Aster

The call rings into the air and I pause from my ministrations to my brood. They had come relatively easy and while I knew I should be on bed rest after such it was not to be. Halcyon had fallen ill again and while we still had no clue as to what sort of sickness beset him, it was up to me to answer the demands as alphess. Empress. I know my mate disliked such gaudy titles but I found comfort in them. Memories of my old Iromar home assuaged such feelings of unrest - I like to think my mother would be proud in this moment. For certain my father would be. I wish... as I look upon their dark heads.. that he could be here to help me with this thing called parenthood.

They are barely big enough to be outside the den without constant supervision but I had others who were happy enough to watch over them while I took to my duties and while my mate rested. I press my nose into the scruff of each one in turn before gently picking up my firstborn son by his scruff and carrying him with me across the plains in the direction of the call. I had decided the day after they were born that I would take each one in turn through the duties of a leader. They could decide as they aged which ones wished to pursue the path of alphaship and which did not much enjoy it. For now, Aspis was coming along with me as I spy the youthful figure in the distance.

My steps are measured and somewhat slouched for the breeze carries pine and nettles, not salt and sea. Taviora was among one of the closest allies considering Zelda was a relation of my mate. As I come upon the yearling I set down my son, his stout figure laying there for a moment before peeking up at her with curious dark emerald eyes, the red around both pupils a direct line to my own mother. Often I felt as if she resided in his body.

"You are a long way from home," I say congenially to the girl, head tilting a bit as I sniff delicately. "I am Aster, Empress of these lands." I grin suddenly and nod down towards Aspis who sits pertly, too-large paws pressed into his belly and tilting precariously in an upright position. "This is Aspis, a prince." He merely blinks at her, avid, if a bit lost to the whole thing.

shatter the sky; lay waste to the earth