Northstar Vale Trust is for fools. Fear is the only reliable way.

The woman appeared attentive to her sister, eager to see @Reiko recover, and had returned to check-in with her often. This time she brought a freshly plucked pheasant that someone had caught that morning. She didn't care for hunting on her own time and was grateful that so many of these lowly peasants looked upon Reiko with such esteem - dare she think, love - so that nothing was out of reach. She'd stuffed the bird's gullet with a collection of herbs and carefully brought it to the royal den, then placed it carefully by the entrance. Hime had been so busy monitoring the changes in the empire and trying to weasel her way in to the hearts of her sister's remaining people that she hadn't taken much time to herself, and was impatient as she lingered at the den. She wasn't sure if the little royals had been moved or even if Reiko would be there, as it had been a few days since the meeting and she might have recovered - but she waited there quietly. The last thing she wanted was to wake those little half-breeds nesting at her sister's breast.

He was dead. The thought was so strange, foreign to think that the man she loved had come and gone so quickly. Like smoke in the wind he was gone she didn't have the opportunity to say goodbye or even find true peace with him again after their last argument. After every nap it felt like she would wake up and he would be there again, that this whole thing was just a bad dream - but no matter how many times she would wake up, nothing would change. 

She hated Takeshi, but she hated herself even more. Collisions' words rang harsh in her ears, he was right as far as she knew, indisputable gospel as she had no one else she could place the blame on other than her own inability to lead properly. Ever since the meeting she would dream of her mother every once in a while, a way to try and ask and figure things out, to find a moment of peace in the presence of the parent she missed oh so dearly; even then, Reiko knew it was all in her head. 

With her group of friends dwindling down in numbers, she remained by the side of her children. Dull cerulean glanced out from within the den, she could swear someone was lingering near by. She had some guesses as to who it may be, three in particular, two of which didn’t seem to hate her these days and one, well, Takeshi was always just around the corner. 

There was something alive within the den after all. Something moving, shifting, and Hime assumed after a fairly long observation that it was her sister. Something fair-colored and small, at any rate. She had not seen the other expectant mother - that queen friend to Reiko - for some time now. Her entire focus was on her sister. She moved towards the den mouth with the offering clutched between her teeth at the neck.

As she made herself known, Hime deposited it on a narrow ledge and then pushed with one paw, watching it roll to where Reiko lay.

Sister. You gave us all quite a scare at that meeting, whether it had truly affected Hime was hard to discern, she hid her truths well. I wanted to bring you something warm to eat. There are herbs packed inside to help with your milk production - a little trick I picked up back among the clan wolves. A smile, then. A brief crack to her veneer of calm and of perfection. A little tremble of uncertainty. How... are you?

Acknowledging the offering Hime had brought, Reiko would chew at it later on. She always felt a little better after Hime came by lately, her herbs for relaxation were truly a blessing and she was thankful for her sister's presence lately. Out of everyone in the vale, she seemed to be the kindest lately, the same woman who had banished her sister from their homeland - it was strange, but Reiko was thankful for it all.

I'm tired Hime. It was an honest admission, perhaps too obvious as well. Nothing I ever do seems to keep everyone happy, I don't know what to do anymore. I wanted to keep things as peaceful as possible. Now it all seemed like it was completely impossible. She didn't even have time lately to visit Ibis and the little one that were surely by now born and waiting to be greeted - how could she do so without dragging the new young mother into all of this too? She missed the Queen all too much.

It was the perfect moment for Hime to swoop in to her sister's rescue. While she did not immediately tuck in to the meal as the snake hoped, what came next was all the more interesting and useful. Reiko need not admit being tired as it was written across her every inch - but it was satisfying all the same for Hime to hear. She remained silent as she listened, nodding slightly, her face somber.

Then she murmured, If I may, sister... She moved in close, settling next to her, as they used to mirror one-another as children. One thing I learned as the leader of our clan, which may benefit you now more than ever... is that you cannot make everyone happy. It is best to make yourself content while upholding your values. That way your empire benefits the most. It sounded selfish. It was, to a degree. Hime always put herself first and it was time for Reiko to do the same.

A happy ruler leads to prosperity for the people. Father often said as much. Those that fight against you now are doing so out of fear, afraid of where your loyalties lay. If you are true to yourself then all will fall in to place. And she fell silent again, pressing a small nose-kiss to her sister's cheek.