I've heard some rumors...

It wasn't that Odette was uncomfortable with the topic of the conversation, for surely there were far worse things to speak of, but she couldn't say she was very comfortable either. What was a handmaiden suppose to feel when a Queen exposes the weight of the crown? The struggles and hardships that such power would bring? Zee was Odette's oldest friend here, from literal day one and Odette felt there was no hope, the Queen had given her hope. When Odette faced a life of slavery before her, the Queen gifted her dignity and the ability to climb the social ladder. Odette craved nothing more than to be able to repay the kindness, to understand the issues and have all the answers. But how could she? Odette was just a lonely handmaiden. She knew very few members of their pack, had little troubles outside of her duties, and overall was enjoying her life. But now the horned female spoke of her struggles, both of her royal duties and of the challenges of parenthood, and perhaps for the first time Odette was at a fault for words. Her Queen was the very embodiment of all that Odette could ever hope to be, so if even a Queen could have doubts, how was there any hope for the rest of them?

The fawn woman would try her best to hide the shock from her features, trying to busy herself while listening to the Queen by plucking at the fine pelts they laid on. Zee spoke of her relations with the Empress, the highest ranking wolf among two packs, and how she could not even turn to her to help. If Deathbelle could not assist her in these matters, how was Odette going to be of any use? It only confirmed the female's belief that she was outmatched in the conversation, which meant the fawn woman would fail before she even had a chance. It was a sickening feeling, and she felt sorry for her Queen. Zee seemed like she was truly desperate for someone to help, but all Odette could do was lend an attentive ear and pray it would be enough. As the ranting came to an end, Odette was left utterly speechless, trying to rake over the information provided and find a proper response to it. There was so much thrown at her all at once, the fawn woman was still trying to process it all when the Queen turned her gaze onto her and Odette would feel pressured to respond.

"I... I am at a lost, my queen." She would sigh, her honesty all she could give. Odette turned to place a gentle paw over Zee's, attempting to give her comfort during a time she knew to be hard. "I do not know what it means to rule a pack, and I do not know the difficulties of parenthood. So no matter what I am about to say, I know I cannot tell you that I know how you feel." Deathbelle may very well be the only member in the entire empire that could truly say they knew how Zee felt. But like horned female had already pointed out, there was no easy way to speak on the matter. Thinking back on her own experience, Odette tilted her head so she could peer at the flames while she spoke. "But what I do know, is when I struggled with keeping up with my duties, especially the chickens, I received help from members of the pack. Wolves I barely knew, protected and helped me build a better house for the birds, and I gained friends I wouldn't have if I did not accept their help." She thought back on the Princess who fought off the predators, or the warrior to took down the mountain lion, but mostly she thought of Killian. The brute who had become a most unlikely ally and friend.

Turning her attention back onto the Queen, Odette would offer a small smile as she tightened her grip on the woman's paw. "You are the strongest female I have ever known. You made me feel at home when I thought I was facing slavery. You have raised the most brilliant pups, powerful and talented, each one of them. You rule with a compassionate and fierce love of your wolves." She was beginning to rant too, her list seemingly never ending but she was beginning to lose sight of the point. "You think that you are struggling but all evidence points elsewhere. You are doing a fantastic job as Queen and you're a very successful mother. We are thriving, your majesty." Every word spoken was given all the honesty and sincerity the fawn woman had within her, begging for the queen to feel it, hoping it would relieve some of her worries. "Still, if you feel hardships or worry the weight is too much, you are not one wolf. You are the heart of a pack. As such, you will always have friends who are ready to help, even those you do not know yet."


Art by Amphispiza. Table by Sea.