He understood that his intense focus on his training would come with a price, but he hoped that the preparations he had done would make him even better suited for the tasks that he would come across within their pack. He moved through the forest around the Alabastrine Shrine, mostly blending in with it's pale trees with just the dark slashes of color that dappled his form to give him away. Today he moved with a purpose and a mission - one that was different from the focus that had kept his attention mostly away for the last couple seasons. His emerald eyes searched the familiar land for his sister, his Empress, while he worked through what he would tell her silently in his mind. Eventually he found her near the luminescent shrine itself and he slowed his steps till he could pad up to her calmly and steadily. He understood that he had missed the day that she had officially taken her throne and he felt a deep guilt for that. That was what had made him realize that it was time for things to change. It was time for him to move out of the shadows and back into the light. He bowed his head to her, offering her a small grin as he greeted her, "My Empress." As he stood straight once more he let his expression grow a bit more serious even though that was typically his normal, resting expression these days. "I wanted to apologize for not appearing at your meeting... I have no good reason or excuse, but I did want to make it clear that I stand with you all the same."

Venom lay sphynx like by the shrine, the beginnings of a temple were well on their way as she gave her blessing to begin. Toxicity and Obu were hard at work, though Venom offered to give them all the slave power available. One day there would be a glorious testament to their god, as well as herself. Venom would build on and improve the foundation her mother built, and Ashen would grow into a more impressive Empire.

That goal would only be better seen with the help of those that shared her vision and her blood. Pestilence might have been a lost cause, but Plague and Calamity could still be swayed. Venom had hope for them, especially with her brother’s appearance to her here. Magenta gaze turned up to Plague’s forest green gaze, that reminded her so much of their father’s. Dark ears perked in his direction as she flicked her forked tongue curiously.

”Plague.” She returned his greeting with a slight nod of her own. He’d been so absent lately as well. Could she still trust him? Her eyes narrowed at his apology and lack of excuse for missing her coronation. ”What are you going to do to make it up to me?” She asked in a sickly sweet voice as she tested him playfully. She feigned hurt, but she was serious about her inquiry.

A slight smirk touched his lips at her overly sweet, hurt tone, knowing better than to believe someone like Venom would ever actually be hurt in such a way. He knew her and her ways, but he knew her question was one that he would need to take seriously. Even though the separation he had created had been for the betterment of her and their family, he fully understood that he had taken too long and now he needed to regain his sister's trust. The time and work he had put in would show itself soon enough, but for now he had to find a way to make it up to her in a more immediate manner. "What do you desire from me, sister?" he asked, opening the floor for her to make whatever demands she wanted to make from him as he settled down along side the edge of the pool so that he was still facing her, but was now on her level where she was laying. His determined gaze dared her to find a length that he wouldn't go to in order to make it up to her and show that he was dedicated and committed to her and their family. "Tell me what you want and I'll find a way to do it for you."

It truly pained Venom that her brother had been so distant from her for so long, but even now he seemed like he was willing to make up for his sins. They had once been so close, and as she searched his forest gaze she wondered if such a relationship might be rekindled. He turned the question back on her and asked what she wanted to see from him. Her gaze narrowed as she lifted her chin. She wondered why he wouldn’t give her anything specific, but maybe that was simply because there was no limit to what she could ask him for.

Venom tilted her head lightly, letting the pondering of her mind show in her expression. She wished that Toxicity was here to back her up, they’d made the perfect team when they started Calamity on her path to redemption. Maybe that was what she needed to harness.

”We must seek out our sister.” She told him softly. ”Toxicity will offer the path.” She was closest to the divine, even if Venom would never come to her sister’s conclusion. Having such different minds work together would bring Ashen to further dominance.

He had wondered if Venom would have something specific in mind for him to be able to repent to her, but the thoughtfulness in her expression told him that wasn't the case. He was fully committed to doing whatever it took - she only needed to say the word. She was the one that was chosen to lead their family and even though he had aspirations and dreams of his own, hers would always come first in his mind. If he couldn't prove himself useful to her then he had failed in more ways than one. His ears flicked forward to listen when she finally spoke and informed him that they would need to go to Toxicity for guidance. He gave a small nod of approval before rising to his paws. He wouldn't question why or wonder what it was that made her come to that decision, he would simply agree to pulling in their sister as council and would go to find her. Once Venom had risen as well, he walked beside her to go to their sister, falling into step beside her and matching his pace with her own. It felt good to be back at her side again and with a slight glance toward her as they walked he hoped that what they used to have could be rekindled. Actually, no - he hoped it would be something even stronger and larger than that. He wanted to be close to her, but there was far more that he wished to do. Now it was time to put those desires and aspirations into action. But first, he would need to regain the Empress' favor. It didn't take them long to find Toxicity and when his eyes landed on the dark woman a slight curve of a smile pulled at his lips. It was good to be back among his siblings again. It was a feeling that he had been longing for and now he just hoped that all of his work wouldn't go to waste.