Plague looked up at the trees and overgrowth around him as he passed through the ravine on his way to find his sister. While he had never questioned Venom's decision to move their pack to a new home and shift away from the old ties that had kept them at the shrine for so long, he secretly had worried that this would never really feel like home. It had been a silly fear, of course, but as he got older he found himself to be even more of a creature of habit and comfort than he had ever been before. In the end, as was always the case, he and his family had settled in just fine–some of his pups rising even more boldly to the occasion than others. He smiled softly as he thought about his pups and how much they had grown, each of them developing into adults and branching out into their own interests. It had been hard to imagine what getting to this point might feel like back when they were born and he was laying there with Rava and Void, looking at their little miracles. Rava and Void had been with him and followed him through so many different phases of his life and had given him a love and dedication he often wondered if he deserved. They had given him the family that for a time he had felt certain that he would never have. That's why they deserved his undivided attention now.

As he neared his sister's usual patrol route, he refocused his attention on his surroundings. With the moonlight to guide him he was able to find her familiar scent fairly easily. Following it, eventually he spotted Venom's monochrome form and he smiled softly as he trotted to catch up with her and slipped in at her side. Luckily he had caught her alone which was more of a task these days with her beautiful new children running wild around the pack and her adoring husband to be almost always at her side. "Mind if I join you?" he asked almost teasingly since he knew she'd never say know. He fell into step beside her, following the now familiar patrol route around the ravine and through the dense trees they now called home. "I'd like to say this is just an opportunity to spend some time with my sister, but I do have something I'd like to discuss with you," he mentioned after a few moments of walking quietly together shifting his emerald gaze from their surroundings to his sister.

Plague Klein-Destruction

Getting out to patrol on her own was easier and easier as the days went on. With her sigh returning and the pups getting older, Venom was practically free again. Not that she had ever complained about having little ones. Watching her young grow into productive members of their family was the highlight of her life. She looked forward to seeing what the younger ones would do with themselves.

Venom was alone on her patrol today, Poison was helping to keep an eye on wandering puppies. The Empress felt a little better with the children having their companions coming into their lives, but they still had so much to learn, a lifetime of growing to do still. Her kids were always on her mind, even as she was tracking the borders now. Those thoughts were easily interrupted by the sound of her brother’s voice suddenly at her side.

The Empress brought her gaze to meet Plague’s as he paced along beside her at the slow trot she set. "Of course,” she answered without hesitation, but couldn’t say she wasn’t a little sad when he mentioned this visit was not solely to spend time with her. Venom did feel like she had been severely lacking on the amount of time she had spent with Plague recently. ”Tell me what troubles you, dear brother.” She told him as she bumped his shoulder affectionately.

"Venom & Maverick"

Plague grinned as Venom bumped his shoulder and he did the same in return as he chuckled softly. "Oh I wouldn't say that anything is troubling me... quite the opposite actually," he began, pondering for a moment how he wanted to phrase it. "It feels like, for the first time, I'm... dare I say it... ready for a break." He grinned again, humor in his tone as he talked with his sister. It dawned on him just how vastly different his demeanor was from even just a few short years ago when he was discovering himself and his desires, working through how his attractions differed from their family's vision, back when things had felt so hopeless. Now he could stroll with his sister knowing fully who he was and what he was meant to do. And now he was ready to rest. It was a hard thing for a workaholic like himself to admit, which he was sure his sister would understand since she very much was cut from the same cloth, but for his husband and their dear Rava he would give everything.

"My children are grown now. Seere has already matched my rank. Your oldest, my nieces and nephews, are all grown and some are already out in the world, striking out on their own paths. You have Maverick and what a splendid partner and father he has turned out to be." He smiled wistfully, adding, "For the longest time I've dedicated my life to helping and protecting you and both of our families, but... now I think you're all ready to stand without me. I don't feel... pushed aside or replaced. I feel... fulfilled. I feel like I've had a job well done and now I can focus my attention on other things. Like Void and Rava." He glanced down toward the ground in front of his feet as he walked, his emerald gaze distant but happy as he spoke of the wolves that had become his lovers and partners in all of this. The wolves that had given him far more than he'd ever be able to repay.

"They haven't asked this of me, but I want to do this for them. They have done nothing but be dedicated and steadfast with me through my long days and nights of work and patrols and lessons. They've filled in the gaps for our children when I couldn't be there for one reason or another. So... if you'll indulge me, sister, I would like to leave with them. I'd like to move to an island somewhere warm and temperate with them to enjoy our retirement." He brought his gaze back up to hers with a warm smile, quickly adding before she could respond, "Not immediately of course. I would like to be here to help get my youngest nephews and niece started on their training first. And I'd like to see you and Ike married before I go. Not that I'll be gone forever... but those feel like the last things to cross off my list."

Plague Klein-Destruction

The Empress wouldn’t dream to deny her brother anything, let alone an audience. She enjoyed his presence, after everything that they had been through he was a calm harbor for her. Forgetting their past would be impossible and he remained one of the few who had been with her since the very beginning. She listened to him as white gloved paws carried them over the paths that were her patrol. Venom couldn’t help the confused look that crossed her features as he mentioned the need for a break.

He explained himself with a smile, telling her how his young were growing into their own as much as her own. She listened intently, finding herself slowing to a stop to give her brother her full attention. They both knew that Ashen had grown to the point where he was no longer essential as he once was, and that led to him wanting to give more of his time to his husband and their partner.

Venom wasn’t sure how she felt about Plague’s desires, her first feeling was yearning. Wondering how she would go on without her brother by her side. But then again he brought up very good points. He deserved his chance to relax. He never asked to be her second in command, but his loyalty had been steadfast beyond anyone else in her life. She couldn’t help but to feel the loss tug at her heart. She loved him so much. Again, she couldn’t deny him anything and if this was what he desired, she would let him go.

He made sure to let her know that he wasn’t going to up and leave her, there were many events that he still needed to witness before that, but now they could start to prepare. "You know I could never say no to you,” She conceded before being unable to help herself in embracing her beloved brother. "Do you know how terribly I will miss you though?” Venom asked as she buried her features into his fur.

"Venom & Maverick"