stepping stones to a throne

It was late but the moon was hanging lazily in the sky, swollen to its fullest size and casting a hazy beam into the depths of the den she had dug out with her brother for her children. It was for her children. Maybe in the winter seasons she would expand it to accommodate herself and them but for now each night she gathered them up, shooed them inside then sprawled across the entry way to watch them closely. They were growing up so fast, to the point where a close eye was always needed else they wander away. And that usually left her with the gut feeling of wanting to break the legs of those who had left. Hestia and Fiamette had been the biggest trouble makers so far and it was them that lantern eyes would focus in on. But as time continued to tick on she came to realize that maybe for once the little terrors were actually asleep and she could relax. But she was so used to staying awake most of the night to keep a watchful eye on her children that she really wasn't very tired.

Long legs would unfurl, forepaws pressing against the cool stone of the hot springs to lift herself into a seated position. Flanks would flip over and then hind legs would lift her into a standing position. Head lowered to take another look in at her children before turning and setting off. Maybe one of them would wander out and drown while she was gone... Wishful thinking... Her paws carried her expertly through the hot springs and eventually to Ludicael's boarders and beyond. The russet vixen really had no idea where she was going but it seemed like no time as all before the land started sloping upwards and the scent of another drifted towards her on the sea breeze. Words. She heard words and a smile would slither across dark stained lips. "Since the war everything has been fairly quiet thankfully... Or do you know something I don't dear?" Words would slip tantalizing off expert tongue as she slow her approach and stopped a short distance from him. She hadn't met him before... Was he new here?