While Pandora was the kind of soul to enjoy the Soulless Forest, Maija was drawn to the Orchard. There was something beautiful about how the goodies remained frozen on the branches, like a piece of time had been kept still. She would never breathe a word of such observations to another being, let alone her own children, for in her eyes, she would look weak. The golden goddess slowly walked through the trees, feeling the winter ground crunch beneath her paws with each step. Leaf green eyes, guards down, looked at the great details of nature that others would not realize existed. Such fools for ignoring the small things in life. Her steps ceased when she came to one of the biggest trees. Its fruit had been berries, large enough to fit in her upright paw. She had never tried fruit before, but figured it was good enough to eat without causing sicknesses. Most of the fruit had been picked before the cooler seasons arrived, but only enough to make a small dent in the right side. She licked her golden lips with her light pink tongue as she wondered what they would taste like. In the spring, she would attempt one. For now, all she could do was gaze. speech here

She knew that the easiest place to find her sister would be in the orchard. So the Queen set out to find her, nostrils quivering in an attempt to pinpoint her location. Snow crunched beneath her feet, the distinct smell of the orchard soon filling her nose. It wouldn't take her long to find the golden woman, and when she did, a smile would tug a pale lips. "Maija." She would announce her presence, though she doubted that she snuck up on the woman. Her tail would wag slowly at her hocks, tattered ears swiveling to stand at attention. The russet woman would reach out, aim to press her nose against her sisters shoulder. They had finally returned home from meeting all the packs, and she had not yet gotten a chance to talk with the woman about her proposal. Maija had certainly be shocked, but she had taken it in stride, and now it was time to confirm whether or not she wanted the position, and the power that came with it. "Talk" "You" Think

Sibelle's presence did not go unnoticed, even if the golden goddess ceased to move. However, one of her ears perked in the female's direction and once her sister reached her side to nuzzle her face, Maija turned. She returned the woman's brief encounter of affection, letting her pink tongue slip to plant a kiss on her sister's cheek. Her lips let a small smile appear before quickly fading as her gaze moved back to the trees. "I was wondering when you would find me," Maija commented, tones soft and thick with her famous Romanian accent. "You always know where to find me..." She softly sighed, showing a small crack in her exterior skin. "My mind has been spinning since we have come back, and I don't know how to make it stop." Despite her calm look, Maija's brain was trying to work in the details of the Secondary position. "I didn't know you had already chosen one for such a rank, Sib." Talk like this

The golden woman's greeting was friendly, as always, but it obvious that she was going crazy over the decision. A smirk tugged at creamy lips as she listened carefully. "There is no one I would trust more to lead beside me than you." Despite her smile, her words were honest. Maija was family, her sister, and one that she knew would never stab her in the back for power. The russet Queen knew she could rely on Maija no matter what, through thick and thin. "If you are not ready to take it, no pressure, and no hurt feelings. " Haunches would recline, tail curling around her carefully as her verdant gaze would rest easily on her sister. She knew that Maija was still going through a lot, and being Secondary may only add to her stress, but at the same time, the Queen knew it could be an escape. The golden woman would have a chance to focus on others, and herself, rather than the past. Sitting quietly, she would wait for her sister to speak again, she was more than ready to answer any questions about the position and about the pack. "Talk" "You" Think

With Sibelle giving Maija the position of Secondary came the obvious facts of how she felt for the golden lady. Maija noted that no one else had been thought of, that she was being given a golden opportunity to prove her worth as Sibelle's sister. Even with Taurig gone, they were still family and that was what mattered the most. Maija's heart, if it could, would have swollen to a bigger size because of how honored she felt. Even with all she had recently gone through with Taurig leaving, Sibelle still had faith in her ability to carry on duties. It was what Maija needed...and what she wanted. Silently, the golden goddess would recoil to her haunches, hitting the cold ground before realizing how cold it was. Maija preferred the cold anyway, so she didn't protest as she looked at Sibelle with her usually stern gaze. "There is no 'if' about it, dear sister," she stated. "I am more than ready to move on from the island and step into the future with you." Her small smile returned, showing a bit more oomph than before. She reached out to nuzzle Sibelle's other cheek, this time whispering, "You don't know how much this means to me, Sib." When Maija pulled back, she maintained her soft smile as she retained her gaze with Sibelle's acid greens. "So, Queen Red, tell me everything I need to know. What are my duties, responsibilities? Will I be able to punish those who deserve it? How shall I run the show with you?" So many questions, but she knew Sibelle could answer them all. "Speech"

As soon as Maija spoke, a grin would stretch across her face. Russet plum thumped eagerly against the ground as she leaned in to return the nuzzle her sister gaze. It pleased her greatly that Maija was so willing to move, and face the future with a new outlook. After a shared sentiment, questions would flow, as expected. The russet Queen was thrilled to answer such questions, but even more thrilled to have her sister ruling beside her. "Well, you'll be able to accept or deny new members, test them however you please. You can promote or demote those deserving, but if you are promoting to a Beta, I would like to know first. You are allowed to punish those who need it, and I will not tolerate trespassers, of any sort. We closely allied with Covari, obviously. We are also allied with Tortuga, and Glaciem officially, Im still working with Ebony, Ludicael, Olympus and Valhalla. Vi, Crucifix, Vi's children, and Desiree, may freely enter, as you and the kids made freely enter Covari. You already know the rankings and structure. You will essentially be a second Queen, I just have the final say in big decisions." A grin would finish off her statement as she stopped to take a breathe. She hoped that Maija caught the seriousness in her tone when she mentioned trespassers, though the red woman was typically easy going, there were just somethings that she would not allow. "Talk" "You" Think

Sibelle proceeded to explain the duties that would come with her position. Such things were what she needed and having the power was something she would not give up easily. Sibelle trusted her with all of it and she intended to make her sister proud. Tortuga and Glaciem were officially their allies, something the later never would have been in Maija's eyes. However, that opinion was in the past and she had to move on from that. Glaciem was under a new rule -- Athena -- and she seemed to have more common sense than her predecessor. Maija's tail curled around her flanks as she let all of the information process in her mind. Suddenly, her responsibilities began to pile up and she took the weight without complaining. They formed themselves into a neat list in her mind as she decided which ones were the priorities. "So...if I see little red Vi's running around, they are more than welcome to walk across the border lines." The idea of Vi having children was still crazy, but she knew she had to see them in order to believe it. "What if...they have someone that tries to walk in with them and they're not a part of the group?" Talk like this

She would listen carefully, nodding to the first statement. "Yes, though I doubt it will happen often. But if you do see Hestia, keep an eye on her. She had a talent for getting into trouble, she recently tried to attack Ekko." She would shake her head, thinking back to that day, poor Ekko had been terrified. First being almost attacked within her own home, the one place she was suppose to be safe, and then being surrounded by aggressive wolves that sought blood, even though it wasn't hers. Maija would voice a concern, and the woman was quick to answer. "Then stop them. There are very few people that Vi would trust to escort her children anywhere." She would take a moment to think. Fia. "One of her daughters, Fia, was kidnapped by a white woman, Artemis, she should not be anywhere near here or Covari." She didn't know how many others new about Fia being kidnapped, but Maija would certainly need to know, especially if she would keep the peace and keep everyone safe. "Talk" "You" Think

Maija mentally took down the notes she would have to go by as Secondary. Making sure Vi's kids were safe and not with strangers upon visiting Arcanum was going to be one of the priorities of her position. Sibelle mentioned Artemis, a girl she had not met yet, but was prone to being a dangerous wolf. A low growl escaped her lips as she thought about what had been said about her. "She will not step one paw into Arcanum, unless she desires a death wish." Her heart may have been made of ice, but Maija had made room for her sister and close friend before it had refrozen. Hestia and Fia were two names of Viridiana's children. She kept them in her mind as she considered the rest of them. "I wonder what Vi will say when she finally meets my children..." she softly wondered out loud. Vi had been to visit them on the island, but it had only been once and Pandora had been mischievous enough to conveniently appear. Maija distinctly remembered being out and about with her babies, exploring the island when Vi had come to call. She wished that they had visited more often, but time had a way of twisting plans with wishes. Leaf green eyes, hard as stone, met Sibelle's and she licked her golden lips with her salmon pink tongue. "What about those who seek my rank, Sibelle? Will I have to be challenged for it, if their desire is so great?" Maija didn't like to fight, but if she had to, she would do her best to prove her worth to her sister. Speech,

A faint smile tugged a pale lips when a growl rolled off her sisters tongue, quickly followed by a vow. There was not a doubt in her mind that Maija would fiercely protect these lands against any foe. And the Queen knew that one day, someone would come for her crown, would come for her home, her family. Her attention shifted as Maija mused quietly about Vi and the kids. "I'm sure she will love them, especially Pandora and her attitude." A low chuckle rolled softly off her tongue as the Queen shook her head Maija certainly had her paws full with that one. The tone would shift once again, becoming serious. A frown would pull at her lips. "No, you're rank cannot be challenged for, by anyone. And should someone decide to, they will have to go throw me." A sassy grin pulled at her lips before disappearing as she settled back into a more formal expression. No, she would never make Maija fight for her own rank that she has personally given to the woman. "Talk" "You" Think

Sibelle's own observation of Vi loving her children made Maija softly smile, although it flickered when she thought about Pandora. Maija couldn't help but sigh as she imagined her rambunctious daughter getting into all kinds of mischief. "Pandora will become a bigger handful once she officially meets Vi. She's been transfixed by her since her first encounter as a pup." The cobalt babe hadn't acted out lately, which made Maija wonder what was going on inside the girl's mind. Mothers always had intuitions about those things. Softly shaking her head, her ears perked to Sibelle's response to her question. Her eyes met her sister's and a firm nod was given. "Okay. I was just wondering because at the meeting, you said ranks could be challenged for. And don't worry..." she smiled. "I will be by your side if someone foolishly attempts something like that." Her tail curled around her frame as she deeply breathed in, thoughts moving to other things. "Do you miss him, Sibelle? I find myself thinking about him, more than I should be..." A heartbroken Romanian whose heart was supposed to made of stone...How could she glue her heart back together? Talk like this

The was no doubt in her mind that Pandora would become an even bigger pain in the ass once she met Vi. She new the red woman would fuel her fire and turn her into a man killer. There was not a man here that would be able to resist her niece. And that was going to get her into trouble. But the woman said nothing, only smirking lightly. Her sister would voice the reasoning behind her concern. "A minor slip up, Ill announce it at the next meeting." She would chuckle at the image that unfolded with her sister vowed to be beside her should someone decide to act foolishly. The conversation would suddenly take a turn, one that caused tattered ears fall loosely against her skull. A sigh rolled off her tongue before she spoke. "I miss him, but he's not the first man to leave." Her words were quiet. It was the first time she had ever admitted it. Only Falk knew of Aeron, but even he only knew the basics. Her gaze would fall to the ground, brows furrowing before smoothing out once more. "Talk" "You" Think

Maija watched Sibelle's reaction to her observation about Pandora, but said nothing. She knew that her sister cared deeply for her niece, so it didn't bother her if she didn't immediately show smiles and happy eyes. In fact, it made Maija pull her sister closer to her heart. Sibelle didn't sugar coat everything and by doing that, she knew that she cared deeply for her family. Sibelle voiced that she would correct the slip up and she firmly nodded in response. She didn't want her place beside Sibelle to be yanked from under her, especially when they had been through so much together. As the topic moved to Taurig, Maija's eyes turned to look into her sister's. "That is true," she said softly, tones betraying a hint of her aggravation about his absence. She slowly looked away before offhandedly saying, "I wonder if there will ever be another one...Probably not, since men are usually unreliable, as we have witnessed." Talk like this