Northstar Vale I'm tryin' not to let it show, that I don't wanna let this go.

A part of her was eager for socialization, being so invested prior to becoming a mother. It was a habit she'd given up in lieu of her obsessive attachment to her daughters, but she ached sometimes for those old ties.

Reiko had not been by for a while, and she was one of the more solid connections the queen had. Hime had wandered through while Ibis had been asleep, and the thought of her friend's twin filled her with a sense of subliminal dread. It was neither of these two women who called her name now - and while Ibis was thankful, she was also worried. The voice was not familiar; it had been a while since the queen had heard Takeshi speak, so she did not know who sought her out until she drew herself from the den.

She did so carefully, quietly, and with a furtive glance over her shoulder and a soft shhh when one of the girls roused from their nap at her movement. As she turned to face whoever had come across her little hidden family, she was surprised to see the would-be Emperor; unaware, of course, that he'd been elevated to the highest position in their kingdom.

All the same she smiled, simultaneously inviting of his presence and guarded, to a degree. Hello. Um, how are you? It was clear by the doe-eyed look upon Ibis' face that she was being genuine in her question, and oblivious to the kingdom's ails.