Astaroth felt conflicted. At three years old, she was older than her father when her father had his first litter. At three years old, she was now only a year younger than Pyralis when her aunt had her first - and only, so far - litter. In fact, Pyralis' brood had just turned to yearlings, and as far as she knew they were formidable in their own right, well-trained, and a fantastic addition to the family. Her father's second litter had also reached a year old. Only a few more seasons and they, too, would be fully mature. Thus, her confliction. What should she do? None of her siblings had had children yet, but she could feel the weight and demands of the family pressing down on her shoulders. Find a suitable male - and for her brothers, a suitable female - and expand the Abraxas line. The question was - how the utter fuck was she supposed to find a suitable male when this entire region was filled with nothing but weak mortals? On top of that, she wasn't... sure she really wanted children. She knew she should, and she knew she would cherish them and raise them properly, but she also couldn't think to be restricted by them. Then again, Pyralis had had children and done just fine. "Aunt Pyralis?" she called out, looking for her mildly crazy aunt whom she admired a whole heck of a lot and respected. "Talk" "You" Think

You Made Me A Believer

Pyralis was stretched out on her back, enjoying the cooler weather of autumn in Auster. She'd settled in well to the pack and had all but found herself content to lounge in the lap of luxury for awhile before she began to run through the ranks of the pack. Even as she lay there resting she was working plans in her head. There was information that needed to be gathered, training that needed to happen and then of course there were her son's ambitions. He'd made progress and now that he was back she made note to test his skills in battle and give him one more good lesson while she considered him her little boy.

A voice roused her from her light doze and she opened a golden eye to peer at Astaroth wandering bye. Pyralis' deep coat helped her meld well with the shadows and she rolled to her feet and shook the dust from her pelt as she smiled at her niece. "Well, well, how is Astar? It's been awhile. How have you been?"

A toothy grin appeared on Astaroth's face as her aunt rolled into view. Standing tall, Pyralis was shorter than Astaroth, and in fact, many of the Abraxas wolves. It would be a grave mistake, though, for anyone to think that due to her slightly shorter stature - still larger than most mortals - that Pyralis was weaker, or subpar with the rest of the Empire. If anything, Pyralis was a wolf to be more feared than her father. Silly and fun she may be, Astaroth knew that her aunt was a force to be reckoned with, and that knowledge alone amde Pyralis one of the few wolves that Astaroth respected to such a degree - and feel such affection for. "I'm doing well, Aunt Pyralis. I truly enjoy it here in Auster, and I'm proud with what the family has accomplished so far. I am excited to accomplish more, to learn more. What about you? You're right; it has been a while - too long, I think." She did have concerns, and she would get to them, but there was nothing wrong in engaging in small talk - it was something that kept the family bond going, and tightened them. "Talk" "You" Think

You Made Me A Believer

Pyralis yawned once more as she worked to shake the sleep from her mind. Ahhh… that was a good nap. She appreciated the chance to talk with her niece. She'd been so involved in her children's lives and the overall plans of the empire that she hadn't taken much time to talk with her nieces and nephews. She pondered Astar's question for a moment. "I'm doing well I suppose, settling into this new role is a bit discombobulating but I'll get it figured out. Glad it's not permanent but hopefully members of our family can rise to the task." She stretched. "Is there something I can help you with?" She wasn't used to her family just deciding to shoot the breeze and was certain her niece had a particular reason for seeking her out.

"You always have figured things out, Aunt Pyralis. I have no doubt in your ability," she murmured affectionately. Only a pause later, and she was nodding to Pyralis' words. "I agree. I think they will, though; our family is strong and determined, and for the most part, I can't see anyone deciding to laze around doing nothing. Me personally, that would drive me insane." Astaroth smiled again when Pyralis got to the point - what did she want? Did she need help? Her aunt wasn't stupid nor would she ever be; she knew there was more than just random small. "Yes, there is - but first. We must adventure and cause mischief together soon. It's been too long and we could have quite some fun." She couldn't think of anyone better than Pyralis to cause mischief with; she truly hoped her aunt would agree. She didn't think Pyralis would disagree, though, with as trouble-loving as she was.

"As for what I came to you about. I came to you about your choice of mate for your children... I am now older than Father was when he had my littermates and I. Almost at your age when you had Ashiel and Asharya, and yet... all the mortal men are... weak. You said you had seen a fire spirit; I have sadly not seen anything of the like. I do feel a pressure, as well. I am of Amon's first litter, and am old enough to grow the family, and teach them well." She trailed off here, glancing at her aunt hopefully, looking for advice in this conflictment for her.

You Made Me A Believer

Pyralis chuckled to herself at Astaroth's comment. She rarely felt like she had things figured out but she never put much stock in surity. Pyralis preferred to move with the ebbs and flows of life. She quirked a brow at her niece as the woman skirted around her question, insisting they go have some fun first. She grinned and stretched. "Well, I'm never one to turn down a little fun. Do you have something in mind?"

She strode over to her niece as the younger woman got down to business and she chuckled. First Malleus, now Astar? It seemed many were asking for her advice when it came to choosing a mate. Personally she felt the fallen god had intervened for her. So much had felt as if it had been by chance. "There is still time Astaroth and there are some mortal men out there that may be worthy. Unfortunately, I can't offer you much advice other than to pray to the fallen god for success. My meeting of the celestial fire spirit was very much by chance. I suppose to start, what are the traits you are looking for in a potential mate? How can you test them to see if they have these traits? For example if you wish to seduce a strong warrior then hang around the battlefields or call the men to you and test them one by one."