The morning was bright in the territories mostly unscoured by the volcano’s titanic reach. It was the further in that he worked, the darker the day seemed to become. Still ash was in the air, and he could taste it even here, many leagues from the epicenter. The land beneath his feet would occasionally quake, and quiver as through it contemplated ways to swallow the world. The Titan ignored all such warnings, and the danger of the volcano itself as he travelled further inland. Moving from the safety of the Ashen Empires temporary homes, past the lands they had left behind, and moved further still. He knew of the pack that had settled so near the territories he was considering for his pack of war. Did they hide from the face of the volcano, leave their lands behind and make haste to other places? Would they hear his roar, and return, despite their fear of the volcano? The Dire wolf let his lips roll into a partial grin, feeling it past his elongated fangs as he walked with broad steps towards his chosen mark. He wanted not the land this pack resided in, but ones close to it, and wasn’t certain he liked the idea of settling so close to this pack. Would they come, and answer his call? Would they protect their land? The Titan did not know, but he was willing to find out. He raised back his head, and let loose a deep, rolling howl, a summons, a threat, a question. However you might with to take it. Fight for your land, or lose it. "Speech"

Deathbelle joined Sirius in his search for the shrine and their new lands. She didn’t often pray to god, not after he took away her husband. Today started with a quick thought, to god to Archon… she wasn’t sure. Her thoughts were near fully on her late husband as they made their way closer to the volcano. She hated the sight of the massive mountain, and her heart still ached with the nightmares of seeing him disappear behind the lip. She wanted him back more than anything.

Now that Archon was gone though, one of her biggest acts to be made in his name would be to claim the shrine. The original place he wished to call his own in god’s name. The one he shunned to take her and create their family. The thought made her heart swell, to know that even after his demise she would be able to offer up the shrine to him. She still felt the stabbing pain of knowing Archon would never see his children stand triumphantly on that hallowed ground, but his spirit would be here.

She made her way up to Sirius’s side, her delicate paws carrying her carefully over the ash covered ground. Her lilac gaze searched the horizon, but something deep down told her they would not be challenged here.

Sirius waited a long moment, and when he heard the sound of ash parting beneath paw, he would turn and find Deathbelle approaching his side. He offered her a smile, dipping his head in a low bow. He was now a leader, but he was still not the Empress’s equal. He cast another glance around him, but it was already terribly clear that no one was coming. “My Empress” he said, his grin sly. “If you will allow me to escort you to your Shrine?” he had expected this wish to be slightly harder, but it had been so easy he was almost disappointed. Where was the challenge.

He moved then, gesturing for Deathbelle to follow. “I have yet to disturb the ground, I thought you would wish to set foot there first yourself” he explained. As he lead the Empress’s of two packs towards the land she had wished him to claim. As she did so, he would speak. “I have begun the preliminary investigation of surrounding lands, there is an island quite close to here that looks peaceful, as well as other lands with access to fresh water and foliage surrounding this place. I would love to hear your thoughts on where you wish Ashen to settle.” he said, leaving the decision to her - of course, once she had taken a look, he would also begin to nudge her into a more strategic setting, something that allowed his Armada to settle securely around her.

Sirius offered her a respectful bow, and it was enough to earn him a soft smile as Deathbelle entered his presence. There was no challenge, not even a whimper, of the ones who owned this before. She almost felt sorry for her Warlord. Belle couldn’t help the grin that overtook her features as he called her Empress. She truly was an Empress now. Two packs united under one name. ”Sirius,” she greeted back her pride in him obvious. She thought more time would need to pass before the foundation of his pack was built. Yet here they were..

She followed after her titan as he made his way forward, mentioning that he had left her the honor of breaking ground. ”An Island?” Already the thought perked her interest. The ravine had been lovely, but and Island? Her comfort was secondary in the decision though, she wanted to hold the shrine.

Deathbelle settled in beside him, her pace naturally matching his own as they walked. For a moment Belle was returned to a time when she had no care in the world at all. Whatever she wanted Seer was quick to provide. ”Show me what you’ve found, Sirius.” She wouldn’t make a hasty decision. She knew that she wanted the shrine, but she wanted to see the lands around it too. ”And what conclusions you have come to.”

He gave his Empress a sly smile as she asked his opinion. Of course she realised he had already developed one, she knew him too well. They entered the area that held the shrine as he spoke. “The island holds strategic advantage, and we could build a land bridge from their to Sea’s plains. If we hold those two lands, and the Shrine, the next logical conclusion would be Tall Grass Plains. Of those four lands you will own, you would be most comfortable on the Island and Sea’s plain.” he said. “With my warriors living in Tall Grass Plains and patrolling Alabastine Shrine” He concluded. Uncertain if she would instead wish to make her den by the Shrine she converted. Either way, she was the Empress, and the lands were hers.

They reached the Shrine, and the Warlord held back. “I’ll be here” he said gently, giving her some privacy, knowing she would see this place and see not the land, but Archon. Once she was finished, he would give her a tour of the lands he had spoken of.

He was no ill prepared pup and Sirius gave her a knowing smile before going into the details he’d already been thinking on. She couldn’t deny his logic, but she still wished to set eyes on the land before making a huge decision. The idea of anyone making their den in the shrine made her feel uncomfortable, so Sirius’s layout seemed more than acceptable. The bulk of their warriors patrolling their shrine while the royal family took up residence on the easily defendable island.

”I like your assessment so far.” She left her statement open ended, after their tour they could decide more heavily. The titan warrior slowed and allowed her to continue on ahead of him. She took a deep breath, and with her delicate paws made her way over the dense bed of ash. She had never laid eye upon the place but as she looked upon the white trees and the ivory stone that made the shrine she felt Archon beside her.

She knew that he would be overcome with pride if he could see where she was now. Where their children would rule. She felt tears well in her eyes, she could finally offer him the shrine. Too late, but here they were.

The Warlord took a seat, keeping himself non-disturbing as he turned his back on the Empress and guarded her six instead. He would give her as long as she needed, keeping watch in a silent reflection of his own as she took the time she needed with the Shrine she had asked of him.

He continued to consider the lay of the land, and the four lands he had mentioned to the Empress, he would take her on a tour of them once she was done, give her his opinion, and leave the final decision up to the Empress. Regardless of what she chose, he would ensure her home was like a palace, and she would have every comfort and protection.

So long as he took at least one fertile land, he didn’t mind possessing also the Shrine, to ensure it was kept in the Empire, and to give Deathbelle unrestricted access to it at all times. He imagined she would also take their children there in the near future. This was a part of the Klein children, his apprentices, that he could not possess, a part that was wholly their fathers, and he could not understand.

She breathed in heavily the scent of smoke and ash but even as she did she felt like she could feel Archon beside her. His scent filled her nostrils, she felt the heat of him at her side, and the feeling of his breath on her nose. When she opened her eyes she was almost disappointed he was not there. Her heart again ached for her lost husband, but here she was. The shrine was hers and through her.. his.

Deathbelle threw back her head and let out a long and sorrowful howl. She was claiming the shrine in the name of Klein and Abraxas. After all of her loss and the pain she endured the last year: here was a victory she could take heart in. Again she called out, crying up to the heavens and the afterlife that this was claimed in the name of Archon Abraxas.

She lowered her features and took another breath before allowing a long moment of silence to fall over her. She felt like a bit of weight was lifted from her heavily laden shoulders. Spring was coming, and renewal was nigh. Deathbelle turned back to Sirius, and she wished for just a moment that she could seek out comfort from him then.

”Show me the new Ashen Empire, my Warlord.“ She offered with tears in her eyes and heavy emotion in her voice. Her sense of pride making attempt to overwhelm her sorrow.

The Warlord folded back his ears in distress as the Empress let loose her mournful cry, the tones of lose echoing through the woods. She did much in the name of her late husband, claiming this is as his, despite his absence from the mortal world. He could not fault her in it, but a small part of his heart tinged at the credit the dead man received. The living could never compete with the dead.

When she returned to him, there was a sadness to her that he would have fixed, had he been able. “Of course, my Empress” he agreed, and walked side by side as he took her first to the Island he thought might interest her. For the moment there was still a shallow walk to Nephilim Island from the Shrine, but he had designs to fill it with sand and create a land bridge, as he would to the Sea’s Plains. “After you” he said politely, indicating the shallow stretch of sand that created the easiest path through the water.

Her short ceremony would have to due for now until she could allow Obi to perform a real ceremony over the shrine. Again she yearned to have Archon here to do so himself, but maybe her nightmares would finally subside. He didn’t move to offer her any affections, not even a mistaken motion not really meant for her. A shiver ran over her spine as the two of them walked together. Not as she once wished they would but as close to equal as possible. She couldn’t have him, but as time went on she looked forward to seeing their children grow up together.

They walked in relative silence, Belle wasn’t sure what to say. ”I’m so lonely now Sirius, please reconsider your relationship with my beloved Zee.” Those words would never be allowed to leave her lips. They had long settled the debate about their relationship, just because of Archon’s death didn't change anything.

Deathbelle took her Vessel’s command and made her way forward into the chill of the ocean water. It refreshed the she wolf, and helped to wash away her sorrow and sadness. She was the Empress of Ashes, and her phoenix heart would rise again. ”It’s beautiful, even under the smoke and ash.” She offered softly, already feeling attachment to the place.

There was an awkwardness to the silence between the two old friends. It was as through Archon was still there, his presence encompassing the two, forcing himself into their time together. Deathbelle had loved the man truly, and Sirius had hated him for it. Even as he had made the decision not to pursue Death, even as he had fallen in love with Zee, still he hated Achon for the piece of Deathbelle he owned, even in death.

Sirius had made his choice with Zee, and he would stick to it, for he loved the woman, no matter how much it hurt him to see Deathbelle hurting, to wonder if he could have fixed her. The thoughts were there, evermore present after Deathbelle had called on Archon’s spirit at the Shrine, and gifted the land to the man.

He followed Deathbelle into the water, walking just behind her as they made their way to the Island. “I thought you might like it” he agreed, wishing he could have washed away the taint of Volcano and given her this gift without its presence. “We can plan, and build and claim these lands, but they are not habitable until the Volcano ends it’s madness. At least Ash makes for fertile land.” The Titan said with a sigh.

She hurt when she focused too heavily on Archon, and she felt pain when she allowed herself to be too close to Sirius. She tried not to think of Hannibal, and only prayed that he was alive and well out there. She hated the idea that he had perished in the volcano as well. Trying to bring her thoughts away from her personal strife she focused on the task at hand.

The Armada was rising, and they were deciding the most comfortable place for Ashen to relocate. The desert was a harsh mistress, and moving here to the Shrine area would help Deathbelle to honor her late husband and build up her children after him. He was gone, he wouldn’t be here for the future she was building for their children. She had to move forward, to move on. Maybe moving here would help that process.

Everything Sirius said was true, even about the ash being fertile. Belle felt another weight lift off her shoulders as he said it. ”Yes. Ashen will be reborn, literally from the ash.” She offered with hope in her voice as she stole a glance back towards his intimidating features. Deathbelle sighed softly as she turned to make her way onto the beach. The island was massive, this would indeed be a royal place when they were through.

Sirius had to laugh at the irony, seeing it only after Deathbelles words. He had been too caught up on the tactical analysis to see the poetry. “Yes, indeed” he agreed. He just wished it was safe for them to do so now, instead of waiting on the whimsicalness of the volcano. He had no idea how long it would take for it to finally clear, and the damage to heal.

In the meantime.. “The Armada can begin in the Oasis and Travelers Lake, the beasts of the desert travel to both for water, so we can make do on the resources available to us for the moment” he said, eager to bring his pack here, but knew he had no choice but to start it from the desert. At least it would always reside beside the pack of the Empress, and together make an Empire.

She managed to make the warrior laugh and she offered him her own lopsided smirk in retaliation. For a moment she was returned to their teenage years, before she realized her deep love for him. When they laughed for hours, when she actually was able to win a spar against him, back when they had been innocent. It only lasted a moment before she was pulled back to the present, Sirius went on to explain his plans for the time it took for the land to recover.

”I approve of your plans so far. When is much more of a question right now.” Eventually, someday, soon she hoped. Coming to the shrine, taking over the island, then she would feel at home. Lilac gaze returned to his bright blue eyes, already she’d spent too much time too close to him. She tried to return her attention to the island, it would take days to examine thoroughly and even longer to rid it of predators and dangers. She smiled softly, looking forward to the challenge.

”It will be glorious when we’re through.” Deathbelle uttered proudly, daring to allow herself a look at the future without Archon. A future for her.

He looked to the proud Empress, their plans set in stone, waiting only for the right moment to take action. They had plenty to do in the meantime, a small accumulation of tasks that would build a greater whole.

The Warlord, well moving onto the island to begin his exploring, shook out his coat and looked to Deathbelle in time to see her lopsided smirk. It made him realise just how long it had been since he had seen genuine happiness on the woman. He would have fought nations to see that smile again. Oh Deathbelle.

“Until we Rise, then, my Ashen Phoenix” He whispered, placing a new pet name upon her shoulders, now that his old one no longer fit the changed woman. She was a Phoenix. She had risen from the ashes of the old empire, and she would rise from the ashes of her broken heart. She was Empress of a kingdom of Ash, a budding pack of opportunity that would grow only stronger through their hardships.

She wouldn’t allow her loneliness to rule her, but that didn't mean she didn’t feel it. Especially now, here alone with Sirius. She wished Zee were here to help keep her focused so she didn’t dwell on what wouldn’t be. She hadn’t felt real happiness since before Archon’s death, when her family had been whole. Now she had a new future to look forward to, the new start to the Ashen Empire. There was work to be done, and at least her paws would be occupied the next few seasons.

Seer looked back to her and spoke upon her own words, gifting her with a new title. Though his words were a whisper they rocked her entire foundation. Deathbelle wanted to hear it over and over again. As he turned away Belle couldn’t help her longing glance, and the desire for her guardian once again took hold of her. She sighed inwardly, pushing down the feeling for her own good.

”The Ashen Empire and its Armada will take Boreas by storm. All will come to fear our name.” She whispered back just as softly as her delicate paws carried her after his huge form.

He would see the spark ignite in her at his words, and knew that they had struck a chord in her. Phoenix. it was both fitting, and one she approved of, and with that the nickname would be sealed. She was his Phoenix.

He wouldn’t catch the extra expression his words had caused her to show, his mind still on the pack, and his attention cast to the side as he explored. When he turned back to her, she had wiped it free, and he would be none the wiser. Perhaps it was a good thing, his love for her was always only tucked under a thin sheet of duty.

“We are your might, and you need but call upon us, and point us in the direction of your enemies” he agreed.