Supremacy

Absinth stirred in the predawn light, her mind sharpening quickly as she moved with purpose through the den, stretching out her limbs, her ivory coat rippling over her musculature. Her gaze fell upon her sleeping pups, each one a precious extension of her own ruthless nature. She sought out Indica, her little Inky, her analytical mind already formulating the lesson she would impart to him today. She did enjoy focusing on them one at a time when it suited her.

“Inky,” She murmured, her voice a blend of gentleness and authority as she nudged him with her nose. “Come with me, darling.” She did not give him long to rouse before she was on the move again.

As she stepped out into the cool morning air, Absinth inhaled deeply, savoring the scents of the breeze. She paused there, listening to her ravens greet her, and then the monochromatic woman was off. She led Inky deeper into the wintery forest, moving silently, the soft sounds of the wild and the birds above their only accompaniment. They walked in silence for a while, the forest around them waking with the dawn. Absinth led him to a secluded clearing, a place where the early light filtered through the trees in dappled patterns. Their usual meeting spot for lessons and whatnot. She turned to face him, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of affection and severity.

“The ravens. Are they our pets, or our allies?” She said, her tone leaving no room for misunderstanding. This was a question with only one correct answer.

wormwood