The guilt ate at her like a worm inside her belly, gnawing away constantly. She had not even really spoken of it to Praetor, although she was certain he could tell by the way he touched her and kept a quiet counsel with her. Aithne threw her efforts into securing the border since that day but it was too late. The damage was already done. She did not even try to take the time to enjoy herself again. On the times she left the well-worn border she would head inland and hunt. Hunt, kill, drop it off near Raven's den, and then the cycle continued. Feeding the pack, feeding Raven, feeding her mate, and finally eating for herself out of habit. It was quite possible that the western border of Iromar was desolate now since she had hunted so much.

Raven had been so remote since the occurrence and Aithne didn't press her, despite growing ever more frustrated at herself. What was she to do? She didn't know how to help. She had hunted down her own rapist all those years ago and killed him. Crushed his windpipe while he looked into her eyes, knowing she was the one to end him. Raven was with child, something she had never dealt with, and there was no way to brush this under the rug. The child would forever more remind her of that fateful moment.

The only thing Aithne knew how to do was offer her sustenance and a shoulder. She would help however she needed. The least she could do was feed her and make sure that Raven did not suffer a prolonged birth. So she hunted once more and as she went to drop the last marsh rat in a pile that she had created she heard the first sounds of birth. Immediately panic flares in her and she grabs as many of the dead animals as would fit in her mouth - approximately five of them, despite the engorged look on her face. Now she turns and she races towards Raven's den, dirt flying around her and mud soaking between her claws and toes, until she breaks into the area and spies Malum at the entrance.

Malum was already proving to be a worthy member of Iromar but he was a male. And in this moment her old thoughts intrude and the rats fall from her mouth as she snarls at him, raising her tail high and glaring - was he there to kill the pups? It is only when she catches the gentle look on his face that she freezes, lowering her head and blinking, turning back to snatch up the rats again, one at a time, before carrying them to the mouth of the den and beside Malum. "Sorry," she mutters towards him, feeling out of place as she peers in to see no pups. Just A pup. One.

"Raven, I have brought you some food. You will need your strength since giving birth. She is lovely," Aithne says softly, after depositing the rats on the inside of the den and gaze looking over the pup. "What will you name her?" She wants to know, in these moments, what Raven plans to do with the child, her eyes focused solely upon her Consul's face with Malum next to her.

Seven - Empress of Iromar - fated for Praetor

aithne