Muscles lay dormant beneath a coat of charred rust, the only motion from the stoic creature was the slow rhythmic rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. Hardwired to protect and disable all threats at any cost, it was only in sleep that he found solace, refuge from thoughts and worries of the past, present and future. It wasn't often that the brute dreamt, he wasn't sure why, but he did not question it as he appreciated the emptiness it permitted his mind for even but a few hours a day. But this night had not been one of tranquility and silence within his mind. A common scene flickered in and out, blurry at first but with each flicker it slowly came into focus. At first, all he could tell was that it was a landscape of sorts, green, lots of green. It soon became clear that it was a place he knew, there was water, rushing water, a waterfall, and something near its edge, but what? Slowly becoming clearer, the thing near the waters edge began to take form, the form of a wolf. As he neared the figure it soon became clear just what wolf it was. Turning to face him with a smile on her face and a playful twinkle in her eyes, her soft chiming laughter rang through his ears. You're so uptight. So rigid. Very...Formal

Staring into her captivating eyes, he remained unmoving, as if frozen solid, and all he could do was stare at her as she began to step towards him. With each step towards him, a light began to radiate from her. Dim at first, but blazing white hot when she stood but a few inches from him and whispered You did what you felt was right. You are not a sinner, but a saviour and with that the white light encompassed him. Muscles came to life, and he jolted awake, eyes wide and breathing quickened. What on earth was that about?' he thought to himself, furrowing his brows in frustration. When he did dream, it was normally about the past, about the battles he fought in Tortall, but this, this was different. What did it mean that he was dreaming of this fea? Stumped, and irked by the strangeness of the dream, he rose to his feet and stretched and parted his jaws and yawned. It was later than he usually woke, but not by much, as the sun was only barely starting to make its presence for the day known. Stepping out into the open air, he padded off towards his fellow Delta's den. It was about time they do their rounds together instead of solo as had been the case since their promotions. Perhaps they could even take leave to the neutral grounds and ensure that everything was as it should be there. He wouldn't put it past Erenyx to attempt to stake a claim on the grounds. Standing outside Nnlya's den entrance, he sat down and cleared his throat and spoke relatively softly, for him that is. "Delta Nnlya, I beg pardon for waking you if you were not already awake, but I came to see if perhaps you would like to accompany on a bit of an excursion."

The delta slept curled in a ball, her paws brought together and her tail wrapped over them . Her nose was buried in the depts of its fur. She often had nightmares. Sometimes of the day she lost her brother, her family. Every time she tried to save him and begged him to run ahead of her. And every time the snow caved in around them, with only she making it to the cave entrance. Sometimes she swore as she travelled through the caves that she heard the voice of her father calling to her. But it was so faint she doubted that it was really there. Other nights she was forced to relive the events surrounding the elite. Though she had repressed the memory, it still haunted her, and had done so far more often since she had allowed herself to speak of it out loud to her friend Drogo. But many nights she did not dream. Those were her favourites. For dreams were tiresome things. They sapped ones strength and left them weary when next they woke. Even good dreams were not so good. They showed one a fantasy world of their own imagination. One they enjoyed and never wanted to leave. And when the sun came to rouse them, they struggled against the pull of wakefulness in order to remain there. Some dreams seem so vivid to the dreamer that men have wasted away before it, not knowing if what they have seen was real, or even possible.

Nnlya was glad for the nights she didn't dream, and it was as such on the morning when Drogo came to her den. Her ears swivelled in their sockets, snapping up to catch the sound. He asked for her to pardon him for waking her up and invited her to walk with him. She saw no harm in the invitation and soon rose, yawning wide as her pink tongue slithered over her teeth. She stretched herself out and attempted to work the tension from her muscles. The walked slowly and deliberately through the entrance of her den, nodding to Drogo where he sat. She surveyed the warm summers dawn as she greeted him.Good morning Drogo. You are looking well as always. I would be delighted to join you on a little... Excursion. She walked forward slowly, her tail softly dragging over the brutes shoulder seemingly of its own accord. She had no idea if he had a direction in mind and so turned to face him with a softly questioning expression upon her sweet face.

Though his exterior remained in its calm, he was delighted that she had agreed to accompany him. Whether her tail had a wandering mind of its own, or it was done purposefully by her, he did not know, but it seemed that every time they were in the presence of each other, her tail managed to find its way on or across him in some way or another. The feeling at first had been a strange one. One he was quite honestly not entirely sure he liked, but he had grown to enjoy it. In a way it relaxed him, knowing that his little beacon of light was there for him, and in that he found comfort. "Most excellent, I was hoping to take a jaunt out to the Cathedral mountains today. It would be an opportune location for Steele and his band of rebels to dwell, and I want to make sure the scoundrels aren't trying to encroach on neutral grounds." he said as he rose from his feet and shot her a gentle smile. "Shall we?" he questioned, and began to walk off towards the figure of the mountain ranges in the distance, knowing she would be quick to follow and by his side.

Feeling her presence beside him, while strange at first was becoming a comforting thing. There was something special about her. She was strong, in both body and mind, but in that strength, she held an air of gentleness which he respected. She had not let the events of her past define her or shroud her visions for the future. He however was a product of his past. Born and melded by the beliefs and customs of others, his mind poisoned and shaped to their will. He had been the perfect soldier because he did not question, he simply did what he was told, and did it well. Had he had the mental strength that she possessed, perhaps he could have fixed things sooner. But that didn't matter now. He had a new pack to protect, one that he felt the desire to rather than an obligation. Shifting the focus in his mind, he turned his head slightly to her as they walked. "So tell me, have you had a chance to meet with all the pups as of yet?" he asked tentatively. He himself had tried to stay as far away from the pups as possible, but always keeping a watchful eye from a far. His wish for them was to have a puphood filled with nothing but joy and play, and for that he thought it best to keep himself away from them.

The brute was quick to react, speaking of a destination she hadn't yet discovered on her own. She quite enjoyed the thrill of a new adventure and relished the challenge he posed. She couldn't help wanting to laugh at his very formal wording, though, and had to hold her lips shut so it would not escape and offend him. Still, her muzzle turned into the remnants of an amused smirk. She joined him, walking closely by his side. She knew it foolish of her, but she supposed that if he could be used to such close contact, as many in the pack were prone to, then he might feel more comfortable when such a time came as he would choose a mate. Outwardly she remained her smiley self, but inside her thoughts soured. She didn't like the thought of him mating some strange fae she hadn't met. She cared for him, more deeply than she would ever admit. But she told herself it was similar to her relationship with Eclipse. More the closeness of siblings than anything.

The two walked, starting out upon their destination as two members of a team. The Deltas finally beginning to work together as a unit rather than in solitude. When he asked about pups, she was startled, not fully concentrating. But she scanned her brain for the question and was reassured.Auroras and Creeks, yes. They are wonderfully sweet little balls of fur. But Fel's I have not met as of yet. I recently spent some time with some of the yearlings as well. She chuckled. They are quite an interesting bunch. Little Lucas is very sure of himself. I think he and Ryland might be mates when they're older. Although it's not for me to say who should be mated. She made herself stop. Afraid that she was rambling, not wanting to say something awkward to the Delta. But she smiled her happy smile and they continued to walk.

Three females had given birth in the early spring, two of which Nnlya had met the offspring off. Aurora, whom he knew and held nothing but high praises for, and Creek, a Lead Healer whom he had yet to have the pleasure of conversation with. He was glad to see at least she had been able to get acquainted with Helidos' future generation in their infant stage. He would keep watch from a far till their minds were sound and well past the influential stages. Having not been granted such a grace period to enjoy life in all its simplicities, and as such had no knowledge to pass on to them that would be of any use until a later time. It was hard to even begin to imagine if he should one day have pups of his own. For such an outrageous thing to occur, the fea by his side, bearing his young and raising them would have to be exceptional in all aspects to be able to deal with the inner turmoil he battled daily, no matter how much he claimed to have put it behind him. Come to think of it, Nnlya would fit the bill to a tee, but what interest would she have in him. She deserved better than a broken soldier.

Her mention of the Alpha's son Lucas and his self assuredness was no surprise. He was an alpha's son after all. He presumed it was expected of him to take his fathers place when the time came for Azul to step down. Drogo himself had been the next in line to take the place as Lord of Meraxes when Valentine reached the end of his "usefullness" as King Rhaegar so kindly put it. To him, all the wolves in his control were disposable and when they proved of no use to him, he had no qualms with ridding their lands of them. A most questionable trait, but lord knows that brute had no concept of ethics. "Ah young Lucas carries a hefty weight upon his shoulders as next in line for Alpha. It shall be most interesting to watch him grow and see whether he lives up to the expectations set for him, or if he choses his own path. As for the new pups, it will be a pleasure to watch them grow and find their paths as well, though I'm afraid my watch shall be held from afar. The last thing they need is the likes of myself anywhere near them." he said with a hint of despair biting in his tone. Letting his eyes wander up ahead, he could see that they were making good time to their destination if they maintained their brisk pace.

The brutes tone was laced with pain as he announced his absence from the pups lives. Nnlya became upset as she immediately understood. He thought himself too damaged and broken to be safe for the pups to be around. Too serious and lacking a puphood that interactions between them would be awkward. They wanted to play and he didn't know how. She hoped that this wouldn't one day affect his choice to choose a mate and have pups. She growled involuntarily as she thought for the second time that morning of some strange, faceless fae taking Drogo away from her. But the delta berated herself. It was selfish of her to think that way. If he chose another, for she was slowly beginning to admit she might have some feelings for the brute, they could still stay friends. Couldn't they? She wanted nothing more than to remain a part of his life and show him just how beautiful life can be. To some it would make no sense how she could be this way after what she'd experienced, but to her it made more sense than anything she'd ever learned. If she couldn't see the beauty in life, couldn't be happy about everything, then what would she be? She'd still be the depressed demon that overcame her for almost two months. She would despise herself and everyone else. She would have no will to live. So she resolved to change her point of view. Sometimes she still struggled with it, when things came creeping back in the dead of night. But she persevered. It was natural for her now, though it took months of work for her to learn her new attitude.

Nnlya stopped and looked at Drogo with sad eyes, her soft voice floating across the light air. Drogo, if you keep seeing yourself this way, then that's all you'll ever be. You need to trust yourself to be alright around the pups. Otherwise when they grow up, you'll be a stranger to them and they won't trust you to guard them like you do. Yes, I've seen you. Lurking in the shadows, always keeping watch. And it's sweet that you're already like this, why would you think you can't be around the pups? If it's your past, then that's easy. Just be very careful of what you say around the young ones. If it's playing, well then... I could show you some time. That is, if you're willing? At her last question she looked down when her voice faltered, then slowly her eyes raised to meet his. Fire and water danced in their heads, swimming with the light of life. As soon as the words left her mouth she regretted them, knowing he would reject her offer of useless frivolities. Though she allowed her mind to wander to the idea of playing with Drogo. Joyfully chasing one another around the clearing. Playfully tackling one another into the dirt. Inevitably being pinned by the larger, stronger brute. She realised how much she wanted that. And what's more, how she wanted to howl on the full moon with him... As mates. An old tradition in her pack where mates would howl together on the full moon, creating a song filled with beauty and love. And she wanted it bad. She wanted a mate. And perhaps it could be Drogo. If he ever showed any inclination towards her.

Hearing a low growl resonate from her chest, Drogo immediately became worried. Had he upset her? Was it something he had said? Quickly recalling his words, he sifted through them carefully trying to find what it was that could have caused this reaction from her, but he found nothing. Just as he was about to speak up and ask her what had angered her, she stopped and turned to him. Where a usual spark of joy and hope normally sat, had been replaced with a sadness in her eyes and this bothered Drogo. He did not like to see her like this, and knowing that it was something he had said that had resulted in such an emotion within her only made it worse. But non the less, he listened carefully to what she had to say. He knew that she was ultimately right about the whole situation. Despite the fact that he thought himself to be of no good influence to the pups, and in order to be able to protect them to the fullest of his abilities, he would need to get to know them so they knew they could trust him. Both reasons she mentioned were entirely correct as far as he was concerned. His past was an issue, but a simple minding of his words in their presence would take of that. But the...playing...that was an entirely different story. He didn't even have a definition for the word play, let alone know how to. And what if he hurt them? They were such little, fragile things. He was unsure that he was capable of the delicacy required to play with them.

Hearing her offer to show him how to play, he froze. Words escaped him as did thought and for that brief moment, the usually hardened, focused look that adorned his face melted away in exchange for a blank, perplexed stare. Teach him to play? He could only imagine what a fool he would look like attempting such a thing. A full grown wolf, "learning" to play, what a sight it would be indeed, but out of fear for upsetting her further than he already had, and to better prepare himself to be able to bond with the pups, he pushed aside his pride and let the glimpses of a smile appear upon his lips. "Dear Nnlya, for the sake of the pups, and undoubtedly for your own amusement, I accept your offer, on one condition. Word of the hilarity that will most surely ensue, shall be kept to the knowledge of only us. Should word of this education reach the ears of a single soul, I shall personally escort you to the nearest body of water, and take pleasure in shoving you in." he said in his best attempt at a playful tone, hoping that he had managed to convey the joking manner appropriately. The last thing he needed was for her to genuinely think he was threatening her.

Nnlya watched the brute as his face melted from its hard mask of serious indifference into one that contained an easy smile. This face of his she rather enjoyed. And when he accepted her offer she was so overjoyed she couldn't help the bark that escaped her lungs. But it was quickly silenced as she heard something slip from his maw she'd never thought to hear from the Delta. A joke. His first true attempt at a joke. And it was one that suited him perfectly. Her face broke into the widest grin yet as she laughed heartily. Of course Drogo. My lips are sealed. As if to place emphasis on her point, she clamped her jaws shut, her canines clicking in her head. But the corners of her mouth were still raised in a slight smile. She took one step back. Then another. And another. Then the fae dashed forward and leapt onto the brutes back, instantaneously springing off and skidding around in the dirt. She slid herself effortlessly around to face Drogo and her hips and tail raised in the air, begging to play.

Nnlya gave a sharp but playful growl and skidded forward some to nip at his forepaws before jumping up and beginning to run. Catch me if you can! She called over her shoulder. Then, with hardly a breath or a thought, she kicked up some dirt and shot forward. Her speed was something that came to her naturally, but she always trained it, made herself run faster. She was sure as she ran that she could hear the brute closing ranks behind her. She thought perhaps some instincts would flare up and tell him to overtake her, or better yet, tackle her. But not forcefully. Just enough to bring her down and gently pin her beneath him, still giving her some room to try and escape. That was the essence of playing with pups. Inadvertently teaching them skills that would help them hunt and fight whilst they can still enjoy themselves. As she flew through the forest she laughed with glee. Spying a fallen log ahead, she had to decide her course of action. It was leaning against a tree on her left and sloping to the forest floor to her right. Jump or duck. It was an easy choice. She coiled her muscles and prepared for the lift. She veered right and at the last moment, released all the pent up tension in he hind legs. The fae threw herself into the air and sailed over the log. There was the rush of almost flying, the wind in her fur. On the other side she sprang up and continued to run. Ahead loomed the Cathedral Mountains. They were wll and truly in neutral territory now.

Seeing the change in her demeanor sent a wave of relief washing over him as a smile returned to her face. It was a look he much preferred to see on her face, and it gave him great joy to know he was the reason for such a smile. He had been worried that his attempt at a joke would be poorly executed and interpreted wrongly, but the ear to ear grin on her face gave him the conformation he sought. He had managed to pull it off, how he was not sure but he wasn’t about to argue over it. What she did next somewhat perplexed him which was clear by the look on his face. He watched her closely as she took a step backwards, and then another, and then one final step before springing forward. Having been uncertain of what it was she was trying to do, he had been ready for the pounce and so as she pushed herself off of him, he remained firmly planted on the spot.  He couldn’t help but wonder at this point why on earth she had done that? If the purpose of this were to be teaching him how to play with the pups, wouldn’t something like that be a little rough for them? Such a move had to be reserved for wolves of the same age he presumed and so didn’t question beyond that. She was after all the expert on the subject between the two of them. Her tail wagged behind her playfully, and a glimmer of excitement twinkled in her eyes. There was something about her that he simply could not refuse and so, tried his best to allow himself to relax, to let the pup he had never had a chance to be out to play.

His own tail though still remaining low began to wag slowly behind him as he watched intently for her next move.  A sharp, but not threatening growl filled the air and she leapt forward again, this time nipping at his paws and then jumped back and took off running, calling out over her shoulder for him to “catch her if he could.” Though he knew it was purely out of instinct rather than a desire to play, he immediately sprang forward to give chase.  Limbs set to work beneath him, propelling him forward, tearing up the ground beneath him with every stride. He had been blessed with a fine balance of strength and speed to which he was always thankful. There were plenty of wolves stronger than he, and many faster, but very few with the deadly combination he possessed.  She was faster than he, but he was catching up. He pushed himself, faster and faster to try and shave away the distance between them. His eyes caught the log ahead and he knew immediately that she would choose to jump it, as would be the “fun” thing to do. He however, unable to entirely turn off the analytical part of his mind opted to continue under the log instead of over. Her airtime would give him ample time to close the distance between them. Sure enough, she soared over the log; quite impressively he had to admit. Upon her landing, he was now just ducking under the log and was close enough to make a move, but he would hold off for a few more moment. They continued to run, the wind sweeping through their fur, and not a worry in the world to bother them. Deciding it was time to make his move, he sprang forward, pushing off with everything he had and leapt forward to tackle her to the ground but doing so as gently as he could manage.

Nnlya felt the weight upon her back that first threw her balance. She grinned to herself, feeling his attempt at a gentle touch upon her back. But the euphoria was short lived as the ground came rushing up to meet her. They didn't tumble for very long but somewhere along the way, the Delta female ended up on her back beneath her Delta male. If a wolf could blush she would have. Instead she settled for holding her right forepaw to his cheek, barely making contact with his fur. She leant up and quickly licked his cheek. She fell back into the soft grass with an in audible sigh as she looked up at the brute before her. At that moment he was not a soldier, nor a killer, nor a Delta. He was just a brute playing with a fae as two friends might. And she enjoyed every moment of it. Her azure eyes gazed into his amber orbs, a song of ice and fire between them. It sang of a friendship forged by a chance meeting and exchanging of dark histories. And it gave hope to the future that they might share. That their friendship would endure. For the fae wasn't stupid enough to think he could ever return the feelings that were beginning to blossom inside her. But she could enjoy what time they spent together.

She looked up at his unmasked face, for once showing expressions other than indifference. She was proud that she had achieved that. You know, there's different ways to play with different wolves. The trick with pups is to always let them win. With superiors, challenge them slightly, but they too will eventually win. With everyday wolves, don't turn it into a competition, just enjoy the moment. But with the one you love... She trailed off, embarrassed and averting her gaze. Her head flopped to the side and she heaved a sigh. Her body became limp and she rolled onto her stomach, crawling from under the brutes hold. She coughed to clear her throat. Uh, come on. Let's just keep going. The Cathedral Mountains are up ahead. Maybe we should check it out? She didn't wait for his reply. The Delta walked on ahead, scanning the trail for a way that might lead them up the mountain quickly. She didn't want to embarrass herself further and just wanted this excursion to be over.

Though he had tried to be as gentle as possible for one such as he, the ground soon met their bodies with more force than he had intended, though it was not so much that it would render either himself or her injured by any means. As their tumbling bodies came to a stop, she lay on her back on the ground, and he standing over top of her. How he had even gotten to his feet in the midst of that tumble was beyond him, but he did not bother to question it. As she reached her paw up and gently held up upon his cheek, he froze, unsure of what to do, what to say. But before he had time to even contemplate words, another action threw him for a loop. She quickly leaned up and licked his cheek. His amber eyes met her alluring blues, and in that moment when fire and ice collided, a million thoughts raced through his mind, many that had never occurred to him before, and many that he never dared dream he would have the pleasure of pondering. Such gestures are ones reserved for affectionate purposes are they not? So why does she show such kindness to one such as me? Surely a magnificent fea such as herself couldn't find a rugged brute like me to be worthy of such affections... could she? No it can't be. I'll just ignore...but then she's looked at me that way before.."

His racing thoughts were wrenched to a halt when she spoke up and he listened intently, taking careful note to her instruction. Pups, always let them win. He noted it, but he couldn't help but wonder why on earth you would always let them win. Surely they needed motivation to get better, a challenge. If you simply let them win with ease then they would have false confidence in themselves.. but he was not one to make judgement. If that was how it was done, then that is how he should do so. She continued on to mention about superiors, and how, though one should put up a good fight, they were to let the superior win as well. Whatever the logic behind this was, playing made no sense to him as it seemed to be the direct opposite of a fight. You must never win, you must always surrender. Something that he would certainly have to work at. But when she mentioned playing with those you love, and then promptly trailed off, he couldn't help but wonder what that was all about. Confused, he saw her begin to crawl out from under him, and so stepped to the side to make matters easier for her. She appeared not to wish anything but to ignore whatever it was she had left unsaid, and got straight back to business and marched on ahead. Still very confused about the entire situation, he frowned, but quickly fell into step beside her. The pair walked in silence for a few moments as he was unsure what to say. Was he to ignore their previous conversation and continue on as if nothing? Or should he address whatever words were left unspoken? Oh this was all so confusing for him, and being confused was not a feeling he enjoyed to say the least. Finally, he broke the silence and shifted his gaze from the ground ahead, to her as they continued on. "You were about to say something back there...Why did you not continue? I know such a wolf as I may very well never have need for knowledge of how to play with one you love..." he paused, and thought briefly about that statement. Though he had never thought much about...love...before, perhaps here in this new land where he had a fresh start, love could be a part of his future. "Alas, stranger things have happened I dare say. Perhaps, Great Wolves bless, I may have one to call my own someday...." he said, his words fading out towards the end as he shifted his gaze away from her unwillingly. Why did he find it so hard to pry his eyes from her? I wonder why I didn't see it there before he thought to himself as it dawned on him that he did find her beautiful, both in appearance, but more importantly in personality. It was such a strange thing to admit to himself, but there was no denying she was something extraordinary.

Silence reigned supreme for a good time. But without sound there can be no silence. The Delta Male spoke. And it was what she had feared. How could she have been so stupid as to mention love. Of course he would question her mentioning it. He was too intelligent to let it slip by. But he had not questioned her choice of words, but rather her lack of words on the subject. He made it very clear that he did not expect to find a mate. Stated it was a possibility, but to her it seemed clear that he had no intentions. Was this his way of letting her down gently? She looked up at the handsome brute. Of course it was. He was too kind to say it outright. But they were both Deltas. They had to work together. And she had to make it seem as though nothing were amiss. No, no. Of course not. I mean, with the one you love it's about balance. There's no need to win or loose, it's just about true fun. It is similar with those of a similar rank to your own. But with the one you love it's... Different. Deeper somehow. She once more trailed off in thought, remembering her parents and how they had played with one another. How one could truly see how much they loved each other. Theirs was a match made in the stars. There was no doubt of their loyalty to one another, nor for the love in their eyes.

But I swear I didn't mean to offend you when I trailed off there. Of course, you will find some beautiful fae who is tall and strong and brave. Someone you can be truly proud of and love her for everything she is. Someone who you can look at and think, "Wow, she's perfect". Someone... she trailed off once more. She had a bad habit of doing that lately. But the Delta looked up and flounce herself once more staring into those amber eyes. Another thing she found herself doing far too often. But this time she held her gaze. In his eyes she could almost see their future together. Him laughing and chasing her around the clearing. She with her belly swollen, carrying his pups. It was a sweet future. One she wanted badly. She trusted him with the whole truth of her past and he had not run. But that was not a valid enough reason to love someone. So why did she? He was handsome and brawny. And she rather liked that he was a fair bit bigger than her. She was a well built female of a medium size, but him being larger made her feel small. And she kind of liked feeling small next to him. He had never criticised her, even when she was stupid enough to sprain her paw in training. Her heart hammered against her rib cage as their eyes remained locked with no key to separate them. She cleared her throat softly. Someone, who you can just look at and see the future you could have and know it's a good one. And when you look in their eyes, everything's okay because they're there. You know that nothing in the world could make it wrong.

He listened carefully to her words and mulled each and every one over in his mind. Different...deeper somehow she had said. Immediately his mind shifted to pick apart whatever it was that was between them and how to him it was indeed different...deeper if you will than any other bond he had shared with a wolf in the past. He had known forced loyalty and duty, but nothing so close to friendship, or even a glimpse of something more such as love. As she continued on to describe the fea that he should one day come to love, all he could picture was her. She fit every description that she provided too a tee. She was the essence of strength, beauty and bravery. Despite the past that she had been burdened with, he thought no less of her and in fact commended her for her astounding ability to push past that and look towards a brighter future instead of allowing it to define her. Her words trailed off once more but he held her gaze as they walked, completely lost in her eyes, awaiting her to speak more. How was it that she was able to captivate him so? One who had never before concerned himself with matters of the mind. One who had known but one thing, how to be a good soldier. There was something about her that appealed to the parts of him that he had never acknowledged before, and though this frightened him, he could not deny that he enjoyed the hope that she instilled in him. Hope was one thing he had, since their first meeting, associated with her. She was a light in the darkness that gave him faith in a brighter future.

When she began to speak again, it was as if she had been in his thoughts with him as she spoke of seeing the future and knowing it to be a good one. "I believe I understand what it is you speak of, for I believe that I know of one such fea that inspires me in such a way as the one you speak of dear Nnlya." he said with a light smile and shifted his gaze back in front of him in fear that she might think him odd for having gazed upon her for such a long time. As his eyes examined their surroundings, he was delighted to see that they had made it to the mountains. It was drier here than it was the rest of the lands. A stark contrast to the lush forests of Helidos. The rocks even held a different hue than those of the other structures in the area. Here everything had a much more distinctive orange hue to it, only adding to the dry atmosphere that surrounded them. They would have be tread carefully from her on, as it was rumoured that snakes were common in these parts, and to receive a bite from one of those creatures would mean certain death. Turning back to her, he picked up where he had left off. "There is one such wolf who fits your description most admirably. She is stronger than most any wolf I have encountered. Stronger than myself by far. I do believe you to know her quite well. She is a rare jewel in this world. One who manages to shine brightly despite the darkest of times, though I fear that such a shimmering star may never have want for a brute such as myself for.." his words came to an abrupt halt as did he. His ears flickered around and a low rumble formed in his chest.

Something was not right, but what was it? He then felt a rumble beneath his paws and glanced down at the rocks beneath his paws and watched as they shivered and jiggled as the rumbling grew in intensity. His eyes widened and shifted to the looming rocks to their left and realized what was happening just as he heard a loud crack and rocks began to shift from their place along the mountain side. "RUN!" he barked and nipped at Nnlya's haunches to get her to run immediately, knowing full well that shock could set in at any moment and prevent her from reacting quick enough. To his relief she sprang forward, not wasting any time, and he followed quick on her tail. It was this very moment that he was grateful for her gift of speed as it would be most needed in this moment of danger and peril. He could hear the rocks crashing down with great force on the path behind them, and the sound of their impact only pushed him forward, his eyes locked onto Nnlya as so not to loose site of her. He had to keep her safe. He simply had to for his peace of mind. Her legs tore up the ground beneath her as she ran, farther, faster and to this he rejoiced but just when all seemed to be well and the danger passed, another loud crack shattered through the air and a wall of rocks and boulders came crashing down before him. Dust filled the air, and soon too his lungs causing them to burn with every breath. Suddenly a sharp pain pulsed through his shoulder as a late rock came tumbling down and clipped his shoulder. He snarled as he felt his skin tear at the mercy of its ragged edges and blood began to ooze from the wound, but none of that mattered. Only one thought occupied his mind right now, and that was the whereabouts and safety of Nnlya.

Their journey continued, her legs beginning to feel the familiar burn of climbing an incline. The air was hot and dry, the ground baked and bare. This was not a forgiving landscape. Every step on the narrow ledges was carefully placed, every swish of the tail perfectly judged. Drogo said he knew what she meant, that he did indeed have a fae in mind who fit the bill. This brought an ache to her chest. He next step hesitated momentarily as she took a breath to deal with the pain. He was in love. And it was with someone else. They continued to walk and he continued to speak. He described this fae so beautifully and the dull ache grew into a more permanent throbbing. It was painful as heartburn. Emotional heartburn. But before he could finish, his ears, quickly followed by her own, snapped up at a rumbling that reverberated through the ground and into her chest. The ground shook, little rocks jumping about every which way. To her left the mountain moved. A jumble of rocks came cascading towards them. The male was quicker, barking for her to run and nipping at her ankles. Instinct made her yelp and jump forward, snapping her brain into overdrive.

She ran her fastest, Drogo still snapping at her heels to keep her moving, but she was well ahead. They appeared out of the danger zone, and so stopped for a breather. Nnlya turned to look at her counterpart and only caught sight of him for a second before another wave rained down upon them. She managed to take a few steps back, narrowly avoiding the landslide. The dust settled in her squinted eyes and threatened to choke her. She held her breath until she was close to passing out. Releasing the tension in her lungs, her eyes opened to the settling dust. The landscape cleared and immediately before her nose stood a massive, solid wall of rock. Near impossible to penetrate. But where was Drogo? He wasn't anywhere nearby and she couldn't here him. Drogo?! She called. But there was no reply. She grew worried. Had he been crushed. She leapt up onto a large boulder in the wall, looking frantically about. DROGO! She screamed. Fear laced her voice as she began to dig into the rock, tossing aside what small stones she could. Larger ones she used her whole body to throw. No no no no no no no! Drogo! Where are you? She called frantically, moisture staining her eyes. She had never seen a wolf cry before so she didn't know what it was. But her fear for him was so great that tears leaked from her watery orbs as she tried desperately to find a way through. Climbing the wall wasn't an option. It was far too high, if she fell she would surely die. And even if she made it to the top, there was no guarantee that there would be a way down on the other side. Her body suddenly stopped and shuddered, collapsing beneath her. She didn't know what to do. But her fear turned to anger. Anger aimed at herself. She was better than this. She forced herself up, and began to dig once more. All the while goading herself to stay up, despite the persistent cough that plagued her.

Adrenaline coursed through his veins and the stinging pain in his shoulder was quick to melt away as his fear for Nnlya overpowered everything. He had to find her, he just had to and he would not rest until he did. Squinting his eyes to try to see ahead, his gaze was met with none but a solid wall of rock. Anger overwhelmed him at the seemingly impossible task of scaling it, but if Nnlya was hurt, in danger, then he would risk it all to make sure she was ok. He had no time to waste and so despite the still heavy plume of dust that hung in the air, he pushed himself forward and began to pick his way up the rugged rocks. His lungs screamed profanities at him and pleaded for clean air but he did not have time to wait for the dust to settle. Soon enough the dust did began to dissipate and to his dismay the rock wall only became clearer and it was higher than he had expected. No. No no no!!! This could not be happening, not now, not to her. His hackles raised and his lip curled into a snarl in aggravation as he threw himself into the task that lay before him. Mustering every ounce of his strength, he pushed onward and upward, scaling the daunting face of the wall.

He pushed rocks out of his way as he went, praying that with every rock he moved, he would not see her beneath them, and that she would be waiting for him, unscathed and as pristine and perfect as she had been when he had seen her just moments before. But something, a voice in the wind caught his attention and caused him to come to a halt immediately. His ears flung forward trying to make out the voice. Nnlya? Could it be her? He prayed in that moment that this was not some cruel trick of the wind and of his mind and that it truly was her, and that she was ok. Trick or not he surged on frantically scaling the rocks. Loose rubble crumbled and slipped under his feet, each time threatening to send him tumbling back down the the bottom, but he continued on. He tried to call out to her, "Nnlya!!! Oh please where are you!" but despite his best efforts his words were lost in his dry throat and laboured breathing. He could feel the pads of his paws were torn and raw from the jagged terrain, but he didn't care, just as he didn't care about the still oozing tear on his shoulder. The higher he climbed the more he worried. He didn't know the even if when he got to the top if there would be a way down, but he could only pray, and hope that there was, and that he would find her. Glancing up he could see the top was not far now, he was so close. He pushed onward, driven by fear and hope both together. Aching limbs trembled beneath him, begging him to stop, begging to rest but he couldn't. Not now. Pulling himself up onto a massive boulder, he scanned frantically along the the rocks, desperately hoping to see her figure somewhere, anywhere.

Rocks continued to tumble into place the further in she dug. For every one she moved, two arrived to take its place. It seemed hopeless, the only way out was to go up. Her paws were raw and bloody, her claws becoming dull and torn. Her coat was covered in dirt and completely frazzled. She looked awful, and her cough persisted. Heaving a sigh, the fae relented and she began to haul herself up the wall. She was so scared. Not for her own life, but for his. Each time her foot dislodged a rock behind her, she looked down, begging not to see his body broken and mangled, trapped beneath a mountain of rock. But she didn't and for that she was glad. But it didn't itching to soothe her. She knew if he was under there, he would be at the very bottom, gasping for air with no way out. She began to breathe heavily, panicking. This was not helping. She wanted to turn back and continue digging until her bones showed and her fur was matted with blood. But maybe she needed to get to the other side. Yes, that made sense. He was further away when the mountain fell, so she'd have a better chance of finding him if she dug from the other end. Butt he thought of him struggling to breathe beneath tonnes of stone sent her into a spin. Like a mother who could lift an elephant to save her pup, Nnlya charged her way to the very top of the wall in leaps and bounds, not caring for her safety nor how many rocks she dislodged in her wake. The last metre hung above her and she raised to her full height, standing on two legs, gripping over the edge with her ruined, bloody paws. She hauled her body up on top, panting hard, but still running on the adrenaline that coursed through her veins. He sides heaved as she searched the haze for any sign of Drogo. She called out for him. Drogo! She croaked. Drogo, where are you?