Despite the earlier tension of having spoken with Orion I felt a sort of sad kinship for the male. He was much older, granted, but he had lost much just as I had. To him, it was a son, to me, it was a parent. Praetor was taken by cruel fate and Aithne by a cruel soul. Almost Lazarus had been taken completly from me - I could only credit his safety to those loyal to me. And I would not besmirch their loyalty; I would become the leader I had promised I would be. The leader I had shouted to the skies I would be. An Empress to rule with a mighty paw and just mind. As I meet the eyes of the elder wolf I can see a sort of cold apprehension there... or something that lurks. Dark, hiding, poingnant, and when she states that I am the daughter of Aithne my entire body stills. "Yes," I say, defiant in my words, proud in my stance.

I would never dishonor my mother's memory.

Vitaliya is cut off mid-sentence by a voice that has all the hair on my body standing on end and my ears flipping back, my lips twitching. Not once do I look away from the Diveen wolfess as Lazarus shouts. He says she is a threat and above all, I believe my brother. He has been through much in life and I refused to ever allow that to happen to him again. My tail stands stiff behind me, my body electric and ready to defend Lazarus if need be, to chase out an imposter.

There is a coldness to my eyes that might rival her own - just as she protects her charge, I protect my brother. To death, if I had to. Except the girl's voice startles me and I break eye contact to glance down at her. She knew.. him? "What..." I start, clearly befuddled, until Vitaliya interupts me, unpeturbed. Slowly the fur starts to settle back down along my spine and scruff as I cautiously turn my front end around to glance back in the direction of Lazarus, only seeing the peeking of his head. "Moteuh, is it?" She looks like she has had a hard lot in life. It softens me. "Yes, yes, that would be fine. It seems Lazarus has a friend he never told me about." My voice is slightly scolding and meant for my brother - he DID scare the shit out of me after all.

"Will you be staying too...?" My voice trails off in question, seeking her name.