Maverick breathed a happy sigh as he walked along the sparse tree line of the southern Boreal coast, his toes crunching through the thin snow while he walked the lovely Empress of these lands back home after a day filled with fun and adventure. Together the pair had snuck her out of Ashen lands and away from her duties and responsibilities so Maverick could take her on a joyride of sorts: taking her off on a wild hunt for pronghorns in the prairie, hunting down some more herbs of the recreational variety in the nearby valley, and of course indulging in reintroducing Venom to the finer pleasures of knowing someone else's body intimately. It was all a rush knowing he had taken the alphess away from her pack to engage in some of their preferred debauchery together, and the wide grin on the vagabond's face showed just how much he'd enjoyed their time. This was all so strange to Mav still; he was used to the short-term flings, the one-night stands and the inevitable ghosting and parting that came with it. Venom was different. She had been the longest term "relationship" he'd ever had, if you could really call it that. They'd never labeled what they had officially, never calling one another lovers or significant others, but it was the most stability and regularity he'd had in a long, long time.

It was almost night by the time they reached the familiar edge of the Ashen borders. Maverick paused just on the wild lands side of the scent markers, turquoise eyes roving the nearby alabaster woods and coastline for any signs of her people. So far, it looked like the coast was clear. He knew how much appearances and reputation mattered in Venom's life, and he did his best to impact that as little as possible. "Well, Ven, it's been a hell of a time," he said with a wistful sigh and content smile turned to the monochrome fae, doing his best not to lose himself in her sunset eyes when he looked to her again. "Shall I meet you back here again in a couple days' time for a repeat performance? Maybe we can go race around the mountains to the north, get a little lost along the way." His smile shifted to a sly grin, eyes sparkling with rebellious mirth at the prospects they could share again in the very near future.

"Maverick"

Venom didn’t often bring herself out and about during the daylight hours, she was much closer to nocturnal than not. However, she felt no hesitation when Maverick appeared that day to steal her away. It didn’t matter she was tired, excitement flooded through her and she raced on adrenaline all day. Or almost all day, it certainly kept her going through the pronghorn hunt. The excitement from a good kill continued to keep her upright through herb gathering. Venom did hesitate in indulging just so she wouldn’t fall asleep, but decided to enjoy with Maverick anyway. It lent to the euphoria and pleasure of learning him intimately all over again.

He was becoming a regular occurrence, something she couldn’t say she was disappointed in. Being able to relax and release bolstered her healing heart, and as they spent more time together found herself really caring about the man beside her. She made him follow her on a little side trip on the way home, showing him a secret hot spring to both warm their bones and refresh their fur after a long day of activities.

The pair of them paused just on the edge of Ashen’s borders, and again she struggled inside. Debating about asking him to stay here with her instead of going back out into the world. She didn’t know if either of them were ready for that however, as made obvious by the way he looked around for a patrol before they said their goodbyes. Maverick was far more considerate than any rogue she had ever known before him. Maybe he shared the deeper feelings that were still being largely ignored save for when they were tangled up in each other.

He turned to look at her, obviously regretting parting from her as much as she him while their eyes met for a long moment. He assured her as he went on though, a couple more days and they could have another trip of getting lost in the mountains together. Venom grinned at the thoughts of it as she leaned into his side, still feeling remorse for letting him go instead of inviting him to her bed tonight. "You should.” She replied softly, how tired she was leading to sloppy discipline as she pushed her head beneath his chin and pressed her chest against his. A warm hug before she had to say goodbye again.

"Venom"

Typically her sister was very predictable and dutiful in her ways. He pretty much always knew what to expect from her and where to find her when he needed her. It was partially because of her natural tendencies and also because of how much time they and spent together and how well he knew her. Well, at least he thought as much until recently. The fact that she had been disappearing mysteriously for a fairly lengthy period of time occasionally didn't slip past him, especially not with him living in the palace with her and so often seeing her come and go. This day in particular he had gone looking for her to discuss something about his children and their upcoming placements with their new mentors, but hadn't been able to find her. It wasn't exactly odd to not be able to find her for small bits of time while she was out hunting or doing a patrol, but as time went on and she didn't return he realized this was once again one of those times when she had vanished—for what reason he didn't know.

Even though he didn't necessarily want to pry into things that she obviously didn't feel like sharing with him, he just couldn't help himself and went patrolling around the border to see if he could find any traces of where she had gone. He did find a fairly fresh bit of her scent—along with a male's scent that he didn't recognize. It caught his attention and made him far more curious than he should probably be, but with how her last relationship had ended he would be lying if he didn't feel a fair bit protective over his sister and her heart. He didn't even know if this was anything to be concerned over or tied to all of the other times that she had gone missing recently, but his interest was captured and despite himself he settled against one of the trees as the world began to descend toward evening, wondering if he'd catch a glimpse of who had been stealing her away.

Sure enough, he spotted his sister in the distance walking with a larger male colored in white and a deep blue, the two of them walking very closely together from what he could see from where he was sitting. It made his brows lift with surprise and he got up, following through the trees at a distance until they stopped at the border as they seemed to be saying goodnight. He couldn't hear them from where he was standing and with his curiosity and suspicion gnawing at him he curved his path to move closer to the border, trying to make it look like he just happened upon them while doing an evening patrol. He neared them just as Venom pressed into the stranger with an affectionate hug that spoke volumes about just how comfortable she was with the man—physically at least. That caught him off guard a bit considering how very few times he had ever seen her like this with her previous mate and it made his curiosity burn all the brighter.

"Oh! Venom!" he called as he walked over to where the pair the pair was standing, giving her a little smile before glancing his emerald gaze toward the loaner with a barely held back uncertainty and suspicion. "I was just wondering where you had been. Who's your friend?" It was so unlike her to do things so spur of the moment and without a purpose or cause and he just had to know who this male was that had pulled out some sort of wild streak in his dear sister.

Plague | Viridis | Procella

The hesitation from Venom spoke volumes, even when her words didn't. She didn't want to leave him yet. Were she not the keystone to the Ashen empire, Maverick might very well have been tempted to whisk her off for an extended vacation, just the two of them. But while half a day's absence might not have been noticed, the disappearance of an alpha for days at a time certainly would be. And as she hadn't asked him in yet for all of their time spent together, he could only assume that she wanted to keep things casual between them and protect her image and reputation, which he was fine with and was fair. Venom had significantly more to risk being seen with him than he did with her. Nobody cared about the scruffy vagabond with no name wandering about in the company of a lovely lady—but the Empress of Ashen being seen out and about with a stranger?! Well, that was tabloid news! No, Mav quietly accepted the reality for what it was and enjoyed what time he could steal from her, at least for as long as this lasted.

Fortunately, that day didn't seem to be today, as Venom grinned at his notion of a mountain hike and getting lost together while she leaned into his side, the dire wolf all too eager to press gently back into her and support her with his own bulk. She confirmed in a near whisper that he should come back for her for more adventures, to which the rogue chuckled and licked the top of Venom's crown gently. "It's a date then," he spoke in husky tones designed specifically to tease and tempt her. Venom surprised him a bit by pressing her head beneath his chin and her chest to his, drawing wide eyes and a happy smile from the man. He responded in kind, tilting his skull to brush his cheek across Venom's forehead in a tender nuzzle while one strong forelimb lifted to drape around her back, holding her close, as if letting her go would make her vanish from this world. He normally wouldn't be so bold in his outward affections for her this close to her pack lands, but he would also never deny her any of the affections and touches he gave her.

A sudden voice from behind them nearly made Maverick jump out of his skin, the massive wolf quick to straighten out his posture in an attempt to conceal the way he and Venom had just been snuggling in the faint evening light. Cool turquoise eyes snapped about to spot the brown-marked white wolf approaching them with smile on his face. His eyes met the other man's emerald gaze with carefully guarded trepidation. This was one of Venom's wolves, no doubt, but just how much had he seen? Who the hell was he even? Not wanting to risk possibly undermining Venom's reputation, Maverick just gave the new male a measured smile and impassive expression and replied, "He was just leaving." Shifting just enough to slide away from Venom—much to his disappointment—the speckled brute bowed his head to the Empress, acting as if he were just a loner in service to the monarch. "Have a good evening, Your Grace." As he turned to leave, Mav's expression softened for a fraction of a second while he glanced at Venom, slipping in a surreptitious wink before trotting off into the dark winter woods, bound for his camp.

- exit Maverick -

"Maverick"

Venom would have asked Maverick to stay in Ashen with her if she wasn’t so frightened of rejection. Trying to contain a man like this within her borders? She wasn’t so confident in what she had to offer being worth more than his freedom. The way he looked at her made her want to believe it, like he would fill her need if only she would ask. For now just feeling excitement for their next day together would be enough, as he confirmed. He would be back to take her on a date.

The Empress leaned into his touch, he wrapped his arm around her and nuzzled softly against her fur. "Maverick..” She spoke softly into his fur, she didn’t want to release her hold. "You don’t have to g..” Both of them jumped out of their own fur as Plague rounded the corner and spoke up, obviously interrupting. Venom tried not to look like she had just been caught at something. She lifted her head and straightened so she wasn’t quite leaning against Maverick as her brother questioned them curiously. There was no malice to Plague, only curiosity. Why wouldn’t he be? There weren’t very many who had seen the Empress in such a compromising position.

Before she could answer Maverick spoke, a brief mention that he was just leaving. While it was true Venom almost protested again, but he gave her a smile and bid her a good night. "You too,” She told him softly as he left without hesitating, leaving Venom with a very nosey Plague. She raised a brow and teased her brother before he could get started on her. "Wouldn’t you like to know.” She giggled softly as she paced closer to Plague and sat beside him.

"Venom"

The way they jumped when he spoke told him they definitely hadn't noticed his approach and that they hadn't planned on anyone seeing them out here. He saw the way they were leaned into each other before they hastily separated and that certainly wasn't the kind of interaction he would expect from anyone besides someone she was intimately familiar with. He was incredibly curious about the other male that seemed determined to slip away as soon as possible before he could be given the grilling that Plague desperately wanted to give him, but that naturally protective, brotherly side of him was also incredibly suspicious as well. He certainly trusted his sister to fend for herself and know what was in her best interests, but she was a recently heartbroken woman with a significant power and influence in this world. He didn't fully trust that someone wouldn't try to take advantage of that and wiggle their way into her life for less than pure reasons.

The still nameless man excused himself and bid Venom a farewell, the polite bow he gave her feeling very much like something he was doing purely because of her brother's scrutinizing gaze. He gave a soft 'humph' as the rouge disappeared into the night, watching him scurry off before turning his gaze to Venom. He smirked at her teasing comment and the giggle she gave him, his eyes narrowing into a bit of a mostly teasing glare. "As a matter of fact I would," he told her with a chuckle, nudging her shoulder with his own when she came to sit down beside him. He had known and been close to Venom for almost their entire lives and never would he ever have imagined this kind of late night, secret fling from her. She had always been so proper, so careful, and yet here she was, sneaking out to fraternize with some random rogue.

"I don't think it's unreasonable for me to be concerned over finding some unaffiliated rogue of questionable origins nuzzling my dear sister," he told her as he peered down at her with open curiosity and questioning in his emerald gaze. Still, he wanted to see her happy and for a brief second before he interrupted them he could tell that she was truly enjoying being with whoever that male was—which wasn't always something he could say about when he saw her and her former mate together. "Well... go on," he prompted with a wave of his taloned paw, a little grin tugging at his lips like gossipy gay he was. "Who is he? How did you meet? How long as this been going on?"

Plague | Viridis | Procella

Venom knew Plague would be concerned, that was one reason she hadn’t quite invited him into Ashen lands with her. She did try, but today was not the day for all of that. Maybe she did need to sit and talk with Plague before that happened. He teased her back as she leaned into his side, and her told her that he most certainly did want to know who and what that had been before he arrived.

"No, not unreasonable.” She agreed with him as he spoke his concerns. As he should be. Venom wasn’t just any woman, and she had been doubting her time with Maverick since he rescued her. However much doubting there was encouragement. He pulled her out of the darkness, and Venom felt safe in his arms. He was either the best actor that ever lived, or he was beginning to care about her too. Plague waved a paw at her when he realized she was stalling and Venom let out a soft sigh as she pondered the beginning.

"I was coming home from my trip right after Hattori left.” She hadn’t said his name in so long, it still left a bitter taste in her mouth. "He was being cheeky and toeing the border but…” She chuckled to herself and smiled softly at the memory, wondering if she should really share with Plague. "He’s the one who made the rope swing at the southernmost shores.” She didn’t know if Plague had been up there, but she was almost sure the pups had been there. ”He convinced me to try it out and I… had fun.” Venom admitted to him softly as she leaned into him.

"Then the mongrel had to go and push my buttons so I chased him off.” The Empress finished out her recollection of their first meeting and looked up to Plague’s verdant gaze. "I honestly didn’t think I’d see him again but a while after that I was scouting the gulley and I fell on the leg I injured when we were young.” She went on then, explaining why she found herself trusting him. "He found me, he might have saved my life.”

"Venom"

Plague was glad that Venom at least revealed the details of how she met this new found male instead of keeping him in suspense. He listened while she detailed how white and blue wolf had built the rope swing at the southern tip of their shores and had convinced her to participate in such a thing—which also felt so out of the range of what he would have expected from her. Still, he couldn't remember the last time he heard her say that she had fun and that stuck out loud and clear to him. He smiled a little as she leaned into him, still listening as she revealed how she ended up having to chase the brute out of the territory, which made him smirk and chuckle.

His first impressions of the man were probably pretty similar to what it seemed like her impression of him had been which was a rouge and a scoundrel so when she added that she had run into him again and he had helped her when her injured leg betrayed her he was surprised again. It was hard to get the full range of a wolf just from a brief interaction and a couple of stories, but he could tell from the way Venom described their time together and how she spoke of him that she was quite fond of him. There were very few wolves that he could remember Venom smiling about when she talked about them and somehow this wolf had become one of those wolves.

He was quiet the whole time she was telling her stories and when she was done he searched her face for a moment before sighing and lifting his forelegs to wrap them around her shoulders, hugging her tight with his head resting on top of hers. "You know I just want you to be happy and you know I trust your judgement," he told her, giving her an affectionate squeeze. "I'm glad you're having fun. It's good to see you smile again." Plague lifted his head again and looked down at her, a grin that he was trying and failing to contain tugging at his lips. "If he hurts you though... That blue and white pelt of his would make a stunning rug." He chuckled and gave her another squeeze before he let her go, getting to his paws so he could walk her back to the palace. "What's his name?" he asked, realizing he still didn't know her suitor's name.

Plague | Viridis | Procella

Hattori had cut her deeply. The worst part of betrayal was that it never came from the enemy. They were married, they built a life together, and she had found a perfect partner in her Shogun. Then he left her. He walked away like nothing they built together mattered, like their marriage was for naught, like his children didn’t exist. Sometimes the thought haunted her, but then she was able to think of Maverick. The short time she had been seeing him revitalized her, he made her smile, he brought her happiness she wasn’t sure she had ever felt. Beyond her children he was the one to make her smile the most, and she had only known him for just short of a season.

Plague listened to her quietly as she spoke, his attention wrapped up in her words as she described briefly the time she shared with Maverick. Her brother could guess about the deeper implications and the more frequent visits than what she told him. All of which was completely out of character for her, but the white marked man did something to her. Maybe it was just how different he was from the other wolves she associated with, maybe it was how real he was to her, or maybe it was just his desire to make her smile. That trait was so strong and so genuine… The thought was so profound that at that moment she realized how much she needed to have Maverick in her life.

She was pulled from the thought as Plague wrapped his strong arms around her shoulders and held her protectively to his chest. Then he gave her his blessing. He was glad to see her so happy, and he trusted her judgment. She had taken so long to invite Mav in if only because she didn’t trust herself. Plague pulled away and she lifted her sunset gaze to his verdant eyes as he gave her a warning. She chuckled at his not quite joke because she knew he was serious. "The prettiest rug.” She agreed with a giggle as he asked the man’s name. "His name is Maverick Rhydderech, but he’s not a fan of his surname.” She hadn’t teased him with it since their first day together, but it was a tidbit she found amusing to share with her brother.

Venom sighed softly and leaned into her brother’s chest, feeling her heart flutter with uncertainty. "I’ve become very fond of him.” She admitted to him quietly. "It scares me.” Venom whispered, her eyes misted over. "The feelings are so strong.” Part of that was her fault, if she had held back even a little bit… but there was no regret from anything she shared with him.

"Venom"

Plague filed the information about his name away for later, giving her a grin at the information about how the blue and white man had a distaste for his last name. "So only greet him as Mr. Rhydderech, understood," he said with a chuckle, mostly joking and teasing. He did kind of like having a little, innocent thing to bother the man that was trying to sweep his sister off of her feet though. Then she leaned into him again with a sigh and he smiled softly and with sympathy as Venom not only admitted how strongly she felt about the man, but also her fear over these strong feelings she had for this brute that very obviously had come to have a very special place in her heart. Again he wondered how much time they had secretly spent together, but at the same time he also realized that he and Void hadn't seen each other more than a few times before his own feelings for his husband had begun to show themselves. Sometimes it didn't necessarily need time, it just needed compatibility.

"I know," he murmured gently, dipping his head to nuzzle the top of hers, slipping his foreleg around her again to give her a squeeze. "I felt the same way when I started to develop feelings for Void." Granted, they had very different reasons to be afraid of how they felt about someone. His had all been centered in his old belief that he had failed their family by not falling in love or marrying a woman that could guarantee them the children that were so central to their family while hers stemmed from the trauma and loss her ex husband had caused and her understandable fear that she would be hurt again. "Just think... Did you ever really feel this way about Hattori? Did Hattori do things just because he knew it would make you smile?" he had a feeling that the answer to both of those questions was going to be no. He had only seen Maverick once so far and already he witness more affection from the man than he had seen from Hattori their entire marriage. He gave her another squeeze and added, "Don't let fear hold you back. Do what is going to make you happy. I know that none of it is easy or simple, but you deserve love and affection. You deserve happiness." He lifted his head and peered down at her with a smile. "You know I'll always have your back and I'll be just a call away if you need me to make him into a very pretty rug."

Plague | Viridis | Procella

All joking and teasing aside, having Plague here to talk all of these feeling out with was one of the greatest gifts that he gave her. She grinned as he made a note of her information and she knew that Maverick was going to fully appreciate that tidbit shared. Of course as he amused her he supported her as she grew more serious. Venom often hid her emotions from those around her, but Plague could bring them to the forefront and the Empress wouldn’t hide from him.

Those two words of understanding were really all that she needed, a soft reminder that he had experienced his own struggles similar to hers, and he knew where she was. Plague knew exactly where her fears lie, and understood better than anyone in the Empire how she struggled. He continued quietly, nuzzling her cheek as he tried to help her see. He painted a picture with his questions. Plague immediately compared Maverick to Hattori.

Venom had loved her ex husband deeply. Even now she could feel the ache in her heart where he had torn it apart. Another question was if she was really ready to take this step. To accept that Maverick cared about her, and embrace the mirrored feelings. She didn’t want to answer his question, but Plague did go on. He squeezed her tightly and told her not to be afraid, she deserved happiness and she deserved to be loved.

He was right, but she lingered on how difficult everything was. Was she ready? Was this the right path? Was accepting Maverick into her heart good for the Empire? Was she acting out of purely self interest? But Plague would be there no matter what, ready to back her up whenever she might need him there. "I know you will, that’s why your opinion and support means so much to me.” She told him softly as her sunset gaze looked up to meet his verdant eyes. "He does make me smile, much easier than anyone else…” Her voice trailed off as her heart swelled. "I won't be afraid.” Venom had to act while the opportunity presented itself. Maverick deserved better than to be strung along while she struggled inside. She was the Empress and she had to be decisive. And she would be.

"Venom"