Northstar Vale Can I Stay? Would it be a Sin?

Now was Awenfen's time to be confused, coming to the baffled conclusion that Reiko's doppelganger had been posing as their Empress, only to be foiled by an ignorant Awen. 

The druid's gaze didn't quite rise to Hime's, wisely, but it was visible when the healer's features hardened into a frozen mask of projected calm. She had nothing to say to this woman - this liar. 

Clearly, she'd not done research on the subjects she was trying to fool; else, the Izuka sister would've known that Reiko was Lady Fen's patient. The midwife would know if the Vale's true Empress had stepped down from her duties. 

She let the cold northron go silently, followed shortly thereafter by their stammering Queen and their newest Guest. 

"Velcome, if'n ye need any-zing, I am vithin ze cherry trees," she murmured to Corra as the fugitive passed, nodding respectfully to Ibis in acknowledgement. Hopefully, she could sort this out with Reiko - the motherly, kind leader wouldn't allow refugees to be turned away from her sanctuary. 

Her gaze snapped to Memory at his aggressive outburst, astonishment palpable in the air - in the hunch of her spine as she instinctively cowered back from the volume of his ire. 

"'ush!" She hissed anxiously, fluffy tail flickering at her hocks with agitation. "Please."

"Zat is ze sister of me Empress," the midwife reminded him, aghast with this unseen side of the Nightwalker. 

"..whoever she is," it hadn't slipped her notice that the Izuka failed to give up her name, "..she lies." The accusation slipped from her lips, soft as spring, as she turned to watch the tiny silhouette of the pale sylph fade into the distance. 

"I've been treat-ing ze Lady Reiko an' she inform-ed me 'erself zat she vould cont-inue about 'er duties as normal," Awenfen revealed in the whispers of a co-conspirator. 

"Queen Ibis vill sort zis out. Zat im-poster vill be dealt vith and I'm pos-itive ze Lady Reiko vill be intere-sted in meet-ing ye," the hart tried to reassure, offering him a gentle smile. She had no reason to doubt Reiko, or Ibis - they would see right by the Empire. 

"In ze mean-time, I vill fetch ye some-thing ta eat. I vill meet ye in ze mount-ain pass over yon-der." 

With that, the halfling turned and loped away - extending into the customary leaping gait of a sighthound as she raced back towards her groves - repressing the fear that he might not be there when she returned.