It was a light dusk, and Kitsune felt reckless. She pulled herself from the den and made her way out into the barely-lightened world. A mist had settled upon the world sometime in the night, and lingered like cobwebs across the bushes around the den.

The girl could barely see in front of her own nose, but she pushed through anyway, sneezing at the salty-tasting dampness in front of her muzzle. Via memory, she made her way down to the closest beach from the den. Settling down on the sand, she looked at the mist as it danced lightly above the water, and considered what she wanted to do and learn today.

"Speech"

Venom had taken the last night patrol which was coming to its close as day began to break on Ashen once again. With it came a dense fog off the ocean, not surprising considering the weather they were having. Venom had no trouble, having been walking the paths here for so long she didn’t need the addition of sight to navigate her home. The Empress was carried by her white gloved paws up the beach back towards the palace to check on the pups and see if anyone stopped by.

Guided by the waves as they gently lapped at the shore just beyond sight through the fog. It was a unique experience, almost ethereal and she almost stopped to enjoy it when she scented Kitsune up ahead. Venom loped forward, slowing as she approached her fire marked daughter. She was wordless as her tall frame came to sit beside the small princess. Venom never ceased to feel amazement at what she and Hattori created.

The Empress didn’t hesitate to lean forward and nuzzle Kitsune’s cheek softly. She remained wordless but wore a gentle grin on her features as she settled at her daughter’s side. She didn't want to interrupt the sound of the waves over the sand. This place was beautiful, it was like for a moment mother and daughter were alone in their own world of dreams. Venom couldn't help but wonder what kind of new heights Kitsune or her siblings might bring to Empire to one day.

She startled lightly at the sound of another wolf. The form of a dark-faced white-chest Empress appeared like an apparition from the mist. Her paws delicate on the sand as she stopped beside her daughter Kitsune settled back down again, relaxed now that she knew the stranger was her mother. She leaned until the muzzle, adding a quiet lick to her mother's chin. A gesture of deference and love as the two settled wordlessly on the beach together.

After a moment, she leaned into her mother's towering form. Kitsune was still a tiny creature. Too young to have found her growthspurt. At least, that's what she told herself. She would grow a little more, eventually, but her siblings continue to over take her. She would have to be clever to keep up with the towering giants of her family. If the Kitsune would grow into anything, it would be cleverness.

"Mumma," She said softly, breaking thr gentle quiet between them as the fog began to vanish into the rising dawn. "Did you have parents too, when you were young?"

Kitsune greeted her with similar affection as she settled in beside her on the beach. Gentle nuzzles and support as mother and daughter settled there. Venom kissed the top of her head as she leaned against her and silence settled easily over them as the morning began to break. All of the children were developing at a different pace but they were all progressing in their own way. Some physically like Ike who had seemed to shoot up overnight. Ikigai grew more graceful with each passing day, and Kuroki more brave. Little Kitsune was as clever as the fox she was named after, and that trait suited her well.

”Kitsune,” Venom replied softly as Kit spoke and looked up to her, her question taking Venom off guard. She hid the emotion well as she titled her head and looked down at her daughter adoringly. ”Of course Kitsune, everyone has parents. You’ve heard me talk about your grandfather Archon.” His name was still uttered and his memory lived on. ”Hmm,” maybe they hadn’t received the story while in lessons. ”My father’s name was Archon Abraxas and my mother Deathbelle Klein.” She told her daughter softly as she stroked her fur. ”He died in the volcano eruption long before you were born.” Venom said softly, still feeling his missing presence. Sometimes she still felt like that lost little pup who lost her father and her hero that day. ”Your grandmother was never really the same after, but it would take almost two years before I took the throne from her. She lives in Habari now.”

Her mother spoke her name, and seemed to pause for a moment, before continuing on. The young girl looked up at her towering parent as she mentioned Archon - of course, she did know of Archon. But he was just… a concept, a mythical creature. Venom wasn’t those things. She was real, substantial. She wanted Archon to be real too, same with Deathbelle.

She was surprised to hear that Deathbelle still lived. In fact, she took a lot away from what her mother had said. Venom was Venom Klein Abraxas, and Kitsune was Kitsune Abraxas. She had this thing from the man she would never know. She thought about asking more about Deathbelle, but she hesitated, and kept her silence for a little while longer insead. Thinking over her mothers words. “i’ll still have you when i’m older, right Mumma?” she asked. Perhaps it was no surprise she thought about death and loss. She still did not know the name of the man she had killed.

"Speech"

Archon was very real to Venom, his presence and more so the lack thereof did much to shape who and what she was. The once tiny princess had been forced to grow up fast, she became much more serious and joy was much more difficult to spark within her. Even now, with so much time of him being gone, Venom still missed his presence. Kitsune took a moment to think as the Empress quieted, the girl deep in thought digesting what was revealed to her. Venom would never keep secrets from her children, but she wasn’t outright when it came to speaking about difficult subjects. Like her own mother.

Kitsune continued, peering up at her with those innocent sapphire eyes, and asking if she would be around when she was older. Venom grinned, Kitsune wasn’t completely without grandparents. Kiyo lived close to them, however quiet she had been. Venom assumed she was ill, that was how Anko made it seem. ”I’ll be here for you as long as I can.” She promised before leaning in to give the girl a kiss upon her brow.