Derevko listened to Pandora with a curious silence. She studied Pandora’s pelt. She was aware of her mother saying, "Indeed, I experienced a star and was gifted with scales. Because I was a Reptillia already when Derevko was conceived, she has scales to match mine.” Derevko cocked her head as clouds rolled across Pandora’s fur. "Queen Pandora, your bloodline is really quite nice. I must say, you wear it especially well.” Derevko wasn’t flattering. She said what she meant. It was true; the Sabertooth queen wore her bloodline very regally.
She shifted her weight. Derevko had moved to the shade, but she didn’t like that; her scales got cold easily. So she moved back out to the sun. The light hit her scales and shimmered across them. She grinned at Pandora. Derevko was an intimidating figure, but she could actually be nice if she wanted to be.
Birds chirped in the trees. Derevko paid attention to Pandora’s speech. "Yes,” she said when Pandora had finished, "there are many wolves like that in Hawthorne. I believe Fara, too, was a Faerydae, Mother?” she asked. "The wolves with butterfly wings are called Faerydae.” She nodded to herself. The Faerydae were pretty.

"This woman will render the greatest power unto utter desolation.”