never should have come here

This was not a voice he expected to hear, least of all at his borders. For a moment he wondered if his ears were deceiving her, but he trusted in his senses more than anything else. They had only failed in once, during the long night, and since then they had been as solid as stone. Not at fault for how the world had unravelled, minds and motivations unfurling and ripping at the seams. He moved quickly, pushing through the thinner thickets, a shadow amongst the towering stalks as he moved his way to the edge of the Maze. To where a figure stood just beyond.

She was recognisable, how she could be. But why was she here? He would not fault her if she had decided to never lay eyes upon him again, and yet here she stood, called for him in person and thus clearly had something on her mind, something of weight to say.

He made no effort to mask his approach, the rustling of the carpet of leaves underpaw gave him away at first and then his voice when he spoke.

"Empress." He greeted, respectable enough given her maintained station.