Hattori stood amongst the bone white trees of the Shrine, spring rain tapping the canopy above like the drumming of impatient fingers. The sun had long since set and despite the haze of his memory Hattori knew it would return in a few hours or so. He simply had to wait and see. Finding comfort in the scent that filled his nostrils, Hattori lingered just on the other side as he took it all in. Naturally, the pack's boundaries were not as intently marked as he would have liked but it was enough to know Ashen still stood. That the disease and madness of the world hadn't brought it to ruin, sharply put an end to their growing legacy in an ooze-ridden wheeze. It would take more than that, of this Hattori was certain.

And yet, he felt little desire to fall back into old habits. To simply exist as though nothing had changed, his bout of unselfness as he regarded it had truly put things into perspective. Reminded him of what was important as it chased away any hint of complacency, a driving need to be better, stronger. Superior in all ways as was his birthright.

Ignoring the growing ache of his horns, Hattori tipped his head back and called out for the Ashen Empress. About damn time.

"speech"

alabastrine shrine

They had very nearly fallen in the darkness during the long curse. Venom pushed herself to the limits of her ability physically and emotionally. She had to carry the weight of the Empire without her husband, without her partner. When the sun rose, she felt like the phoenix once more. The crystals fell from her, her strength returned, now she needed to reunite with her other half. She resisted returning to black island, and when she decided to do just that would be the moment that he sang out for her.

Venom rushed to his side, his voice sounded so string and more so purposeful. It was no longer the call of a crazed man. Venom raced through stark white trees to find her husband at the edge of the shrine. Sunset eyes fell on his rugged roughed up form and despite that appearance she didn’t slow down until she’s reached him. There was no more ooze, the illness was gone, and the sun would rise on them once more.

”Hattori.” Tears welled in her eyes, she’d very nearly lost him. Her arms aimed to wrap around his neck like she would never let him go. She knew life without him and she never wanted to live it again.

"Speech"

Standing there, Hattori dipped down a little to allow Venom to hold onto him. He breathed deep as the warmth of her form leached into his, as though they had never been apart to begin with. He felt a brief flicker of guilt to know he had caused her distress, but knew he couldn't hold onto it. The past had already moved on, no matter how he felt about it would change nothing. From here on out they would set their gazes forward, to the future and whatever laid in wait for them. Good or bad.

"Are you well?" He asked, his voice a quiet rumble as it sunk through his skin and into Venom's ribcage. There was much for them to discuss, to say and do, but he needed to be certain of this before they could move on. "The children?" Though he supposed they were hardly that any more. Yearlings in their very own right.

She felt Hattori melt against her with a heavy sigh. They fit back together like he had never been gone but Venom felt the distance that had been between them. She still felt the sting of watching her mate deteriorate due to the cursed illness. She had promised, in sickness and health to remain at his side, and she had broken that promise after his asking. He had secluded himself and now finally as the sun returned so too did he return to her.

He let her hold onto him and she felt all of her anxieties melt away. She had worried so much about the fate of the Empire and the fate of her marriage. Had her husband not been strong enough to overcome the sickness… She didn’t have to think about that eventuality anymore, he was well, he was returned to her. Hattori asked after her wellbeing and she shook her head into the soft fur of his neck.

"I am well." She whispered with relief. "Our children are well and recovering. Our Empire will rise from the ashes once more." Venom spoke more and more confidently as she reluctantly pulled herself from his chest to catch his gaze. "Our sun has returned."


"Speech"

Hattori nodded, a slight jostle as to not disturb Venom more than he had to. Old habits died hard, he supposed. It had to be a good thing, that he hadn't changed in his entirety whilst he was away. That the man Venom knew and trusted was still here...if not a little more rough around the edges. But would she still want him, when he felt as though he barely even knew himself anymore?  It was...a lot to deal with, certainly for a man who was so out of touch with such delicate affairs.

"Good." He was glad to hear, to know it as undeniable fact."We have much to speak of...." But even Hattori had the sense to know now was not the time. "Tell me when you are ready. I know...you have-" He stopped there, for now.

Being back in his arms, having the comfort of her husband back, it was everything she had craved through the cursed night. She held him tight and he kept her close in return, loath eto disturb her as she rejuvenated her heart. She had worried so deeply for him, for their children, and for their pack. Venom felt like she could breathe again now that she had him watching over her.

He spoke softly, not of his relief in being returned to her, not of the love that had to be put on hold as he kept himself from his family for their own safety. He needed to talk to her, but was well aware she needed time just to bask in the relief he brought along with the sun’s curing rays.

”I have missed you.” She finished his sentence instead, for once unable to read his mind as he spoke. She missed him, she’d suffered, the Empress had barely held the pack together on her own. Mostly she was relieved. Venom needed the man she loved, she didn’t realize that only a part of him had come back to her.


"Speech"