Keetie found herself passing close to the Ashen borders. Skirting by in her path to elsewhere, when she noticed how the border scent had changed. She skirted by this pack a few times passing from here to there, but it had been a long time since the Empress’s form had graced her eyes. The serpent-tongued leader had been easy on the eyes, but she had heard through the grapevine how she had settled down and gotten herself a husband. A man whose scent had begun to fade from the border.

Curiosity piqued, the trouble maker made her way closer to Ashen, sniffing daintily at the border. No doubt sticking her nose where it didn’t belong wasn’t going to get her anything but trouble… but she had always wanted a kiss from the dark-clad woman. What would a kiss from a tongue like that be like? Hand had missed her chance the first time. If her lover had passed or left, there was a high chance Keetie wouldn’t be welcome here. But… oh, when had she ever played the safe path?

She waltzed to the border, and traced a paw lightly across the earth where it began. Her horned cat raised its head from the nape of the wolf's neck, yawning and showing sharp little teeth. Keetie looked back at the sparkled creature. “Whatcha think, Spice? Trespass for a little fun, or be a good little wolf and kitty?”

"Speech"

With Hattori gone Venom had been doing extra patrols, not only to fill the void where he should have been, but to occupy herself. The more work she did, the more tired she was at the end of the day, the less she dreamed. The less she thought about everything. The heartache, the obstacles she faced now, the future of the Empire without her mate at her side. All of that was a little easier to forget what she was scouting the familiar border. Now that his scent was fading it was both easier and harder to make the circuit.

Venom found herself slowing for a moment, her form surrounded by the white trees of the shrine as she lowered her head and caught her breath. Pain laced through her chest. She grit her teeth and furrowed her brow as it ebbed and flowed with the beating of her heart. Had she not stopped she wouldn’t have heard the soft voices in the forest. Distracted from her inner hurt Venom swiveled her ears forward.

Silently Venom inched forward until she caught the offending woman, it had been vaguely familiar when she heard it. Seeing those vibrant blues on her coat brought the memories back from so long ago. ”Best be a good little wolf and kitty or you’ll be feeling like a hurt little wolf and kitty.” Venom warned, borderline playful but still very serious if she was truly crossed.

Her Kitten, Spice, just yawned. Showing a mouthful of sharp teeth. Making biscuits in the colourful woman's coat in a way that left the cat's antlers slightly shaking. Not finding much inspiration there, Keetie looked forward again, and found the Empress had snuck her way before them.

Keetie gave a husky laugh as the Empress of the Ashen Empire appeared before her and issued her warning. Thoughts of trespassing fled in the wake of the Empress's dry humour. Much more important thoughts were surfacing now. Of better kinds of entertainment. She eyed the border and lifted a paw, wiggling her toes. "Promise?"She asked, as though Venom had suggested something very enticing.

"Speech"

Sunset gaze watched the pair warily, antlered woman and antlered cat. Neither had permission to cross her border so the Empress would remain vigilant. Trickster or no, she wouldn’t be spared if she tested too hard. Still, it was hard not to fall into the trap of innocent sweetness. To a point Venom was reminded of a time her little ones were so keep to similarly push those barriers.

Lorikeet lifted her dainty paw and hovered delicate toes over the border, cheekily asking for clarification. Like she hadn’t ever really left the playfulness of childhood. Part of Venom envied that quality, she hadn’t really ever been a carefree child. After her father died she and her siblings were forced to grow up quickly. The Empress had always been rather serious.

”Every toe that touches the border without permission will be broken.” And that would be a mild punishment. ”I promise.” She offered with a wicked smirk that made her look more Klein than anything else.

Lorikeet’s grin didn’t waver, but she eased her paws gently to the ground. The Empress she had almost kissed seemed harder now, but there was still humour in the elegant leader. A wicked smile took her maw as she promised pain to every digit that crossed the line. Lorikeet flexed her paws and made a soft sound in the back of her throat, clearly considering it.

“If I can not come to you, what would it take to pry you from your elegant prison, Empress?” she purred softly, her eyes lightly roaming across the other wolfs form as she challenged the wolf with her eyes and words.


"Speech"