It Malum had not seen fit to take it upon himself to find Malignus as part of his task - which had been merely to steal a wolf and select wisely - then Aithne would have sent out a hunting party. No doubt Avery would have been salivating at the heels of Malignus with her rest of her pack herding him back and forth, a lamb between lions and straight into the waiting jaws of the dragon-slaying Empress. Trust was a valuable commodity in the world and she had learned, after a long time of suspicion and uncertainty, to trust many in her pack with her life. Avery and Raven were at the top of her list although Raven had been through much she was changed. Different - broken. Aithne was not good at fixing broken things, she did not know how to comfort, how to be gentle all the time, and so she had called upon Raven earlier to merely focus her attention elsewhere. Sometimes soldiering on was the only way to get over things.

Aithne grimaces at Avery's playful words, ears flicking back with a kind of sheepish expression lacing across her face. Pups in her belly.. the idea is absurd! That would mean that her and Praetor would have to get down and do the dirty and while she had grown used to his presence next to her in the den and to lying with him she did not think she was ready yet for that invasion. Would it be as bad as the first time? No, that was different and that wolf was dead for those who took what was not theirs had to learn lessons. "I would not be so certain," she answers in an off-handed way, smiling at Avery in a more timid manner than she had ever countenanced before. Such things - children and love - they were an awkward thing to talk about so she forces the conversation towards her friend.

"Then he was not worthy of you," Aithne spouts off, jerking her chin down in affirmation of her words. "When you find the male right for you he will stick by your side regardless." And any male would find themselves lucky to be mated with her Commandant, the third most powerful wolf in Iromar in the sense of commanding. "I am certain I couldn't stomach a coward with me either. Then again, if I had a coward I might not have a mate for I am a fearsome thing, don't you think?" She jests, her rough laughter bouncing in the air heartily.

"We shall see, Avery, we shall see," she taunts. It will be fun to see their faces if she and Avery did spar - would they be shocked by the viciousness of such assaults? A tussle sounded amazing. She grins again and rolls her eyes at Avery, shaking her head in mock outrage. "I am not a Queen, I am an Empress and I can do as I please." A conspiratorial wink is given in reply to Avery's own before she nods and watches her Commandant walk away to patrol the lands they both protect.

Seven - Empress of Iromar - fated for Praetor

aithne