The Empress couldn’t deny the little hop in her step as she led young Seven towards the palace. He was a hunter she knew, and could take care of puppies. The latter she wasn’t so sure she’d trust him with yet, not that they had any youth that needed baby sat anymore. Even her youngest were for the most part self sufficient. Even young Siren, which was a surprise in and of itself. No, for now she intended for him to see to her needs.

She wondered how difficult communication would be, and how smart he really was. Would he pick up easily or would he prove difficult? She wouldn’t know until she tried. ”Alright Seven, I know you can’t speak well but lets start with some basics shall we?” She questioned him without expecting an answer. ”You may call me ‘Empress, Your Highness, Master’ if you so choose..” She slowed slightly and eyed him from the corner of her eye. ”I also expect you to be able to enunciate ‘yes’ and ‘no’ clearly. Understood?”

As seven trotted along behind Deathbelle he wagged his tail hugging it closer to his body. He made sure to make his boundaries so he didn't annoy his new master too badly. A new master! The excitement was endless he couldn't wait to be told what he could do to please her. That moment came soon enough even though it was a rather difficult one. As she asked him about basics of talking his head tilted he understood language but somehow as a pup hadn't caught up on it as he had been locked away from parents and siblings. Only Boreas would occasionally stop by to feed him after he had been weaned.

He concentrated hard, "Eeemprishh." but he shook his head knowing that wasn't quiet correct. It was frustrating if this was what would make her happy than he must do so. She then said she expected him to be able to say yes and no clearly. His weak vocal chords trained. Seven took a deep breath after a few moments of thinking how to say the words he tried it after obvserving her. "Yes, no!" he brightened smiling. He had wanted nothing more than a master to teach him to speak this was a glorious day for him. However... would she grant him a new name as well? He'd been wearing a number for so long.

She could feel his excitement, but that emotion wouldn’t be a crutch if he couldn’t manage to please her. Her lilac stare shifted to him as he listened intently, and the Empress wondered exactly how much of her words he was able to retain. His inability to speak was easy to conflate with stupidity, but thus far she couldn’t peg him as such. They halted for a moment as they started lesson number one. What she expected of him.

He thought and tried very hard to say ‘Empress’ but Deathbelle wasn’t particularly pleased with the results. ”Hmm.” She mumbled softly as she contemplated a solution. ”Try ‘Highness” She offered. ”H’ness” She breathed softly and exaggerated the motions of her lips.

Seven did very well with the yes and no portion of the test. Deathbelle didn’t want to offer him too much praise for his station but she did give him a pleased smile and an affirming nod. She sighed softly then, ”I suppose you need a real name as well.” This felt more like naming a pet than it did naming a wolf like when she’d named her children. ”I may wait to make a decision, see if anything wants to stick.” She mused mostly to herself as she picked up their pace once more.

Seven made sure he was attentive, one thing Borias had never noticed was that the boy was quiet smart he had just stunted growth and development as far as he was aware. Untrained vocal chords he was determined to practice every night to make his empress happy. To displease his new master would be to displease his way of life and there would be none of that for him. Watching her mouth and the sounds she made he mimicked them. "Highness." he found it better to make sure he said them quickly that way nothing came out garbled.

With the notion of getting a name he made sure to keep pace when she began to walk again. What was that thing he was supposed to say when he was happy about something. It didn't matter he would not speak unless spoken to as that was how things were supposed to be. Seven didn't want himself slipping this was his trainer his master - of course he was well trained unlike his siblings had been. Borias had given him the best odds to be sold, Seven was happy about this as he walked alongside Deathbelle but still a little behind.

Seven was attentive, she had all of his attention and he seemed to comprehend everything she said. Deathbelle had quite a bit of hope for her new subject, he really did have an incredible amount of potential. To her pleasant surprise he enunciated her suggestion perfectly. ‘Highness’ seemed to be the winner, she wouldn’t complain though she wouldn’t stop working with him either. Or perhaps he’d be better off with Venom teaching him, the girl didn’t already have enough on her plate Deathbelle was sure. More to keep her occupied and out of trouble.

”Good boy.” She told him with a grin before turning her attention to the path and returning to the palace. She set a decent pace, but the boy was able to keep up and knew his place behind her. She was mostly silent as they walked, Deathbelle’s mind touching on what she might call him when they arrived. ”Alright, daily duties.” She started as she led them through the threshold. ”Clean the floors, fluff and clean the furs.” Deathbelle gestured to the piles of furs that lined the main hall. ”Empty the hearth.” She turned her nose to the fire pit at the center of the large cavern. It would get less use as the weather warmed, but she preferred it clean.

”Most importantly,” the Empress flopped onto one of the biggest piles of fur. ”I need you to massage and clean my paws.” She stretched out her dainty feet in front of her for easy access.

Seven looked around the hall, something he'd never seen before and it was so magnificent. Was this really to be his new home where he could aim to please each and every wolf here. Especially Deathbelle. The tiny boy was all the more excited his tail wagged and he tried to contain his excitement but a small whine of pleasure left his body after he was told what his daily duties would be. He'd never tried cleaning before! Most of the time Borias only had him hunt for the others it was boring after that and having something to do would keep his mind busy. The hearth too it felt like all these wolves were on a completely different level.

Soon enough Deathbelle flopped down on one of the furs, Seven sat digilently as she then said he was to massage and clean her paws. Massage.... how was he to do that? He did not have flexible paws, but cleaning he could do perhaps she could tell him the best way to do it after all what was her pleasure was his. Seven looked around for a moment, searching for a source of water clean enough to be considered cleaning. His tail wagged looked to Deathbelle with a nod to her and a smile.

He was quite the eager boy and though he tried to hide his enthusiasm it still showed through. Belle felt the corners of her mouth pull back in an amused grin as she watched him. She hated that he was so non verbal, but his attitude would make up for it. Hopefully he’d pick up on talking quick enough.

As she relaxed he grew a little restless, he looked around curiously and returned his attention to her with a soft smile. ”You have a que-st-ion” She enunciated carefully for him. ”You can find fresh water down that corridor,” she gestured lightly to one of the smaller crags in the wall to the right of the entrance. ”There are bowls you can drag to and from the spring in an alcove near the water.” She gestured to an empty one at the corner of her fur pile. ”Just don’t confuse those with the white ones for drinking.”

Speak up, Speak up

A question. Was he allowed to ask those? It was only know - know what he was supposed to do as Borias had taught him. Seven didn't understand but he listened. Seven was excellent with instructions he committed to memory that the white ones were for drinking. He too needed to drink but he was unsure if he was allowed to drink from those so that was a later subject to tackle. Question! He understood now and nodded his head. Doing as he was told he was quick to fill up the bowl with water... where could he learn to do something like this he was fascinated by such a thing. The stimulation was immense this was an entire new world for him.

Once he brought the water closer to Deathbelle he sat closer to her. Looking to her, he gently lifted his paw to hers. Cautiously he used the other paw to dip in the water then pressed on her pawpads gently with it. One paw on top the wet one on bottom - applying only a small amount of pressure he made sure to check on her as well. Then a word came to his mind a word he so badly wanted to say. What was it again? When you were grateful for someone for doing something. A word that mulled in his head from childhood and early memories of the dark den he grew up in.

"Thanks." he muttered gutterly. It was soft spoken and gravely, but he truely was thankful. He looked up at Deathbelle and gave a sweet smile - doing something he enjoyed being a servant brought him joy. Seven didn't know if anyone would ever understand but he truely thought that this was his place in the world and if he could make his masters happy than so be it.

MADE BY MINNIE of BTN