Valdís ushered the youths in front of her as the trio worked their way to Ashen. She hoped by being more toward the back she could catch the girl if she tried to make a break for it. Not that it was really Legion's job to be rounding up wayward Ashen pups. She hoped they could come to some sort of agreement though it was hard to say how exactly the conversation would go. For one thing she wanted to know if there was any truth to this throwing wolves in volcano thing, though she supposed if Ashen really was sacrificing their members they might not be very vocal about it. Valdís was a sharp wolf though and Deathbelle seemed reasonable.

Valdís arrived at the border and tipped back her head to howl for the Ashen Empress so they could get this kerfuffle sorted out.

Álarr trailed after Valdís, head down though he occasionally glanced at Pestilence, an apologetic expression on his face. Valdís could be overbearing at times and he hated that his friend had to deal with that but he wasn't in a position to talk back so he kept silent most of the journey. He still didn't like the idea of Pesto going back to such a place but if they were able to see each other and she caught wind that she was going to be sacrificed then he could rescuer. Valdís just wouldn't be able to say no then and even if she did then Álarr would run away to. He and Pesto could just go and live somewhere else.

Pestilence walked on extremely aware of the woman's eyes upon her and knowing she'd have no opportunity for escape under her watch. Besides, to attempt something might get Alarr in trouble and it wasn't something the young princess was willing to risk. She was obedient and contrite, though the closer they got to Ashen's territory the more stressed the pup became. Mother was going to kill her, that much Pestilence was sure of. When Valdis howled, she flinched in anticipation. The only thing she could hope for was that the Empress was busy, preoccupied, or simply not in the territory. Maybe someone else would show up to greet the Legion wolf in her place, someone reasonable like Uncle Hari or Uncle Hannibal. Maybe Sirius, the last time she'd been escorted home after an escape attempt it was Sirius who'd retrieved her and Pestilence earned no punishment from the titan. But perhaps that was because he was too concerned with the lioness who'd found her and whether or not she was in danger of being someone's lunch. With a sigh she plopped her rear end upon the ground and glared out at the shrine. It was a stupid place, much worse then the lake and ravine she'd been born in. Why had mom chosen this place for them? This stupid territory where the volcano stared down at her even larger and more looming and ominous then it had from the redwater rocks. Her shoulders slumped and her ears pulled flat, and the princess stole a glance towards her friend. She could read the apology in his expression, and her own mirrored it. This was so embarrassing. Hopefully Valdis wouldn't try to clarify her lies to her mother. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

The voice that called at her border was familiar, it had done so once before but many miles away. Deathbelle smirked at the sound, but became more curious. They hadn’t followed up previously about their first meeting, but she had a feeling that was not what she appeared here for now. Mother’s intuition so to speak.

Valdis came into view quickly, along with her a tall yearling, and Pestilence. Lilac eyes turned hard as she peered at her daughter but returned her attentions to Valdis. ”Valdis.” Her greeting was warm despite the odd circumstance of her appearance. The she wolf had left with the Empress’s respect at their last talk. ”I hope Pestilence hasn’t brought you any trouble” Her gaze returned to her wayward daughter as she spoke her name. She knew very well she shouldn’t be out and about without an escort.

Valdís didn't bother to sit down as she waited. She still felt the need to be alert in case the two youths with her tried something. She could tell Álarr was sulking and the girl, Pestilence, didn't seem to be in a much better mood though that wasn't unexpected. Soon her call was answered by the Empress and Valdís dipped her head low in respectful greeting.

"I suppose that depends very much on how this plays out. Álarr was late for training and when I went to find him I tracked him all the way to Gambit Briar where he was with Pestilence. Apparently, they've met a few times now and during their little meeting she said she was running away because Ashen threw her father into a volcano and Álarr offered her to stay in Legion. As you can guess I find a number of things about this situation concerning." Legion unwittingly taking in an Ashen wolf could lead to war, if Pesto's story was true well that led to a lot of questions.

"Álarr considers her a close friend and so I wanted to discuss the possibility of arranged play dates until they are old enough to wander to prevent this kind of thing in the future. I'm sure you would not have expected your daughter that far south. Of course… this does not address the issue of her professed running away or what exactly is going on with Ashen and that volcano." She gazed at Deathbelle questioningly, eyes searching the woman's face.

Pestilence's mouth opened as if to argue the woman's words, but then she looked back to Alarr and clamped it back shut. She didn't want to out herself as a liar in front of her friend, and at least when her mother inevitably refuted it she could get away with trying to convince the boy that the Empress was lying to save face. None of it was feeling right to her, and she shifted her weight from paw to paw as she deliberated on it. The princess never thought she'd consider herself a liar, and here she was trying her hardest to manipulate the truth. If only Valdis just would have shut up and let Alarr take her away, this would have all been avoided. She looked up cautiously - finding her mother's cold gaze - and then hung her head once more in shame. Her eyes stung with unshed tears, and she lifted a paw to subtly try and brush them away before her friend or his guardian might notice. From the way she sat, you could hardly tell that the pup was softly shaking. How did this go so wrong? She couldn't even find the words to apologize to her mother. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

Deathbelle returned Valdis greeting with her own nod as the woman began speaking. The boy’s training was interrupted by her daughter and they were very far from where Ashen now took up residence. She kept her eyes on Valdis for the moment, being so far from home wasn’t good and she didn’t like that her daughter found herself roaming so easily. When the Legion woman spoke the second verse the Empress felt her gaze suddenly jump to her young daughter. Her heart stopped and she could hardly believe what the woman was saying.

”She didn’t.” Deathbelle wasn’t calling Valdis a liar, her gaze was hard and her brows furrowed into a frown as she looked over the girl. Her guilt was nearly palpable as she stood with her head hung low. Belle returned her gaze back to Valdis, owing her no explanation but would give it anyway. ”My husband was killed by the eruption,” Her voice grew low as she looked to Pesto again and let the sorrow she still felt hint in her voice. ”He was not thrown in.” Deathbelle relived the moment over and over again in her thoughts and nightmares. Knowing Pestilence could lie about one of the most terrible moments of her mother’s life…

”I’ll think on your proposal.” She ended, speaking about the potential to continue fostering a friendship between the two. ”My daughter and I have some conversations to have first.” Her eyes were back on Pestilence at that point. ”Thank you, Valdis for bringing her back to me. If you have anything you need help with, Pestilence will be glad to offer her labor.” With a couple of confident strides Deathbelle moved to stand beside the tall princess and usher her back into the pack.