Early before dawn, in the first days of spring, a young warrior arose from her slumber and exited her cosy den. She yawned and stretched, her fur bristling as she shook the weariness from her limbs. Renewed with vigour from a good nights rest, the fae travelled swiftly to her packs borders. This pack she now called home for the past two months had done her nothing but good. Despite her rocky introductions with the Guardian Fel, she had met a good number of its members and had found some close friends among their numbers, namely the Warrior Ace, Lead Hunter Eclipse and Beta Marrok.  True, it seemed the fae was unused to dealing with members of her own sex, it was however that she simply preferred the company of brutes - Helidos brutes of course. The males of this pack seemed to have a few common qualities - openness, honesty and genuity. Not to mention their sense of humour was always good. She had a number of female friends, such as Lead Hunter Shadow and Lead Healer Creek, but she just wasn't quite as close with them.

Like she did most days, she crossed the border at the same place where Beta Marrok had first accepted her, and travelled to a little hillside cliff. There she enjoyed the sunrise as she had that first day. Though she had not howled properly since then. Her voice had not raised in song since that last beautiful sunrise of Autumn. It was not that she was upset, lonely, or any other negative feeling. She simply had not felt that overwhelming need in all that time. Today, however, she changed course. Instead of moving to the grazing plains in search of prey, she wandered to the neutral territory that lined the borders between Helidos and Erenyx land.

Her paws padded silently through the forest, taking her nowhere in particular. She soon came upon a great waterfall, with a large pond that stretched into a river at its base. The water ran slowly, lazily by her as she studied the falls. They fell harshly, pounding through the pool below, yet they seemed to also fall softly. Slowly. There was something peaceful about this place. Her restraint gone, Nnlya bolted headlong for the water, hurling herself through the air and into the cool, clear water. She swam. Diving and weaving as her heart saw fit. When she had her fill, she hauled herself up onto the mossy bank and shook out her fur. She grinned widely and lept onto a boulder by the falls, laying her head between her paws. This day of hunting and training had unwittingly become a day of relaxation. Or at least, that's what she thought.

As with every day before, Drogo woke before the sun and silently padded from the confines of his den. His den was nothing special, simplistic in every sense of the word, but it was functional, and that was all he needed. He brute took a brief moment upon stepping out into the camp clearing to stretch, waking up his muscles for the intense training he had planned for the day. He raised his back, breathing in slowly, until the muscles began to tingle at the pull. Letting his back relax, he exhaled and stretched his hind legs out to their extents one at a time. His plan for today was a bit different from the daily routine he had established since his arrival. Normally he would start his days of with a brisk run along to borders and finish off perfecting his defensive and attack moves. All of this was usually done within Helidos territory but as spring was finally upon them, it was time to begin exploring the neutral territories that lay between the realms of Helidos and Erenyx.

Hardened muscles sprang into action as he tore off into the trees towards the border. Having been blessed with a lethal combination of agility, speed, and power, he was truly a sight to behold. Everything he did was done with precision and a fluidity that could only be achieved from years of scrupulous training. As his  paws tore up the earth beneath him, his breathing remained steady. The strong scent of Helidos wafted into his nose as he dashed across the boundary lines and continued onward. Multiple scents mingled together out here, Helidos, Erenyx, and the individual scents of loners passing through. He slowed his run to an abrupt halt as he took a moment to look around at the unfamiliar settings. The sun was beginning to rise now, and with it would come the warmth he so longed for after having endured his first true taste of winter here.

Shifting his gaze from left to right, he finally decided on a direction and set out, this time at a brisk trot. His striking pelt shifting and bouncing with each stride, and his vibrant orange eyes scanning diligently ahead for any sign of trouble. Highly sensitive ears flickered as the sound of rushing water. Intrigued to seek out the source of it, he continued on. It wasn't much farther until the gushing falls came into view. The sight was dazzling as the water swelled into a pool at the base. His brief moment of awe was quickly broken when a movement below caught his eye. He watched as a wolf made a mad dash to the waters edge and dove right in. He couldn't help but let a faint grin to tug at the corners of his lips at her exuberance. He stayed back, not wishing to interrupt her moment of peace as she swam within the chilled waters. It was not until he saw her spring from the waters, up onto the moss covered shores did he begin to move in closer. She smelt distinctively of Helidos, a good thing too as he had heard those dwelling within Erenyx were not the friendliest of sorts. His tail hung neutral behind him as he had yet to discern her rank. His blazing orange eyes looked over her without much emotion as was normal for him. "Greetings miss. I hope I am not interrupting. If so speak now and I shall take my leave." he said gruffly. Females were a rarity to him, and having been in their presence so few times he was slightly unsure of how best to conduct oneself within their midst.

The warriors head perked up at the sound of the visitor. Tasting the air, she caught the distinct scent of Helidos. He was a pack mate. Her eyes the colour of a clear spring sky, raked over his form and inspected the brute. He was strong, healthy, and a good bit larger than her. Typical in terms of male versus female body types, however it was slightly more than that. From his stance she gathered that he had been trained all his life as a hunter or, more likely, a warrior. His amber eyes seemed sharp and calculating, analysing her as she did to him. In one fluid movement she rose and leapt from the rock to stand level with him. Her jaws spread into a Wolfy grin a she truly measured up to the brute. Of course not. Please do not leave on my account. I am the Warrior Nnlya, sworn to protect and serve the Helidos pack. And who might you be? Her tail remained relaxed, neither asserting dominance or submitting in weakness. It was clear to her by his scent that they were of equal rank and she was glad that he had not challenged her. She did not wish to provoke a fight with a pack mate, much less a large brute. The situation would just feel too familiar to her. She was strong and strong willed, but if history should repeat itself, she couldn't be surer that her composure would hold.

The brute seemed nervous, out of place next to the fae. As though he had not spent much time around females. She eagerly awaited his reply. Her grin of jubilance turned to one of mischief. Her mind turned to thought on how to make this brute loosen up. She took a step closer. Then another. And another. She was so close their noses were barely apart. A hairs breadth distance. She locked gazes with him, attempting to convey with her eyes her somewhat childish intent. That she was not challenging him, but teasing. Her head turned slightly to the left, their wet nose just brushing, and she stepped alongside him. Their fur mingled together in their closeness, her head by the base of his tail. She swore she felt him stiffen but couldn't be completely sure. Nnlya chuckled at the wolfs unease and stepped away, beginning to appreciate the colour of his form. His fur was mostly russet, reds and browns glowing together in the sunlight, but his back was covered in very dark, almost black fur. The pattern was somewhat similar to her own - a charcoal back that turned into light, hazy browns into a creamy white on her belly and muzzle.

He watched her rise swiftly from her spot upon the boulder and spring from her perch down the ground on which he stood. He was impressed with the grace with which she moved, but the few females he had known in his time had moved with an equally elegant manner. Something he was chalking up to be an attribute to their much more lithe frames and gentle nature. As far as brutes went, his movement was far from average. His manner of movement was much more equivalent to a females, though still held the shadow of his gender. The smile that flashed across her face was one he had only held upon his own lips after a victory. He was told from puphood that one could only truly be happy when the battle was won, and the enemy destroyed. Her soft voice chimed through his ears as she began to speak and introduce herself. She was a warrior like himself and so held herself accordingly. Everything about her position was neutral except the cheeky grin upon her lips and the energetic twinkle in her vibrant blue eyes. He dipped his head politely, "It is a pleasure to meet you Nnlya, fellow warrior. I am one they call Drogo, hailing from the lands of Tortall, but now calling Helidos home, and answering to your...our Alpha Azul." he said politely, but the strict tone reverberated through his words.

As his introduction came to its close, she began to step closer, and then closer yet until their noses were mere inches from each other. His jaw set into a hardened position and he raised a brow in reaction to her closeness. Was this customary here? He was unsure, but did not flinch. It was not becoming of a soldier to move a muscle at another's approach unless it was an attack. The glint in her eye held an entirely different air to it that the hardened glaze that he stared through. It reminded him of the innocent look of a playful pup the way she grinned and peered up at him. With a shift of her head, their noses touched, however briefly, it was enough to morph his inquisitively raised brow into a furrow with the other. She began to walk along side him. The closeness with which she held herself to him caused him to stiffen, not out of fear, but anticipation. Should this have been a wolf not belonging to his pack he would have had them on their back begging for mercy long before they reaches such close proximity to him.  Shifting his head ever so slightly so that she came into full view he watched her step away and let slip a faint chuckle. Was something amusing to her? Did she find his looks to be entertaining? A jest of sorts? "Does something amuse you miss?" he questioned, the rough tone of his voice ringing clearly.

The brutes voice was strong and clear. He seemed used to holding authority over others, but knew his place. It was a good quality. A wolf who thought himself above his status would never rise through the ranks. He would have to humble himself first, a feat which might prove near impossible. Drogo's expression amused the fae greatly. She chuckled once more as he questioned her laughter. Well, of course it does. Drogo, your name is? Well Drogo, your familiarity - or lack of - is what amuses me. You're so uptight. So rigid. Very... Formal. She laughed once more, the sound making her captivating eyes shine brightly with mirth. In that instant, it became her mission to make the brute open up to her. To talk. To laugh. To play. She knew it would be no easy task, but it was such a tempting challenge, she couldn't possibly let it slip away. Challenge accepted, she thought to herself.

She thought about his earlier words. He spoke not of a pack, but of "the lands of tortall". This the fae found strange indeed. She had to ask. What exactly are "the lands of tortall? I don't believe I've ever heard of such a place. What was your packs name? Who was your Alpha? She waited for his reply, always interested to hear the stories of the other members of Helidos. Many had rather sad stories, made better by the Alpha Azul, his Alphess, Beta's, Delta or Elite accepting them into the ranks. But the pack had made them stronger, and some became able to share their story with other wolves. To hear these things that occurred in the past and see how far the wolf had come brought such joy to Nnlya.

Laughter sounded from her maw once more, this time it slightly irked him. Did she take nothing seriously? Who was she to laugh at him? His furrowed brows creased even more as she spoke. Uptight? Rigid? Formal? The formal he had to agree with, but he held no disgrace in that. He had been raised to have manners, and use them. Something this fea obviously lacked. It was rude to laugh at others. But uptight and rigid? He had to resist the urge to shake his head at that. He wasn't rigid, he was simply prepared, always ready for anything. He was a warrior, a soldier, it was his duty to be focused. Noticing the mischievous twinkle in her eye, he pushed her previous comments from his mind and focused solely on her inquiry of Tortall. Allowing his face to shift back into its normal state, his jaw hard set and his eyes glassy, he let his haunches slip beneath him, the toned muscles rippling under his coat as he did so. "The lady wishes to know of Tortall? I suggest you do as I have and take a seat for it is a rather length tale." he said, giving a pause in his words to allow her to do so.

"I suppose I shall start at the very beginning. The lands of Tortall is a vast region to the south, spacious enough to sustain 5 packs at least. And sustain 5 packs it did, though they were not akin to the packs here. 5 packs reigned under the rule of one wolf who called himself King. King Rhaegar was his name. At the head of each pack was a mated pair, appointed by the King himself and dubbed a Lord and his Lady. The King had his personal advisors, as did each Lord and Lady. Serving beneath every Lord was a personal guard consisting of each packs best soldiers, but they best in the realm served as the Kings Guard. High born male pups of the Lords were taken into care by the King as soon as they no longer depended upon their mothers milk. It was at this point training began. We were trained in the art of battle so we would be ready to serve in the King's guard when we reached a year old. It was there, under the watch of the King that I became the best soldier in the land. With such skill came the honoured title of Head of the King's Guard. I was the youngest wolf to receive the title. Over the next years, myself and the others in the King's Guard saw many battles, always warding off those who sought to seize Tortall's bountiful lands. But on the spring of my third year things in Tortall as we knew them would change." He paused, taking a moment to gauge her reactions, unsure if she wished for him to continue or not. Without speaking the words, and rather saying them with his eyes, he silently raised a brow in question as to her wish to hear more or his story.

Nnlya could feel the brutes disapproval radiating off him. Perhaps she had said something to offend him? Though it was certainly not her intent. The brute offered to tell her the story of the lands of Tortall and her attention was immediately drawn. The fae brought herself to sit perpendicular to the warrior, curling her tail softly around her large wolfs paws. He began his tale, telling her of the location of Tortall, describing how it housed five packs, each governed by an Alpha pair - though in this case. They were named a Lord and his Lady. This was the first strange thing she noticed. The second was that each of these five packs was then governed by a solitary King by the name of Rhaegar, who was surrounded by his advisors and the Kings Guard. It became clear to her that Drogo was a member of this particular guard. He used the inclusive pronoun of "we" when he told her that young male pups were torn from their mothers at the earliest possible moment and we're trained to fight and kill for their King. She was even more surprised to find that he had been the head of the Kings Guard. The fae cheered internally at the news that he was the youngest to have ever received the title. Though Nnlya shuddered at the thought of how many wolves Drogo might have killed. For she only killed during the hunt and had never herself performed that fatal blow to another wolf. That had been her rule as a loner, fight to survive and never kill unnecessarily. But to think on it properly, she had killed once, but in a long since repressed memory she refused to dredge up at this point, lest she be considered weak by the warrior before her. So yes, to her mind, Nnlya had never killed another wolf. But the reality of the past would tell another story.

She realised that during her thought, the Warrior Drogo had halted his speech and was looking at her with a raised brow. She wondered if he had noticed her undisguised mental travel to another place. But instead in his amber eyes she saw a question of continuation. Am I safe to continue? It asked. The fae immediately straightened up, opening her maw, Please, continue. Your story interests me greatly. She paused waiting for him to continue. That is, if you're feeling up to it? Nnlya knew that many of the wolves in Helidos had a troubled past and tried her best not to force them to discuss unwanted stories with her. She would treat Drogo with just the same respect.

As his words flowed, his cold eyes stole the occasional glance over to her. Intrigue seemed to glisten in her eyes at his tale. Why was it that the tales that held the darkest shadows seemed to captivate the mind of others so? Horrors and sickness swallowing the faint glimmers of hope, desperately trying to claw their way to the surface. It seemed to be that the struggles and hardships of others re-lived through the mere telling of such tales made them simply that. Plucked from the reality that such events took place, that those affected were more than just names in a story, the devastation behind it all was lessened. Shrouded by a misty veil that fantasized actuality.  But it was behind this veil that the light rose from the dark, defying the odds and overcoming the impossible, sending the darkness back to the shadows where it belonged. And it just so happened that he was one such individual who rose above the darkness, and brought an end to its reign.

At his pause, she was quick to prompt his continuation of the story, and so, without hesitation, his stern jaw cracked open once more. "The coming of my third year brought with it the beginning of a new era for Tortall. War was upon us and it was lead by Lord Valentine, leader of the pack Meraxes, started a rebellion. Behind him his pack marched loyally to war, aided by Lord Eloron and his pack Hornwood." his words broke with a quick pause as the sight of that day flashed in his mind. He could see all the faces of those who rose up against the king that day. All the faces of those who would fall, those he would bring to their end. With a grimace so minute it would go unnoticed unless she was paying direct attention to the fine contours of his expression, he continued. "The King's Guard raced to meet the traitors, with myself leading the charge. The soldiers from Edoras, Volantis and Fangorn soon joined in the bloodshed. Many fell, but it was when I found myself faced with Lord Valentine himself, that everything changed. Age had slowed him, but his experience in battle was vast. Battle raged on around us, but all I saw was him. He had betrayed the King, and he had to die. The fighting was fierce, I shall spare the lady the gory details, but in the end my youth, my strength and endurance prevailed." He paused once more only to be met by the words that often rung through his ears, clear as day, just as they had been the day they had been uttered. "I had him where I wanted him, death was imminent, but I  had one burning question on my mind. I needed to know why. Why he would rise against his own king, but his response was not one I was prepared to hear. I asked him what demons had poisoned his mind and convinced him to rebel against his own king, to which his response was, 'Son, it is not my mind that has been poisoned, but the kings.' I had heard enough, not wanting to believe such words could possibly be true. So I silenced him once and for all." Guilt flashed through his eyes. "The battle was won, but many lives were lost. Those who opposed Rhaegar had surrendered, but on his orders were executed for their treason against the realm."

His eyes hardened, trying to conceal the torment of memory of the countless lives he took that clawed at what sense of dignity he fought to hold on to. His breathing remained steady and even, despite the quickened pounding of his heart within his chest. "His words bore heavy on my mind over the season to follow. I began to dig, searching for some answers to questions that whirred in my mind relentlessly. Whispers came to me, and pieces began to fall into place. Light was shed on the dealings of the King with a pack who continually threatened our boarders. Females had been a rarity to the folk of Tortall, with the exception of our healers and the ruling Lady's. When the truth was revealed to me that females were being traded in exchange for the peace, I was appalled. Rhaegar needed to be stopped, and I would have to be the one to do it. I waited for the perfect moment, a night when the duty of guarding the King's den fell on me, and I made my move. Cloaked by the cover of night, I slipped into his den and ended his reign of terror once and for all. I fled, knowing that if I stayed I would suffer the same fate as those who rose up against him. And now I have found myself here." He said gesturing to the area around them, "Seeking reprieve for the sins I have committed."

The warrior pressed on with his tale, without hesitation once prompted. The fae sat silent and stoic, watching his face for any signs of distress. Though his training in the Kings Guard served him well, his mention of the day of the battle clearly brought back painful memories. His face seemed blank but the details were there. A tremor in the lip. A crinkle in the eye. These were all that told of his discomfort. She would have encouraged him to stop, to end the story whilst his composure remained, had he not powered through. He truly was a warrior. She admired him his strength but pitied him his upbringing. He had no puphood. No chance to play or learn the ways of the world his world resided in. All he knew was the fight. The king. Any wolf could be taught to hunt, but can never be taught the respect for the balance of the world. No way to tell a pup how to have his own adventures. It was truly the saddest thing she had heard all her life and she wanted to make it better. She wanted to show him how to have fun and how to take risks for the sake of them. How to play and roughhouse. Pups would be born soon and every member of the pack plays a role in the raising of the young ones. She hoped that Drogo could be a positive part of that.

But his story still had far to go. She could see that the death of Lord Valentine stirred something deep within him. Despite the clearly large amount of deaths he caused that day, it was this brutes death that struck a chord with Drogo. And it didn't take long for Nnlya to discover why. Valentine referred to Drogo as "Son". But Valentine had lead his own pack. He had not trained Drogo in the Kings Guard and offered a father-like figure. Surely Lord Valentine had been Drogo's father. And once more the pitied the brute, though she knew he'd resent it. She had felt somewhat responsible for Onyx's death but it had not be directly by her hand. To have killed ones own father would surely disturb something deep within the mind. Could even unhinge a wolf if it was found the deed was done without good cause - as indeed was the case here. He ended soon with his quick and abhorrent discovery of the females fates and how he had betrayed his king. Though she saw him as a saviour of his realm, not a treasonous rogue.

The moment the final words left his maw she stepped forward very close, pressing her nose to his cheek as a sign of comfort. Sitting before him, the smaller fae placed her right forepaw over his left and nuzzled his neck. You did what you felt was right. You are not a sinner, but a saviour. She breathed the words softly. those faces have you to thank for their lives. And those whose lives you saves by averting another war. She could only hope that Drogo would learn to see himself as she did. Not a sinner, nor a coward or rogue. But as a strong wolf who could stand up and protect his people, even from their King.

Hardened eyes shifted their gaze to the ground as he listened to her soft words of encouragement. He knew that was how he should see it. He had freed Tortall from a sickness in the form of their own wolven brethren. A great feat that he should carry proudly, but it was his blind faith in Rhaegar that ate away at him the most. He took a deep breath in, letting the crisp spring air fill his lungs. Holding the air for a brief moment, he slowly exhaled and rose his eyes from to ground and let them find their place upon Nnlya. As fire met water in the locking of their eyes he felt his lips twitch into a faint curl of a smile. She truly believed he had done no wrong. Perhaps in time he could learn to forgive himself. "I hope one day such positive thoughts may be able to come from my own mind. Thank you for your kindness Nnlya." he said gently.

He could see the kindness in her heart, the hope and the optimism. It was something that he admired, and wished he too could possess. He didn't know it yet, but she would be of great importance to his future, a shimmering light in the darkness that would show him a better tomorrow. "Enough about me. What of your past Nnlya. What brought you to the wondrous lands of Helidos?" he enquired, wondering if some darkness haunted her past as well, but praying that she did not have to know of such pain and hardships. "If the lady wishes not to speak of it by all means, pardon my intrusion." he added quickly, realizing that she may not wish to empart such information upon him. It wasn't his place to ask one he barely knew of their past. But there was something different about her, that he admired so. His social skills were certainly not up to par with hers, but he hoped he may be of some comfort or help to her as she had been to him.

[sorry it's not too long, next one will be longer most definitely]

She lifted her head from his neck as he spoke, praising her kindness. But when he asked for her own story she froze. Her hackles raised, muzzle twitched and limbs stiffened. She had told this story only twice before. To the Beta Marrok upon arrival in these lands, as was customary, and to the Lead Hunter Eclipse. The latter she told out of trust, like the trust that one might share with a very close friend. But even her surrogate brother could not comprehend her story, for she had glanced over the most important detail in both cases. She had deliberately omitted the most defining point of her life so far. She had promised herself to only share this story once. Only with the brute she intended to take as a mate. For he had every right to know just what he would get himself into. But Drogo was something different. Something unlike any wolf she had met before, and she felt a little more ok with the thought of telling this story to him. She thought today she would have to break her rule.

The fae jumped up and skittered away a few paces, only then to sit with a limp tail and her head drooping low. It was shameful what she had been a part of. That she couldn't prevent it was even more so. She sucked in a deep breath and began with familiar words. I was born to the Alpha pair of the Aurora pack, the second oldest in a litter of four. The oldest was my brother Onyx. He had wanted so much to be a hunter, providing for the pack rather than leading it. As his only daughter, my father had taken quite a lot of interest in me and made me his heir. In trained me in the ways of an Alpha. To hunt, fight and lead a pack. It was his wish that I would be strong enough to take over as Alphess when his time came to an end. We were happy for a time. My puphood was spent learning under the guidance of my father and his Beta, as well as playing and exploring with my brothers. We all got on well but Onyx and I shared something special. When we were yearlings, in the final days of winter, we had to make our crossing to the summer pack grounds. It was a routine journey, and occurred every year. But the mountains were treacherous. Onyx and I had been play fighting and pretending to be grand adventure-wolves when the avalanche began. My father found a series of caves in the mountainside and ushered the pack into its recesses. Onyx and I had been some distance away and were unable to reach our pack mates. When my brother spotted another cave much closer, we sprinted for it. Only I was fast enough to beat the rolling wave of snow and my brother was lost.

She paused and breathed a moment, solemnly remembering her fallen brother before she continued. I was lucky. The cave I was in had led to a pass through the mountain and brought me out in a neighbouring packs lands. As a yearling I was too small to try to brave the snow and return to my pack. I travelled south, where it was warmer. I survived using the skills I had learned and taught myself to hunt larger prey, exploiting weaknesses and only taking what I needed. By the time the snow would have properly melted in my homeland and I was large enough to travel, it was nearly winter once more and the journey would take me almost a season to make - by which time I was old enough to become a dispersal wolf. So I travelled. I came upon a number of loners, though I only fought when necessary. Most packs were kind and allowed me to pass through unharmed when I requested it. Others were much more violent. But I never killed. I only fought those wolves until they submitted and granted me safe passage. there was another pause. But she had committed herself and would finish this story completely.

A few months into my third year, I came across a particularly ruthless pack. When I requested the ability to merely pass through their lands, it was denied me. This had happened before, so I apologised for the intrusion and took my leave. A warrior attacked me and threatened my life. So I fought him into submission. Three others faced me and all were defeated. That was when he came. The Elite. He told me he had never met such a strong fae and that he would grant me access to the pack and the title of his Elite counterpart if I consented to be his mate. I refused. I do not mate purely for the sake of title and claim of strength. When I choose a mate it will be for love. He did not like my answer. So he took me. Nnlya gasped, the tightness building in her chest at her memory, but she had to finish the story before keeping it inside killed her. Despite her distress, her voice remained soft and calm the entire time. He forcibly took me as his mate. He mated with me and I couldn't stop it. I am soiled, tainted. No brute would ever want me if I told him this tale. Who would want a. Ate who had already been mated? But I couldn't stand it. I turned on him and fought him. It was an awful bloody battle. Her voiced dropped to a whisper. And I killed him.

The fae took a moment to breathe before her voice returned to the way it had been.He was the only one I had killed. My first kill. I left his body, dead and mangled, covered in congealed blood. Eyes blank and staring. I turned my back on that place and never strayed near it again. For months I travelled, appalled at myself. The memory was repressed, forced into forgetfulness, but I still loathed myself for it. Then one day I decided to change. I wouldn't let it dictate me. I decided to find a pack full of good wolves, wolves of moral and meaning. I wanted  a pack where I could contribute and make a difference and in return they could protect me as I would them. I travelled northwest, searching until I came to the borders of Helidos. That morning I watched the sunrise from a small cliff and howled at its beauty, and every day since I have returned there to see that sunrise. But I have not howled in months. I was received by the Beta Marrok when I arrived, and though at first I was foolhardy, nearly challenging the brute, he accepted me and welcomed me. And I have been here ever since.

Nnlya's head drooped and she panted softly when her history was done. Outside, she appeared fatigued. But inwardly, her stomach churned as she wondered what she had done. Surely Drogo would run from her. Surely he would despise her for her weakness. Why had she broken her rule? Why had she not waited for her mate to tell it?

Immediately at his questioning of her past the air around them changed. Her body tensed in discomfort and her hackles raised in agitation. He had over stepped his bounds, he had upset her, something he never intended to do. His lips parted, but before he could stop her she began her story. Feeling upset with himself that he had subjected her to such mental torment, he held his tongue and listened. Hearing her speak of her family, of the normal lives they endured, the puphood they had been granted he felt a sense of relief. The knowledge that she had been blessed with such time was a gift. One that he had never known the pleasures of. But he knew some inevitable tragedy was sure to come. One did not react the way she had to his inquiry unless their past held darkness. Surely enough, as her tale continued, the misfortune came creeping in taking the form of an avalanche. Only she had made it to safety, her brother had not been so fortunate. He had lost brothers in battle, but he had never known them as brothers. When you were taken from your mother, all ties were severed, family held no place in the King's Guard.

He could hear the strain in her voice, the desperation to stop and speak no more of the past that haunted her so, but she was brave and continued. As she spoke of her survival, he commended her silently. She was strong, he had sensed this about her immediately and now he knew why. She had overcome her loss and prospered on her own. She had a will to survive, and survive she did. She fought when necessary and lived her life as a loner relatively unscathed. But the darkness that tainted her past would come again, not by nature, but in the form of an Elite. Anger pulsed inside him as she spoke of the wretched male and how against her will he had taken her. He could see the pain and anguish in her eyes, but she held her outwardly composure. He on the other hand did not conceal his emotion. His jaw locked into its hard set, and rage flared in his glassy eyes. If she had not taken it upon herself to kill the bastard, he would have sought him out and done so himself. As her story cam to an end he watched her head drop in shame, a look that did not suit her well and though he hadn't the slightest clue how, was determined to make her see that she had not been ruined, that it was by no fault of her.

Against every impulse of his trained behaviour, he rose to his feet and stepped closer to her. He let his head lower so that it hung just below hers and tipped her chin up with his nose. "Nnlya you are not tainted. Misfortune fell upon you, there is little we can do about it. The past can hurt, but the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. You took matter into your own hand, a feat not many can say they are capable of. There is a strength in you that most others dare only dream of." He said softly but meaningfully. He could not, nor dared claim to know of her pain as he had endured nothing of the sort, but he knew his own hardships and knew that the only path forward was self forgiveness and hope. Perhaps a path the two broken wolves could travel together in search of a brighter future.

The faes head hung low in shame as she waited for the sound that meant he had left her. Her usually jolly and energetic self seemed to have deserted her in light of her past. But something rather amazing happened. Instead of leaving her there as she had expected, the brute crept closer and sat before her. His snout, followed by the rest of his head, came into her view. He dipped his muzzle beneath her chin, lifting her head up. It was the most affection she had seen him show for any wolf. His words of encouragement did help her a bit, gave her that flickering of light that meant a new day was about to arrive, that the darkness could be destroyed.

When he spoke of the past and how it can hurt, she smiled. For she had given those very same words to another loner along her way, and it was those words which she used to pull herself from her pit of self-loathing and turn her life around. She raised her head from his muzzle and moved it to rest in the fur of his neck. There, for a moment, they comforted each other. His words of her strength made her feel proud to be who she was. She felt that perhaps the two of them could help each other to fully overcome the darkness that plagued them together. They could each be the first rays of sunrise to one another, signalling an end to this perpetual night.


(Ooc - sorry it so short, but it's kind of coming to an end anyways)