Location: Daager Isle

Duchess had been wandering for what felt like forever, but maybe it also was. It had been so long since she lost the pups, and she had taken care to just shut the loss and emotions from her life which made her never even start healing. She regretted everything she had done and had wholly blamed herself. She just wanted to move on.

She came to the isle to scout for resources to take to the band, or maybe she was just here to waste her time away from the band. She had been here with Segin before, but there was never apart of Boreas and Auster that she couldn't re-assess. She swam up to the shores taking a shake before heading inlad toward the ancient buildings.

"Duchess"

Venom did need some time to herself, but there was no vacationing as Empress. There was always another meaning to where her white gloved paws took her. Scouting now as she was. Plague was left in charge as she took the time to become acquainted with the world outside of Ashen. For how accomplished the Empire was, she was relatively short traveled. She was young and had been ruling from a young age, there wasn’t much time for leisurely travel. Being a well rounded leader she needed to expand on her knowledge of the world around her. So she started close.

The Empress lingered here for a few hours, her pelt was dry by the time she stepped foot off the beach. Venom thought she would have her time alone, she hadn’t even allowed her servants to accompany her, though both Poison and Anko had protested. The Empress found herself in the presence of another, the woman was ahead of her, already approaching the structures here. She almost looked like she knew where she was going.

”Hey.” Venom called out unprofessionally. ”Do you know your way around this place?” She followed softly, dropping her royal pretenses as she forgot about everything she left in Ashen.

As she started to make her way inland, a voice called out to her from behind. It was barley recognizable, she had only greeted the empress as did everyone during their festival of marriage. She more recognized the form and markings of her, and didn't push her away as company.

Duchess stopped and waited as she caught up, the woman asking if she knew her way around here. She shook her head gently, a stale expression left on her face as her eyes looked out at the buildings of the island. "I've only been here once, you can find some neat tradeable trinkets and things like that on the island." She went to move forward, not caring if the woman followed or went her own separate way. "I suppose that means you've never traveled here." It was almost a question, the island being so close to Ashen she had assumed the queen would be familiar, though maybe not.

"Duchess"
F2U base by Snowylaika

Maybe there was some recognition? Venom didn’t recognize the woman before her, but maybe they had met before today. It didn’t matter with their matters at paw. The mottled woman paused and waited for Venom’s white gloved paws to bring her up beside her shorter form. She answered the question honestly. She had only been here once, but there were things to be found and gathered within. It was an easy decision to follow, maybe something like searching for treasures would help ease her weary mind.

Venom did indeed follow as Duchess walked forward. ”No, I haven’t.” That was one thing Venom had decided to do while she recovered and healed herself. She hadn’t traveled much, and if she was going to give ashen and herself a fresh start she needed perspective. She needed to see and know more of the world. ”When you rule over an Empire there isn’t often time to be elsewhere.” It was a valid if not weak excuse.

Duchess wouldn't question the empress on why she hadn't been out even though she must have expected her to have more freedom than that. She supposed she didn't see the responsibilities of running a pack until now. She wouldn't act so baffled though.

They moved inland towards the buildings that were harbored here. Duchess pointed up with a glace toward the ruined resort, "Inside you'll find things like drapes, cloths, maybe something hidden around in the drawers." She didn't stop for a tour though. Looking in the more forested areas of the island, she sniffed around for something hidden in the dirts. It didn't take too long though what she found was probably not so valuable unless crafted into something else. Her paw carefully moved the soil around and revealed a simple silver chain, barley big enough to fit around her own wrist. She wasn't really here to gather things though, so it wasn't like she was really interested in taking it.

"Duchess"
F2U base by Snowylaika

Venom’s every waking moment since she took over Ashen had been poured into enhancing her home and pack. In helping her subjects and family learn and grow. To see them and Ashen come to its full potential. For the first couple of years she did that by establishing herself and her family within the borders. They expanded the Empire’s reach at least once while she was leading and their population continued to boom. Now that her world had been rocked so hard, Venom was beginning to wonder if it was time to begin work outside of Ashen’s borders. She was rather reclusive when it came to the world stage. She did not go out to meet with other leaders, and as such she had crippled herself. Changes were coming, the ceaseless cascade had already begun.

The Empress continued to follow Duchess as she explained the buildings they were finding, what she could expect to uncover here, and sunset gaze fell on the mottled purple woman as she fiddled with a treasure long buried there. ”I see.” She trailed off curiously as she let her eyes wander around them. Wonders never did cease to amaze. It was incredible this place had been here for so long and Venom hadn’t ever set foot on its shores.