Deathbelle fell asleep quickly, there was no resistance to the unnatural sleep as she was lulled into unconsciousness by her daughter’s voice. She woke up soon after, sure that the ceremony hadn’t worked. Lavender gaze blinked open, expecting to find Toxicity across the sigil from her. The girl was not there, and Belle took a long moment to digest her whereabouts, the same sigil was beneath her paws but instead of the shrine’s pale backdrop red overwhelmed her senses.

She was at the highest point in the redwater rocks, the sigil she held so dear at her paws. The sky was dark and stormy, similar to the way it looked after the volcano. Where she lay was lit by one pure stream of sunlight. The air was oddy light and the temperature was comfortable as the Empress searched for the reason she was here in this dreamland.

”Archon?” She called out softly, her voice hesitant and hopeful. Nearly a year had passed since his death and her heart beat nervously in her chest as she yearned to see his face again.

The world illuminated around him as a presence entered his own. Like watercolors, the scenery appeared, blurry at first as the details slowly filled in. It didn't take long to figure out who was approaching. Her spirit filled Archon's heart, overflowing into the void and creating the scenery around them- a scene they both held dear. Her voice carried over the gap and like a wisp of smoke, Archon's physical form came to be before her.

"My love," he echoed, tendrils of ill-defined fur drifting from around his face as he took a silent step closer. "Tell me you are only dreaming."

Like some grand illusion the air seemed to shimmer and swirl like looking into a pool of water. Lavender gaze had to look away when Archon finally materialized before her. The Empress’s heart swelled exponentially and were she in her physical body tears would have poured down her face. Now that he was in front of her again the wound he left in her heart reopened. Like the moment he died Deathbelle felt the horrible pain of his loss.

”Archon,” her voice cracked as she rushed to his side. ”No, I haven’t left the physical realm.” She assured him as she nuzzled her delicate features into the wispy fur of his neck. She hoped it was just her imagination as she breathed in the scent of sulfur and smoke. Emotions overwhelmed her and the unbreakable woman fell apart at Archon’s chest. She had suppressed the emotions for so long that they easily overwhelmed her in the dreamland. ”Archon,” she said again through her soft sobs.

Archon sought to envelop the love of his life, curling his neck around her head as tightly as he could. He placed a kiss on the top of her head. "I am glad- I am so glad," he said in response to her explanation that she was still very much alive. "How are the children? The pack? Are you handling well?" He looked her over and embraced her again and again as if on repeat, torn between how badly he wanted to be close to her and how badly he wanted to see her. "I've missed you immensely, my love."