Meeting the Mother

Kumiho had never been brought home to meet anyone's parents before. Sure, he'd traversed swelling seas and dangerous terrains, encountered friendly and hostile groups of wolves, but nothing was quite as intimidating as going to meet the Empress of Ashen—Kitsune's mother. This would also be Iho's first time considering living amongst a larger group of wolves since he'd left his home. That notion felt foreign to him, but for Kitsune, he'd step up to any challenge. The two of them had shared the emotional connection they'd felt for one another, though it still felt strange to Iho to consider the yearling as anything more than a close friend and confidant. It made the older wolf a touch more awkward, especially considering he was about to meet her mother. For now, they were best friends, and whatever the sands of time would hold for them would have to come to pass.

With Kitsune at the helm, Kumiho followed her to the borders of Ashen. This was the closest he had ever come to the pack, and his heart beat in his head, reflecting his nervousness. The empire was vast and strong, and he wanted to badly to make a good impression. He sat back on his haunches on the wild lands side of the border. Kit's ringing call for her mother went out across the land, and then the real tension began. Iho took a slow breath to try and steady his nerves, doing his best to sit still and steady and not fidget while they waited for the venerable empress to appear.

"Kumiho"