It had been months since she had sent them out and Nina had not heard a word. She knew that her brother was growing beyond restless and she could understand why. It was hard for her to keep this from him but she knew that it was needed. No one truly knew about the mission and, surprisingly, no one asked about it. But it was time for Nina to share this information with someone besides herself, with someone who hated Koda and Iopah just as much as she did and viewed their betrayal just as harshly as she did: Miccah. The man had proved himself more than capable over the many seasons that he had stayed within the Woodlands. He had originally come to find his lost lover and even after she had been raped, lost her mind, and once again, disappeared he remained, his loyalty remaining with her and to Secret Woodlands. Over the years, he had grown and she knew that he had come to understand the way that politics worked within the Woodlands. Granted, she was no longer leading and he now had his wife leading beside him, making the politics much easier, but he understood where her bitterness had come from those many years ago when he first joined.

The Hervok woman was quick to find the man's trail within the thickets, her nose pressed firmly against the thorny ground. She tracked him, not wanting anyone else to be privy to this meeting. If she was lucky, he would not be in Aideen's presence and if he was, then she would wait. Nina knew that the new Queen of the Thickets would think ill of her mission, knowing that her and Iopah had been friends and she might still think as themselves as such. Luckily, Miccah thought no such thing. Luckily, as the graying woman got closer to the Guardian's scent, he seemed to be alone and the woman forced herself to relax as her pace increased. Clearing her throat, she spoke plainly, "Miccah, might I have a word?" Her single emerald-eyed gaze sought him out as she waited for a reply.

Even though she was no longer Queen, he was hard for Nina to give up the way she presented herself. It was how she lived for three years of her life in order to give others the lives that they deserved. Tilting her head up, she spoke softly, her words clear, "Unfortunately, I'm going to have to ask you to keep this from Aideen until things become more clear...and I think you'll understand why when I tell you." Her single green eye met his head on before continuing, remaining professional but keeping her voice low, "As you know, when Ash's family joined, Narime and Yuka did not stay. Some think it's because I did not accept them, but you were there and you know I did. The truth is...I sent them on a spying mission to Broken Timber Pines to infiltrate and destroy. But I haven't heard any reports from them since I sent them. I just felt you should know where they are and why they've been gone for so long. My brother doesn't know and it should stay that way." She finished at bit more forcefully.

She knew this was a lot to take in and perhaps even worse was the fact that she had kept this from him when they were a leading pair. It was not that she did not trust him, she did, she just did not want him involved because she knew that Aideen still considered them friends. But Nina just wanted them gone. Her heart had long since gone cold to her former mate and best friend and she once could not imagine a life without them. Now, all she wanted to ensure was a future where she would never have to deal with them again. Where the happiness they worked so hard to have, was destroyed and they would understand what it was like when they left her. Silently, she waited for Miccah's response, worried about what the Guardian's reaction might be.

Miccah had always been a silent man but his silent brooding made her nervous. Even though she was no longer his partner in leading, she needed him to stand by her on this one. There was too much at risk, both within the pack, and for those infiltrating Broken Timber Pines for him not to be. Thankfully, she could release the breath she didn't realize she was holding in when he finally spoke. A spark lit within Nina at Miccah's words and a pleased smirk grew on her lips. It seemed that she was not the only one that held anger towards Koda and Iopah after their departure. The dark Guard, however, would not leave it at that. A frown pulled at the Hervok's features, sadness evident in her gaze. She did want to tell her brother but she knew at the beginning it would only complicate things. Ash had been in such a great place for such a long time and she did not want to ruin that by sending him on this mission. To add on to it, she knew Koda never would have agreed to Ash serving under him, it just would not have made sense. Of course, the Athesila would not have known this.

With a heavy sigh, she tried to explain this to the alpha, "You know my brother has quite the temper...he use to not be able to control that very well and had a certain....profession that gave him the excuse to do whatever the fuck he wanted." Her voice was blunt and to the point. It was perhaps one of he few times she had ever used profanity in front of the man but it was true. Of course, she would not tell Miccah what Ash had done to her that was a secret she would never tell. Nina continued speaking, "The point is, if I told him, he would insist on going and I wanted him as far away from that mission as possible. Honestly, Iopah and Koda probably wouldn't have even trusted the fact that he was there." She shrugged her shoulders. The graying woman knew that her brother was getting impatient, so was she, but she hoped he could hang in there a little while longer. She was sure that Narime and Yuka were making the progress they needed.

It was a relief to know that there was someone else within the Woodlands that shared her hate for Iopah and Koda. After what they had done it just made her need for revenge all the more real. Nina should have felt bad about not letting Aideen in on her ploy but both of the wolves were aware that the other woman's kind heart would e too involved in this and they could not risk such a thing. Especially with their wolves already in the line of fire. At Miccah's question, the graying woman frowned, making it clear to the other man how displeased she was that what she said was, indeed true.

Her new Guard reminded her very much of her dear Hollow, in many ways. Miccah, however, was much better at concealing his emotions and at times this frustrated the former Woodlands queen. Once upon a time, it would have made her job much easier if she could have just read him. The golden Hervok's voice was calm with her response, "Unfortunately, no and I am concerned. I would go up there myself but my body could not handle it and it is too much of a risk for me to get caught over there." Her voice lowered to something barely above a whisper, "And I want to least amount of wolves knowing about this as possible, Miccah."

Due to Miccah's generally neutral face, it was never hard to tell when he was displeased with something. The Hervok woman did not expect him to take her news in stride. She had learned from when they were partners that he would not simply take her leading for what it was worth and would often question her motives. It was why, when he offered a brief confirmation that he understood what she was saying, that she was surprised. Nina blinked, processing what she heard before perking her ears forward to see if he had any criticisms. Once again, he surprised her. The woman probably should have been grateful that he was not questioning what she had done to her own family, ripping apart her brother from his mate. But she dearly hoped that they would take it in stride and that Narime and Yuka would return back to the Woodlands soon.

His question was a change of subject but one she welcomed openly. A small smile spread over her lips, her voice softer when she responded. This was a safer subject for the both of them to speak about in their homelands. "She is doing great. You do not have to worry about her, she is doing a wonderful job as leader." A small glint shown in Nina's single emerald orb. She let silence reign between them before continuing, "I'm sure you're more interested about how she's doing though. She's perfectly healthy. Should any complications  occur during the birth, I will be there to handle it." Before she led the Woodlands she had been a trained healer and she was fairly confident that a birth could not throw anything at her that she hadn't seen in the past. Hopefully, this would ease some of the tension the Woodlands king was feeling.