The ivory fae may have been a new addition to the shade's herd, but her acceptance into the Basin made Arah family. And the Empress did not take well to those who screwed with her family.

There would be those that claimed that the Lady of the Basin knew no family. That she had never had a family in the psychological sense of the word, and that she could not care for others as family. And once, this had been true - but no more. Since her ascension to the throne, the shadow-mare had changed. She thought of her herd, her loyal followers, those that she protected, and she saw the imposing form of her General, the eager silhouettes of her soldiers. She saw d'Artagnan and his poison, tempered by the nurse, Kou. She remembered Crowley and his cruel devotion to her cause, Faelene and her loyalty despite their differences. She thought of every face that passed before her amber eyes each day and she was proud.

She had come to care for them, and this affection did not make her weak.

Oh, what a revelation it had been for her to realize that kindness to those that loved you was not a bad thing. If anything, she found that it made her and hers stronger, more cohesive. It was something that tied them together. It gained her respect, even adoration. Sure, she was a prickly being, and sure, she may not ever be truly loved simply for who she was. She was difficult, to say the least. But she had come to be respected without fear, and that was an accomplishment that she found herself pleased with. And so when the idiotic hornless had made off with one of her own, the jackal had been most displeased. She was unhappy with those charged with the herd's protection, of course, but she was more displeased with herself. She could not have eyes and ears everywhere, of course, but she still felt as if she should. After all, their well being was her responsibility.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the beat of wings. A glance to the sky picked out a white blur against clear blue; upon closer inspection she made out the FrostHeart's companion Irma. Curiously, she watched as the owl circled, dropping lower and lower. A call rang through the air before she wheeled, flying toward the mountains. Curiously, the Empress followed. Irma would not have left Mauja without his approval, and she certainly would not have sought out the Dark Empress for no reason. A gentle lope brought her quickly to the rock edge of the Basin. Outside a dark cavern stood the Ice King himself; she did not call a greeting, as she was sure that he would see her dark form against the grey-brown backdrop.

"Mauja," she greeted him softly as she drew nearer, a slight dip of the head an accent to her greeting. A quick glance into the cave showed her the buckskin pelt of the bareheaded Angore; a cruel grin lit her features. "Oh, darling, you brought me a present!" she exclaimed, not bothering to keep her voice down. "You are simply wonderful!" In the back of her mind, she reached for the cool purple orb of her magic and, concentrating, she drew it out of the recesses of her brain and threw it toward Angora. It would infiltrate her brain, causing an illusion of pain. The shade imagined what it would feel like to drive her horn through that pretty little throat, and for a moment, Angora would feel it, though no blood would truly be drawn.

"Talk talk talk."