After her first patrol of that evening Venom found herself absolutely exhausted afterwards. The sudden onset of the feeling was enough cause for concern that Venom didn’t have to convince herself very hard to go back home and rest. She didn’t feel sick, just like she could barely keep her eyes open. Like if she remained out there on the trail she was liable to fall asleep on her own paws. So the Empress did her best to finish her patrol, sending Poison to the next shift to let them know they should take extra care when they went over the last quarter of her path.

Barely able to hold herself upright, Venom collapsed into her bed. Unsure if she was alone or not. She barely closed her eyes and she was in a deep sleep. If anyone did try and wake her in the many hours she was out the most they received was a mumble and Venom was unconscious again. Dawn was nearing by the time she was able to pull herself out of the unnatural sleep.

Still groggy and sleep drunk Venom blinked open her eyes and stifled a yawn as she looked around. All of a sudden she was completely awake as the surprise overwhelmed her and tears began to blur the vision that was returned to her. "Maverick?!” She called out, hoping that he was close enough to hear her.


"Maverick & Venom"

Though it had been a season of much adjustment for Maverick to handle, the man had done so in great stride. First with Venom's loss of sight and his sudden need to really step up to the plate to support her as Empress and alpha, then again when their incredible pups were born into the world and he had to act as the watchdog for both of them to make sure their little wolf nuggets didn't prematurely eject themselves from the living realm. It had been challenging, but Mav was never one to shy away from a challenge, and by the gods was he glad he hadn't! Being a father had turned out to be one of the greatest joys of his lifetime! Having his own band of miniature versions of himself and Venom was an amazing thing, and every day he got to play with them and teach them showed him how much joy could come from the simplest things. Watching his children grow and develop their own personalities was beautiful, and it really made him wonder why his own sire had been such a terrible father. Well, on his life, he swore up and down that he would never be anything like that man. He would be the man his pups deserved, and the husband Venom did as well.

Looking after Venom had given the sky and snow brute a fairly good intuition of when something was off or wrong with her. So when his betrothed came shuffling back into the palace after running her patrols, looking tired and unwell, Maverick was immediately concerned. Venom had assured him she was fine, of course, but Mav wasn't entirely convinced. He decided to stay around the palace, just in case she needed him for anything. It would do neither of them any good if he went out with their kids or on a patrol and an emergency happened at home. For the most part, the evening was quiet. Venom slept through most of it, which in Mav's anxious mind just served to further convince him that she was indeed ill. But just before dawn, as the pups were winding down for bed and he was preparing to go snuggle with his beloved, Venom's panicked call for him echoed out from their bedchambers.

Maverick's heart sank, ears folding back as he took off for the bedroom. Oh gods, what had happened to Venom? Wasn't suddenly going blind bad enough?! What had fate decided to strike her down with this time? Skidding into the room on skittering paws that gave out from beneath him, the dire brute collapsed on himself in a heap on the stone floor, muttering a grunting "Ow" while he scrambled back to his feet and hurried over to where his fiancée lay in their bed. Worry was etched across his face, not that she could tell, though it rang through clear as day in his voice. "What's wrong, Ven? What's happening? Do I need to call a healer?" He spoke in a hurry, looking her over for any signs of injury or obvious ailments, praying that this wasn't something else serious and ruinous.

"Maverick & Venom"

Venom heard the sound of claws against stone, but she waited to see the owner of those claws. She knew the sound of the cloud and sky wolf’s gait, and this was her mate coming to rescue her. The Empress looked up to the entrance in time to watch Maverick stumble and trip on his way inside. While he thought that she was dying right here, Venom couldn’t help her girlish giggle as relief and joy poured into her heart. However serious Maverick was intending to be, Venom was the opposite. She could hardly believe she could see as she watched him stand and recover, hopefully she hadn’t hurt his feelings when she laughed at his comical entrance.

His concern renewed as he sought her out, questioning her well being as he asked if a healer should be called in. "Maverick…” She started, still in disbelief as she grinned at her dearest. "I can see you.” Her voice and demeanor were bashful as her sunset gaze lifted to his features. She could see her ruffian once more, and that was before she realized that her gaze would be filled with that of their children for the very first time. Silly nerves settled in her belly as she looked up to her love, and anticipated his reaction.

"Maverick & Venom"

Venom laughed. She had laughed when he came skittering and crashing into their bedroom in a panicked hurry. That stunned Maverick to the point of silent shock, but not because of any hurt feelings or offense. It stunned him because it meant she had seen him wipeout. But... no, no it couldn't have been. She must have just heard him crash and correctly assessed what had happened... right? For a brief moment the dire wolf was shocked, but that shock only continued to amplify as his beloved continued to stare at him. Not through him with her blind, vacant stare—at him. When Venom spoke the words that felt like an impossibility, Maverick almost called bullshit. There was no way her sight had returned as suddenly as it had left her. There was no way that after an entire season of them adjusting and coming to terms with the Empress' disability that his wildest prayers had been answered. Life was never that kind or good.

Maverick's mouth opened and closed a couple of times as he struggled to find the words to say. Wide teal eyes gazed down at Venom, disbelief painting his expression. There was no way! He never doubted his fiancée's words, especially not with a matter as serious as this, but he still had to test for himself. Without making a sound, Mav lowered his body down to duck in front of her, keeping his eyes on hers to watch as her gaze followed his movements. He raised his left paw, tracking her eye movements as he moved, then raised his right and wiggled his toes in front of her face. When Venom did not hesitate to follow his actions or react to his silliness, the dire brute felt his heart swell and explode with impossible happiness! "You can see...! Oh gods, you can see!" he gasped with a choked sob tightening his throat, tears of joy welling up in the corners of his eyes. A huge, beaming grin split the brute's maw, and before either of them knew it he was launching himself to wrap Venom up in his loving embrace, squeezing his mate tight in his arms. "How...? How is this-? Aw dammit, I don't care how! You can see again!"

"Maverick & Venom"

She could finally gaze up at him again and watch as his features displayed the wide array of emotions that took him after she admitted what had happened to her. Disbelief, confusion, and curiosity. Venom tilted her head and watched him as he quietly lowered himself to his belly and waved his paw in front of her, testing what she said. "I wouldn’t lie to you, silly man.” Venom gently scolded him as she joined him, placing her long white gloved arms over how own. She looked up at him, sunset gaze finally meeting his aquamarine again.

Finally he conceded that he did believe her, and just as the tears in her own eyes welled his pulled forth in a soft relieved sob. She joined him in the unexpected joy, it was nearly unbelievable that she could indeed see him once more. Then she was in his arms, joy seeming through them both as he wrapped her up and stuttered softly, as if she had any more answers than he did. "I have no idea,” She said while trying to hold back her tears. The emotions would not be restrained however, and soon her cheeks were stained. "I’d nearly given up…” Was all she could say, her heart had finally relented to the fact that she was blind. Now here they were.

"Maverick & Venom"

His juvenile attempts to test the validity of Venom's claims earned him a well deserved chiding from his fiancée who insisted she wouldn't lie to him. Of course he never thought she would lie to him, but when she made such wild claims of sudden recovery after a whole season of blindness, his mind simply couldn't comprehend her truth was reality. But Venom's scolding had confirmed what he dared to hope—she could see again! Maverick just held Venom while the two of them sobbed in disbelief and joy. There had been a moment when he had resigned himself to this lifetime of handicap with her, knowing she would never see their children, never see him on their wedding day, never see any part of their future together. It had been devastating, but it had not shaken his resolve to be with her. He loved Venom, and no matter what happened he would always be by her side through thick and thin. The scruffy rogue was just glad that the gods weren't testing that loyalty this early out of the gate.

Maverick refused to let Venom go, squeezing her tight in his loving embrace as he buried his face in the crook of her neck, letting his tears sink into her fur. "I know... Me too..." he admitted in a gently quivering voice, his large paws gripping at her back as if he were afraid this might be a dream he could wake from at any moment. "I was ready for this to be our forever. It wasn't going to change anything. I'm just glad you won't miss the rest of anything. The wedding, the kids-" Maverick jerked upright as the realization hit him. "The kids!" Venom could see their children now for the first time!

"Maverick & Venom"

As if perfectly on cue, the soft pit-pat of tiny puppy paws on the stone floor came closer and closer to the bedchambers' entryway. Rogue had been play wrestling with his sire when Venom's cry for Maverick had called out, sending his father sprinting from their game to go check on her. Rogue, ever the impatient child, gave his father a full two minutes before he huffed and decided to go ambush his dad for daring to leave their important fight before it was over! So, tromping down the corridors to the bedchambers where he heard his parents' voices speaking, the little midnight blue pup rounded the corner and stomped rather dramatically over to the giant pile of bedding and furs. His parents were... hugging? Hugging and crying? Eww, why were grownups so darn weird?! Making a face, the Klein prince made his way over to the bed and gave a soft yap to get his father's attention.

"Dad? Is everything okay with Mom?" The boy looked between his parents, trying to figure out why they were crying and holding each other like that. Was mom sick or something? Rogue's head tilted to the side in a comically curious fashion while he looked up at her from beside the bed, coming closer to get a better look and make sure she was all right. "Mom? Are you okay?"

"Rogue Klein"

Never one to miss out on a commotion, she had also been waiting impatiently for their father to return after rushing off to check on their mom, peeking out from where they were being put to bed to watch for him. If Rogue hadn't made the first move to go see what was going on she certainly would have so she was right behind him as he went to find out what had happened. It hadn't seemed like their mom was feeling well so she was a little bit worried, but of course she was confident that everything was fine. Their parents were the strongest, best wolves ever, after all. Nothing could happen to them, she was sure of it. But when they walked in and it looked like the pair of them had been crying it made her frown and wonder if something was actually wrong. "Yeah, is everything okay?" she questioned, echoing her brother's concern as she pressed up to the edge of the bed beside him.

"Rebel Klein"

Ren had thought it awful weird that mom wasn’t out with them that night, but he was just glad that she didn’t make them nap with her. Having time with just dad was a good time though, he could tell their sire’s mind was partially on their ailing mom. Hopefully everything was alright. As they were playing, unexpectedly, he heard their mom call for dad and before he could even blink Maverick was rushing into the other room.

The young prince was shocked at just how fast their dad could run, he couldn't even close his mouth until he saw Rogue lift himself to his paws to rush after. Bel was right behind him and Ren finally made his way to his paws. He nudged Ram as well, he felt like it was important the whole family was together, especially if mom wasn’t feeling well. He followed after his dark starry siblings to find their parents sad.. And happy? Both at the same time, it was unlike anything he had ever seen.

With his question asked by both of the siblings that arrived first his instinct was to quickly make his way over to where mother and father were hugging to join in on the love. He snuggled into dark and white fur uncertain what they were facing here.

"Renegade"

Ram did love a good fight but in this instance, the boy had been attempting to use an upward curve of the land to get a view higher up in a tree.  His front paws were stepping on a fat branch to test its weight, his back paws situated on a rock that jutted out some from the incline.  A branch above the one he was on and closer to the center of the tree he spotted a large nest with small bones scattered in it!  

His head turned down as Ren nudged his haunches, glancing from Ren to where everyone was running he shrugged at Ren, looking back up, “Look, a…” The others were leaving quickly and Ram had to question himself.  Was mom actually hurt or was something else wrong that Dad had been so quick to leave? Well, he could go back later.  Hopping down the boy sped off with the rest of his siblings, watching Dad’s form get smaller as they tried to keep up.  He tried to match Dad’s speed but even if he’d started at the same time Rampage wouldn’t have had a chance.

The quilled pup stepped into their den in time to listen to Rebel asking if everything was alright and Ren going to get in on the parents hugging something out.  Hugs and tears while happy?  How did that make any sense?  Moving in closer he sat close enough he could have reached out and touched either but not quite snuggling in like Ren was. Turning his head from one face to the other, carefully observing their expressions as he tried to spot some explanation of their actions.

"Rampage Klein"

Venom held onto her soon to be husband, uncertain if this was just a wishful dream or reality. A dream come true really. She had accepted her fate, blindness was a difficult disability but she was making it work and making due. Like herself, Maverick had prepared for the inevitable, that she was never going to see ever again. She knew she could count on him no matter what happened, and was so grateful to have him at her side. Now though, she could retake her position of greatness with full confidence.

Mav trailed off, ending with the surprise of their children, and just at that moment their four little terrors came stumbling back into the room. Venom would be given the very first glimpse of her precious puppies.She couldn’t hold the tears back any longer and Rogue appeared, just as handsome as she had imagined, and then sweet Rebel, more beautiful than she could have guessed. Renegade looked nothing like she expected, but next to Rampage they were much different than their siblings. Venom couldn’t help it as her gaze lingered on little Ram, so much like his grandfather that she was struck speechless.

Her tears covered her face and she couldn’t even answer her children’s curious and concerned questions. Without a word Venom stood up so that she could gather all four of them in her arms and squeeze them against her chest. She never thought this day would come, and her joy was impossible to contain.

"Maverick & Venom"

As the emotionally overwhelmed pair of wolves wept and celebrated this momentous miracle with one another, the skittering and scampering of little puppy paws behind them pulled Maverick’s attention away from his fiancée and at the quartet of curious puppies that came tumbling in to find them. Their children, drawn by the commotion of their parents, approached with confusion and curiosity—first Rogue, then Rebel, Renegade, and lastly Rampage. Mav saw the shock and wonder light up Venom’s love struck face as she gazed upon their children for the first time, truly seeing them in ways she had been cruelly deprived of for too long. A wide grin lit up the father's face as his elegant fiancée rose to her paws without a word, too speechless from shock, and made her way to their children to gather them up in a great big hug. The sight tugged at Maverick's heartstrings again, and a fresh wave of tears crystallized in his teal eyes as he beheld the love of a mother finally being able to really see her children. It was all the emotions she had deserved at their birth, and none of what she had been given.

While they pups all had their own sorts of confused or bewildered reactions, Maverick just laughed and came over to join in the cuddle pile. They wouldn't know what was going on, of course; all they'd known all their short lives was that their mother had been blind. Now, as if by miracle, she was cured. "Everything's okay, little ones. Better than okay! Your mother's eyes have gotten better. She can see you now!" he explained to the four wiggly pups, using a paw to wipe away some of the tears from his face. "Venom, these are our children, and they're all perfect in every way." He knew Venom would know each of the pups by their voices and scents, but it still felt right to introduce them by sight since she had been robbed of that.

"Maverick & Venom"

The perplexed pup still had no idea what was going on when both of his parents looked up with a start at him when he spoke, interrupting their moment. His young mind didn't even process the fact that Venom's eyes were fixed squarely on him, seeing him for the first time properly. Behind him, the sounds of his other siblings coming into the room took his attention away momentarily as Rebel, Renegade, and Rampage all came to check on the commotion as well. When he looked back to his parents, their mother was already getting up and looking down at all four of them. Then she started coming closer, still having said nothing, just looking at them. Rogue tilted his head in a comical canine fashion of confusion. It was only once Venom stretched out her long forelegs to scoop them all up in a great big hug did Rogue realize what was going on. Mom could see them now!

Despite the shock of the realization, Rogue still yapped in surprise as he was scooped up off his paws into his mother's bear hug, tiny legs and paws kicking as he wriggled against the siblings he was now smushed up to in the embrace as he attempted to wiggle himself free. "Ack! Mooooom! You're squishing me!" he protested with a whiny yowl, little chubby puppy limbs flailing helplessly as he was trapped a la hug attack by his mother. Their father explained what was happening, confirming what he had already mostly figured out. "Huh? Mom can see again? How?" he asked in confusion, only ceasing his squirming when he ran out of energy to continue fighting, leaving the young prince panting and dangling across his mother's foreleg. Peeking up at her with sunset eyes that matched hers, he tilted his head again and waved a paw in front of her face just like Maverick had done to see if she could actually see or if this was a prank. "Can you really see us, Mom?"

"Rogue Klein"

Still baffled by their parents' tears and what seemed to be joy even though they were crying, she watched as her mother started to get up and move toward them, not really connecting the fact that her eyes were actually focused on them yet. Then all of the sudden their mom's legs were wrapped around all four of them gathering them up into a big hug and lifting them off of their paws and into her chest. Much like her brother, Rebel fussed with protest, her hind legs kicking with her attempts to get them back onto the ground. Now was no time for hugs! What was going on?! But they got the answer soon enough as their father finally explained that everything was in fact okay and not only that, but her vision had come back.

That certainly got her attention and she stopped struggling, wriggling around in her mother's grasp instead to look up at her face in disbelief and awe. "Really?!" she questioned with excitement, her black-tipped tail wagging like crazy behind her. She watched her bother wave his paw in front of their mom's face as he questioned whether or not she could really see them and she watched very closely at her similar sunset eyes, watching the recognition at the movement that had never been there before. All she had ever known was her mother's blindness and that had never really phased or bothered her, but this was still amazing news! She still waited to hear the confirmation from their mom herself just to be really, really sure, but her tail never stopped wagging.

"Rebel Klein"