She had seen Orchid, and had a day of rest. Despite Orchids wishes for her to rest more, she needed to find Vi. The russet queen would slip from her den, eyes squinting against the sun. Her head would tip back in a howl, she had no idea where Vi would be. Her best guess was in her den with Desiree. With a slow pace, she would head towards the den, her movements still stiff with soreness. She was in no rush, she knew that Vi would still be sore and probably moving just as stiffly. She moved across the range, settling into familiar habits of when this was her home. She would traipse along the grasses that were steadily growing back with spring. Apparently she had missed the changing of seasons. No smile played on her lips, her expression was still rather grouchy. She hadn't spoken to anyone, she even sent Ekko away while she slept. She knew that she would need to seek the poor girl out soon, she was probably distraught, and she was alone in a new pack. A sigh rolled off her tongue. After this meeting with Vi she would go and find the petite woman. Nostrils quivered, picking up the distinct scent of Vi and blood. She would halt, allowing Vi to meet her half way. Haunches reclined, a small wince playing on her face. The bruising along her chest and shoulders was awful. WORDS HERE

It was rare for her to leave her den, even if she was called but today a familiar scent wafted towards her and Vi would lift herself awkwardly to her paws. Not many knew where her new den was so she didn't blame Sibelle for not coming all the way but still? Vi couldn't help but grumble and complain as she hobbled her way out of her den and started towards the russet woman who was seated off in the distance. It was both a blessing and a curse to be able to see everything off in the distance. She sighed and made her way towards her friend with dread in her heart. Vi had not stuck around after her own battle to see the outcome of Sibelle's and she was honestly concerned. What if Sibelle had lost? The look on Sibelle's face was not a pleasant one but then again she didn't seem to be in the best shape. Vi would approach without a word and for the first time she would not reach out to contact the woman physically in greeting. She had been with Cru? Though she had said she had planned to burry it in the forest there was still some hurt there? "You've looked better?" Vi would say softly, eyeing the woman up and down. Slowly she would seat herself, taking a long moment to fold he haunches beneath her while balancing with her left paw curled up so it wouldn't touch the ground but without using the muscles of her shoulders.

The familiar blood red pelt of her friend was easily spotted approaching, and it was immediately noted that she refused to put any weight on one leg. A small smile curled her wounded lips, though Vi didn't greet her very warmly. Nothing would be said, the russet woman wanting to believe that it was simply because the Queen was exhausted from her injuries. A chuckle rolled off her tongue as she eyed Vi up and down similarly. "So have you, didn't think I'd ever seen you hobble around on three legs." She attempted to lighten the mood, but she felt as though the conversation was about to take a turn for the worse. Her smile would fade, leaving her looking at her friendly rather warily. "If you haven't already heard, Artemis took Arcanum." Words were monotoned, it wasn't something she liked to admit, but Vi needed to know. Especially since the pale wench was living practically on their doorstep. "I did see that you won, congratulations." She would offer a smile before slipping back into something less expressive. "Talk" "You" Think

Sibelle greeted her with amusement and a Vi snorted in disgust. "I took a side trip after the battle and ended up getting maimed by the Tortugan queen. She was also hostile when I brought her the cure, she accused me of starting the plague in the first place, of poisoning everyone..." She couldn't help but chuckle, still finding it funny despite her current situation. But it was getting far too serious far too quickly, Sibelle speaking Vi's worse fears. "I regret taking that maim then... We'll get the pack back. I won't have the bitch that kidnapped my daughter living at our boarders... For now, you may remain here until you figure out what you would like to do. But I plan to either push the bitch out or kill her... Failing that I will die trying." She spoke easily, though her voice was a harsh hiss. She would glance sidelong at Sibelle as she turned her face as if to look towards the Orchard which had once been claimed by Arcanum and had been the meeting place between the two packs. "I won that pack for my nephew. The one was was killed in cold blood when Glaciem went to war with the Valhallan's... I won it for my pack, my family, for my children. I also won it to impress Crucifix..." Her words were soft, gentle almost as she finally tuned to look towards Sibelle, fixing her with her lantern gaze. "Do you love him Sibelle? Because I did..."

Vi would explain that she had been maimed after the challenge. A brow would lift in question, but she was more interested in the fact that Roman thought Vi would be trying to poison her. Amusement would have a grin tugging at her lips and a hiccup of laughter following. Her amusement would fade as Vi promised to get the pack back one way or another. She would nod. "I will be taking it back." Her words were firm and decisive. She would sit on the throne of Arcanum again, there was no doubt about it. A coy smirk would curl her lips as her friend threatened to kill the bitch. It didn't sound like a half bad idea. "Or we could just invade." A shoulder would lift, her comment only half serious. The conversation tool a turn she had not expected. Her nephew had died at the jaws of a Valhallan. It now made sense why she had gone so viciously after Valhalla. The russet woman couldn't blame her friend, the murder of a loved one needed to be avenged. "I also won it to impress Crucifix. Do you love him Sibelle? Because I did...." Words would stun her into silence. Eyes would widen fractionally as tattered ears fell back against her skull. Her lower jaw would slacken, her expression screamed shock and horror. Regret settled heavily in her stomach, enough to nearly make her sick. Crucifix had been the one Vi was talking about. "Vi... I-I... No I don't love him." For once the woman would stumble over her words, unsure of what to say. It was the truth, she didn't love Cru, but that didn't mean she didn't have some feelings for the man, but she never expressed them. They had always been flirty, friendly, and up close and personal with each other, and she had grown attached to the man, but she never voiced it, she didn't even know if the feeling was mutual. And now she was finding out that Vi had feelings for him. Did he had feelings for her? Her mind would flash back to the last time she had seen him, when they had nearly done the deed again. Her brows furrowed. He had backed away suddenly, claiming to be dizzy, but perhaps it was the truth. "We didn't-...I mean, we have....but not recently...." She didn't know why she was telling Vi this, perhaps she wanted answers? Beneath all the shock, horror, and hurt, another emotion bubbled in her chest. Anger. He had known that her and Vi were close. And if he knew that Vi had feelings for him, why would he continue to chase her? Questions swirled endlessly in her mind, her gaze had long left Vi's, staring off at nothing specific. "Talk" "You" Think

"If you could get a war force together I would not stop you. I myself could not go to war though..." She regretted that now, regretted taking the maim to avoid war but at the time in her blood deprived mind she had thought it would be a good idea. Now there was nothing but regret. Just like the feeling she felt for Cru. The conversation had taken a turn for the worst and she couldn't help but feel a bit more regret. The words had been harsh, the first shots fired in a war and already a I was regretting them. She could have approched this so much more delicately but no. But there was no going back now. Sibelle was speaking and for the first time in their friendship Vi was listening to the woman trip over her words. She seemed flustered and after a moment Vi would release her friend from her gaze and sigh. "I'm sorry it just... I was hurt. I know I didn't tell you... I guess I didn't tell him I just..." She trailed off. Had she imagined it all?

No... It was hard to imagine their discussion that had gone on when she had given him her crown after they had found the cure. She had believed that he had returned her feelings, had believed that maybe they might have a future together. But then Desiree had called her on it, had told her concerns and worries and there had been rage and hurt there. Vi could never do that to her again. Sibelle spoke again and Vi sighed, turning her gaze back to Sibelle though now her eyes were softer. "I know I can't be with him. I love Desiree too much. But... He told me that... He stopped with you because... He saw me." Sibelle had to know. Vi had to get it off her chest.

Brows would lift when Vi actually agreed to war. She would contemplate it, but make no promises. She said nothing more on the matter, tucking it away for future reference. War. Could be interesting. But for now, a different kind of war was taking place, a war of much smaller caliber. The tension that stood between the two woman was tangible. Vi would stumble over her own words, her own yellow gaze drifting away. She couldn't blame Vi for the way she had broached the subject, there was no easy way to say any of this. A sigh rolled off her tongue It was no surprise that Vi knew that she couldn't be with him, she loved Desiree. But now she wasn't sure that she could even look at Crucifix. "But... He told me that... He stopped with you because... He saw me." Her blood ran cold. Muscles tensed beneath her pelt. Verdant gems hardened into daggers. Lips threatened to curl, but she forced herself to stop. He did have feelings for Vi. Hackles would bristle. "If you would oblige me, I would like to strip him of his rank." Despite her cold exterior, words rolled off her tongue like silk, falling gently into the space between them. Her gaze would lift to meet her Queens. He had known! Lips finally curled back to reveal ivory daggers as she rose, her body screaming in protest. Rage boiled her blood, sent a fresh course of adrenaline through her battered system. Did he think her a fool? That she would never find out? Haunches would recline towards the earth forcefully, her tail curled around her hips. Her expression evened out into a blank sheet, unreadable. "Talk" "You" Think