Plague invited her to come and meet his future children too long ago. Belle kicked herself for taking so long to get here ot the border. Doing anything, making herself do anything far outside the normal was difficult. Life wore on her, and she was not the woman she once was any longer. There were few joys in the world left for her, and she didn't feel like she deserved any of them. Guilt ate away at her, life moved quicker than she remembered.

She hadn’t really been able to leave Iolaire’s side since the golden green eyed fae returned to her arms again. The woman she once loved so fiercely wasa blessing Deathbelle didn’t feel like she deserved. She was a hollow shell of what she once was, but Iolaire had weathered as many years as she. They were two broken halves brought together. So of course, Iolaire was there at Deathbelle’s side when she faced Ashen’s borders once more.

There were many nights she lay awake wondering how her life might be different if she had only made a few different decisions. If she hadn’t fell for Archon, if she had stayed with Iolaire instead of running to Hannibal, if she had squashed the feelings for Sirius before she ever left her father’s pack…

Those thoughts never brought bright thoughts, but they plagued her as she stood before the vivid white trees that so reminded her of the man she had raised Ashen for. She leaned a little heavier into Io’s smaller frame, seeking her support as she faced this monster before her. Returning to Ashen was always hard for varying reasons, but there was light at the end of the tunnel. A tiny hope returning to her heart.

She stole a glance at Iolaire before she called out to Venom.

Belle had asked not to be let go and Iolaire had granted that wish. The small woman didn't exactly have anywhere to be. She blew on the wind most days. Though she'd been staying with her adopted family in The Hallows, it wasn't home. Nowhere was home. Home had died with Roan. If the fates deemed that she stay with Deathbelle permanently, she would get word to Artorias and Rudyard so that they didn't worry, at least. Conversation had come about regarding Deathbelle's guilt and her desire to see her family again and Iolaire, being the blunt bastard that she was, told her to just go see them. So here they were, standing outside of Ashen's borders doing just that. Family was important to her once-lover. Much more important than it was to Iolaire. Not much was important to the emaciated fae. Strange things were important, but not the same things that others cared the most for. She was an odd duck, for sure. As Belle leaned into her slight frame, Io leaned right back, offering what support she could. Already the woman was telling herself to hold her tongue and not to say anything crazy. It was pretty sad when you had to remind yourself that you weren't dead anymore. Don't bring up being dead, she reminded herself. Just be normal. Io slapped a wide-eyed, somewhat blank look on her face as they waited for whoever to come collect them. She probably looked crazy, but she was trying hard not to. "Speech"

Venom had Deathbelle on her mind much more heavily as Hattori separated himself from her. There were far too many similarities she never wanted to see between herself and the once Empress. Mostly where her life was going and a better understanding of her mother’s behavior, and the thought that maybe she had been too harsh. Venom wouldn’t make excuses for the wrongs done, she wouldn’t regret her own actions against them, but her coldness was unnecessary. In a world where anyone could hurt her she felt guilty causing harm herself.

It was oddly coincidental that her mother would call at the corder as Venom had her thoughts on the aging woman. Curious, and unable to ignore an act of fate such as that. White gloved paws carried her to the edge of the white forests, sunset gaze falling on Deathbelle and Iolaire. Venom lifted her brow curiously at their closeness, she couldn’t remember the last time that she had seen the badger faced woman.

”Mother, welcome.” She greeted softly, feeling incredibly sentimental with her husband leaving her. ”Iolaire,” Venom greeted similarly, before growing silent. She couldn’t guess the reason they were here.

Iolaire was right there with her, despite the time that lingered between them Belle found herself fitting perfectly beside the small woman’s frame. They were both changed by their time apart, in ways that they would never return to how they once were. Scars were left that would never fade. Deathbelle leaned on Iolaire because she had become her strength and bravery. Deathbelle had lost so much of the power that she had once wielded. Even her physical power was diminished, not just the rank she had once held or her dominion over the Empire she raised. The once Empress was a sad shadow of the woman she had once been, and if she didn;t have Iolaire her life would look much different. She wouldn’t have been here, she wouldn’t have found a hint of a spark, she would have continued down a short path to destruction, Sirius’s command or no.

The pair of them wouldn’t have to wait for very long before her daughter appeared before them. First impressions brought a painful sense of pride to Deathbelle’s breast. Venom looked like the picture of health and confidence, but there was something else. A sorrowful connection that a mother would never wish to see. She knew the pain of losing her mate and support in this world, and as Venom approached her troubles were scarcely hidden. The scent of her royal husband was gone.

More than that was missing. By all rights Venom should have kept her grudge after Deathbelle had abandoned her post and left the pack in Venom’s young but capable paws. None of that animosity remained in her gaze as she greeted the two of them softly. "Venom I…” Where did she even start? Maybe there was really only one place. "Forgive me.” It was a request she needed to ask of all of her children. Deathbelle hung her head and closed her eyes, humbled before her daughter and Empress as she sought redemption.

"Deathbelle & Iolaire"

Venom didn’t even have to say what had happened to her, Deathbelle had lived it. After losing Hattori her own personal sentiments were heightened. She yearned for the old days and part of her wanted to start over from the moment she took over after her mother’s absence. She would have embraced the woman in front of her instead of her sister and their ideology that had only led them to fracturing. There was much that she would have redone, but if she let those thoughts fester it was too much. If she knew then what she knew now her life would be completely different. She wouldn’t have her beautiful children, and it was hard to tell what might have become of Ashen if Hattori had never wormed his way into her heart.

What kind of woman would her mother be if she had built her up instead of tearing her down when she returned to Ashen? Venom would never know. There was time for second chances though, and as her sunset gaze lingered on Venom’s form she could feel the shift. Deathbelle lowered her head and humbly asked her daughter for forgiveness. There was no explanation, they both were well aware of what she had done. There was no room to make the mistake again. But maybe the once Empress was not fully at fault. Venom had been young and brash, and her current self was much different from that young girl.

"I never should have held a grudge.” Venom admitted softly, feeling uncomfortable with the thought of embracing the woman who raised her. Maybe it was because of her own actions. "I’m.. sorry, for acting the way I did. I didn’t understand…” She trailed off softly, feeling tears prick her own eyes.

"Venom"