At the sound of Despoina’s voice, Aurelia whirled around, mismatched eyes wide. She hadn’t heard the brawler approach and it had startled her, especially in combination with the she-wolf’s words. Gone was her friend’s familiar nickname, replaced with her actual name. Worried eyes took in Despoina, looking for any sign of outward injury. She wasn’t so naive to think Despoina would have been fine after the loss of her mate, but a physical injury was the only type she knew how to help. Finding no injury, the masked she-wolf turned her attention onto Despoina, carefully this time. Aurelia was under no delusions that the other woman was gentle or soft by any means, but she had always seemed unimposing. There was no trace of that now, and the seriousness in her voice and face worried Aurelia. It was the look in Despoina’s eyes, hard and cold, that was the worst part for Aurelia - there had always been warmth there during their interactions, and the lack of it was startling.

Dark ears pricked back up from where they had flattened as the brawler spoke again, a frown working its way onto Aurelia’s face as she processed the words. ”What do you mean?” she asked, eyes narrowing in confusion. ”You live in Iromar, and at one point you were Aithne’s Minos. You’ve had,” she paused to think, mismatched eyes shifting away from her friend. When the dual portals returned to Despoina, she continued speaking, although her tone now colored with caution. ”Two litters, that I know of, with your mate.” Her words cut off abruptly there, tension flooding her already stiff frame. She had made a grievous mistake, and she berated herself harshly for daring to mention Despoina’s late mate. She’d never met her friend’s suitor, but could distinctly remember the smell of a woman and children on the brawler’s snow and shadow coat when she’d left Iromar for Spirane, and then again when she’d come to Despoina to learn about Pine’s leadership.

Still, Aurelia had never asked and Despoina had never told. ”I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned - I’m sorry,” she offered regretfully, already knowing that her apologies wouldn’t solve anything. ”I don’t understand though, why did you ask me that?” she wondered, redirecting the conversation as smoothly as she could. There was a pit of worry in her stomach, and an odd dread that Aurelia didn't understand - there wasn't much Despoina could say to her next that would warrant such a response. Still, with recent events and Despoina's odd demeanor, Aurelia had no clue what the brawler would say next.