A cut above the rest

Shuriken made quite the entrance, but her clumsiness was really no surprise, her poor daughter was certainly taking her time in gaining control of her long limbs. Venom could see that one day the girl would have her grace. Brown lifted with interest as the impressive woman looked her over and swiftly began to use her time with the Empress in discussion. Manea was obviously the leader of this partnership, much like herself and Hattori. Venom was the Empress and he was her Shogun, her support and right hand. Ike’s entrance did not only garner her mother’s attention but their guests as well. The woman and her mate understood, obviously endeared as Venom was with her clumsy daughter.

As the ruling class of the Ashen Empire gathered together the royal purple woman was swift to begin their meeting. Venom knew instinctively that these were a pair of powerful wolves, unlike anything that had come before her to date. Ulric and Artorias were a close second, but even the two of them couldn’t compare to the impressive wolves before her. Massive, colorful, obviously blessed. And smitten with her daughter Ikigai, Kiyohime as well but Iki had created a lasting impression. Manea tried to encourage Ike, mentioning her own similar experience while young. Venom smiled softly, proudly glancing at her beautiful children as the woman complimented the both of them.

”Thank you,” she returned with a small nod. Venom was well aware of the beauty of her children, but she accepted the compliment humbly. All of their royal children were impressive in their own right, but Iki and Ike were an excellent example for their guests. Ikigai had indeed already met this woman before, and she had left quite the impression. Venom grinned at her daughter, but her attention was fully on Manea and her husband. They were not quite peers yet, but Manea had quite the plan beneath her belt. Iki had created such an impression the woman wanted to meet with her first, and glean what information she could. ”It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She offered the both of them with a respectful nod. It wasn’t difficult to see the power behind this couple. They couldn’t prove themselves at this moment, but the potential was glaringly obvious.

Venom was already much more impressed with this mysterious couple than she was with many of the leaders in Boreas. Manea was direct in her reasonings for meeting her now. She wanted to start creating a relationship, she wanted Venom’s opinion on where her attention should be placed. Power attracted power, as Alastor made obvious as he revealed his wife’s desire. They wanted to prove their efforts to a future relationship by targeting the packs Venom saw to be her biggest threat or enemy. Really, Ashen had no equal. Their sister packs, the packs collected within the Empire were the only ones to rival their power, and they were loyal to her.

Before she could speak Ikigai spoke once more from Ike’s side. She was such a great sister to her siblings, Venom smiled at her as she vouched for the couple before them. If Iki had been any of her other children her opinion might not have been held in such high regard. Venom lifted her brows curiously, allowing the possibilities to flourish in her mind instead of dismissing the wolves until they could prove their loyalty outright. Venom could be convinced to give them a chance, especially with Ikigai’s plea.
”I can not make any promises as we sit together right now,” she warned as sunset gaze shifted from the matriarch and back to her mate. She glanced at Hattori as well before she went on. ”I have no doubt you can prove the words you say,” they were obviously impressive and both had a mind to grasp what they wanted. ”With my daughter’s endorsement I will entertain the potential relationship. The pack to the North, I know it as Winterfell but I believe it has changed hands since their transgression against me. My sources tell me the pack has been quiet, perhaps even without a leader right now.” She told them with obvious interest. ”If you can indeed take them by force you would certainly win my loyalty.”