The road ahead is long

Venom would never expect for Kiyo to take her ‘side’ in everything that had just happened. Hattori was her son, and obviously that was where the woman’s loyalty should lie. The Empress didn’t know what to expect, maybe for the healer to disappear with her son, the only remnant of her being the name Venom’s own daughter carried. And yet here she was at Venom’s door, accepting the invitation to have a seat by the crackling fire.

The Empress gave her ex mother in law all of her attention, sliding her work away with a subtle shift of her paw. Kiyo did not hesitate to get right into the meat of what she had to say. Dual toned eyes lifted to the antlered woman. Immediately she told of her disapproval in Hattori’s actions. Kiyo showed the most empathy of any who had been given the news, feeling similarly to when she was young. It seemed the apple never fell far from the tree. Kiyo wanted to say the words she wished someone had told her.

A soft sight left her and Venom looked away as she noticed the tears in Kiyo’s eyes. "Lady Kiyo…” She started as she felt the waves of emotion wash over her. Venom was having a hard enough time holding her own emotions together. "Thank you.” She decided to start with it easily enough, she really did appreciate the woman taking the time to tell her the words she so needed to hear. "I know you speak the truth.” Venom didn’t blame herself, she questioned her decisions but knew this was all Hattori’s doing. Her broken life and family because of him. Her heart clenched tightly again, but she had shed more tears than Hattori deserved.

"Venom"