The tide had come and gone, leaving behind a buffet of fish in it's wake. Some were still alive, gasping as they flopped about on the cave floor and struggled in vain to return back to the sea. The ground was squishy beneath Hanako's paws as she ventured deeper into the cave, following the siren scent of sea food. Her stomach rumbled as she licked her lips and drew close, the midday sun granting her a clear view of the gifts that the ocean had oh so generously bestowed upon her. Coincidence be darned, she deserved a fishy treat every now and then, right? But there was so much to chose from, she glanced about indecisively, humming and hawing as she tried to figure out where to start. She'd eat her fill, of course, maybe even bring what she could carry back to the Armada, but it was sort of nice to worry about something that was ultimately unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

Her life felt...a lot more complicated as of late. And whilst she'd been doing a pretty good job at pretending all was fine and dandy there were things she'd have to think about and face, whether she wanted to or not. But not right now, it was gobbling time!

The craving for seafood had struck Zee very hard on this day and with such force that the idea of waiting around at the ocean shore for something to swim within reach was laughable. No, she'd need something much more immediate and requiring much less effort, as the horned queen had found herself unusually drained lately.

From her travels with Hari she knew of the buffet Time's Cavern could provide when the day was right, and Zee fully intended to take advantage of the free and easy meal. By the time she arrived she was huffing, her chest rising and falling heavily with each breath. Good god, when did she get so out of shape? Her head lowered to sneak a glance at her belly from between her forelegs, her brows narrowing as she inspected herself harshly. Hmm.

The scent of another reached her, distracting the queen from her self-consciousness. It was an Armada wolf, one she'd met but not had much conversation with. Her stomach growled loudly, demanding it be fed even if she had to command the other away. Never before had she considered physically fighting a pack mate for food, but Zee was desperate to satiate the craving. Of course, before considering going that route she could start by asking politely. "Hey." She offered non-chalantly as she strode up. Saliva began to build in her mouth and she swallowed it down. "Got enough to share?"

By the time Zeitgeist arrived on the scene Hanako was already slurping down an eel like it was spaghetti. She turned, eyes wide like she'd been caught red pawed as she glanced about at the remaining fish. As much as she was a fan of sea food she'd barely scratched the surface and there was still more than enough to go around. Finishing off the eel with a cronch Hanako eagerly nodded and with a wave of her paw invited Zee to have her fill. She'd seen the Queen around a little but they hadn't had the chance to get to know one another, as she'd done with Sirius. Maybe it was about time she changed that?

"Yeah of course!" Hanako said, once she'd finally swallowed and was able to speak. "I think if I ate all this someone would have to drag be back home." She giggled as she imagined it, her tummy all full and round, not a look she could pull off for sure.

Speaking of...gosh there was no polite way about this, was there? The last time Hanako had a proper look the Queen she'd been a bit more slim and streamlined, she was as beautiful as ever of course but- Hanako was suddenly very interested in trying to pry open a clam with her nails. It took a bit of fiddling but eventually Hanako managed to pop it open, revealing the little treat inside. She mulled over her next words as she chewed, unsure as to where to go from here.

"Mortis said- I hope you're doing well." She knew better than to shove her nose in where it didn't belong but she had to offer some sort of pleasantry, or it'd get on her nerves otherwise. "Is there anything I can do to help out?"

As soon as Hanako's paw gestured for her to indulge herself, the queen darted forward eagerly to share in the meal. Her jaws enclosed around half of one fish, her paw steadying it as she tore the flesh and swallowed it. With the initial bite of hunger partially satiated, Zee turned towards her packmate. Her rumbling stomach was quieting, though she knew she'd devour many more fish before the craving subsided. No wonder she was getting fat.

A single brow raised in question as Hanako cut off her own words, though she dismissed her son's eagerness to share as harmless. She gave the girl a smile, witholding a laugh. Oh, Mortis. Was her firstborn's friendliness to be as dangerous to them as Azure or Asla's bloodlust? "I'm better than I was, thank you." The reply was vague, but how was she supposed to begin to explain the pain of betrayal to someone so young? She busied herself with another fish as she considered, taking in another ravenous bite before speaking further. "I hear you and my son are good friends. What did Mortis tell you?"  While the horned queen was not the type to be angry at her son for sharing the information, it was in her best interests to know what gossip may or may not be spreading throughout the Armada.

Hanako hummed yet again, relieved to hear that. Of course she'd been curious and had wanted to pry into what had really gone on but even Hanako had the sense to keep her nose out of it. Regardless of her rank in the pack it wasn't her place to wiggle into the middle of drama and ask "oh hey guys what's up?" It was all above her pay grade and even if it wasn't Hanako would have felt a tad guilty about it all. Say if she was having some relationship problems she wouldn't want the whole world to know about it, it was basic common decency  and maybe Hanako had sort of forgotten about it somewhere down the road. When Zee went onto comment about her budding friendship with Mortis Hanako's smile softened a little, as it so often did when she thought about the affectionately nicknamed "nasty winged creature."

"Mmm, him and Azure have been really good to me. Helped me feel at home in no time at all." She wiggled a little at that, her affections as clear as day. Zee's next question was equally as gentle and whilst Hanako could have offered a white lie she saw no reason to. "He said there was an argument and that he heard some yelling. I told him not to worry so much about it but..." She trailed off with a shrug, it was like telling a fish not to swim.

Speaking of she moved onto her next prize, yet another fish with its eyes glazed over with a deathly white. Tucking in, she licked the mess from her maw as she considered her next words. The question that pranced into her mind was a bit of an odd one, almost taboo, but she couldn't help but feel a sharp stab of panic at the thought of never having it answered. Of forever being left in the dark. But how on earth was she supposed to ask it in a cool and casual way? It wasn't the sort of thing you just asked someone out of the blue, it held heavy connotations and Hanako didn't want to seem as though- Well...maybe if she framed it in an innocent day-dreamy sort of way? Cause that's all it was, right? Just a young girl with idle curiosities, wanting to know about things she didn't understand.  Yep yep, for sure!

"Weird question but...what's it like to be in love?"Gah even posed like that it came across as off, out of nowhere. "It's just...where I come from you don't marry for love and I don't really... get it? Makes me feel like I'm broken or something." Hanako kicked the fish away and watched it skitter away. Oof.

Zee continued her assault upon the fish, lazily reaching a paw forward to scoop a few more into biting range. This place was great - she'd need to remember to come here more often for an effortless meal. She made no effort to hide her grin as the wraith spoke of the boys who'd helped make her feel at home. "Mort is good that way." The horned queen spoke fondly of her firstborn, conveniently leaving out mention of Az. The bear-like yearling had never been kind, and it crossed Zee's mind that he may have an ulterior motive to befriending the koi-wolf. At her mention of their argument she hummed, not moving into the topic further. The wounds in her heart were still fresh, she couldn't risk venting to the poor yearling. Zee took a moment to inspect Hana as the brightly marked girl wolfed down yet another fish. Sirius saw great things in her, as apparently Az and Mortis both did too. She didn't know her pack members as well as she liked, not like Sirius did. The question came out of nowhere, and Zee tore her gaze from Hana to blink down at another dead fish. Her jaws open and shut as she tried to find a reply, and in the end she could only chuckle. "That's a hard one." She mused as her laughter dwindled. "I don't think you're broken. I was a slave once, and there was a time where I thought I might be bred out for slave pups." Rosemary had only hinted of course towards the possibility, Zee had become fast friends with Deathbelle and perhaps that was what kept her safe. The slavemaster didn't remain with his family long, and where he disappeared to Zee didn't know nor care. With a tone more serious she eyed the girl. "I don't.. I don't judge you, okay? For whatever you choose. For love or for something else, your decision is your own." It was hard to forget how close they had been to betrothing their children to Deathbelle's, and while Zee was fiercely protective of her litter she was able to see the benefit in a political marriage.   Zee shook her head, using one paw to flop a dead fish back and forth on the ground and inspect it's dull scales. "Your question though, well... you'll know when it happens I think." If it happened, she amended internally. "It's that feeling you get when you're around someone, and you feel perfectly safe. Like nothing in the world could ever harm you body or mind. When they're gone, it feels like a piece of you is missing too. You might not realize it, not until you see them again and it feels like your heart is going to explode." She gave a wistful smile, thinking back on her early days with the sworn guard Sirius and how unlikely their love story was. To think he once threatened to kill her. "Speech"

Out of everyone Hanako knew that Zee would be the one to talk to. It was a complicated, loaded, question and the moment it passed her lips she felt a little cruel for having asked it. It was a big deal and to throw it out in the open like that felt childish almost, like she was a little puppy asking silly questions that didn't really need to be said. But giving all the feelings and shifts in the way she saw those close to her it was something she needed to know, living on in ignorance felt like she was burying her head in sand. And sooner or later the tide would sweep in and drown her. Hearing Zee say that, someone who clearly knew her stuff, sent a rush of relief through Hanako's system and she let out the breath she didn't realise she'd been holding. It didn't sound or feel like an empty reassurance, the queen's words were earnest and kind. It was clear to see who Mortis took after. Her eyes widened as Zee continued, she'd about heard as much but the thought of her-regal and beautiful- being a slave didn't sit well with the wraith. Nor did the thought that she could have been cut from the same cloth, a slave but only sort of.

But that was the issue, Hanako wasn't sure how to choose. It had never been an option before and the twisting paths that branched ahead of her were tempting but scary. She liked a lot of people but to love them, well and truly from the bottom of her heart sounded so good and lovely- she wanted it right now. To skip all the work and dedication and just get that sweet instant gratification. But it wasn't something she could stamp her paw and demand from other's and- well she thought about her future with Azure, how kind and sweet he had always been to her. Was that love? It felt awfully close to what Zee was describing and that startled her a little, so much so that she was done with stuffing her gob with fish for now. More for Zee at least.

"I-yeah. That sounds kinda familiar." She shifted her weight between her paws, a flush lighting up her cheeks. "I'm really happy here, is all, and I don't wanna make a mess for anyone. It's home, for as long as you lot'll have me." She admitted, a touch shy."But I did always find it a little funny..that Sirius is so tall and you're...kinda not?" Opposites attracted perhaps. Her soft and people pleasing nature made up for Azure's pointy edges. Maybe.

It was more than obvious how uncertain the young girl felt and Zee understood at least some of the difficulties she may feel. Her sons were both heirs, ranking much higher then Hana not unlike how herself and Sirius were worlds apart when they'd met. Falling for him was hard in more then one way, and even once they'd gotten past their strong differences in opinions there was still politics behind it holding them back. It was Deathbelle in the end that gave the warlord his freedom to choose, but up until then Zee loved him fiercely and with the knowledge that she could not have him. She licked her lips and placed a paw over her meal as she looked over at the koi-wolf. "You're still young, you have all the time in the world." She assured her gently. "I understand your fears and the differences in how you were raised, but your definition of 'home' is different then mine. This is your home until you choose otherwise. Malalia appears to have made that choice to leave us, but if she ever decides to come home, we wouldn't dare refuse her." Of course there were exceptions to the rule - yes, a wolf was required to challenge for their freedom but many had been gifted it without a fight. A wolf who betrayed them would be punished, though Hanako didn't seem the type. Never would Zee allow the koi-wolf to lose her home because of a conflict of the heart. The girl brought the differences of their height to attention and Zee laughed again, a small blush coming to her cheeks. "Yes, well, the size difference doesn't in the end change much until you're birthing boys who will grow to twice your size." She admitted reluctantly. "We're different in so many other ways that it's hard to keep track, but we compromise for each other. If someone loves you, they'll give a little. If you love them, you should give a little too." Sirius had not ceased his capture of slaves, though he had sworn never to abuse them again. Their relationship worked even though they began on wildly different ends of the alignment spectrum. Sirius had in the end taught her to toughen up, while she'd taught him to soften his rough edges. "Speech"