Thread: The guardians longing...

Vox was already in the gardens the moment he caught the scent of Eryute in the air, and while the servants were as pesky as ever he made no sound as he let his instincts slip in to guide his footsteps and blend his shape in with the shadows cast by the plants in the moon light. Just seeing the empress made his whole form shiver and his tail wag involuntarily, which he stopped the when he came close enough for the Lady's best to turn it's head and squawk agitatedly at him when he got close. The thing was always in a bad mood weather it was traveling or not, and while Vox growled at it in return he couldn't totally hate the thing because it seemed to have protective streak for it's mistress as long as his own. Mistress... Was the only word he was able to get out around the deep growl that reverberated in his chest and ground at the natural instincts for the servants to flee, and while he had stopped his tail from blatantly wagging it was easy enough to tell that he was still slightly shaking even with his form half hidden in the shadows. The servants hesitated to help Eryute down from her mount with him close by and in such a state, he was extremely prickly every time the mistress returned from a long journey and had bitten off the hand of an overbearing retainer before when he had judged them to be overly forceful with her in the past. None the less she was still hampered somewhat by her attendants as the small group entered the palace, and with a few growled out commands sent some of the servants off to prepare a meal and have a bath drawn for her as well. He knew his mistress well enough to know that she would most likely be extremely tired and most likely hungry for something besides the normal traveling rations that would have been carried with her on her journey, but as much as he wanted to be alone with her there were others who also needed her attention for the time being until she sent them away for the night. Looking his lady over he could tell she wouldn't be in the mood to receive the news of the warlord in the palace, and he didn't think she would be up to speaking to him over anything important until at least the next day after a nights rest. Instead of letting the servants break the news to her and risk her wrath, he murmured softly to her instead as he followed no more than a few feet at her side. Mistress Eryute, the palace as been entertaining the warlord Iferit in your absence and he has awaited your company upon return. Since he has been here for a few days already I don't think it would hurt him to wait another night until you've had the chance to rest before dealing with him. The older female servant gave him a severe look at breaking the news to her so early in her return but also for the use of her name so directly. It was Vox's familiarity that allowed him to call her by anything besides mistress or lady, very few of the lords in the city even called her by name but with his mistress returned he was starting to visibly relax even if his ears still flicked and swiveled at the slightest sounds in the area. It wasn't long until they reached her private chambers, and it made Lox quite happy to see that the meal had beaten them there. The kitchen staff must have prepared a meal for their empress before she even arrived but turning towards her bathing chamber he could see servants filling the deep basin with cool water to wash away the sand of her travels. The sudden thought of her slipping out of her cloths had him shaking his head violently as the more primal instincts started to kick in again, and with the moment of dizziness gone he waited patiently for her next command.