Venom positioned herself at the edge of the shrine, poised to depart at any moment. Anko stood next to her, burden with a few supplies that might be needed. The Empress kept her plans an absolute secret, even Anko didn’t know what in the world was going on this evening. Her mistress was up at noon suddenly busting with activity and then she was loaded up and brought here. Of course, even the loyal dog had her loose lips and anything Venom said to her was likely to be taken back to the other Akitas. Who would swiftly alert Hattori.

Keeping her secret from him was thrilling and she smirked as she called out to him and summoned her husband to her side. The great feast and festival of summer was over, they had a small window of opportunity to work and bank on. Before the thought of raiding was allowed to enter her mind she was focused on this trip.

The Empress wore her condor armor, she did anytime she planned to travel anywhere. It made her more intimidating and reflected her high stature along with the way she held herself. Venom came a long way from the gangly girl she had once been. She filled out into a beautiful Empress inside and out. She held her pose like that mantra continued to play in the back of her head. Her chin tilted upwards and her body arranged into elegance, Venom waited patiently for her Shogun and mate.


"Speech"

Though he'd never cared to say as much, Hattori had always held a fondness for autumn.  He enjoyed the sense of change and how falling leaves matched the orange of his coat, but knew that ultimately it meant winter was drawing closer yet again. The days grew shorter and the nights colder with each passing day, snow would be upon them sooner rather than later. But still, his children had managed to grow and flourish despite being born in the harshest winter he'd ever experienced. If anything it was a sign of Ashen's strength, that they'd weathered the storm and would deal with whatever trials and tribulations lay ahead. With Venom at the helm they would be victorious, of that the Shogun was certain. Whatever she wanted he would make it so, for now and forever.

Pausing amongst the trees, he stood out plain and clear, the orange of his coat stark against the white of the bark. His ears tipped forward as Venom called out for him, beckoning him close with her honeyed voice, authoritative as was deserving of her position but with lingering notes of affection for his ears only. He broke out into a steady lope as he honed in on her location, only to slow a little as his silver gaze roved her form. All dressed up in her opulent armour, the true image of an Empress if he'd ever seen one.

He approached her, making no attempt to mask his footsteps and sunk down into a bow once at a respectful distance. Even now he leaned back on propriety and protocol. Mates or not he was her Shogun, he would defer to her judgement always. It felt as though it had been some time since he'd last laid eyes on her, no doubt a result of him being tangled up in his patrols and routines. But now that he was in her presence once more he found it hard to find the will to pull away, wondered how he'd allowed things to get like this.

It was only then that he offered a sparing glance at her companion. He knew the hound would serve her well from the start, but seeing Venom rely on the Akita as dearly as she did only served to prove him right. Good. The Akita was carrying a fair amount of supplies and Hattori's brows furrowed a little in an a question that didn't remain unspoken for long.

"What do you need of me?"

The poised Empress was not forced to wait very long before the autumnal coat of her husband shuffled through similarly colored foliage to come and answer her call. A grin played on her features as sunset gaze met his quicksilver eyes. He bowed low in reverence, but she hadn’t missed the way his eyes roved her form a moment before. Hattori was far too busy in preparations around the pack, they hadn’t spent more than a couple moments together in what felt like weeks. As the Autumn season fell upon them Venom found herself needing her husband more than just a partner in ruling a pack. But as her partner, as the man she chose to stand at her side.

After speaking to Plague she wanted to feel wanted. The way her brother so easily described the feelings he had for his husband and how even the thought of him brought a silly grin to his face. She wanted a fraction of that from Hattori. The ruling pair were both very serious creatures, and Venom never expected incessant romance. Whatever she asked for her Shogun would provide, but she would ask her husband for so much more.

He looked to Anko, no doubt proud of his choice to give the dog to her. She was much better at hauling than Poison, but she still trusted her squirrel with her life. The Shogun returned his curious expression back to her as he asked what he could do. "Come with me." She bid him softly, taking a step towards him. "Somewhere we can be alone, just for tonight." Her true intentions revealed in the hint of a smirk that graced her lips as silver striped tail waved at her hips. She felt the effects of her season and even standing here so close to Hattori, desire built in her belly all of its own accord.

"Speech"

Ah. Whilst he could be a little obtuse when it came to social matters Hattori wasn't a fool when it came to his wife, he knew her better than anyone. The ins and outs of her expressions, the way her sly little smile suggested there was a fair amount on her mind. The Shogun was aware of his wife's needs, that it was part of his husbandly duties to keep her happy in all things, but he'd been so busy as of late. The war preparations were going smoothly, he had scouts up north as they spoke, testing the borders and judging what sort of threat, if any, Winterfell might pose. But beyond all that he knew Venom had a lot on her plate, ruling the Empire and raising their children were no easy tasks. If anyone deserved some time to herself it was her.

"Of course." Hattori was quick to agree and dipped his head once again, eager to follow her lead.

Whilst it was fair to say he was many things Hattori was not nose blind. He could sense the shift in her hormones and knew what that entailed, as if he could resist her. Meeting her in the middle, Hattori looked down at her, she seemed to understand that in instances like this she need only ask. He would do whatever was asked of him, his shinobi roots still buried deep. Falling in step beside his wife, the bulk of his shoulders brushing against hers as he walked, he revelled in the feeling of having her close. For the most part their sleeping schedules didn't closely align, he was up on his feet when she rested and vice versa. When it came to work they balanced one another well, but it seemed as though it meant they were lacking in other departments.

"You know...you need only ask. I am here."

They were partners in all things, despite the distance that naturally occurred between them they covered each other’s weakness with the other’s strength. Whenever she had any need he never failed to be there beside her. While he did have trouble anticipating her requests he never denied her. He was always hard at work for her and their Empire, a quality she was thankful for again and again. Ashen had really grown since he found his way to its ranks. It grew as the young Empress did.

With a quick agreement Hattori gestured for her to lead the way. Venom grinned, flicking her snake like tongue in amusement and pleasure as he took his place close beside her. Electricity bristled where their shoulders met and touched as they walked. He knew what she meant, and knew very well what was going on beneath the surface. Hattori was no fool.

"I know," she told him fondly. She took him as her husband for a reason, and she was repaid tenfold. Her life as the Empress made it so she sacrificed of herself for the good of the pack, but that made personal moments like this so much more special. "Lets go." Venom reached over to give his cheek a brief kiss, an innocent suggestion of her thoughts on the trip ahead.

-exit

"Speech"

It was important to Hattori to know she understood his line of thinking, that he was not straying from her side because he wanted to. It was simple necessity, for the betterment of Ashen and its Empire. But even he knew how it looked and how it might make her feel, but now she'd pointed it out he felt prepared to deal with the issue in front of him. After all, he could not fight battles he knew nothing of.

He dipped his head down a little, granting her easy access to his cheek before falling into step beside her. Wherever she needed him, he would be.