He matched his steps to Venom, walking the larger patrol around both territories at her side. It wasn’t often these days that he got Venom to himself, so he enjoyed the chance to catch up with his former apprentice. She was a warrior in her own right now, and a fierce one at that. He had a feeling she would be more of a fighter then his Deathbelle, who had so much more love for everything then Venom did. “Have you spoken to Deathbelle about when you might become Empress?” he asked, genuinely curious, and knowing that it had been on her mind recently. She had said as much when she had lost her spar to him. "Belle" "Seer"

Venom loped along beside Sirius, her gait matching his own despite the differences in their stride. He had less than a half foot on her, but her thin long legged frame couldn’t begin to match the weight the Warlord held. He had one thing right about the young warrior princess, it was that she did not love the world as her mother did. Venom didn’t crave adoration from her subjects, she wanted loyalty, trust, and maybe a hint of fear. What else was her forked tongue good for?

She cocked an ear in his direction as her mentor asked her if she’d spoken to her mother. ”No,” she knew that she should have, but maybe a bit of her self doubt was holding her back. Maybe it was something else. ”I haven’t spoken to her much since..” She sighed heavily as she contemplated her words. ”Hannibal.” She finished as she averted her gaze from Sirius.

Venom spoke of Hannibal, who had been noticeably absent of late. Sirius did now know much about the personal life of Deathbelle anymore. He kept out of her romances, knowing it was not his business to pry. Still, her words sparked a curiosity in him. “Where is he, anyway?” the Warlord asked. It wasn’t the first time Hannibal had gone missing. The first time had been just after the volcanic eruption. He also wondered what Venom thought of the man, had she approved of him as Death’s mate, did she look up to him as a fatherly figure? The thought twinged a little. With Archon gone, he considered Venom to be his even when he had no place to consider it. As they spoke, they made their way along the border, leaving their scent along the edges of it, looking for anything amiss. "Belle" "Seer"

Sirius asked after her uncle turned… well she didn’t much want to think about it. Her father taught her the mingling of blood between the family was detrimental to their cause at the very least. That truth manifested in the younger litter. Inc was nearly silent, Siren was practically useless, maybe she could do something with Chimera if he weren’t so self absorbed. ”Fuck if I know.” She returned in surprise, wondering why Sirius thought that she might know where he went off to.

Of course his scarcity could have been brought on by him being sent off on a mission, but as far as Venom knew, that wasn’t the case. ”It’s not a surprise though.” The man had a habit of disappearing with no trace. Wasn’t that why Banshee and Recluse disowned him? Venom huffed, lightly and shook herself of the thought. She wasn’t as offended by her mother’s choices as her sister, but she couldn’t ignore the mucky feeling that relationship gave her.

Her anger surprised him, and he blinked, and snorted softly in amusement. Her thoughts on the man becoming icely clear with her words. Well Sirius could agree there. It had been Deathbelle hooking up with Hannibal all that time ago that had first turned him to Zee. He loved his Empress, he did, but he would never understand her desire for her brother. It had always sickened him, and he had just about thrashed it out of his own children when he had seen even an inkling of it. “I know Deathbelle just wants to be happy” he commented neutrally, still not willing to verbally bash the man. Now when Deathbelle loved him. He paused when he caught the scent of a rogue at the borders. Twice strong, as through the man had entered, then left again. The Warlord frowned heavily, sticking his nose in the earth to investigate. "Belle" "Seer"

Venom wasn’t angry, but she wanted to get the point across that she couldn’t have cared less where he’d gone off to either. Sirius spouted off something about her mother wanting happiness. The young princess just shrugged, it was her mother’s business how she attained happiness. Through the bedroom was not the way Venom intended to be happy. ”Choosing a poor partner has only made her more miserable.” She mumbled lightly, sensing that Sirius was nearing the end of his chain in terms of his choices of words. He also seemed to have found something. ”What is it?” She prodded lightly, keeping up with him as he investigated the unfamiliar scent. As it assaulted her nose the girl’s hackles and quills raised along her back.

His mouth twitched, a smile attempting to run away from him. He wouldn’t let it form, not when it could seem almost an insult to his Empress - that her love life was a tragedy that found her no happiness was not the amusement, but Venom’s reaction to it. Oh Venom she still had so much of life left to experience, and she was so ready to clutch it in four paws, and let no distraction take her. The scent brought all such distractions to a halt, and the two of them followed the trail further from the pack lands. “Looks like we have an intruder on ours paws.” he growled softly. His path into the pack lands coincided with the border between Ashen and Armada. He had crossed two packs this day, and would have the wrath of both to contend with. “How's your tracking?” he asked the other girl, despite his anger, he would take this as an educational day for Venom. "Belle" "Seer"

At best Venom would learn from her mother’s mistakes but already she was different. Though she was young her love life would likely never be the distraction that held tightly to her mother. She wanted to show off her power, but was realizing that her journey would not be made alone. She was harboring her allies and building their trust, soon she would take up her rightful place. She could feel it.

Thoughts of the future were shoved aside as she realized as Sirius did that they were dealing with an intruder. The Warlord growled his findings darkly as he looked up to where the trail led before asking his question of her. She didn’t feel the anger that he did, but she was eager to make an example of whoever dared to test their border. ”I’m no hunter like you, Sirius.” She told him seriously, despite her upbringing, tracking and hunting were not her strong suits.