Raijin had taken a day to refresh himself and get some sleep before checking out more of the Archipelago islands. He was impressed with how vast the territory was and how well the borders were maintained, though he could definitely smell Venom and Hattori the strongest out of the other scents, and rightly so. He was on his way to find the Empress at that moment, having waited until nightfall to seek her out as his cousin had mentioned her nocturnal tendencies. Boy, were they a match made in heaven.

Hattori had filled him in well on their journey from Stone Steppe about the relationship between their related pack and Ashen but he wanted other perspectives. His cousin, as immersed as he had made himself in these lands, was still raised as an outsider. Their Empress had been born here and knew of the relations best, and as a diplomat it was his job (though unofficially at that moment) to know them just as well. So, he caught her scent and was quickly to follow after it, catching sight of her (mighty fine) dark derriere and offering a chuff of greeting to forewarn her of his presence if she hadn’t already sensed him. He stopped, performing his bow as usual before speaking, “Empress, would you allow me some of your time?”

Talking, Talking in Italics means he's speaking Japanese

She was so close to 100 percent healed she could feel it. Her limp was practically gone, and beyond a bit of stiffness she felt good as new. There would be a few more days of stretching and working to rebuild muscle tone, but by all intents and purposes she was good as new. Forever and always going forward she would be sure to keep steady footing. She was stretching her legs now, following a trail along the beach as she spent the evening alone and lost in her own thoughts.

She had much to ponder over, something she hadn’t yet talked to her Shogun about. The tension between herself and her sister, what she should do about her rogue feeling for Azure. The latter being the most intimidating to think about. She was too caught up, and should have noticed the approaching presence but didn’t realize Raijin was there until the sound of his voice reached her dark ears.

The Empress was quick to give him her attention as he came to a halt and bowed respectfully before asking to borrow her time. ”Of course, Raijin.” She smiled sweetly before lowering her hips to the ground and curling her ivory marked tail around her. The ocean breeze was beginning to chill, and Winter was only days away. ”My attention is yours.”

Venom was quick to oblige him, offering a kind smile that he honestly wasn’t used to in a leader. Chīfu Hattori was a cold man on the best of days, a borderline psychopath on the worst and he held his clan in an iron grip so strong it had suffocated more than one wolf. Many followed him not out of respect, but out of fear and the need to belong somewhere. That had been how the man had gotten most of his followers; he picked up the dirty, the lonesome, the outcast and gave them a ‘home’ at the cost of their independence and, in essence, their lives. They lived for him and they died for him once they decided to set their paws across the border, and while the Iga clan was among the strongest in their land, Raijin had never been fond of the tactic. He did believe that a clan needed a firm paw at the helm, especially in their line of work, but there was a difference between being firm and being unnecessarily cruel.

She sat down and Raijin followed, his auds giving a flick. ”Thank you. As I mentioned, I am a trained diplomat and wish to be of use to you. Hattori had mentioned that we have an offshoot pack to the east that we’re affiliated with. I was hoping you would be willing to give me more information on them, as well as more information on the packs that surround us and our relations with them,” he said, quickly cutting to the chase. Raijin and his cousin were as different as night and day, but even night and day met at sunset and there were some similarities between the two in the fact that they usually didn’t beat around the bush.

Talking, Talking in Italics means he's speaking Japanese

Venom learned a lot from her mother, what to do and certainly what she should not do. In Deathbelle’s credit she had raised an entire Empire from nothing and her subjects loved and adored her. The once Empress had gotten that part right, where she failed was allowing her personal desires to creep in to override her duties. Venom didn’t obsess over love, she put her values in strength and loyalty. As long as she held her subjects loyal thoughts she could be satisfied with being disliked.

Raijin made himself comfortable beside her and uttered his questions, he spoke much more descriptively and thoroughly than Hattori. There were many differences in the cousins, but they watched out for the other’s short comings. The soldier was looking for information.

”I believe you speak about Habari. Our relations are much more subtle than a usual alliance, but they rely on Ashen for much more support than the alpha Recluse desires. She is my cousin, and I would like to fully give her leadership of the Klein name.” Venom explained her inner most thoughts carefully to the shinobi. ”If those of the Klein name would have her.” Venom chuckled lightly, most of her family having left a bad taste in her mouth. ”We are most closely allied with the Ashen Armada. Its leader, Sirius, the Warlord, is like a second father to me and I…” She hesitated here. ”Am also close with his sons and heirs. They may treat Ashen lands as their own home as much as we may have access to theirs.” She explained, feeling her own voice droning on.