The Warlord knew that Venom had moved her pack to the Ravine and the Lake. he had intended to set out and meet with her and see how she was settling in. Before he had the chance to do so, word was sent to him. Venom’s newest children had been born. Expediting his trip as he left in a hurry to meet her. It was almost a straight path South from the Armada, and the trip was uneventful and long before he arrived at her border at last.

Setting himself by the border of the Lake, Sirius raised his head and called to her. Delighted at the prospect of meeting the tiny beans that were a part of her family. And he hoped, with her permission, part of his own.


"Sirius Fatalis"

True to her word Venom had sent word to Sirius when the puppies were born. She didn’t expect him to be at her doorstep the day of their birth, and part of her was thankful for that. The pack had settled quickly into their new home as Venom settled into motherhood. While she could hear Sirius as he called, faintly from her den, Poison was there to convey the message. Instead of howling from where she lay, she sent her squirrel out to welcome the Warlord into Ashen lands. She hoped she could brighten him a little bit after the tragic news he had given to her.

When he arrived at the entrance of the den she invited him in. Her blindness persisted, but her home remained the picture of luxury. She was sprawled on her bed with her four puppies nestled against her belly, all fast asleep. They played hard and they slept even harder. She grinned proudly, sure that Seer’s blue eyes were completely captivated by the roly poly babies. "Welcome, Sirius.” She whispered softly as to not wake her trouble making angels.

"Maverick & Venom"

In true Maverick fashion, the new father had taken to his roles as sire and consort like a duck to water. With Venom's sudden loss of sight mere days before the birth of their pups, the snow and sky wolf had taken it upon himself to ensure that Venom's will was carried out throughout Ashen during the pack's move and reestablishment back in their ancestral homelands. Although his mate would constantly reassure him that she was fine, Mav knew the vulnerable position their family was in. With a brand new litter or squishy puppy nuggets and the Empress incapacitated from the birth and her new disability, he had to act as the shield that protected her whilst maintaining Ashen's position of strength and resilience. He had refused to allow outsiders to come seek an audience with the Empress until they could determine if Venom's blindness was permanent or temporary, and if it was to last how they would go about addressing it in public form. This matter, it seemed, would be brought to the forefront sooner rather than later, as a sudden call for Venom out of the blue one day alerted Maverick, his ears standing on end and a guarded glare coming over his features.

As if sensing his tension from where he lay beside her, Venom had reassured him that it was only Sirius, a close ally of theirs, and that she had invited him here to meet their children. Already the new father didn't relish the idea of a stranger coming into their home and seeing their newborn pups, but if Venom vouched for him, then Mav could at least let the other wolf come without incident. That didn't stop the dire man from rising to take a sentinel position beside his Empress, just in case. The wolf that arrived was definitely an imposing sight—equally as tall, with elongated canine fangs jutting from his maw. Maverick looked the stranger Venom greeted as Sirius over, remaining seated beside his family while offering the other man a polite nod. "Yes, welcome," he echoed Venom's sentiments in hushed tones, keen teal eyes only straying from the man to check over his sleeping pups at his beloved's belly. "Try to keep quiet. They just fell asleep a few minutes ago."

"Maverick & Venom"

He was ushered towards the den, and swallowed the ground in an easy lope. Tired from his journey, but exhilarated at the idea of meeting the little beans that would become a part of their family. He entered the den, his eyes straining to Maverick. Who he looked over with a careful eye. Seeing the protectiveness in his stance, and the obvious care he had for Venom, he nodded his head after a moment, his own stance relaxing. This one better treat Venom better than that Koi…

He walked further into the den. “I will.” He said softly to Maverick. His steps light on the den floor as he creeped to Venom, before laying down beside her. Part of his body wrapped around the wolf who was a daughter in his heart as he looked down at the tiny beans asleep at her stomach. “Ohhhh” He said, voice a soft whisper. “Oh, they are stunning. What’s their names?”


"Sirius Fatalis"

Maverick was understandably nervous at inviting her once mentor into their home, but the Warlord was the closest thing to a father she had. She couldn’t see the exchange between the two of them as Sirius entered, but the tension seemed to swiftly dissipate as the protective father warned Seer to keep his voice low. It was never in good wisdom to wake a sleeping puppy, especially not these puppies. She didn’t know if it was because she was getting a little older, but she could have sworn this litter had more energy than the last even down one body.

Sirius then gave appropriate adoration to the puppies that she had borne. Venom knew they were just as stunning as he said, and she wished so badly that she could see them too. He asked after their names, and even though she could not see them she knew where each and every one was sleeping in the puppy pile. "Rebel is our little princess, sleeping at the top.” She chuckled softly as her pale paw caressed her daughter’s soft fur. "Right beneath her is Rogue,” the two of them had a special connection since birth, and it was more likely than not that they were sitting together or touching somehow.

"Rampage is right here,” her paw trailed over Rogue so she could caress Ram’s brown fur. She couldn’t see his coat, but he looked very similar to Archon, and she wondered if Sirius would pick up on that. "Then there’s Renegade.” He was usually at the bottom of the puppy pile, the very first to fall asleep beside her. The other puppies were pretty good at following his lead, and so far, he caused the least amount of trouble for a batch of half wild children. "All named after their father.” Venom giggled almost girlishly as her features turned sightlessly to where Maverick was. The love she felt for him and their children clearly visible in her voice and expression.

"Maverick & Venom"

The manner in which Sirius regarded him might have perturbed any other wolves to be under the scrutinizing gaze of the Armada alpha, but to Maverick it actually helped reassure him. He was no stranger to others looking at him with suspicions or doubts and he was used to defying them each and every time, so he had no fear for his own wellbeing. What the other dire's gaze and nod told him though was that this man also cared for Venom, so much so that he was analyzing and evaluating him at the Empress' side. It comforted him to know Venom had friends as good as that who would look out for her safety and wellbeing also. It meant he could potentially rely on Sirius should Venom's blindness persist into permanence and they would need to rally around affirming the Empress' strength.

Maverick settled back down beside Venom with one foreleg draped around her side to snuggle her while the Warlord settled down on her opposite side, creating an impenetrable ring of wolf around the tiny puppy nuggets that snoozed soundly at the Empress' belly. Seer asked about their names and Venom introduced each of their children in turn. Meanwhile the proud father simply beamed at the family he'd helped create, gazing at the four little jellybeans with love and to Venom with pure adoration. This rare moment where all four were soundly napping was a moment to be cherished, especially given how rambunctious they all were. As a first time father, he had no point of reference to how energetic puppies could be, but these four certainly seemed to keep him and Venom on their toes whenever they were awake!

Venom explained their naming rhetoric and Maverick chuckled under his breath, a sheepish smile on his face while blue and white ears folded back to his head. "It was Ven's suggestion, mostly. I'm not that conceited to name them all after myself, I promise," he joked with a flash of teeth in a bashful smile. Still grinning like a lovestruck pup, Mav would lean closer to bring his muzzle alongside Venom's, nuzzling along her cheek when she turned to face him. "They are certainly living up to their names though! Little troublemakers bursting with energy, and always wrestling and fighting each other. I swear, this bunch is gonna become warriors for sure!" Lifting his gaze up so teal eyes could find Sirius' vibrant blues, Maverick tipped his head in respect to the other man. "I'm sure Venom's already told you all about me, but I should still introduce myself. I'm Maverick. It's good to meet you in person, Sirius."

"Maverick & Venom"

As Venom began to point out the puppies to him, he was mostly very distracted by the little forms. Hovering a paw over them, careful not to disturb them as he picked out each one with his eyes. But as the process unfolded, he began to get a feeling that something was not wholly right. He squinted up at Venom in surprise and confusion. “They are lovely names, for lovely, perfect children.” He said, voice soft in the den full of sleeping puppies.

“It’s good to meet you too, Maverick. Anyone that makes Venom happy is a friend in my books. But, forgive me for interrupting your introduction - Venom, is there something wrong with your eyes?” He asked, his attention on the woman before him.


"Sirius Fatalis"

Venom’s sightless eyes drifted over each of the puppies just as her paws, very nearly looking and behaving as usual. She hadn’t been very vocal about her affliction. Uncertain of its permanence or what the consequences might be if word got out. They had new puppies that needed protecting as well, a perfect storm if their enemies should decide to gather and hit them. So, she didn’t really think to start on that note with Sirius as the puppies were far more interesting and important. Sirius fawned over them appropriately as Maverick introduced himself.

Sirius gave his blessing about Maverick too, but that victory was short lived as he went on with an apology. Then he asked very specifically about her eyes. Venom paused and a silence fell over then den that wasn’t necessarily because of the puppies. The quiet went on for a beat longer than was polite when Venom answered.

"Yes. I’ve been without sight since the start of the season.” She admitted quietly, knowing that the Warlord was a wolf that she could trust with such information.

"Maverick & Venom"

For all his gruff exterior, Maverick was quite surprised to find their guest who was styled under the title of “Warlord” was a big softie as he fawned over their newborn puppies. It made him feel a little more comfortable with the otherwise stranger being around his children in such a small, intimate space. Following his introduction, Sirius gave him a brief blessing, but switched to a much more worrying observation. Without missing a beat, the other man asked Venom about her eyes. Immediately the atmosphere in the room shifted. Tension gripped the air like static, and Maverick’s expression changed from peaceful welcoming to alarmed wariness. Venom had reassured him that Sirius was a friend and no foe, but if he had picked up on the Empress’ disability so quickly, what would that mean for others who saw her?

All at once, Maverick’s body grew tense, his foreleg subtly tightening around Venom’s side in a protective embrace out of reflex. He looked from the Warlord to the Empress, breath held while he waited for her to make the decision on how much information she wanted to reveal to their ally. There was a long pause while he assumed Venom debated this very situation. When she did speak, she told him the truth. Mav released the held breath in his lungs in a drawn out and troubled sigh. "We don’t know how it happened. It just… did," explained Maverick with a dejected shake of his head, holding Venom all the tighter to him. "The healers have no idea how it happened either, and they haven’t found any cures yet." He was very deliberate to add "yet" to that sentence. For all his faith, Mav believed they would find a cure for Venom’s ailment.

Dark teal eyes turned back to the Warlord then, fixing Sirius with a deathly serious look that wasn’t hostile, but left no question to the man’s dedication to protecting Venom. "You are the only one outside of her family that knows. If word of this got out…" Ashen didn’t have any enemies, but the ones they did have were ruthless. None outside of this palace could know what happened to Venom until she overcame it.

"Maverick & Venom"

Since the start of the season it was like a shock crawling down his spine. What did this mean for Ashen, for Venom? If she was blind, how could she answer a challenge? When Maverick spoke, his answer was perhaps a touch unwise. “I am her family.” He couldn’t help that growl slipping through. The protective drive of the Warlord pushed into place in the sudden understanding of the Empress’s weakness. Why had he moved the Armada so far away? Suddenly, he felt a desperate need to be at her back. If they found a cure? If they did not, Venom would be a target. How could he fix that, what could he do? Basilisk, perhaps. The boy had much to learn still, but he looked terribly impressive. One look at the giant of a wolf, and anyone would back down.

He turned to Maverick then, a small frown between his eyes. “I mentored her when she was a child, she is like a daughter to me. He felt the need to explain why he had growled. “Take Basilisk, until a cure is found. With him at your back, no one would bother you.” Or until you decide what to do. He said, turning his attention back to Venom. She couldn’t see the slight sheen of the desperate need to protect her in her eyes, but she could perhaps hear a touch of it in his voice.


"Sirius Fatalis"

As the silence settled over them Venom felt the reassuring touch of Maverick’s protective embrace as the uncomfortable topic was broached. As she spoke, Maverick practically finished her sentence as he mentioned how much they knew. Which wasn’t a lot. He also gave a dark warning, one that Sirius gave a deep growl to. Even though she couldn’t see, Venom shot him a glance, gesturing to the sleeping puppies and reminding him where they were. He was right though, they were family, and he was quick to explain his actions as worry and concern filtered through his voice unchecked.

Sirius was scared for her. After a moment of patting the cold stone, one of Venom’s pale white paws would settle over top of Sirius’s. "I”m alright, Sirius.” She assured him softly. While it was a disadvantage, Venom had confidence in her ability and the strength of the rest of the pack around her. "We will welcome your son if that is truly what you want, but you must know Ashen is still a force to be reckoned with even without my sight.” She smiled at him reassuringly. "Don’t doubt my own daughters.” Venom reminded him with a wink. "Besides, you can trust Maverick. No one is a more fierce protector.” She said with confidence in her soon to be husband.


"Maverick & Venom"

If Maverick's response to Sirius had been unwise, the Warlord's retort was straight idiotic. The growl that pervaded through his words was an immediate red flag, and when uttered around his newborn puppies it immediately had the father's lips peeling back from pearly fangs as he perceived the threat Sirius made himself to be. He didn't care who Sirius was to Venom or who he thought he was, a stranger in his home showing aggression around his children would be met with aggression. It was a stupid mistake that showed lack of control at best, and flagrant disrespect at worst. One of the pups, Rogue, stirred a little in his sleep as the conversation grew heated, tiny puppy mewls breaking the tension for a moment as Maverick turned his attention down to the sleeping nuggets, craning his neck over Venom to gingerly nuzzle the boy back to sleep. When his son settled down, he joined Venom in turning a sharp gaze to Sirius. Venom had interjected before anything could escalate, but the tone had been set. Sirius had come close to making himself an enemy today.

Venom did her best to soothe the Warlord while he offered an explanation for his aggression. Maverick simply stared back at Sirius, unimpressed by the man's attempt to explain away what appeared to either be an obsessive protective disorder or unchecked anger issues. Either option made him unreliable and subject to scrutiny in Mav's eyes, and he was beginning to suspect he knew why Venom hadn't introduced them earlier. Sirius offered another wolf from his pack for protection, which Venom accepted to appease the man, but reminded Sirius to put stock in Ashen and her firstborn litter to defend the Empire. She might not have seen the desperation in Sirius' eyes, but Mav did. Ah, so it was obsessive protective disorder then... When Venom mentioned himself, Maverick sat up straighter at her side, keeping a wary gaze held on Sirius all the while. He knew he wasn't the most honed fighter, but he'd be damned if he didn't go down swinging to protect his soon-to-be wife and their children. He said nothing through the exchange though; Venom had said all that needed to be said, and he couldn't trust himself to not say something everyone would end up regretting if he opened his mouth around this guy again.

"Maverick & Venom"

Venom had his attention, and that was perhaps a good thing. He didn’t see the threat in the other wolf's expression, and nothing started between them. Sirius had known Venom her entire life. Had held her, had dried her tears, and given her one of her first fighting lessons. She was, and always would be, a daughter to him. He had supported her rise to station when she had first become Empress, and his support in her had never wavered.

He returned the gentle pressure of her paw by placing his spare one over hers. He leaned forward, and kissed her brow. “Your daughters are regal fighters, and Ashen is strong. If you trust Maverick to protect you, I trust your judgement. All the same, I would feel better if you had my Grandson at your side. Impressions matter, and many would think twice before taking on his 55” of height. Besides, it would be a good chance for him to learn diplomacy. He is my Heir, and it's important he kindles relations with your family.” He said gently. He intended for Ashen and Armada to be supporters of each other long after he was gone.

"Sirius Fatalis"

She felt Maverick stiffen as Sirius spoke out and growled, but she was thankful her husband to be held his tongue and allowed her to speak for the both of them. He shifted slightly at her side, pulling himself up to his full height as she praised him. The warlord did acquiesce, but also didn’t apologize for disturbing her sleeping Rogue. The boy fell back asleep quickly when his father nuzzled him comfortingly, and she sighed softly before Sirius replied to her.

With a fatherly kiss to her brown Sirius did agree that Kitsune and Shuriken were the regal and capable fighters she had raised. However, there was more than one reason to send her Basilisk. Not only would he be offering her a favor, but she would be returning the generosity by helping to train the young heir. Him meeting Princess Kiyohime would also help in future relations. "Then I will welcome him to visit.” There wasn’t much downside to his offer. With the giant’s help he would earn his keep and then some.

"Maverick & Venom"