There are a lot of times I am what one might call oblivious. It was rather a personal choice because I wasn't ready to just be all tough, guns and nails type like my mother. She had been concise and point-blank. Practical, is what she used to say when I irritated her enough by asking WHY she couldn't just do something like this. Practicality meant little to me at first but now that Halcyon had stepped down I was beginning to see that my meandering mind didn't have the time or energy to play around. Being Empress was a lot tougher than just being the mate of the alpha. I had proven I could do the latter part, but could I be the Empress that I now was? Could I inspire devotion like Aithne? My mother had almost demanded it and in return, she had been given it, and while I recruited other youth, it wasn't with the same sort of zeal or passion that she had. These were questions that I asked myself and kept hidden, unwilling to offer them to any other besides Pine for reflection.

In truth, Jinx and I look a lot alike. She is a myriad of blacks, silvers, and reds, just like me, and I think if one didn't know any better they could think we were sisters. Not that I want a sister. I liked having Lazarus. There is a fierce need to protect him especially after what had happened to him - but I couldn't imagine having MULTIPLE siblings to protect. Jinx had none, though, but I was beginning to think of her as a friend.

"Yeah," I say thoughtfully, a worried look on my face. "That is something I need to check out." And it was. It seemed Molodian was about to go down in a spiral of things yet I first had to consolidate my power here in Asteraia. I couldn't very well run off continually until I knew Halcyon was going to be alright so I would stay put. The sad howls from Diveen made me wonder what had occurred but it also made me diligent to watch our borders with extra vigilance. The plains were easy to guard as long as I had the eyes to do it.

Jinx tells me I should be happy and I smile slightly. "That is true." That is all I can say to that - I am happy enough to find that this Solstice was pleased with our union and did not have some hidden agenda. It made my insides relax. I did intend to meet with her and to, hopefully, befriend her. With her ties to Halcyon she could be a very loyal subject and I wanted that - wanted those who would put Asteraia first above all else. So I ask Jinx about her own personal life mostly because I am always talking about mine - I knew very little about her truthfully. I grin boldly at her, an impish look on my face. "I sense that means you don't want help then," I jest, winking at her before chuckling. "Fine, fine, I suppose. Males aren't all they are cracked up to be anyways," I tease. "Why just the other day Halcyon told me if I didn't clean the den out that I would be sleeping beneath the stars! The gall! I slept beneath the stars too, mind you." I cackle.