The Warlord had been helping out around Ashen well the Empress and her consort had adjusted to the idea of their first litter. Venom had invited him into the den not too long after they had been born. He had seen each perfect little form, and kissed a few tiny brows. The man had come to love children, and knew he would love these ones as dearly as his own. They were family. He had congratulated Venom on her beautiful litter, and even held one of the tiny little beans as the Empress had passed one to him. It was hard to find too much time to come into Ashen when he was also running his own duties, but he liked to find the time. Now that the kids were old enough to leave the den and run amok through Ashen lands, he wanted to get an idea of their interests and strengths. He had taken Venom under his wing when she had been… goodness. She had been shockingly small at the time, and he had taught her how to kill and harvest the pelt of a cat. Where had the time gone? For a moment, he was almost dazed to realise how old Venom had become, and the kids she now had of her own. He shook away his bafflement. He stopped at the Ashen border and took a seat, watching the lapping waves for a moment, before raising his head and calling out to her brood. They knew who he was by now, but now it was time to have a hand in their training. "Speech"

Takeshi had been tracing his way along the border when Sirius’ call rang into the air, his auds tilting and his glowing red gaze turning in the direction from whence it came. They’d been introduced to the beast of a man not too long before and he’d seemed quite pleasant to the young Ashen prince, so he felt no need to dilly dally in his response. Not that he would have anyways, because unlike most of his siblings, the scaled boy was normally quite prompt. He took off at a lope, his legs lazily eating away at the snow covered earth as he followed along their borders until he arrived at the shrine. A chuff was given in announcement of his arrival, the fog from his breath flowing out into the air and, illuminated by the bioluminescence in his mouth, seemed like he was breathing small puffs of fire. The boy gave the man a quizzical look before offering a bow, seating himself respectfully a few feet away to wait and see if his other siblings would take time away from their busy schedules to join them.

"Thoughts/expression intention"

Days stretched into weeks and weeks stretched into months. The pallid girl had thrown herself into her studies, finding that she enjoyed learning a great deal. Etiquette, languages, history, numbers... Ikigai loved it all. The child's mind was like a sponge and so, when the opportunity came to possibly learn from someone else, she jumped at it. Though she was small, one could already tell that the girl would be long legs and grace when she was grown. Already her long, obsidian tails stretched out behind her like a midnight train. It slithered over the snow covered ground as she moved towards the shrine. Take had reached the man first, but only slightly. Iki also found pride in being prompt. It was rude to keep someone waiting and she was definitely not rude. Offering her brother a smile, the corners of her red tipped gaze lifting upward, the girl seated herself beside him. She then looked up to the saber toothed man with eager silver eyes. "Okiku Ikigai"

Shuriken was never sloth to answer a call for training, especially when it came from the Armada’s Warlord. Their mother had already told them stories about the massive man who played the role as the Empire’s army. She knew him by sight despite the brief visits he made. Sirius was just as big as their Father with huge fangs and an endless black pelt. Ike could easily see herself looking up to the man. He was obviously a decorated warrior and much like their father the princess wanted to be just like him. The little copier didn’t keep her options limited to her siblings, any adult would do for her.

Tiny mismatched paws carried the tiny girl forward, bright eyes glittered as she took in the massive warlord and her brother and sister. Both looked prim and proper, ready to show their worth. Ike did the same, bouncing over to stand proudly. Instead of settling back on her haunches she tripped over her paws at the last second and landed on her face at Sirius’s toes.

Kuroki rolled up onto the scene fashionably late, his tail wagging in a dark blur as he took in the sight of his siblings and Sirius. Yes yes he was a prince and he was supposed to act all proper and poised, much like his litter sister Iki no doubt, but where was the fun in that? His siblings were fine as they were, he wouldn't have it any other way but beyond making his Father proud it was important to try and be his own person too, right? Maybe. Sometimes the little prince just wasn't sure, it almost seemed too much to think about. Especially when fight training seemed to be on the table, Kuroki's fave thing ever!!

Bumping into each and every one of his siblings as he passed, Kuroki made a grinning point of planting himself right up front and centre. The main event. Everyone else was sitting pretty and Kuroki did feel a tinge of peer pressure to follow suit but...nah, he was feeling chipper today. Being a bit of a pest just for the sake of it.

"Yooo!" He called, as though that was an acceptable greeting. Good thing Sirius wasn't nearly uptight as his dad was, right?

The first to arrive was Take, with his softly glowing scales and brilliant amber eyes. The quietest of the litter, if not by choice. The second to arrive was only a few paces short of the first. Iki, in a slim, sleek white build with a stunning blush of red to outline the edges of her silver gaze. Sirius knew that he and Hattori were going to be battering the boys away from that one. There was something serious about both the two first wolves to arrive, and he greeted them in likeness, nodding his head and offering them both warm smiles. Ike arrived next, her entrance holding not quite the same decorum as the other two. She stopped at his paws and tried to stand up straight before him. Instead, she took a tumble at his toes. The Warlord had a soft spot for wolves like her, all energy and desire to learn, burning so hotly she couldn’t even keep her overly large paws and body under control. Laughing softly he caught her with a paw almost the size she was, and helped steady her. Kuroki was a bit of a hurricane, appearing next and without the same solumness as his siblings. He almost knocked Ike back over again, but the Warlord’s paw was still balanced lightly against her. He gave a silent look of reproach to the latest arrival. Hopefully, Kuroki wouldn’t see the twitch of a smile at the edge of the Warlord’s lips. Releasing Ike, he settled himself before the three of them. He was sure there was supposed to be more than that… ah, there she was. Trotting up to them now was the final sister, all fire and bright colors as she stopped next to Ike and looked to him. Time to begin. “Today is going to be a bit of an adventure for the lot of you, you're going to learn what to look for on new terrain when you're in battle. Come on, it’s time the four of you got acquainted with the Armada territory.” after all, it was a part of the Empire, and another home for them. "Speech"

Kitohime very nearly ate it when Sirius’s paw was suddenly there to catch her and keep her on her paws. Resigned to her fate Ike felt a huge smile appear on her features as she was saved. The tiny princess looked up to the Warlord with wonder as he chuckled deeply and began to right her small frame. Not before her brother could come sweeping in though. If anyone helped her clumsiness it was her big brother Kuroki, not that she minded. He was so much fun she didn’t mind when she fell in the dirt around him.

Kitsune followed after Oki and Ike leaned against her sister as Sirius took that as his cue to begin their training. Bright dual toned eyes looked up at their massive teacher as he explained their little field trip. Ike hadn’t been in the Armada lands yet, but then again they were barely out of the den too. Excitement filled her and the girl couldn’t keep herself sitting any longer. Her little body popped up and her tail wagged eagerly at her hips as she readied herself to follow Sirius.

His youngest sister Iki was the first to arrive after him, her already elegant frame poised and respectful. She gave him a smile and he returned it, pressing an affectionate nose to the side of her head as she settled down next to him. He loved all of his siblings, but he especially got along with the quiet girl. She loved knowledge just as much as him and much of their time together was spent in comfortable silence, practicing their writing and Kanji or with Take listening to Iki tell him all about what their grandmother, Kiyo, was teaching her. Her voice was gentle and smooth almost like a lullaby and he found himself drifting off to sleep at it at times, only to wake up to her curled up at his side (and even more often with his siblings having joined her to cover him in a pile of bodies).

Next up were Ike and Oki, both making quite the grand entrance as they skittered to a halt at Sirius’ large feet. The man, ever good-natured, gave them a smile, before Kit finally joined them. Then he finally spoke and informed them that they’d be exploring the Armada territory and instantly the bioluminescent boy’s auds perks in interest, excitement filling his chest. Finally they could go somewhere that wasn’t just Ashen, but then again the Armada was just Ashen in a trench coat. Still, there would be new places for them to see and discover and the curious side of him was feeling thirsty for something interesting.

"Thoughts/expression intention"