mother knows best

Deathbelle remained quiet and allowed Pestilence to lead their discussion. Belle steered the course but her daughter was the source. She was hesitant to answer at first, and Deathbelle kept her gaze from growing hard when Pesto started with a cop out. Patience was key, and the girl went on to more thoroughly explain herself despite how hard it was. She didn’t expect the answer, but she hadn’t been expecting much.

The Empress continued her silence, her lilac eyes searching the ocean beyond as she thought about her daughter’s words. The question was an easier place to start, she had an answer for that. Maybe it would tie in with the solution Pesto sought. ”Before you were born,” long before the pups were conceived even. ”Your father wished to claim the shrine for his god.” Deathbelle wasn’t sure if the god Abraxas ever existed, but to think a god could live in mortal flesh.. She enjoyed the idea of ascending to godhood with her husband. To be a goddess you must be worshipped though, and it was never worshipers she looked for as her followers.

”I wanted to take the shrine to honor Archon, and everything he was to me in life.” Being seperated in death took its toll on the Klein Empress. Having the shrine and being here physically made her feel close to him again. ”I miss him.” A confession she didn’t make often. ”Being here helps me still feel connected to him.” She sighed softly, knowing that her wants and desires should be put second to the needs of her children and pack.

”But. This Empire is for the Klein family, not a cruel god.” Maybe some supernatural force brought her and her husband together, but if it was at all good it wouldn’t have ripped them apart. ”Pestilence,” Deathbelle’s voice was soft again, but it held worry and doubt that didn’t often show through. ”I will not force you on a path you do not want to take. For now, you won’t leave pack lands without a high ranking escort.” This was a non negotiable part of her punishment. ”You’ll be a yearling soon. When the day comes,” why were these words so hard? She should be proud that her daughter wanted so badly to go out into the world. ”You may remove yourself from the Empire’s ranks and I will not stop you.”