Dead Empress Backwater I swing my fist you turn your face I hit the other side

Late Night / Overcast Clouds / 49.91 ° F, 9.95 ° C

WELCOME TO MIDNIGHT MASS.

---

She hated being back.

Even if she feasted, even if she slept without fear of something getting her backside. Although she isolated herself either way. There had been little traits picked up in the freshest parts of her grief that she had not shaken. Like how it seemed easier to move in the night. Less competition for simple existence at this hour.

Which was why she made first for a cache, where she could rummage free a meal. Prepared to accept it in peace as she unearthed the near spoiled leg of...something. It hardly mattered what. Only that the meat would still be good enough to tide her over.

Yet something rustled nearby and at once she came to life with an aggressive stance. Hackles raised as she hunched defensively over the meal she had unearthed.

It was supposed to be too late to be unbothered.

At this time of night it was expected Rochus would be fast asleep in the pack den, or at the very least somewhere near it, but he had perhaps taken one too many naps that day and did not yet feel the pull to sleep.

He slowly trudged along, merely taking in the peace and quiet of no others being around to bother him. With the arrival of all his grandkids there was always something going on, especially since a few were quite... rambunctious, to put it lightly.

The sounds of someone unearthing food caught his attention, moreso the scent of Isla than anything else. He knew she had returned to them at some point, but had not made it a point to seek her out. However, this seemed like a good a time as any.

Rochus stepped forth from the undergrowth he found himself in, being unexpectedly met with a hostile and defensive reaction from the girl. "There's no need for that," he said with a snort, though did keep his own stance neutral. She was a child and he didn't need to lord his stance over her, although having lost his second rank to the boy Eros did still sting a bit.

WELCOME TO MIDNIGHT MASS.

---

Once, she would have poked at him for fun. She would have possibly relented to his snort and lackluster air.

Now it only rankled her that the old man said nothing more than that. Had he forgot all the things that he had taught her? Could he not recall that even in her early days she hungered for force?

She stayed locked and rigid. She would not bend for his rank or age or any past deals they had once made.

"What makes you so sure?"

Her teeth clicked as her tail dared to dance up like a banner. A challenge against his strength, even if she could not take his rank.