The war against the creatures of the Void had taken a heavy toll upon them all, they had lost several from the Clan, and others had been badly injured… but they had survived, and they had won, and now they had to readjust and rebuild. 

Michael had been happy to say that he had come home with very little in the way of injuries, as had Sammael. It had been odd to go back into battle with his brother, but he had been glad to have Sam at his side - while others might have believed the Angel of Death had lost his edge, Michael had witnessed the opposite of this - Sammael was as dangerous as he had ever been, he just tempered it better than most… which Michael had to admit was probably a good thing, if Gabriel or Uriel had the skills or strength that his younger brother had, they would have been far more dangerous than they already were. 

Running his fingers through his hair, the Archangel strode through the corridors towards Uial's Throne room - she was in session with the Council Elders again, and he had been back to the shop in Mamlak to get some extra supplies and potions from Teu (as well as to check in, and ensure that the family were safe, he was glad to find that they were at least) before returning home to the Jiyu. Sammael had remained as well, lending a hand where he could, coming and going from the Butcher's shop… so as to keep Chezza from losing her mind at his absence. 
Nodding to those he met along the way, Michael had to admit that he truly felt as though he belonged here at last, as though he were finally one of them. It was a comforting thought, he had proved himself on the battlefield to the other warriors and hunters of the Clan… though he doubted, very highly, that the Elders thought of him anymore fondly than they already had. 

Michael nodded to the hunters standing outside the Throne room, keeping guard of the door - they knew better than to deny him entry, their Matriach had made the Archangel's position here extremely clear, he was welcome to come and go as he pleased, and they were not to deny him access (not that they could stop him anyway… not when he could Gate travel). Entering he strode across the hall, glancing at the Elders and giving them a nod of respect, before taking his place beside Uial, a hand resting against his lover's shoulder in greeting… let them hate him, he did not care. 

The Matriarch of the Jiyu Clan had led her warriors into a full scale war outside of her hidden village’s borders. This had not been done before, and yet Uial had not hesitated to order her clan hunters into full scale war. If she had not, there would have been consequences for not only the Jiyu clan but the rest of the world. All had to stand up to do their part in order to bring a sense of peace to the land. Uial had even made the controversial judgement to tap into the cursed hunters that were ostracized even within the clan. She had heard nothing but arguments against this idea, but she had seen no other option. The Ito’s had been a long tradition of being segregated from the rest of Jiyu. A long time of not being allowed to mingle amongst the rest of the clan in order to keep all safe from the curse that ran true in thirteen of their veins. Uial had never been one to want to uphold that tradition, but there were only so many policies she could change without a full coupe rising up against her rule.

The weight of the endless decisions were a heavy weight upon the rulers shoulders. It was during these times she was grateful to have someone that helped carry that weight.

She sat straight backed upon her throne with hands folded gracefully upon her lap. The Council of Elders were reviewing the loses that had been sustained, supplies that would be needed, and so on. Uial heard and registered every word that they were saying. The entire meeting had been about how the war against the Uldrich had taken a toll upon the clan. Even so, they had done their duty to protect the world. It had been their tradition to do so in secret. There were no options.

”Matriarch, we are going to need to obtain more daemons to bond to the new infants that have been born. The balance is not in our favor if we found it necessary to pull in the Itos.”. There was a silence that only spoke of the Councils continuing disapproval of allowing all to see the curse that had bored deeply into their history. Uial did not speak as was not going to have another discussion on what had been already decided. She did not regret any of the decisions made. ”That is not the least of our worries…”. The Elder let his voice trail off as Michael made his way up the dias to stand beside Uial in his usual spot.

”What is our worry then, commander?” she pressed with a tone of annoyance. The Council never would fully accept Michael, but at least they were not as blatant about it. Uial lifted a hand to rest on Michael’s calming touch just as she leaned back against the throne’s cool stone. ”Pray tell me what I need to worry about now since we have just finished a war that hopefully was the end of these literal terrors walking this earth.”. Her golden gaze narrowed as she dared them to speak what they had been wanting to say this entire meeting.

”The Itos.”. Uial hissed down at the Elders from her throne as her anger flared finally. The earth dragon that had fused to her soul baring its teeth. ”I figured as much. They proved their worth to me upon that battle field when called upon. They did as commanded without hesitation…even the Cat. I am the one that is responsible for the decision, and it paid off. I will be making further decisions without your approval…as I have proven.”. She stood up while holding in the temptation to bring the ceiling down on them all. ”And I shall do what I feel is fit for our clan. if need be…without your council since we all see so differently.”

There was no hesitation in Uial’s body language or tone as she walked down the dias gracefully and swept passed the council members who still had shocked expressions upon their faces. ”I want them compensated, all the hunters who participated, with the appropriate weapons and gold. Take it from my personal treasury to pay the Itos for their service. The rest of the pensions will come from the main treasury….to help your delicate sensibilities. I wouldn’t want to burden your minds with knowing you were grateful to the Cursed Ones.”

She left the throne room while she was sure that Michael was following, Uial did not look. The rage filled her mind and heart fully. The Matriarch was certain that her guards bowed as she passed, but again it did not fully register. Uial stalked out of the main city and to that grass hill covered in flowers by the waterfall she had taken Michael when they had first met. There she flopped on the ground to pull her knees to her chest to wrap her arms about them. It was there that she buried her face to hold back the stress that had weighed on her heavily. The hunters that had lost their lives upon her command.

Michael’s eyes flickered to the Elder who began to drift mid sentence during his arrival, for the briefest moment a bright gold ring shone around his glowing blue eyes and his feathers seemed to set alight and turn to molten gold as a flicker of emotion struck him. He was not truly angry, but he needed these fools to realise that he was just as good, if not better, than any suitor they could ever have picked for Uial. He was going to ensure they bent their knee to him eventually… though something about that statement was dangerously close to sentiments Gabriel might have shared.

He out a hand upon Uial’s shoulder, his thumb brushing against the skin of her neck to soothe the knot forming due to the fools she dealt with daily, hoping to take away even an ounce of the frustration building within her. Of course that was what this was about. The Itos had been an asset during the battle against the Void, but after that the Council wanted them shoved back into their glorified cages where they could pretend they didn’t exist. His wings flicked open as she stood, creating a halo of golden light around their Matriarch as he stood behind her. He kept them that way as she walked out of the Throne room, Michael keeping a step behind her all the way, one hand upon the pommel of his sword, eyes fixed upon these idiots who continued to test his lover’s patience. 

Leaving the room Michael stopped beside one of the guards. ”I expect a full report from you should there be one to hand over,” he said quietly, eyes flickering to the other who nodded. The pair he knew well enough, they were loyal to Uial, and given her current mood, and his, neither would think to argue let alone disobey. He was a stride behind his lover with ease, following her out of the city to the place they had first spent a day together, gathering flowers for the shop. As she collapsed to the ground he said nothing, scooping her body into his arms and cradling her entire being against him, wings furling around their bodies to shield her from the world that weighed so heavily upon her heart. ”Its safe now, it’s just us, you can let it go,” he whispered, kissing her forehead.

A smirk upon the lips of the Matriarch was hidden behind her hands as she watched Michael challenge the Elders without a word. It was the angel’s ability to let their disapproval wash off of him. Michael was a steadfast man. Nothing seemed to shake that ever steady self-confidence that had developed over the years. Uial envied him in that respect. Her confidence, much of the time, was sheer acting. The Elders had always made sure that she understood that it had not meant to be her to be fused with the earth dragon. No. That was to have been her twin brother, Cole. Cole was meant to have all the power within the Clan, and yet the dragon had chosen her soul to link with. Uial felt that warmth of the dragon’s soul fused with her. Despite the death of the creature, it still felt as if it were there supporting her through the pressures of ruling; as if it knew she needed it.

Uial watched from beneath her long lashes as Michael strode with knightly confidence. She watched as the Elders managed to hold their tongues for the moment. They understood the relationship, but also the power he had demonstrated on the battlefield. Michael was an asset even if he was an outsider. That day it had been learned that Michael was not the only one of his kind on Revaliir; there was an entire family of battle hardened angels. Samuel had come to their aid, but at the exposure of more that would not fall into line for what the Elders wished to occur. It had all made Uial more powerful to have her own allies outside the Elders. She was getting support that followed her new path for the Clan. It made the Council nervous.

They should have been. Uial had plans.

Warmth from his touch helped ease the anxiety that had formed in her chest. The Matriarch leaned into the ministrations on her neck. She allowed herself a split moment to glance up at Michael with an expression of adoration and appreciation. This could not last long as the Council was watching them carefully.

After that, it had taken long for Uial to be utterly done with everything being hurled about. She had known that the conversation would be brought up if they were to be successful. The Itos had known it as well. All had been a gamble on the level of success over the Void. There had been little options for what had been chosen, but they had followed Uial willingly. She would not allow them to be treated like pariah again. It was her rule. The end decision was left to her.

Uial could not fully remember the trek she made out of the city and to the special spot that was held in her heart amongst the flowers. It was a safe quiet place that no others would even think to tread upon. Where the pair could be alone.

The mighty Matriarch easily shifted her form to fit against Michael’s muscled build. She wanted to feel his entirety wrap about her. Shadows crested over them as his wings blocked out the world; exactly what she needed.

”I don’t understand why they are so obstinate on doing things differently. Yes, there is tradition. The world isn’t behaving as before, where tradition helps. Our Clan must change for our sheer survival. More and more are learning about us as they get past our defenses. I need to make Jiyu Clan prepared for the outside world. My hunters are needed even more out there than before. Why can’t they see this?”. Uial knew that there were few actual answers for all her questions. Michael had an open mind, as well as many of her direct followers. It was the Council that was trying to preserve a way that could end up being their demise.

”What would the Elders think if they had gotten the Twins as their Patriarchs? They would probably be begging for me then,” she managed to laugh. Thinking about the chaotic twins made her shake her head while shifting further to fit against Michael’s chest. ”Thank you for being here.”