what is next

After her last talk with Plague Venom had immediately left Ashen to go and fetch the man she found herself unexplainably falling for. He was both scoundrel and gentleman but Venom felt desire for both sides of him. Her brother had been the one to help her realize exactly what she wanted to, he helped open her eyes to the possibilities right in front of her nose. Maverick felt it too, and really she had known since the Hallows wedding. Maverick’s wooing of her was unexpected, unconventional, and perhaps a bit inappropriate. However, the Empress couldn’t have been happier with the place he brought them to.

The present was perfect, he made her forget about the past and cease meddling with the future, but her thoughts couldn’t stray from those not so distant reaches. The youngest of the pack were now yearlings so the time returned to think on bringing new puppies into Ashen. As it was, she and Plague were the reproducing individuals in the pack. Already her mind was swimming through the different paths their pack could take. One of her greatest questions was if her eldest children were ready to accept this role.

Ikigai volunteered herself for that, but the fruits of her union would be born to Elysium. Venom needed to think about Ashen. She had Anko fetch Plague to bring him to the great hall. There was a tiny fire for her to warm a bit of water for a mild tea. There was still a chill of winter, and it would be good to have a beverage as she spoke so seriously with her brother and Daimyo.