Deathbelle tried not to think about Io, she was still mourning the end of their intimate relationship. The woman wasn’t leaving her for good, they would always be friends much like she was to her adopted brother. She had her own brother to distract her from thoughts of her once-lover, but even he had duties to attend to and couldn’t be with her every moment. She had her own duties to attend so her dainty paws carried her into the Armada’s temporary home.

She half hoped and half dreaded a runin with the dainty healer, she focused on sirius though. His leg was healed at this point, and she was unsure if he was even in the territory. She had just returned from a scouting trip, and it might have only been her wishful thinking but it seemed like the ash was subsiding.

Eventually she gave up looking for the titan and lowered her haunches to the sand surrounding the pristine desert water. Lilac eyes scanned the small oasis, her tail twitching at her hips as she lifted her muzzle and asked for Sirius to join her under the moon.

The soft caw of the vulture above might direct the Empress’s attention upwards. It wouldn’t be long after his cry, that the dark shape of her guard would make its way across the dunes, his tireless pace keeping him to speed with the lazily gliding bird above. The heavy sand lurched under each paw sending out a light spray of dust behind him, before he slowed, and came to a stop before the Empress. His sides heaved, but there was joy in his eyes as he smiled at his leader. It was clear he enjoyed the fact that he could return to heavy exercise.

He gave himself a moment to catch his breath, and Marshal glided down to land on the earth beside Deathbelle. “My Lady” Sirius said softly, offering her a deep bow. “What brings you to my humble abode?” he fell into the easy rhythm of teasing her, feeling that they had started to return to an easier friendship after Deathbelle request. It felt like Deathbelle had finally accepted Zee and Sirius as a pair, and, oddly enough, begun to move past them, after giving her request, and having it accepted. It was almost like all she had needed was the knowledge that they would have welcomed her with open arms, even if she didn’t now want to be a part of their marriage.

Lilac eyes looked up to the massive silhouette of Marshal, though he was difficult to make out against the night sky she did she his shape block out the stars. The sound of Sirius’s massive paws became more clear and the Empress shifted her gaze to take in his long stride. He was taking full advantage of being healed from his misfortune. The sight of him so happy heartened her even as she forced herself to relax. She would never forget the love she had for the titan of a man, but always at the back of her mind she would remember that she could never call him her own.

”Seer,” she offered him warmly as he bowed and asked her purpose here. ”Am I not allowed to simply call upon my friend?” She teased him back with a sharp look in her eye. Too much time had passed since she sat down and spoke to him on issues beyond her personal ones.

“Always.” he said, without the faintest hint of hesitation. His loyalty to Deathbelle was absolute, always had been, always would. He loved her still, too, but he loved her with the almost fervent love of a fanatic, one who looked up their goddess, or in this case, Empress. His love to Zee was more homely, more earthbound.

Perhaps, in another life, he would have been Deathbelles lover. Regardless, he would always be her friend; absolute, and loyal. He pulled himself from his bow and settled in in front of her. He hunched a little so he didn’t tower above her, and Marshal waddled a little closer to the pair.

Always the loyal beast he didn’t hesitate to set her straight even if she was teasing him. He looked up at her with bright blue eyes, his loyalty and devotion absolute. Sirius was a very different wolf from the guardian he was when he returned to her side. His position changed completely, from her closest guard to a king in his own right. And still he bowed to her, because he loved her and knew that she cared for him as well. Maybe their love might still be played out in the next generation, but she knew that he had given his heart to Zee, and that was where it belonged no matter how she felt.

He settled himself at her paws and she shifted to sit next to his shoulder and lean against his massive frame. She stifled a soft sigh and leaned down to nuzzle his cheek hesitantly, still only dipping her toes into the way things used to be. ”You’ve been busy. It’s been too long since we’ve talked.” Out of habit she found herself absently grooming the fur at the back of his neck.

She didn’t hesitate to lean against him, the distance they had carefully maintained between them falling away a little more each time they spoke. He smiled comfortably, and leaned back a little, giving her a comfortable side to put her weight against. It still caught him by surprise when she gave his cheek a gentle nuzzle. She felt so small and fragile in his arms, like a blooming flower. So perfect, and yet, he feared to touch her in case he broke her gentle petals. He didn’t want to damage this trust she placed in him, allowing herself to get close, as though she no longer feared heartbreak.

He let out a content rumble and dipped his head low so she could more easily reach the fur at the back of his neck. Perhaps he shouldn’t allow the Empress to be doing the grooming, but it felt so good, so right, to see Deathbelle comfortable with him. Nothing about their pose spoke of lovers, but there was a hint of their strong friendship there. It was true, Io really had been good for the Empress, she seemed less afraid of her own heart.

“It has been. Was there anything in particular you wished to talk about?”

She liked the surprised smile she pulled out of him as she offered her affction, for so long she had put a hard distance between them. She had been so unable to deal with her loneliness being close with him hurt more than helped. Now, she was healing. She could see her selfishness and she could be happy that the one she cared so deeply about had found the other half of his heart. Now that she had known Iolaire, she could only hope that she would find hers.

He rumbled contentedly at her as she saw the state of his fur, cleaning the dust from his desert run. He agreed, too long had passed but he wouldn’t offer up any information, she had to ask the right questions. She lifted a brow curiously, for a moment wondering if he was trying to hide something from her. ”How is the Armada coming? I was worried its expansion would stall with your leg…” She started curiously. Of course she had helped to patrol the temporary borders while he was forced to take things easy, but she didn’t know how much he’d been able to finish with the handicap.

A soft, content sigh escaped him as the titanic brute let himself relax in the presence of his Empress. He was relaxed enough to speak to Deathbelle about anything, and there was much he had not told her of late. Too much distance had grown between them, and he felt both were lacking in news of the other. He had heard from Zee who had been told by Io that Death had been attacked by Coyotes, and he did crack an eye to see if he could spot any scars there claws might have left in her.

“It definitely stalled, I need new members, and have not been able to recruit well I was laid up. I’m, desperately hoping the new season will give us the chance to move to our new lands, and with it a new influx of members” he explained. The Armada was still very small. An intimate, closely knit pack of just family thus far. He was going to let Poem go home, he had not been successful in molding her, and hadn’t put as much effort into that as he had wished. The damn leg had set all his plans back. He hoped to bring Banshee’s training forward, and mold that woman into a fierce fighter.

Sirius relaxed against her, his audible sigh proof of the contentment he felt. The distance between them had become too vast, and she hoped that they might be able to close it. To return to the easy friendship that lingered between them despite the hardships. She had been given little snippets from Io, but not much more than news on his leg. She hadn’t visited him near enough as she should have and now they were practically strangers.

He explained himself and the hardships the Armada faced because of his grave injury. She nodded knowing, both to the stall of growth as well as the hopefulness of their new start. Of making their move to new lands. Now they were small, but the Empire grew quickly, they would make their mark on Boreas yet.

”I’m sure the Empire with explode in growth with your returned health.” She assured him in between the tending of his fur. ”Ashen is holding steady, after the disappearances we are on our way to growth.” She offered as a bit of hope. If the boy Sandor returned she wondered if Sirius would wish to take him under his wing as well. ”Speaking of growth, in a little more than a season your quilled apprentice will be a yearling.” She reminded him of Venom’s impossibly fast growth and her looming first birthday. Along with her brother and sisters.

He grunted in acknowledgment to Deaths words, his eyes had slipped closed and he was too content to bother with speech. The Armada would grow, or it wouldn't. Either way he would make his stand in the world and put in the work to grow it. He believed himself capable, despite set backs in his broken leg and the still rumbling volcano.

"Growth is good" he commented voice soft and sleepy. Despite his night time excursion he was worn out instead of invigorated. It would take him a while to get back to sleep, and his night terrors didnt make for restful nights.

He did however slip open an eye to stare at her when she commented on her daughter. "A year? Isnt she just a month old?" He teased, finding himself caught off guard by how much time had passed. Truly, she was going to be a year? He found vinself annoyed all over again at the time he had spent den-bound. The training Venom had missed out on in that time.

The Empress was on her way to lulling the giant to sleep, his eyes had closedand his words came after some coaxing. Sirius seemed exhausted, and if he wanted to nap here under her watchful gaze she was going to let him. He’d never told her about his night terrors. She had no idea the potential danger she would be put in. Deathbelle disturbed him enough to get one bright blue eye opened. She smirked softly as he teased her about her children’s age.

”I do miss my tiny four week old puppies.” She mused lornfully and looked forward to the future and the next litter she might bear. Archon’s spawn were growing into formidable beasts, their greatness would be known across the lands. Deathbelle missed her innocent little babies though. She was feeling her loneliness and nuzzled him again for her own comfort.

”I need to focus more heavily on their training.” She mused, not in accusation towards him but what needed to be done. ”Maybe think about assigning official mentors. Seeing what paths they wish to take.” She needed to sit her brood down and talk to them about where they saw their futures.

Sleepy he might be, but he would never fall asleep and put his empress at risk. He was content with simply being relaxed around her. He did give a sleepy smile at the memory of the little jelly bean pups she had birthed. Before they had grown enough to be allowed full freedom and instead crawled mischievously around their den and given their mother a hard time. He had known immediately that he had loved them, and remembered the feelings it had left him with - that they would not be his own.

"Perhaps... perhaps I will have some little rascals of my own sometime soon" he said wistfully. He had never spoken the wish outloud to Death before, too afraid before of hurting her. Now that she seemed content with her lot, he could cautiously put the idea out there. "When you... how long did it take, to fall pregnant?" By the gods, what an awkward question. The large, imposing titan opened both eyes now, and looked a little sheepish as he eyed Deathbelle. Would she guess his concern?

"And as for Venom, give her to me for a season or two, let me see if I can train her for Special Reconnaissance. She would make a frightening little spy" he said, a fond smile making it's way to his expression.

She knew that he loved her children as much as she did, the look of adoration that took over his features at first sight was something she wouldn’t forget. Had she known that Sirius was actually alive when she met Archon maybe they would have been Seer’s children instead of the dead Abraxas. None of that mattered now, what was done was done, and he had Zee to make his family with, he would never father her children.

Sirius spoke of his own offspring as she continued to groom his mane, he seemed wistful and almost hopeful. Without the looming knowledge that his children would be offered up in servitude the thought should have made his excited. She hurt knowing that she wouldn’t bear the dearest wolf of her heart’s children, but she wanted him to experience having a family even if it would not be with her. She didn’t expect him to ask about her own conception. Deathbelle didn’t react but her lilac gaze did return to his vivid sapphire eyes, he wouldn’t have asked if he wasn’t serious. She wondered if the two of them were actively trying to expand their family.

”Just once.” She whispered back, knowing such an answer would only worry the titan. Every she wolf was different though, some never got pregnant outside their season and others only off said season. She didn’t go any further into detail, both for Seer’s benefit and her own. Talking about Archon was still a difficult task and the vision of him slipping behind the crevasse still haunted her.

The conversation did continue as he mentioned his plans he had for not so little Venom. ”You don’t think her tongue will be too menacing?” She chuckled in half seriousness. She was thankful for her children’s blessings but if Venom was going to be in such a position would her mutations detract from such a job? ”She’ll need to know more than fighting to excel in that position.” Maybe she didn’t give her daughter enough credit, maybe that was the perfect path for her.

The sleepiness was mostly gone now that his concern had shown through. Would Deathbelle understand why he was so concerned? He hated things he couldn’t control, things he couldn’t beat into submission with his own impressive power. There were too many unknowns in this world, he couldn’t fix death, or nature, or bring children where none could be brought.

His Empress met his blue gaze, and he felt her question in them, through she did not react, nor ask them. Instead she would tell him what he wished to know, and he sighed softly. Just once? He had taken Zee to bed multiple times now, and she was yet to bloom with child. What if… when he had almost died, what if the injured has rendered him impotent?

“I believe she could manage it, with some training and time. She has charisma, determination and a great deal of strength”

He didn’t hide his reaction as she spoke honestly, and she saw rather plainly a bit of disappointment and a whole lot more anxiety. She tried not to react in return and simply shifted, huddling to him more tightly in an offer of comfort for his unseen troubles. She hoped that it would do him good to think about the children in his life at the moment and not the children that were to come. Or not.

Though he had much on his mind Sirius was still quick to praise her child, and it felt good to know he thought so highly of her. Not that anything he said wasn’t true. All of her children were impressive in their own ways. ”With your guidance I'm sure she could do anything” She told him honestly, not forgetting his earlier question or the look that flashed in his eyes. Deathbelle leaned down and nuzzled him again, uncertain of the path his thoughts took.

He felt Deathbelle lean more heavily into him, and he accepted her embrace, putting a paw around her side and drawing her in close. It was still a novelty that she allowed him to get so close, that neither of them cringed or drew away. It allowed him to smile softly, despite his concerns. His Empress was his best friend, and she always would be. He didn’t want to fear holding her close.

“So, does that mean you’ll send her to me?” he asked, as Deathbelle spoke of his guidance being important in her life. He had already helped to shape her into a warrior. He had taught her how to skin a coat, and bring down a cat. She could defend herself easily, and she had a lot of love for fighting. Perhaps it was unfair, but he considered Venom his favourite of Deatbelles children. Pestilance he had been close to, until Archon’s death, at which point the young girl didn’t seem to want much to do with him. He leaned into Deathbelles nuzzle, treating her like she was a gentle bird in his arms that he might scare away if he moved too quickly.

Deathbelle still felt a little stiff being so close, but as he accepted her embrace he pulled her into one of his own. She allowed him to hold her to his chest, and she knew that he harbored no ill will towards her as he settled back into his affectionate ways. She held him at arm's length for a long time, but she hadn’t been ready to accept him so close. Not when she had been denied for another. Still, his presence was a comfort and she easily relaxed into his inky black fur.

”For a while, perhaps.” She mused quietly as she enjoyed the distraction from her personal affairs. ”Who do you think will be my heir?” She chuckled softly, not that she had decided between the five of them. Venom was the firstborn though, and seemed the most capable out of a very capable brood. As she thought about her own heir her mind strayed to the question he asked again. Where were his heirs?

The Empress leaned into his arms, and all he could smell was her coat. The unique scent that made her Deathbelle, the lightly scented soaps she used for bathing where also present, and the faint scent of her flowers. She smelled clean and fresh, and it reminded him that Zee had been her handmaiden. Did Io take on some of those duties now? He wasn’t prepared for the image of the two woman washing together, and pushed it away with a grimace. He didn’t judge Deathbelle for her love choices, if anything he appreciated how soothing Io had been to the Empress - but the last thing he wanted was the reminder of his sister sleeping with his Goddess like Empress.

“You mean Io isn’t?” voice a gently laugh as he leaned forward to look at the wolf in his arms, smile soft and teasing. An heir. would he get one of those? “I miss your kids as little den wigglers too.” he said, wistfully, the only hint of the worries going on behind his eyes.

The Empress relaxed against him, content to allow her mind a break from Iolaire. The woman meant a lot to her, she’d done so much to heal her heart. It was easy to feel sorrowful at what the pair of them were giving up with the end of their affair. She’d enjoyed every moment she had been allowed with the Armada healer. Belle wondered if her once lover had told Sirius that they reached their end. Not that she knew he’d given his sister a little bit of a hard time about it.

”Ha, you know I would never be able to pry her from you.” Her words were teasing but the sad bit of truth they held hurt. Io was not hers either. ”The Empire will grow in more ways than one.” She tried to assure him as she nuzzled his ear. ”New life will burst forth, we just have to wait for the winter to be through.” There would be new children in Ahen again soon, how they got there would be the better question. Would things work out between herself and Hannibal? Would her guardian finally continue on his impressive line?

"That's true" he agreed. He was possessive of his sister and had spoken to her multiple times and received the same promise every occasion. She would not leave his side, despite what was growing between herself and the Empress. "Speaking of, how do you feel about that?" He asked. He didnt want Deathbelle to ask him to give Io to her, but there was little he wouldnt give his Empress. He didnt know that it was over, the last he knew, they were still going strong.

"Are you trying to say I shouldn't give up on kids?" He asked, finally he stopped beating around the bush. It came out with an amused, frustrated sigh. There was no point being subtle about it, he was sure Death had already guessed exactly what he was talking about. "Its been a few seasons now with no signs of anything coming of it" he explained to his empress. He would cease and desist the conversation the moment she showed any hint she was uncomfortable or unhappy with it