They waited patiently for the Alphess to arrive, neither in a particular hurry to go anywhere in or out of Asteraia.Behind Tithe, Taika lifted her muzzle into the air to scent the air, seeing if she could catch the scent of the gold puppy she had escorted to the boundary of the fields. Her body relaxed when the subtle smell drifted through the air. Though the youth had insisted that his brother and family had been around there was still something within the woman that pressed her to make sure she knew he was okay.Her nose twitched at this thought. Such a worry had never crossed her mind before. It stirred a strange feeling in her. With a soft whine at nothing, she looked back up at the calm gaze and face of Tithe at her side.

Both sets of eyes looked up when Tick Tock approached.The cherry and chocolate girl unconsciously drew back from the effortless show of power. She was not of a pack, therefore had no need to submit to a ruler that did not rule her. However, she a loner. Besides Tithe, those who would defend her did not know she was here. Tithe looked between his friend and the Alpha he might have one day bowed to. Glittering iron eyes narrowed in concern and Taika’s behavior. He had never seen the young woman shy from anyone, or anything. Her outgoing nature had always been inspiring to him, an unobtainable trait. Tithe looked back at Tick Tock, taking in her cold, chilling voice. His ears flickered in contemplation.

“Lady.” He said softly in his own smooth tones, head bowing to her in respect to her station. At first his word had hesitated, not knowing the true, most respectful title to give her. She was not his lady, nor his Alpha. The world called her Monster, but he never had, the connotation behind it did not fit well on his tongue. He settled for what he could grasp until he stood corrected. “A pup has come here from the mountains. He is...important… to me and a few I care about. I wanted to make sure he was happy.” Words were oddly failing him. He could not describe how he was related to Rhett. But the pup was of Pandora’s bloodline, and Pandora was the keeper of Tithe’s soul. Describing the feelings in words was impossible, the knight dared not even try. As he looked upon the ruler of Asteraia he tilted his head and flickered his gaze for an instant on his still defensive friend. The curiosity of what was, what could have been, and the unknown burned in his mind. Studying the woman before him, he remembered his thoughts and feelings when he had first stepped paws in the plain. Guilt clenched in his chest, but looking at her now, he knew this time she was safe from the ambition that had fueled his every action years ago. “Lady, you once offered me a place here and I was stolen. Since then I have heard many things, and have met a number of your packmates.” Ignoring Taika’s wide-eyed look of disbelief, Tithe stepped forward with his words only. “I have questions. If you are willing, perhaps you could give me the time to have them answered?” Face still passive, protected by the armor forged by years of training, his eyes shined with a surprisingly unguarded curiosity that laced the tones of his voice as well.