Children were a thing that were precious to packs for they carried the lifeblood of a pack. They were the future and a necessity but Aithne was still uncertain what to do around them. The closest she had come to time spent with a child was Siren, who while not much younger than her had once had a mind more innocent. Before all the crazy shit went down that led the eventual rise of Aithne. Had fate done that for a reason? Who knew. Aithne still had yet to inform Raven of Andras's death but she would do it soon. She had wanted to give her Consul time to come to terms with her new child and while Raven obligingly took care of Jinx it was increasingly clear that she did not care for her daughter. Not in the way that mattered. Aithne didn't know what to do. She could not come between mother and child and even if she suspected Raven might be relieved if she did, she had no one else to give the child to. She had no children of her own and so she could not nurse and Jinx was still young yet. She would merely have to show the girl that others did care about her so that she could grow to know life was different everywhere.

She finds a sort of oddly protective feeling within her as she walks slow with Jinx, making sure the excited pup does not fall and hurt herself. Really, she is being overprotective, but that is Aithne. Always on alert, always protective of those she cares about even when such vigilance fails. Jinx was the product of such lax attention but looking down at the oddly cute girl she cannot feel too bad. Which, in turn, makes her feel guilty because Raven still suffered from it. Emotions - they were pesky and confusing and it was no wonder she had been so stern for so long. Being an Empress meant she had to temper her indifference for a more agreeable expression but sometimes it was difficult.

Jinx pauses, assess the rock, and then knocks it to the side with a laugh that distracts those dark emerald eyes from the thing that ought to have caught her attention. Aithne blames it on the fact that she is glued to Jinx, trying to figure out each movement of the child while she smiles in an encouraging manner and growing more relieved with each step closer to Praetor, who adopts a pleased expression. It strikes her then that he would one day want children of his own and while this causes a squirm of unease within her it also makes her hot beneath her fur. A blush he would not see. Maybe this day with Jinx would be beneficial for them all.

Aithne cannot stop the grin on her maw when Praetor speaks to Jinx, her own coarse laugh mingling with Jinx's sweet voice even as it turns to confusion. She glances down at the girls paws stuck in the muck so close to Praetor but her attention she slipped away to the sudden hissing noise, a dangerous sound she immediately recognizes. The ridge of her spine is suddenly spiky with her fur as she steps over Jinx in one swift, albeit protective manner, and her paw bumps into the girls rump forcibly on accident during this. A snake slithers closer intending for the little pup to be his meal no doubt, a meal that he would not have. Praetor would make sure Jinx was saved - Aithne had no fear of that. She trusted their bond intimately and he was so kind - it was a wonder he was with a vagrant like her.

She lunges fully over Jinx now and straight at the head of the snake. It is a bold move for the snake rises, curious as to what it's foe is up to, and as she speeds closer it's jaw opens to reveal those deadly fangs. In the last second it shoots for her but Aithne's instincts kick in; she twists so that as it's fangs go for her face she moves her maw out of the way, her own jaw coming to snap around the base of it's neck with it's fangs inches from her thickly furred neck. She snaps down audibly, head jerking back and forth viciously to ensure the beast is dead. The tail smacks her in the face a few times during this, stinging her eye, but she spins around the moment it hangs limp so stare at Jinx and Praetor with gleaming eyes as her adrenaline begins to fade and reality crashes down. The implications of what could have happened. She drops the snake then with a thud into the marshy grass.

"That is a snake." She said calmly, though her eyes and her bond betray such things with her panic at almost having the pup eaten. "It is a dangerous creature, Jinx, and especially to you for you are still so small and young. Praetor and I, we will protect you."

Seven - Empress of Iromar - fated for Praetor

aithne