Arrow Lake I'm only pretty sure that I can't take anymore

@Ketzia

It would have been easy for her to continue being angry with Ketzia, blame her for making things difficult between her and Stigmata in what she had no way of knowing were his final weeks. But, she was exhausted. Her son was missing, her remaining children were a complete mess, and she was drowning in the middle of it all. She was already so damn angry at the universe, and there was no room for any more. And even though she had previously ignored the fact that the other woman's children were related to her own, she could no longer deny her children the possibility of forming bonds with their half siblings. Especially now that they had lost so much. They needed family more than anything.

And so that was why she stood a respectful distance from Ketzia's den now, willing to put aside everything to find some kind of peace. She owed that to her children. She released a low chuff, alerting the inhabitants of her presence as she waited. She was unsure how she would be recieved, but the centurion was prepared to deal with whatever state in which the new mother might greet her.

The voice that gently beckoned to her was not recognized, but the moment the breeze drifted past the den entrance to graze the mother’s nose told her enough of their visitor. She unfurled herself from her sleeping children, a light frown  pulling at the once playful expression of the woman—wondering the chances of all three remaining in their dreams rather than witness whatever this visit would hold.

She swept past them, her expression hardened as she blinked against the light of day. Takiyok stood a respectful distance away—a magnificent creature in many ways, and yet one who did not inspire awe or appreciation from Stigmata’s other lover. There were many questions that begged to be asked—that pressed to her sharp tongue that she refrained from voicing. Instead, Ketzia looked to the woman who had treated them all so coldly—the woman who in many ways was a sister-wife to the pale dove.

She wasn’t keen on discussing pleasantries, and so she decided to take the first step of their conversation. “What is it you want, Takiyok?”

Ketzia emerged from her den, her displeasure clear in her hardened expression. It didn't surprise her or deter her. Taki's gaze didn't falter. And when she finally spoke, Taki tightened her jaw in response to the other woman's tone. Her temper flared, and it took everything in her to keep from lifting a lip to snarl at her. But she was not here to fight. She was here for one thing, and she wouldn't let her anger get in the way of what her children needed. Peace. That was what she wanted. Even if it meant letting go of how betrayed she still felt, she wanted peace, and she wanted her kids to know what family they still had left without their relationships being tainted by their feuding mothers.

There was much to say, and the ivory sylph held her tongue to cheek as the other woman uttered only one word—peace. The woman drew herself upward, her jeweled gaze studying the other with the entirety of dislike she felt for her, not once attempting to pretend otherwise. Speaking her mind was a dangerous slope, though, for she knew once started she would not stop. Takiyok’s disdain for the existence of her children incited her, and the fact the she-wolf stood before her, only offering a single word in return of the events that had unfolded was deplorable.

Not only had Takiyok vocalized her displeasure at the fact Stigmata had found a mate, but Ketzia would never forgive the woman for monopolizing his time so persistently. Her demand for him to make up for his assumed betrayal when finding love had run him ragged.

Perhaps, had he not been driven by the guilt that the arctic had placed upon him, he would have been more vigilant. Perhaps he would not have fallen victim to the terrible blow.

She could not voice this. Not if she were to uphold her word to Mahler, and so, with a stiffened nod, the mother bear gave a begrudging nod, her own muzzle held in pride as she kept lip over fang. “Peace, then,” she purred, though her smoky voice held none of its usual playfulness.

She saw no need to continue the discussion, and so with a swift glance up and down the newly titled Kapitan, Ketzia turned back to her den and children, not yet ready to discuss the dynamics the two women found themselves pushed in to.

She had expected some kind of resistance; she had not made things easy for the other woman lately, and she figured her request would be met with suspicion and maybe even teeth. Taki had been prepared to explain why it needed to be this way, so at Ketzia's stiff acceptance, she merely stared at her for a few moments, eventually giving a curt nod of her own in response. 

She didn't stop the pionier from turning and walking back inside her den. Taki didn't want to be in the other mother's presence any longer than she needed to be, and she had an inkling that the feeling was mutual. The Kapitän turned and trotted away, back to her own family, satisfied that this problem was resolved for now.