Things had been tense as of late, what with all the rumors flying around about problems in Iromar and in Diveen. Not to mention my meeting with Eden had been rife with conflict and aggression, even if it was lightly veiled. I was a colorful spirit, I liked to think, which meant that I could sway to one thing or another easily when it came to emotions. At times I wonder where I got it from - Praetor had always been calm and sometimes playful whereas Aithne had been stern and rather withdrawn the majority of the time. It was like the two burned together inside of me and I was set on fire. Lazarus was a cross between my parents but in a much meeker form. He had been born sickly and his life was a series of unfortunate events. I was terrifyingly protective over him. Despite the fact that he had been sheltered well here in Asteraia I made sure to cross by his den every day, peeking in to offer him my time or even just checking to make sure he was okay, and told myself that I would fortify him here with all the strongest warriors if I had to.

None would EVER touch my brother again. Not if I had anything to say about it.

Except, I couldn't say anything about imprinting. I wasn't fate and I had no paw in such affairs. Hell, my own imprint was a lunatic, but I didn't feel shorted. It assured me that my faith and love in Halcyon was well placed; who needed fate anyways? As the sun began to set I had slipped away from my favorite knoll to take a walk near Lazarus's den to assure myself he was okay. He was getting braver, I had to give him that, and I encouraged it but I secretly stalked him when he ventured. My parent's deaths and his prison time had left me feeling fluttery on the inside often. Eden's words had reawakened my sense of duty and shined a light on my faults. I could be better - I would be better.

I could at least try!

So when I spy him staring over the edge of the border I merely sit back with a pleased grin. The moment I rocked forward to go tell him just how proud I was he looks off at something and then begins to heads towards it. My tail rises and nose lifts to the wind as I follow behind him, my dark legs pressing against the tan and green shoots of tall grass. In Asteraia it was a common thing to have burrs and grassy residue on you - there was no getting around it.

The moment he drops I spy her, standing almost behind him a few hundred paces and now staring at Zelda. I didn't know who she was simply because I had never had the chance to make it to Taviora during my training stage. Murder and mayhem had a tendency to stop such things. But even from here I could scent pine on the wind. My brother presses himself almost ridiculously down into the grass but he is a lot bigger than he used to be and it isn't fooling anyone. I hear the girl talk to him and grin suddenly, loping forward until I am next to Lazarus (I made sure to make a chuffing noise lest he be startled by my approach). "C'mon Laz, I think the girl wants to talk to you." There is a teasing in my voice but also a gentleness, one I hardly seemed to use around anyone else. Lazarus was breakable in my eyes but precious - I had SWORN on the ghosts of my parents I would protect him. My gaze tips from him to Zelda, tilting my head slightly. My posture is not pompous, not today anyways, and I sense I am missing something here but what do I know? "Do you seek shelter for the night?" She is from Taviora and while I had little dealings with them I had no bad intentions towards them - they had been friends of my parent's, had sheltered Pine, and were relations to my mate. "I am Aster, Empress of these lands," I greet with a cheerful smile, lifting one paw and gently nudging my brother on leg to try and draw him out.