The snow continued to fall over the lands as it had done for the past months. White powder gently fell from the sky as it covered the Elder all over. Lifting a paw from the snow, he placed it down to a thick pile of snow. He forced the weight all the way down, seeing just how much snow had graced the lands. It was a lot here, for there were not many trees to cover and protect the floor. The falls were not active. The water was frozen over, though Azul would not trust them to walk across the top. He stared to the frozen icicles that laid over the edge. The were long and almost touched the water itself. The large male stared off into the distance as he thought of how his life had been over the years. So much change had happened, some he controlled, but most of it he did not. What he did control was his rank, and though he felt horrible for her death, he knew he belonged where he was ranked. Elder suited him. At first it was rather hard, moving from doing everything to the pack, to almost doing nothing. He was a wanderer in the pack, and Rose had not yet came to him for advice for anything. He moved closer to the water's edge. He sat on the bank, looking to everything around him. His eyes looked up to the sky, watching flakes of snow land on his nose and immediately dissolve. It was a strange thing, but he knew that was what snow did.

ooc-To make this easier I'm having Magnus be dead to force Chia to be single again, sorry hubby lol Also this post is kinda showing my inner struggle currently, so it may be dark.

Through a heart of stone the black fae pushed through the pain that fell over her. Over and over her chest would heave as the image of her fallen mate's body flashed before her eyes. She cursed the skies, wind and snow at the illness that fell over him and stole his life from her. Gritting her teeth another wave of pain fell over her, this time of hunger. She had been fighting the urge to eat for days, letting the pain be the sole signal that she was still alive and this was real. The pain grounded her, made her believe this was real, even if she wished it wasn't. Her once proud form was now a shadow of her former self. Ribs pushed through dull fur and her spine now stood above her back. The many days since a decent meal and lack of care to herself made her weak, yet she didn't care anymore. Let hunger take her, screw everything!

The snow grew deeper and the cold was affecting her more now. Unable to hold back the shivering she let her body accept the trembling in a feeble attempt to warm herself. Her once bright eyes now shown dully against the falling snow, almost certain she saw a form in front of her. Figuring it was just a mirage she walked forward, until the warmth of fur hit her nose. Falling backwards she blinked rapidly as the familiar scent filled her nose. "Azul?" Her voice croaked out. Her mind flashed back to her days in Helidos and her child-like crush on the older Alpha. His kind nature had been the first se had been around from the male gender and it was refreshing and intriguing to her. Before Magnus, Kodiak and even Damon he was the first male she looked to with a smile; and here he was in front of her. Beyond words to explain her emotions Chiara stood and pressed her maw and head into his warm shoulder fur, ignoring her hesitancy. His scent flooded her senses and soon a smile replaced her saddened face. "I missed you."

Chiara smiled and plunged her nose deep into his ivory fur. Things seemed to just pick up from where they left off. It didn't seem so long ago that he had met her at the border, welcomed her into the pack and lit a fire within her heart. The flame within her grew back then, into a deep admiration for the Alpha and a special feeling she had never felt before. Breathing in his scent that feeling again flooded her mind and brought warmth to her frozen heart. Was this love again?

"Azul forgive me for leaving, but I had to. I felt a calling outside of your leadership and found it in Erenyx. I grew in strength and rose in the ranks to Beta under the tyrant Teren's rule. I even found a mate within the horrid lands. Alas I left with him not many seasons ago and we formed a new pack called Pyrvanthros. My mate perished this winter unfortunately, but I remain the pack sole leader. I Azul are an Alphess." She answered him, drawing her body closer to him. The snow started to fall around them and she could have sworn the combined heat between them melted more than just her hesitancy. Her smile grew and her tail intertwined with his. "Tell me Azul of you, what has become of you?" She then questioned, bringing her amber gaze up to his.

The snow picked up around the pair, falling softly yet growing enough to become a bother. Annoyed that their moment had been disturbed her eyes scanned to the waterfall and the cave she knew was behind it. Some time ago she had been behind there and plotting with Esmerelda, but that was long ago. "I am deeply sorry for your losses my dear Azul. They say pain makes us strong, if this is so we must be the strongest out there." She said as he spoke to her. Her nose pressed into his neck fur again and her tongue flashed out, licking his cheek. "None can replace my mate either, but I too feel the flutter in my heart when I am by your side. You make me feel warmth again and make me want to try and find happiness once again. Over and over I have had doors shut in my face, but finally I feel like you are opening one before me." She said, pulling back and nodding at his request.

Once inside the cave she shock out her fur of the fallen snow. Inside was cold, but safe from the wind and the company was much better. Near the back was a patch of moss still soft and slightly green. Walking over she lowered her body and motioned for him to come close. She longed for the feeling of his fur against hers, his scent to wash over them and for them to nuzzle in the dark. "Come my dear, come lie down close to me." She said softly.