Truly, madly, deeply

Maverick had made up his mind. Ever since joining Ashen, his relationship with Venom had only grown stronger and burned brighter with no signs of faltering or failing. He might have been skeptical at the start of this, doubtful in the longevity or his ability to commit to her and to the pack the way she wanted and needed him to. Hell, he'd even been doubtful of himself! A vagabond with no long-term ties or loyalties to any packs in years suddenly whisked up to be the prince consort of an empire? Anyone who placed bets on him balking and fleeing wouldn't have been wrong to do so. Yet here he stood, several moons later, preparing to make the biggest and life changing decision he'd ever made. The snow and sky colored wolf knew what he wanted his life to be from here on out and he was ready to take that step, that leap of faith with the wolf he loved.

Following the night where Venom had confessed her fears around their inability to conceive any pups out of season, Maverick had racked his brain trying to think of what he could do to assuage those worries in his lover's heart. Realistically, he knew he could do nothing to increase their odds of conception, or to combat the lingering shadows of worry in the Empress' mind. But what he could do was offer all he could, give all of himself to her. Show her that no matter what, he was in this for the long haul. As long as she would want him, he would be hers. And so, Maverick had gone north to the blacksmith in Ashen's allied pack, commissioned a special gift, and made his preparations for what he hoped would be the best night of their lives. With Plague's help, Mav had learned the location where Venom and her litter had been born and raised—the overgrown thickets down in southern Boreas by the Bifröst. He knew the area well, as he had passed by there many times in his explorations. Armed with the knowledge of the significance of the ravine, Maverick made his move.

It hadn't been difficult to convince Venom to take a day trip with him exploring some undisclosed lands. All he'd said was that he wanted to see more of Boreas and invited his beloved Empress along with him. Little did she know as he led the way southward what he had in store. The trip took a good portion of the day, and by the time they arrived at the outskirts of the ravine, the sun was already sinking in the late afternoon sky, the hours growing shorter as the fall season advanced. Autumn had turned the ravine into a beautiful lush thicket of bright golds and fiery reds, the land even more stunning than he could have hoped for! "Surprise, we're here!" the playful rogue announced with a bright grin on his lips, looking to Venom at his side with an eagerly wagging tail. "Okay, so I have to admit to a bit of espionage on my part. I wanted to learn more about your past, so I asked your brother and he told me you were all born here. I wanted to come see the lands you grew up in." Mav smiled and waved a paw to the thick woods before them. "Would you care to show me around your childhood home, Ven?"

"Maverick & Venom"