A light breeze ruffled through russet hairs, black snout quivering, breathing in deeply. A long, deep sigh fell from dark lips, lids parting from copper eyes that turned skyward, to the sun, peeking out between fluffy, white clouds. There was change in the air! Ever since Veho's visit, she had felt it, a creeping warmth that seemed more of a mental sensation than a physical one. The blowing winds no longer rattling bones, but bringing promises, of lighter, warmer days. On a day like this one, she was more certain than ever, finally feeling the warm fingers of the sun, reaching out to kiss the earth and finally free it from winters frozen embrace. She had longed for spring for so long, since the last time she experienced it even, and now she could finally, finally feel it approaching.

It set her whole body abuzz, fur tinkling, not yet shedding, but making ready to; Teeth watering as she longed for fresh meat; And her stomach aflutter. This particular spring brought more promises than any previous, promises that simultaneously made butterflies flutter in her chest, and filled her with dread. She couldn't sit still, every moment she was moving, doing anything she could to keep her mind occupied. Sometimes she walked the borders, but Miccah was always keen on keeping them strong, and his scent only made her more erratic. Mostly she wandered off the land, looking for the first, weak signs of spring, with a healer's keen eye for sprouting medicinal herbs.

But on this morning, she had only come a short distance out of the Woodlands, when the sunlight in an open clearing had caused her to pause. She stepped out into the open, feeling the distant heat of the sun on her back, and found herself, for whatever limited time it might be, at peace. So here she had sat down, on yellowing grass peeking out, where hooves of hungry animals had cleared away the snow. She turned her head to the sun, closing her eyes and listening to the winds rattle in the branches above. Soon enough this peace would be over.

Paws rustling through the snowy underbrush brought the fiery lass' attention back to reality, head lowering and eyes opening, blinking against the light. It seemed her moment of piece was over. But the voice that sounded in the sunny clearing brought a smile to Aideen's face, and she turned to greet her friend and mentor, a warm glow in her eyes. "Nina." She replied softly, bushy, orange tail waving at her hocks. She moved to add a physical honors to the greeting, but froze mid-step as the Queen announced her reason for coming. It came so suddenly, the medic didn't even have time to wonder, to get nervous about the effects or formalities. Instead she found herself speechless, brain suddenly processing things very slowly. "Oh." She finally managed, still staring, rather blankly, at Nina.

It wasn't that she hadn't expected this. At some point. In fact, wasn't part of her spring jitters caused by this very expectation? And jet, it seemed so sudden. Which was a bit ridiculous, honestly, after all she had been training for this all through winter. But now the reality of it hit, slamming into her like a hurricane; Ascend! LEAD! She had made up with her insecurities, gained the needed confidence through training and support from the queen herself. And yet her mouth was dry, eyes struggling a bit to focus on the one eyed woman before her. In the end, it took a great deal of effort for her to pull herself together enough to speak; "Already? I mean, do you think it's time?" Her voice was surprisingly steady, like it had no connection to her toiling emotions. Meanwhile she felt like she was listening to it from somewhere far away.

It did eventually register with her, the sound of the words, and she shook her head lightly, a soft smile returning to her lips. "Of course you do, or you wouldn't have come here, right?" Now the familiar warmth was back in her voice, smile growing as she looked at Nina; "I am ready if you deem me so." Because she did feel ready, nervous, but ready.

Nina's clear amusement made her successor titter, shaking her head lightly. The whole thing felt so surreal, never in her life had Aideen Smoke imagined herself as a leader of a pack. But over the last year everything had changed so much, herself included. She wasn't that same girl now, who had left her family to the north in search of adventure. She had loved and lost, and loved again. Found a new home that she cared for, probably even more than the place she was born in. And now it would be hers fully, to protect and direct, hers and Miccah's. The fox-like lass looked at her mentor, her friend, both of them all smiles. The golden woman who had become like a second mother to a young, aspiring healer, so far from home; Who had helped her through the troubles of heartbreak and confusion, just like she'd done with every wolf who sought refuge in the Woodlands. The queen of the thicket; Only not any longer…

And that was the real shock. Under all this apparent joy, lay the truth that Nina was stepping down. No longer would the matriarch rain over the pack that had been synonymous with her name for as long as Aideen had known them. Her eyes grew moist at the realization – not that she hadn't thought about it before, but now it was suddenly all too real – and Nina's words didn't help her emotion. "Oh Nina." The younger woman whispered, smile shaky as the tears pooled in her coppers. Luckily the matriarch had more to say, because Aideen had again been rendered speechless, having to bite her lip and swallow hard not to grow hysteric. As such, the reminder came at a perfect time, coaxing a smile back on the reddish girl's face. She nodded, a little extra vigorously as if to convince herself, taking a deep breath to get her feelings under control. "Thank you." She breathed, meeting the elder woman's single, bright eyes, still a wet sheen in her own; "It helps, knowing I can always turn to you for advice."

And then the tears were swimming over again, forcing her to turn briefly, raising a creamy paw to wipe her eyes. "Oh for heaven's sake!" She murmured, smiling at her own silliness as she looked back up at Nina; "It's not like you're leaving! I don't know why I'm carrying on like this." She shook her head, as if she could shake of the unexpected emotion, silently wondering if it was the change of seasons that had made her so sensitive. This would ultimately be to the best of all of them, as well as the Woodlands as a whole. Aideen both understood and believed that, Nina had chosen herself to step down, slow down to watch her health and ensure that the pack remained strong with new leadership. Of course emotions weren't rational things, and Aideen had always had an abundance of them. Still she was slightly embarrassed by her reaction, feeling like she should have been more… stable, when Nina handed over leadership to her.

Finally she felt back in control of her expression and looked back to the former queen, a slight sheepishness to her smile; "I promise I'll handle myself better when we tell the pack. I assume you… We will call them together soon? It's been too long since the last meeting anyway, and with spring coming…" Suddenly she was all seriousness, lips pursing in thought. The responsibility was settling on her shoulders, and she found herself slipping into the role with surprising ease.

Nina's support was unwavering, and ever important to the russet woman. Her familiar teaching-voice helped Aideen retain her own professionalism, and she nodded thoughtfully at her mentor's words. It was understandable, only a year prior, Mirren had held up the throne next to his foster mother and all had pointed towards Kite ascending to lead next to her mate. This new order might seem like a last resort to some. Of course, ultimately Nina's decision reigned supreme, but it would be up to Aideen to prove herself worthy as the new queen of the Woodlands. It was a heavy responsibility, but she felt steady under its weight, after all she had been preparing for it for a long time.

So she smiled softly at Nina, replying in a positive ringing voice: "I will. Hopefully they'll allow me to show them I'm capable." Sadly there were a number of the newer members of the pack that she didn't know so well, she had been so busy over the winter that there hadn't been time for much more than a brief hello now and then; I'll need to make up for that! Rusty ears flicked, tail waving in a reassuring manner. She felt ready for this, and with Nina's continued guidance and Miccah by her side, she was sure she could succeed. Miccah… That reminded her; "There's another thing Nina…" Even as her voice remained steady, the tri-colored lass' expression grew nervous, eyes blinking rapidly as they longed to turn downward, yet she forced them to continue looking into the single emerald across from her.

This was something that had been churning in the back of her mind  for a couple months now. Mirren had never returned from his quest to search for Kite, his disappearance further mudding Aideen's feelings about the man. She tried to give him lenience, would she not have gone searching if it had been her Miccah lost out there? In fact, she herself had been gone from the pack several months last winter, lost in the snowstorms to the north. And it was Miccah who eventually brought her home after she finally made her way to the blackberry fields. Would he have continued his search if she hadn't? Disappeared from the pack without a word? She doubted it, though, if the roles had been reversed, she might. In any case, she could understand Mirren's plight, but she'd also been abandoned, and seen Nina abandoned, often enough to cool her heart towards those who deserted.

In the end, there was one result of the Tainn's absence that couldn't help but make the delicate girl smile. She would ascend the throne of Secret Woodlands, and she would have her husband beside her. Which meant… Aideen cleared her throat heat rising to her face as she continued: "Miccah and I… We wanna maintain the Woodlands like you've build it, uphold your laws." She nodded to herself, as if to confirm the truth of her words. She knew Miccah respected and cared for Nina as much as she did, they both owed so much to the matriarch, and her dark knight had been very clear, previously, on his feelings about the laws of the thicket. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I would like to have pups, mine and Miccah's children… As leaders, we would not break the law by breeding. But I wouldn't… I mean I would like…" The vixen wolf sighed loudly, frustrated at her own inability to formulate her thoughts. Finally she managed: "Would we have your blessing, to start a family of our own?" As much as she longed to be a mother, she wouldn't feel right about it, without Nina's approval.

It wasn't something they had discussed, not openly at least. Since their journey across the mountains and commitment to one another, they'd only grown closer, their shared love and obligation to the Woodlands binding them together. But since that evening, their conversations had been mostly light and short, touches and kisses, no deeper discussions about the future. It hadn't seemed like they needed them though, they were in love, the future would come all on its own. It was only now, when Nina had handed her the reign, that the full implications had hit the new queen.

But it seemed her King had been more foresighted, as Nina revealed with a bright smile. Aideen's mouth fell open, her expression for a moment frozen in surprise; He did what?! Then slowly, her grin returned, accompanied by a laughter to echo her friend's. Of course he had, meticulous as he was, her husband had made sure to put all affairs in order long before she even thought of them. Copper eyes shone back at the matriarchs single, glittering green, joy alight in every fiber of the vixen girl. When she replied her voice was light, filled with the cheer still shining on her face; "We must be. Thank you, it wouldn't feel right without your approval, even if there was a decision to make." Her tail swished behind her, a playful note to her voice, though her chest was swelling with emotions. With the knowledge that her mate had made the very same request, she felt sure no discussion would even be needed. She was gonna be a mother, and he a father, and together they would lead Secret Woodlands with Nina's guidance.