Sleep deprived post is loooong. XD 728.
Inferni had changed greatly since the October's night it had formed on the old beach. There was no denying this, but Kaena was comfortable in this incarnation of the clan as well as the old. There was no feeling of weakness in them—they were twenty-odd strong, with Gabriel at the helm, Kae herself at his side, and Anselm in the third position... there was not much within Inferni that caused the silvery hybrid worry. Vitium's appearance on the borders had set her at unease, certainly, but as Corona made no mention of him the hybrid assumed they had arrived separately. This was better than visiting with her brother—something had gone wrong within him, and the coyote knew he posed a threat to Inferni.
At the mention of Ahren, the hybrid's ears folded back some, though whether it was a sign of respect or legitimate sadness was entirely unclear, as her face remained still. Though Corona had been vague about what she had done for her father, the hybrid woman was satisfied that respects had been paid for her father. "I'm glad for that," she responded quietly. They had never been particularly close, but the coyote woman of course loved her daughter, and despite her knowledge that the past was immovable as the mountains and rivers, there was always the chance to make that past less important. "No, you're coming into wartime," the hybrid said rather bluntly, tacking on mentally that it was at her own expense. She was to blame for this onslaught of war; there was no denying that or changing it in the least. "Not even a week ago, Gabriel declared war on Dahlia de Mai. Haku's the leader there now." The chocolate-furred man's name was still spat like a curse, like it tasted of venom, and she could not help the wave of disgust and malice that rolled over her. She would have her vengeance yet; Inferni would have his stick to decorate their borders.
"I survived him twice. The second time made almost made me wish I had died," the coyote said, leaving it rather vague as to what had actually occurred. She did not know if Corona wished to carry that burden, and it still hurt Kaena to think and speak of it. It showed in the wrinkling of her muzzle, her ears folding fully flat against her head. The first time it was mere luck that had allowed her to best him; she should have made absolutely certain he was dead then. The second time she'd traded her life for his pleasure, and it had plagued her since. She didn't even know of any of the golden-furred coyote's involvement with Dahlia de Mai and Haku. Kaena ought to have died perhaps fifty times in her life, but she lived still. The months away from Inferni and home had not done her very well; there was a fresh scar across her belly to prove that, but for right now it was hidden, pointed toward the ground in her four-legged form. She had returned to Inferni quite a sight thinner, and she'd never quite managed to retain her former full weight. It always made the hybrid feel awkward to share her personal life, and this particular detailw was gruesome, though one she felt her children ought to know. Especially the women of them—the silver-furred hybrid could not contemplate the same fate falling on them. She feared for Rikka quite suddenly, hoping someone had gotten the message to stay the hell away from Dahlia by now. It only made sense someone would have told Rikka, she comforted herself.
"Other than that little thing... the clan is doing well. I came back in the spring. Anselm returned. Rikka, too. Samael, Razekiel... your niece, Halo. Wouldn't know what she is to you, but some relation of yours—Valkyrie. Lots of family here now," the hybrid added, thinking to inform Corona of the current members of both Lykoi and de le Poer blood here. Kae wasn't certain how many of them the golden-furred woman knew of exactly, but she felt it was important information to share, and she smiled almost nervously, thinking the other canine might be encouraged by this news. She snorted, then, reminded of the earlier encounter. "Hell, Vitium even showed up," she said, though this remark was derisive more than anything else.