Jessie had always enjoyed it when fog rolled in. It always offered an eerie sort of peace to the petite woman and she had found solace in it when she wanted to be alone. It also gave a certain advantage when she wanted to go hunting, because it was easier to catch her prey unaware – though there were also disadvantages to go along with it. There was something particularly unsettling, however, about the way the fog settled across her fields and it caused an unsettling feeling to set in the pit of the Rye Queen’s stomach. Had Drestig been back from his little trip abroad – in which Jessie desperately wished he would be soon – the Tainn would have immediately sought him out. Perhaps, even looked for comfort in his embrace. Instead, the pepper-and-salt colored woman’s nose was close to the dry golden ground, searching for any sign of her children.

A light wind whispered against her ear in the same instant she inhaled, her daughter’s scent, along with others, filling his nostrils. A small smile twitched onto the mother’s lips and she quickly changed directions towards the pack den. Out of all her children, Sphinx was the most well-behaved, and most like Jessie. The youngest daughter of the Rye Queen kept her brothers in check when others weren’t around and it went much appreciated by the mother. There was only so much she could do with so much that was going on. As she neared, Jessie’s tail swayed happily behind her, emerald eyes softening when her daughter’s black and white form came into view. The woman’s voice was soft when  she spoke, “Sphinx, I’m surprised you’re not enjoying the cool weather.” While her daughter was calmer than her sons, it did not mean she didn’t play every now and then. And Jessie remembered when she was a child, that during cool weather was when everyone was most active.

Her daughter’s reaction to her greeting warmed the mother’s heart. Emerald eyes softened and Jessie closed the distance between mother and daughter. Sphinx took after Jessie in that she seemed to prefer actions rather than words. At least, Jessie hoped that was what it was. It would surely get her daughter further in life when she got older. The monochrome woman watched in amusement as her daughter rolled onto her back only after nudging the bone she had forward. Her confession stirred something within Jessie. Shouldn’t it be her job to make sure her children were not bored? Were her sons still sleeping? Who was she kidding, of course, they were. The swish of leaves brought the mother’s attention back towards the Avalon child.

Just as Jessie was about to suggest that they play together, her daughter asked a question she wasn’t expecting. Certainly not from her daughter, only three months of age. Eyebrows instantly furrowed and Jessie’s mind thought of the worst. Why would Sphinx ask such a thing? Jessie would ask first and then interrogate – no ask nicely. She didn’t want to scare her daughter. She licked her lips before she spoke, “Well, no matter how grown up they get, Silva, they never mature. They always remain children on the inside.” The mother paused then – only for a moment – before continuing. “Why? Is there a boy bothering you?” If it was someone from the Monadnock back Jessie would have no problem having ass over and having a nice chat with Wraith about child etiquette.

Her daughter, the picture of innocence. Nothing had come to take away that part of her daughter and Jessie was going to try her damn hardest to ensure that it stayed intact for as long as able. Her frown curled up into a smile at Silva’s answer, an amused snort leaving the Rye Queen’s maw at the truthfulness of it all. “Unfortunately, I’m afraid that’s how it will be for most of your life. That’s just how boys are.” Always going around and fixing it. Even though her daughter was young and her statement innocent enough; it summed up Jessie’s position in leadership pretty clearly.