After a quick jaunt around the territory to make certain that all was quiet and safe within Ashen’s borders, Venom’s white gloved paws carried her outside of the protection of her pack. This was where Celeste's pack had once resided, it was an attractive territory and she couldn’t deny the beauty of the oasis in the moonlight. Sunrise wasn’t so far away but there was yet to be any lighting on the eastern horizon quite yet.

The Empress scaled down the red rocks towards the luscious oasis that was bordered by vibrant palm trees and verdant foliage. She ducked her head beneath some flowering vines and made her way to the waters edge. The still pool was magical as it reflected the brilliant moon and stars above as she folded her haunches beneath her.

"Venom"

Víðarr hoped that he'd be home before night fell, but he'd been wrapped up in surveillance. Watching an enemy, understanding them, knowing them... he would know them before he struck. A false god stood at their helm. Víðarr would be the one who reminded them what all vikings knew to be true-- real gods require blood. There was anger bubbling deep below the surface, but he was in control. He was in control for now. He would bide his time.

It was late, far later than he'd realized, when Víðarr finally melted away into the night. He'd take a little rest in the Oasis and then head on home. The Oasis... it felt like a lifetime ago. Ethyria had become another chapter in the viking king's story. While he loved those he'd been with, he didn't miss the desert. At least it was cool at night, cool and still. Comfortable, for now. He crossed to the pool, becoming aware at once that he wasn't the only one here. Though Víðarr smelled her before seeing her, he'd lower his muzzle for a drink before speaking. The distance is enough, but not so much... especially not when they're alone.

"It's nice out here at night," his tone remained neutral, waiting. Trying to figure out exactly how the stranger would react, Víðarr remained on guard. Never know who's lurking out here in the dark, after all.

"Speech"

Venom had thought that she would be enjoying the oasis alone for the evening, but fate always had a different plan. Where she would have wanted the time to herself to be able to think clearly as the night sky, a stranger made his approach without fear. She knew that he had sensed her about the same time that she had known he was there, though the sand did well to mask his approach.

As he appeared through the foliage his demeanor was anything but threatening further than such a hulking man could make. She didn’t hide her suspicious eye as he took his drink not so far away from where she had seated herself. Uncertain of what his intentions were until he spoke quite neutrally, making a simple comment about the mild evening. She didn’t miss his allusion to the days being unbearable out here in the deserts. "You sound like you’ve experienced the oppression of the desert before.” The Empress half chuckled in answer.

"Venom"

He knows that his very presence can be... much. Maybe less, in a world filled with wolves who had antlers, fangs, horns, and tusks. The shadow's finery is only in his plainness-- a blessing. Still, he's large, and forgives any suspicion that could be cast on him.

The woman's words bring a chuckle to Víðarr's throat, the twitch of a rueful smile to the corners of his lips. "My daughter had a pack here." That is to say, he had, and suffers no longer. Fondness, pride rings in his tone of voice, though. My daughter. He'd adopted her, and Celeste was as much his as the others. Gaze shifting to the woman, Víðarr moved to a more comfortable, conversational distance. Not applying pressure, but shouting in the desert at night wouldn't be his finest choice. "You look comfortable in the desert." It's an observation. She looks competent in the inhospitable terrain, looks like the arid climate... suits her. Finely boned, graceful. The kind of creature who is at home on the sand. Not envy, but respect.

"Speech"

Despite his large appearance the hulking beast didn’t offer any threat. Venom needed to have her guard up, but she was far from afraid of the man. She’d grown up around giants, she’d raised her own monsters. She was a force to be reckoned with herself. Her attributes were hidden though, which were sometimes the most dangerous kind.

His chuckle at her words only solidified his neutrality, he seemed amused by her powers of deduction. Then it was her turn to try and connect a few dots as he mentioned his daughter had led a pack here. The man couldn’t have been any older than she was, and the only pack that Venom knew to rule here had been Celeste’s. Before that the Armada had taken refuge during the volcano’s eruption, but obviously Sirius was no one’s daughter.

"Do you speak of Celeste?” She asked with obvious interest as her sunset gaze flashed with curiosity. He did notice how well she had adapted to the desert, and he was not wrong. "Yes, my family has lived near the sands for a very long time.” At one point almost to the point of their extinction. Venom’s understanding of Klein history was fuzzy at best, but her grandfather had nearly destroyed their family during a famine.

"Venom"

This woman knew Celeste. Víðarr's lips twitched at the corners. It would be hard not to be proud of the girl, really. "Yes. I adopted her last year." He divulges this bit of information by way of explanation-- they were very different, but the same in the ways that mattered. Víðarr was not koi, and Celeste wasn't viking by blood. She could be by trade, if she chose, of course.

"I am Víðarr Trygg, alpha of Heiðinn." He realized now that an introduction was probably in order. Víðarr watches the woman steadily, trying to figure her out. Trying to figure out exactly who she was, and how she knew Celeste. Though he lacks political grace, the viking king could at least have manners. Some sort of manners. Though he is not cold, he maintains the same carefully composed neutrality throughout.

"Víðarr"

The man didn’t hide his pride in the girl very well as he explained himself further. Yes, he spoke of Celeste and how she had been adopted by him the year previously. What a small world it was. Venom wouldn’t have guessed that he was the woman’s biological father, but the adoption meant they were family in a way. Before she could explain herself the man went on, mentioning his name and his title. Another alpha.

The Empress didn’t usually give out her name or title so easily, but this had suddenly become more of a political meeting than she had intended. "A pleasure,” She started. "Venom Klein, Empress of Ashen.” Returning with a gentle nod of her head. "Though she did not marry my son, Celeste is a mother of my grandchildren.” She told him with great fondness.

"Venom"