Toxicity had let a few days pass as the kids tried to form their sigils. This gave them a physical connection to their godlihood, and now it was time to learn where everyone else stood in their lives. It was another important lesson for them to learn so they could navigate the world around them. The earlier they learned these lessons the better, especially with so many mortals in the pack. Todays lesson would take place within the bamboo building Tox and Obi had crafted. The side rooms had been closed off, but the larger, middle room had cleaned furs laid out with a small bowl of water and a few pieces of jerky for each pup to keep them occupied while she spoke. A warm fire burned in the center and herbs had been placed in to perfume the air. The smoke escaped through a small vented hole in the top of the building, keeping the room warm and scented, but not hot nor smoky. With the preparations completed, Toxicity called for all the Ashen pups, and any other Abraxas if they wished to attend. ""

Due 05/23! All pups required to attend!

Iki still didn't know how to feel about the Abraxas religion. She felt no connection to the sigil that she'd created during the last gathering. Maybe she just needed to be older to understand? Or maybe she needed to learn more about all of it. It entered the girl's mind to ask her aunt Toxicity for some one-on-one lessons, but she didn't want to be a bother. Time was valuable and Iki was sure that her aunt had better things to do than go over things yet again with her niece. When the call came, summoning all of the pups to the shrine, Iki wasted no time, as usual. She set aside her ink and brush, cleaned her delicate paws, and moved at a brisk pace to arrive in a prompt manner. The silver eyed princess was the first to arrive. She dipped her crown gracefully as she greeted her aunt. "Oba sama," she spoke softly, but clearly before selecting a place to seat herself. Iki curled her long tail around her hip and it draped over her paws. She was ready to learn. "Okiku Ikigai"

For the most part Kuroki was fine with playing along, turning up to sermons and pretending to listen. He didn't mind them that much at first, new things were always fun and exciting to the little pup, but now that he'd grown some and seen some darker corners of the world he couldn't say he was all that interested. Brief flickers of his incoming rebellious phase shone in his eyes as he made his way to the Shrine, wondering whether he ought to just skip this part and so something all together different. Worthy of his time. But he supposed he didn't hate his aunt, he saw a lot of his Father's colder, more aloof mannerisms in her and idly wondered if that's why they didn't get along much. That it was like looking into a mirror.

Noticing Iki already on the scene, Kuroki let out a laid back chuff in greeting. She was all pretty and proper as usual, and was already well into losing the tubby pup fat that used to cling to all of their forms. She was elegant and graceful, and somehow even made sitting look statuesque. Kuroki on the other paw flopped down beside her, his gangly limbs folding as his oversized paws splaying out on the flooring. His dark gaze roamed around the temple for a second as the scent of bamboo filled his nose, his aunt kept things neat and tidy and was no doubt a picky about the details. Not so much like Kuroki then.

"Sup. What we learning today?" He finally said, picking a bit of dirt out from underneath one of his front talons.

As time went on Kiyohime was getting bigger and bigger. Even in the days between first and second lessons with her aunt little Ike was not so little anymore. Almost overnight she shot up like a weed and now towered over her sisters and threatened both brother’s height. This caused the once tiny princess to feel even less comfortable in her skin. Her legs felt like they were miles and miles long, and her huge paws were even more difficult to control now that they seemed so much bigger.

She tripped all the way to the bamboo structure that her aunt resided inside. None of the falls were so bad that she couldn't just scramble to her feet. The girl slowed her pace as she approached the entrance and pushed her way through. She saw her brother and sister already waiting and the tall girl didn’t hesitate to come and sit between the two of them. Her head was down and she looked a bit timid. Like she hadn’t nearly come into her own yet. She was the tiny baby for so long she didn’t even know what to do with herself now that she was growing so much. She was quiet, not so different than normal, but she was always sore now as she went through her growth spurt.

Every day the boy felt like he was growing more and more into his mottled skin, though he never put on the muscle and tone of his sisters. Instead, he found himself a lanky amalgam of sharp angles and subtle curves. Worst of all, his upper canines kept pushing themselves further and further from his jaws. Their sharp tips ended well below his chin, and he was working ever so hard to speak eloquently around them. By now, he was closing in on his adult size, and was certain he would be the smallest of the litter forever. Small, weak little boy. How could his mother ever be proud of him, when he was so frail looking and small compared to his sisters? Even Faith at least had the height of their mother to boast, though her physique was closer to his own. This morning he had stuck close to the shrine, tending to chores and maintaining the order of their stores. His mother's summon rang out for all to hear, and the young wraith tucked the herbs he'd been working with back into their little jar before shaking the dust from his coat. He picked his way carefully through the shrine proper until he was outside. There was still snow on the ground, though in some places it gave way to patches of frozen earth and reviving grasses. He could smell the herbal incense coming from the bamboo shelter a short distance from the shrine, and padded closer. Upon slinking inside, he found many of his cousins had already arrived, and made themselves comfortable. He dipped his head respectfully to his mother, opting to avoid open affection this time around in the name of propriety. He skirted around his cousins until he could select an ideal spot that was relatively close to them, in the event he needed to observe something they were doing, or speak with them. However, there was still enough distance that he didn't feel the itch of their proximity under his skin. Crossing dainty forepaws over one another, and sliding his hindquarters out from beneath himself to curl loosely out to one side, the violet painted youth gazed up at his mother. He was searching for answers, as to what they were doing here, what she had planned for their lesson, and how he ought to behave. Rather than ignore the offerings before him, he scooted a strip of jerky towards himself with an outstretched paw. Fitting it between his crossed forepaws, he worked away the tension in his jaws by chewing on it idly. Having an outlet for the energy that still roiled in his growing muscles and brain, he found he could relax a little more. "speech" CALL IT PARODY CATHARSIS

It was still cold, and so Modesty hadn’t wandered far from the bamboo shrine. She had settled close enough to keep an eye on the entrance, but far enough away that the others wouldn’t trip over her when her mother decided to call them. She had taken out her sigil, casually passing it from one paw to the other, her eyes tracing the carving as it passed in front of her, back and forth. It still didn’t feel quite right. It was close, but it wasn’t perfect. She knew it would be revisited when she was older, added to, but she really wanted to figure out what was missing right now!

She stopped her fidgeting when the summons came, watching as each of the others entered before her. She took a few more even breaths before pushing up from her reclined position, shaking any lingering snow from her coat before following the others in. Modesty settled herself on the furs next to her brother, picking up a piece of the supplied jerky and waiting quietly for the lesson to begin.

"speech".

heard you’re new in town

Late... that was not a word you could usually assign to Faith, who was true to her name faithful and faithfully eager to learn more from her mother... But her worry and fear over her "affliction" was becoming harder and harder to ignore as it started to take over parts of her life. Enough so that she could be late to a sermon from her own beloved mother. The girl slunk into the building with an uncharacteristic lack of pomp or ego, her head ducked slightly and settled herself on the other side of her brother, sliding in closer to him than might be considered normal. Seeking comfort from her brother's familiar form and doing her best to not let her stress show as she turned her attention towards her mother, reaching for a strip of jerky to try and keep her mind busy while she waited.

"Speech"

Tox waited and waited for the last of the pups to arrive. When it became apparent some were going to be missing the sermon, Tox made a mental note to meet with Venom and the absentees. These were not light lessons meant to be skipped. Once all the other pups had settled and Tox had acknowledged them, she began before they had a chance to get bored. "In the last sermon, you all learned what special place you hold in this world. You are gods by blood and few things can take that away from you. But you might wonder, 'Where does that leave the others I come in contact with? What about my other family?'" Tox paused to let them contemplate, much as her father had in the past. "The answer is not simple, but in essence, there are gods, there are demons, there are all types of divine beings, and there are mortals. We all have mortal bodies. It's our blood and souls that set us apart. In return for that, many of us-" she looked to the kids with mutated features - "Will be blessed with assets abnormal to most mortals in order to help us conquer this world." She was proud so many of the kids bore wonderful blessings, but she wasn't even for a second disappointed in the ones who didn't or wouldn't. "However, the ones of you who don't show those blessings are not any less blessed. Likewise, one can never tell what a mortal is hiding as far as potential. Both litters have very different families, but both are very splendid in their own ways. Furthermore, it is impossible to navigate this world without interacting with wolves who are mortals, wolves who are servants, slaves, and the like." She had high expectations for the litters, and she planned to lay it out for them clearly. "We cant expect mortals to understand the grandeur of God. If you find one who chooses to accept and celebrate that with you, hold onto them tight and keep them in your life. Those who reject God are meant to be punished, either in life or death. Regular suffering dulls in comparison to the true suffering God will to bestow on those who reject him, just as those who had a hand in his fall to this realm." It was important for the pups to know early on the punishment for not being faithful to God. Such was the destiny for all mortals left neglected. "Because of that, when we are able to bring mortals, demons, and other divine worshipers onto our side, it is a time to rejoice for we have saved them from their eternal punishment and washed their pelts of God's blood, making them clean again and welcomed into Gods home when they ascend." Toxicity offered a gentle smile. Each pup could rest assured the their families could be saved through them. "Likewise, those who sin against God should be sent to their punishment, and we are to enact such punishment on their mortal vessels as well." It was heavy stuff to take in, but the sermon was almost over and then they would have time to absorb all that was said. "Knowing mortals, befriending them, making them your spouse... All those things can help us to further extend God's reach so long as they do not shake your faith. Those who try to sway you should be discarded and disposed of to the best of your ability. Every new follower is spared from God's wrath. It is not just to simply treat every mortal with distain- many are ignorant to their sins. However, you- with God at your side- are the judges of this world." ""

Due 07/16!

Her head often erupted into unexplained headaches too. Venom was quick to vocalize the fact that there were two very tiny bumps on her skull where some kind of antler or horn would likely soon erupt. She wasn’t sure if she would be like her dad with the conical horns over his forehead, or maybe more like Venom’s sister Calamity and her deer like antlers. Either way the princess was obviously highly blessed in may different ways. The claws of her father, her mother’s quills, the antlers that would sprout from her brow.

She thought a little about her blessings as she settled in between her siblings and peered up at their aunt. She was so passionate about what she spoke about. Shuriken could truly feel the lore and mysticism Toxicity wielded. She was her father’s daughter though and even if she new Tox would never lie to her Hattori’s doubting spirit whispered in her ear. She said nothing, still very naive to death and the abrupt end life could take. Toxicity continued, but Shuriken felt more confused. Pain, suffering, punishment… what was the point of it all? Why was she supposed to be the judge of the world? She couldn’t even walk in a straight line most of the time, Ike certainly didn’t appreciate this pressure being placed on her young head. She kept her whys and how comes to herself, she would talk to Tanto later about everything. She knew the dog was likely outside the door of the shrine’s shelter listening as best he could without interrupting or blatantly revealing his presence.

It wasn't long before the rest of the youngsters began to trickle in, with his much larger sister Modesty opting to settle at his side with her own snack. He gently leaned his weight towards her, shoulder bumping against hers in a small gesture of affection. A small thump of his tail against the furs belying his delight at having his sister close. Not too soon after, though noticeably past the point where their mother was growing frustrated, Faith emerged. The anxious gait and low slung head was not typical, and the boy was instantly on his guard. What was wrong? When she laid down on the same fur as him, pressed in tight to his other side, the boy made a soft rumbling sound in his chest. An attempt at quiet comfort, though a piss poor one no doubt. He was already abandoning his earlier conviction to present as a perfect son, cool and aloof. He wanted to comfort his sister. She was all but tucked right up into his flank, their sides pressed close for nearly the entire length of their bodies. She was definitely not feeling well, and he was certainly going to check in on her after the sermon. For now, the mauve and charcoal youth nuzzled the tip of his snout into the space just under her ear and behind her jaw, teasing the soft strands of fur with his teeth in the most reassuring manner he could muster. Then, it was time for their lesson. Toxicity was an enthralling storyteller, whether she wanted to be or not. It was easy to fall under the spell of rapt attention when she spoke about God. Which is exactly how Pontifex found himself within a few moments. "In the last sermon, you all learned what special place you hold in this world. You are gods by blood and few things can take that away from you. But you might wonder, 'Where does that leave the others I come in contact with? What about my other family?'" This was not something Pontifex had considered, for all of his family were divine by blood. At least, those he had come into contact with thus far. Though, he considered the status of the Shogun, his uncle. He was not bound to the family by blood, save for his children. Now the boy was truly drawn into the lesson, eager to hear what wisdom his mother might offer. "The answer is not simple, but in essence, there are gods, there are demons, there are all types of divine beings, and there are mortals. We all have mortal bodies. It's our blood and souls that set us apart. In return for that, many of us-" her gaze passed over he and his sisters, meeting their gazes. Drifting along to the cousins. "Will be blessed with assets abnormal to most mortals in order to help us conquer this world." Oh, that was true. He had nearly forgotten the long fangs that had been causing him so much grief lately. Such was the power of Toxicity and her sermons. Were these fangs really meant to help him dominate mortals? They didn't seem very impressive, not among the likes of his cousins' claws, fangs, or horns. Modesty and her quills seemed more imposing than he did, just skin and bones and bloodied teeth. A frown twisted the corners of his lips, though he managed to school his features quickly enough. The slight furrow of his brows was something he couldn't manage to hide. "However, the ones of you who don't show those blessings are not any less blessed. Likewise, one can never tell what a mortal is hiding as far as potential. Both litters have very different families, but both are very splendid in their own ways. Furthermore, it is impossible to navigate this world without interacting with wolves who are mortals, wolves who are servants, slaves, and the like. We cant expect mortals to understand the grandeur of God. If you find one who chooses to accept and celebrate that with you, hold onto them tight and keep them in your life. Those who reject God are meant to be punished, either in life or death. Regular suffering dulls in comparison to the true suffering God will to bestow on those who reject him, just as those who had a hand in his fall to this realm." This was a shift he knew to expect, from the smaller lessons he'd received from his mother over the course of his youth. However, it was still a bit jarring. Violence did not come easy to the frail boy, who preferred to slink through the shadows. What was he supposed to do if faced with a heretic, but make threats he could not back up? He was not a skilled warrior, and though he was nimble enough to land a few glancing blows during training, he lacked the power to inflict any real damage. "Because of that, when we are able to bring mortals, demons, and other divine worshipers onto our side, it is a time to rejoice for we have saved them from their eternal punishment and washed their pelts of God's blood, making them clean again and welcomed into Gods home when they ascend." Though the words were paired with a soft smile, the previous admission of their duties as Abraxas wolves still nagged at the forefront of Pontifex's focus. Would he be forced to focus his will into converting the heathens, rather than punishing the heretics? That might be a more suitable option, despite his overall ineptness in the social realm. Dragging his attention from his inner turmoil, the boy turned his gaze from his crossed forepaws and forgotten snack to his mother's features. "Likewise, those who sin against God should be sent to their punishment, and we are to enact such punishment on their mortal vessels as well." the focus kept returning to the notion that bothered him most, the duty to enact divine wrath. Was he even capable of that? Toxicity was really driving that point home, and he was certain it would plague many a sleepless night. He absently leaned closer to Modesty, drawing confidence from her presence as much as his other sister. Just for a moment, until he felt his muscles lose some of that tension, and he righted his weight once more. "Knowing mortals, befriending them, making them your spouse... All those things can help us to further extend God's reach so long as they do not shake your faith. Those who try to sway you should be discarded and disposed of to the best of your ability. Every new follower is spared from God's wrath. It is not just to simply treat every mortal with distain- many are ignorant to their sins. However, you- with God at your side- are the judges of this world." Perhaps he ought to work more on his temper, and his treatment of the mortals. A few of the empire wolves he'd met already had been treated with relative kindness, but always his tendency for standoffish awkwardness put him in a position to distance himself from any real conversation or connection. He should seek out his mother soon, and find out what she thought might be the best route for him to pursue in the future. He wanted to be the best Abraxas he could be, and bring some semblance of pride and honour to his lineage. Delicate crown lowered to the forgotten jerky still clasped between his paws, and chewed the dried meat as quietly as he could while he tried to stay focused on the remainder of the sermon. "speech" BOULDERS ON MY SHOULDERS, COLLARBONES BEGIN TO CRACK

Ikigai let out a rather unladylike grunt when her brother unceremoniously toppled to the ground beside her. He was very uncouth, but she loved him anyway and proved so by giving his blue and white cheek a little nuzzle. Ike arrived soon after and squeezed between them. Her sister received the same treatment; a nuzzle to the cheek. Iki, rather than sit tall as she usually did, reclined into the pile that was her brother and sister. The pale princess smiled to her group of cousins then settled in to listen. There was no doubt in Ikigai's mind that Toxicity believed everything that she was saying. There was a certainty in the woman's voice that proved she believed every word. For Ikigai... there were doubts. Were they inherited from her father? Possibly. The girl simply had a difficult time believing anything that wasn't tangible. If she couldn't see it and touch it for herself, then there were doubts. She had never seen a god, nor touched one. The concept of a god was just that; a concept. A story, in a sense. If her aunt said that they were all trees, were they expected to believe that they were trees? Clearly they were not trees, so how were they to believe that they were gods? Ikigai was not convinced. Toxicity hadn't opened the floor for questions, but Ikigai had them. She waited for a lull in the lecture, then shared her thoughts with her aunt. "Oba-sama..." the girl's lyrics were clear and smooth as she spoke, "How do you know that gods are real?" She didn't offer up her own doubts, she simply wanted clarification. Ikigai wanted hard facts. If her aunt could offer facts or proof, then she would have an easier time wrapping her young mind around the matter. "Okiku Ikigai"

Modesty spared a small smile for her siblings, happy to be a steadying force for Pontifex and maybe even a distraction, or wall, for those who might seek to look upon Faith (though they were much of a size and her sister had lovely luminous fur, neither herself, nor Pontifex were making any attempt to appear smaller than they were). Much like her brother, Modesty’s mind was already planning to find her sister some time after the sermon to see what had her so upset. The girl had been very much caught up in herself for most of her youth, happy to provide her own entertainment, but if it had come at the cost of closeness with her siblings, she wasn’t quite sure she would ever forgive herself.

Eyes turned towards her mother as she began her sermon, grateful for the clarification. She would be lying if she didn’t say this was something that had already crossed her mind. What about those who dwelled among them that weren’t of God’s blood? Clearly something could be done, or Obi wouldn’t be one of them. But how had it happened? Was there a ceremony? A ritual? Or was their love enough to save wayward souls?

Before she could thoughtfully formulate her question, her cousin spoke, and the question caused Modesty’s eyes to open just a little wider, her shoulder going stiff against her brother’s side. Though she managed to keep her ears in their same attentive position and quickly right her facial expression, the tension in her body remained. It was a question she would have never thought to, dared to ask, and she found herself almost holding her breath, awaiting her mothers answer. Even if she wasn’t sure there was ever a question there to begin with.

"speech".

heard you’re new in town

Despite it all, despite her instinct to keep everything tucked away Faith was glad for her brother. She leaned into his comfort for a moment before their mother spoke and she gave his shoulder a quick head bunt, a sign she appreciated his care. They were not like their cousins, who seemed to not know the weight they bore and lived a bit more care-free than Faith and her ilk, she would not trade her relationship with her siblings, closer with her brother than her sisters but she'd have fought tooth and nail for all of them if it was so asked of her.

But it would have been a lie to say that her mother's sermon helped to quell her anxieties... Rather quite the opposite. She had never considered that she could be something entirely apart from her divine kin, and that worry would slowly start to gnaw at her. Not that she doubted her mother's own divinity, simply a fear she may be apart from the bloodline for reasons out of her ken. That she was blessed with a luminescence she saw only in one of her other cousins did little to quell her fears. She only had that, nothing else, no tools to help her with the duty she bore. What if the demon in her blood was clever enough to know she needed to appear blessed to be accepted? Though she could not know it her mind was also wandering the same path as her brother's when the conversation turned to violence.

Despite her own worries she too had a reaction much like Modesty as her cousin broached the question of the validty of her mother's preachings... Faith stiffened, her face suddenly ridgid, the tiniest twitch of annoyance at her lips but otherwise suddenly diplomatically blank even if it was obviously unnaturally still.

"Speech"

As she wrapped up her speech, several of the pups seemed to be in thought. She wanted to encourage them to ask any questions on their minds, offering each of them a kind smile. Ikigai asked how she knew gods were real. Her eyes softened and her smile became even more genuine, "I have seen them, seen my father from beyond the grave, and have experienced the endless and bountiful blessings god has bestowed upon us. When you all become yearlings, we will hold a ceremony so that you may also meet your grandfather, Archon and see the power of his godliness if nothing else." She turned to the group, "It is good to voice your questions and your doubts. If you don't speak them to those in charge, they will fester in your mind like an uncleaned wound. Please, don't hold back for my sake- I've heard it all before and you are all very well loved and welcome to speak your minds here in the safety of the shrine."

Next round due August 2nd

She didn’t really like hearing any of what her aunt said, but the young princess tried to tamp it down. She had to believe, or what? Eternal suffering awaited her and everyone that she loved. She felt like her back was against the wall. Toxicity answered Iki’s question with her own testimony and promise to show them when they turned a year of age. She wasn’t so sure she was comforted or frightened. Venom always spoke of Archon with reverence and adoration but the thought of actually meeting what had been in her mind some mystical figure like Abraxas himself… ”Aunt Tox, I don’t.. I don’t know what question to ask but it doesn’t feel right.”

To be honest, Kuroki was physically present but not mentally. His pitch black gaze wandered, bouncing from ceiling to floor, then to his cousins in turn. They were all lapping this up, huh? Sitting there all neat and attentive, ears tipped forward as though this was the most enthralling thing they'd ever heard. Even now Kuroki was loath to compliment his sire, but even Hattori was a better storyteller than this. At least his tales had substance. Things actually happened, not just a list of what he could and couldn't do- though Hattori also talked about that a lot too, just in a different context. The Ashen prince did nothing to hide his yawn as Ikigai braved a question, voicing her doubts aloud. He hadn't expected that from her, she never liked to rock the boat, but he'd give her credit when it was due.

His cousins didn't seem to like her doubt one bit, getting all tense and jittery as though they'd gobbled up whatever mumbo-jumbo Toxicity had fed them. Like sure, whatever, Kuroki didn't care enough to kick up a stink about it. Wasn't like he had anything better to do right at that moment, but if he knew what his siblings were thinking he'd have to agree with them. This religion sounded like a whole lot of finger wagging to him, do this or get that, and even now Kuroki was biting back against authority. Acting out because he wasn't sure exactly what he wanted just yet, just not this.

That wasn't to say Kuroki disliked his aunt, even now she was treating them nicer than Hattori ever could. Just giving something without a blank slate demanding so much in return. But it was like being offered a dish that didn't suit his tastes, he'd have a bite but make icked out faces all the while.

Making a grab for some jerky, Kuroki chewed idly without much thought of closing his mouth or using his manners.

"How you supposed to talk to someone who's dead?" He asked, speaking with his mouth full.

A warm expression wasn't necessarily a rarity for Toxicity, but it still caught the boy's attention whenever his mother offered up a genuine smile. She was often just as somber and driven as he was, and while he appreciated sharing the same straightforward communication methods as her, he sometimes wondered what it would be like having a doting mother. She mentioned a ceremony to be held once they all reached a year of age, which excited him. Meeting his grandfather? There was great promise there, an expectation for an awakening of sorts. Perhaps in meeting Archon he would finally be able to understand his own divinity. His mother then promised an open forum for discussion, and a freedom to voice any questions that might surface next. It didn't take long for the chimeric princess to voice her concerns, ephemeral but nevertheless present. Mauve masked features crinkled ever so slightly, brows furrowing as he glanced her way for the briefest moment. While he couldn't deny the tight, rolling sensation within his gut, he wasn't certain he agreed that what Toxicity said was explicitly wrong. He didn't enjoy the notion of punishing heretics, or potentially culling the unworthy, but that was not for him to decide. This was their duty as Abraxas', was it not? While he toyed with his own feelings, the boy found his attention locked on his paws and the partially eaten jerky in their grasp. It was then that his cousin spoke up, jaws actively working around the jerky he was also snacking on. The anxious parts of his personality struggled with the inherent impoliteness, working on blind instinct to react to the smacking of lips and crunching of food with a small wince. However, the question itself bore merit of its own. "I would also like to know how we will meet grandfather Archon." he quipped in a soft voice, lifting his gaze to blink balefully at his mother. Would the specifics of the process be passed along to each of the children for future generations to partake, or was it reserved for those with a higher rank like his mother? "speech" BURN BRIGHT LIKE THE MIDNIGHT SUN

Venoms daughter was the first to speak up, saying she wasn't sure but it didn't feel right. Tox tilted her head, "What doesn't? Meeting Archon? It's just like going and visiting Seer, just instead of walking on the mortal plane, we go to the spirit plane to visit."

She wasn't sure if that would answer the young pups questions. "It's good that you said something. Being honest is important to knowing Abraxas. It's not uncommon to have doubts or questions, it's just important how you handle them."

One of the other pups- the Hattori seeming one- asked how you're supposed to see ghosts and Tox gave him a light smile. "How about you come and see for yourself when you turn a year old? Even your mother has seen the spirit realm, if you need more than my word for it. I'd say it's a lot like falling asleep or diving underwater, but when you wake up, or come up from the water, you're in a different world."

They were all curious and it took Tox more willpower than she'd ever admit to not go and get the supplies to take them all to Archon right now.

"I'm sure Venom has some answers as well, but we can keep discussing if you all like."

No mandatory next round tho y'all need another post to claim skill I think.

Modesty’s tail tapped against her fur as her mother spoke of meeting the gods. Now that was something to look forward to. When it came to asking questions though, the girl fell further into quiet contemplation. As much as she was curious, she was also careful with her words. She liked to have a well formed and thoroughly thought out opinion before voicing it. It did cause her frustration, and perhaps that was the festering of which her mother spoke, but perhaps if you weren’t blabbing all the time, people would give your words more thought? Maybe if they actually knew how to listen anyway.

Her mother’s words did leave her to consider though, if it was her duty to pass judgement and dole out punishments, then perhaps she should stop neglecting her other studies. She had been absent from more than her fair share of lessons in fighting and hunting, and if she was going to be the best representation of her lines that she could be, well, it would be a good idea to make sure she was capable of not getting her backside handed to her at the first opportunity.

Her first birthday was rapidly approaching, and while the others wanted to know the how, it was enough for her that it would happen in time. She knew there was a reason for the wait, otherwise her mother wouldn’t impose it, and that would be enough for her. Her mother’s words, while still an invitation to stay, made it seem as though the formal lesson was over, so Modesty unfolded her gangly legs and offered her mother a bow before moving to the door, wondering who the best person to approach for some fighting lessons might be.

"speech".

heard you’re new in town