Into the Sunset

He was very cheerful, in a way she wasn’t used to. Plague was brighter these days but even he was still her serious brother. This man’s tail wagged without thought, and he grinned at her acceptance of the invitation. She let him escort her to her seat as he took his place back on the other side of the fire. Venom complimented him, and he accepted the words humbly. The Empress tried to focus on the present moment, she had a kind stranger offering her a meal. She had no responsibilities to see or think about, and yet she was still weighed down so heavily. Venom really tried to conceal her emotions, but they were still so strong and overwhelming she couldn’t hide everything.

Still, her host was smiling and was focused on their food, which she tried to be as well. The smell was quite marvelous and she had no doubt the taste would be similar. After fussing for a moment longer Gareth offered her a full half of the meal, being overly kind to her, a random stranger. Her trust in wolves had been shaken badly, but she had been a tad paranoid before anyway. Venom still felt hesitant but as he gave her dinner and went right to his own she took her chances.

The venison was seasoned to perfection, though it was nearly impossible to cook the toughness from a deer’s flesh. This was a great example of what it was supposed to be. Venom used her sharp claws and teeth to carefully pull at the strips of flesh. She consumed the morsels with the hint of delight. Venom was able to let herself enjoy the moment of freedom, nothing mattered but the generous meal. As her mind shifted to her gracious host her sunset gaze glanced up towards him, surprised to find his pink hued gaze upon her.

Even his eyes were kind as he grinned between bites and before he spoke again. His perception was partially hidden behind a broad question, but showed through in his second. By the time he started to speak her gaze had fallen back to her meal. Thoughts of Hattori flared in her mind as he asked her why she was out and alone.

"I have had a lot on my mind,” She affirmed honestly but vaguely, she wasn’t going to make herself a victim in front of this man. She had to rally her strength wherever she could, even if her weakness was impossible to hide. Venom sighed softly and forced herself to look back up to his features, her actions were unbecoming of the Empress that she was. "I am… Empress or alpha of Ashen. I always have something weighing over my head.” She tried to respond somewhat light heartedly but it just fell flat and she sighed again. Her gaze fell to the fire instead of her paws this time. "My… secondary left me out of nowhere a few weeks ago and I just needed some time away.” She decided to reveal softly.

She tried not to fall into the trap of reliving those last few moments with her husband and instead took another bite of the venison. "This is very good, thank you again.” She tried to steer the conversation slightly, but her words had already been said.

"Venom"