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"There is no one who loves pain itself, who seeks after it and wants to have it, simply because it is pain..."

Avery thought she could see some puzzlement in Ruby's gaze when she mentioned her ancestors being proud of her. It was as if Ruby had never been told that before. Who knew the stories she was told as a child? Who know what was handed down from generation to generation in the Demon lineage? Avery would never know, but she would have her memories of Andras and Lillith and the legacy they left behind, apparently the legacy that still lived on even now. Avery couldn't help her slight apprehension though to Ruby saying she could make her own children Demons. How could you do that without some sort of blood sacrifice or something else just as bad? Avery remembered well the loss of a child. Her beautiful son Chiron was lost to them after birth. She had to bury him herself. She still lived with that loss heavy on her heart every day. She would never forget it and she couldn't imagine the parents who willingly killed a child because it was too weak or sick. She believed in merciful killing but not when the child didn't have a chance to live.

As they walked, Avery could sense a vague direction and her ears flicked back and forth in curiosity. It was like Ruby was trying to lead them toward Andras' boneyard. The former alpha had made a mess of it, but Avery had done her best to clean it up. It served as her own personal altar to Andras in a way. She was pleasantly surprised to find the large elk skull still there that she herself had dragged into the pile all those years ago. Aithne had kept it there and it hadn't been touched, even by the Alpha's that came after. But some of it had been trashed, bones scattered willy nilly, no organization to be seen. Avery felt it deserved better so she'd done her best to clean it up, leaving only the best bones on display while she tossed the others into the swamp for the land to take it back and recycle as it willed. When Ruby spoke next, Avery pricked her ears at full attention to listen. So there was blood involved as she had feared, but it the mixing of bloods, Ruby and her future child's, to be exact. Avery's jaw clenched thoughtfully, her brows furrowed as she weighed the pro's and con's. She tilted her head.

In a way, Ruby was sacrificing any romance until Avery had a child, a male child, to be precise. Not that she couldn't be with someone now if she wanted, but she was offering herself as available in the time that Avery's son could reproduce an heir of his own. It was a generous offer, but Avery didn't trust in generosity, not blindly. If Ruby were to back out on the offer, there would be nothing lost nor anything gained. Everything would be normal, as Avery was expecting in the first place. Though if Ruby came through for her, Avery's grandchildren would be Demons through Ruby's blood. It was certainly something to consider, but could she put a forced mating on her future child? She remembered hearing of the times in Moladian when Alphas met and pronounced their future sons and daughters as betrothed. She heard horror stories of the children who never found love for such things and the rare few who actually didn't mind their fates. Ruby said she didn't expect power, but Avery didn't completely fall for that. She wouldn't be a Demon if power wasn't on her radar. What Demon didn't want power? It was all Andras ever thought about.

But Avery knew from experience that her children were strong. Look at Azariah and Undyne. Any son of hers would be sure to be a catch and a strong one, at that. So what then did she really have to lose? Avery's gaze turned back to Ruby as she said that she would train in the meantime to be a suitable descendent and that she would help Avery in bringing Iromar back. Avery's lips twitched, eyes lighting up. "I look forward to your input. And we have a deal. I do intend to produce an heir, possibly sooner rather than later. Since it was your offer though, I will leave it to you to reconsider at any time. I will not hold you to it. I am honored you would think my blood worth that of a Demon." She wanted Ruby to know that she was not held in stone to anything. Avery was not the sort to force anything on anyone, unless it was surrender in a fight. She didn't want Ruby to feel cornered or trapped, though she couldn't imagine the female ever feeling such weakness. As they got closer to the boneyard, she paused to glance over it and let out a sigh. Her gaze roamed to Ruby, wondering what she would think of it. Would it be disappointing to her? Had she ever seen it before? Did it hold up to expectations or did she expect more?