Alright, let's talk.

Venom had been preoccupied to say the least, with five new puppies taking over her life there wasn’t much room for anything but child rearing. They were growing more independent by the day and by the time she was roused for a night of patrolling and duties all of them were off exploring or training, or just gone from the palace. She was proud of them, but couldn’t help but already miss the tiny bundles that were once curled at her belly. She knew that children grew swiftly, but she hadn’t quite been prepared for just how fast they grew.

Hattori had taken the reins, once again, and kept the inner workings of the pack running smoothly while she focused on growing their puppies. Now that they were out of the den Venom was returning to her usual place at the helm. This return was not as yearned for as when she had broken her leg. Her seclusion was a labor of love this time around, and worth every moment she spent in the palace with her offspring. Her future heirs. The concept was strange, and she felt like she had only just taken the throne herself.

Those thoughts accompanied her as she began her first patrol that evening. Venom hadn’t gotten much further than Nephilim island when she heard Recluse on the border. The Empress was withdrawn from much of the goings on outside of Ashen proper and was curious and eager to have her as a visitor. And even more eager as she heard the call for Sirius. Poison accompanied her and sprang off towards the meeting, traversing the branches of the trees above much more swiftly than her paws carried her. Anko the akita was due with her own first litter any day, and spent most of her time looking after the puppies near the palace. Like old times, Venom would rely solely upon the giant squirrel. Much to her husband’s chagrin.

The thought brought an amused smirk to her features as she appeared from the white trees and into Recluse’s presence. The evidence of recently nursing was slowly diminishing, but she hadn’t weaned her little prince’s and princesses not so long ago. ”Recluse,” she greeted lightly with a slight tilt of her head as she lowered herself into a seated position.