Birthing was not a process that Aithne had any wish to repeat. Lazarus and Aster had came fairly uncomplicated but the pain and the fear had been something entirely unwholesome to the Empress. They would make fine heirs and unless Praetor grew exceptionally amorous Aithne did not think there would be more to come. Her lineage did not need an exorbitant amount of children. Perhaps Isola and Kane had expected the sudden changes in paws - the way that Diveen had gone from Achilles to Solara and perhaps even beyond that Heyel had foretold of it when Ambrosia, a niece to Isola and Kane, had taken control for a time. So much angel blood permeated Molodian; with Aithne it would be but two.

While birth was not on her mind it seemed to have come to another. Aithne had known, in the way that Empresses do, that Despoina had grown fat with child this winter. It had been alarming to say the least, not to mention the sudden addition of that wolf near her - the one who had yet to step forward and even ask permission to remain in Iromar. If it had not been Despoina or one of her own wolves who kept him company then she would have chased him out with tail between his legs long ago but it intrigued her that her sour-tempered Minos had seemed to find another who she wished to be with. So she allowed it. But now she scents a birthing in the air, the tell tale scent of blood and life, and she heads towards it at a fine clip.

The first thing she spies is the small pup hesitating at the entrance of a den. The first thing she hears is the low growl and the squeals of pups. The first thing she does is come to stand direction behind Aena, looking down at her with a gruff expression. She does not smell like any here in Iromar nor does Aithne spy her parents around. So just what was this girl doing in front of Despoina's den where a new brood now existed? "Who are you?" Her voice is loud and coarse, but it is always this way; however, the child might grow frightened and thus she takes one step back. Aithne does not attempt to diminish her size - she is large and very, very bulky. Thickly muscled with a wide muzzle and chest and not particularly beautiful. "Despoina, did you throw out a pup already?" She says again, emerald eyes slipping towards the den entrance in amusement then back at Aena, prepared to block her with one large paw lest she try to run.