everybody's words got in the way

Natalya wasn't sure what she wanted from this pack. She didn't quite know what she was going to ask or suggest, or say at all for that matter. All she knew was that she needed to discuss what had happened a year ago and decide what their positions were in relation to each other, Olympus and Ludicael.



The two had a rough history, to say the very least. The Matriarch had considered sending someone on this journey in her place, but had thought differently after considering it. She feared that Virgil was too close to Helios's heart to send him to a place he likely felt had wronged her. She even worried he would disapprove of her going, but she would do it regardless. Her other option had been to perhaps send one of Virgil's children, but she couldn't do that. Not until she had spoken to the alphess herself. Natalya was unsure whether she saw any benefit in the children meeting the other half of their family at all, in any respect. They would not understand the schism yet, would not understand the truth about their father. Perhaps it would only make things worse.



That, of course, was part of the reason she made this journey. With Poe flying just over her head, Natalya had weaved her way along the edge of the land after making it through the west unscathed. She cut back in only when she could smell Ludicael's borders nearby, coming to rest at the edge of what were evidently hot springs. She could feel them on the already hot air and was immediately thankful that she had arrived in the night, when everything was cooler. Sun on her black pelt would be a curse right now. Poe perched on her shoulder as she howled, summoning the leader forth and hoping it was still the reasonable woman she'd met on her last journey here.