. They were true Kleins but not nearly as pure as what their ancestors once believed in. Deathbelle was a half-sister. But, there were no true Kleins left anyways. The tradition of marrying pureblood Kleins was distant but not forgotten. Most of the pure bloods, some of which were Hamiclar's aunts and uncles, died with the famine. Yet, his litter was the closest they got to such and he was incredibly proud nontheless. Venom's question made the man look her over for a moment. That devious smirk never leaving his maw. Despite parenthood seemingly making the male a tad softer he was still the slippery snake many knew. "Each Klein is born with the strength to achieve greatness. It is a matter of what they do with said strength." Hannibal's tail flicked gently, "Despite the fact that I was the Crown Prince of the Klein Empire your mother, my younger half-sister, was able to obtain a throne while I could not." No longer did the idea of his failure cause pain. The pride of having such an incredible mate seemed to mend that wound long ago. "Do not underestimate anyone, Princess." If anything the male could provide advice of what not to do. He had faith that Venom would make a fine Empress one day but he couldn't say he would be disappointed if one of his pups managed to find rank all the same. "I do hope you will find time to spend with them as they get older. They are proving to be an energetic bunch and will need their older sister to teach them a lesson or two." He hoped she could help tame Chi and Inc's appetite for attention with some play fighting or what have you. It was good to humble a Prince or Princess at times. ""