Then she saw the beast, larger than the mountains of the distant lands. His eyes as red as the blood that painted his maw, bright crimson and glistening brilliantly in the blinding morning sun. What she beheld was what she had thought impossible. A dozen of the king's best soldiers laid at his feet, and the creature seemed barely fazed. This wolf was no mortal. No. He seemed to be the very incarnation of war. And in the dazzling light of the morn, he was just what Ria needed to win this war: A miracle.

His line of shift drifted toward where she stood. For a moment he studied her with blood shot eyes and gruesome bloodsoaked grin crept across his face. 

She stepped toward him boldly.

His expression turned to confusion, as if wondering why she was so eager to face what was sure to be a horrendous end. 

So she answered his question.

"Do not fear." Ironic words to say, as she felt every fibre of her being fighting her very presence here. "I am not one of --'s mindless poodles." 

The beast approached, every step he took seemed to shake the land - although that might've just been Ria's fearful imagination. Despite her inner battle, she kept a guise of complete calmness. At least, until the beast stood practically toe-to-toe with her, looming over her menacing. He leaned down, so she could see his unnerving stare, and sneered. 

She recoiled, breaking her facade even for half a second, which seemed to please him. She cleared her throat nervously and stood as stiffly as possible, recovering her composure.

 "I have heard of your power and that the King wants you dead. It seems the rumours are true." She continued, staring challengingly right into the beast's bloodthirsty gaze. The male snorted. "I did not need you to tell me this. What of it?"

She smiled slightly. 

It looked as if her fur had been bleached and curled, like how many of the nobles styled theirs, except the results upon the pirate queen were unlike anything the young lieutenant had ever seen. If it weren't for the slight limp she had and the scars that marred her face, she might even be considered graceful, beautiful. But more like the kind of beauty you'd find in the tidal wave coming to claim the shores once more, a cold, deadly sort of beautiful. She almost seemed to be glowing under the artificial light. A spectre.

"Wow..." He breathed, shutting his big mouth quite audibly after realising his outburst, but the Captain didn't seem to notice. That, or she simply didn't care.

"I spent all day in the parlour, listening to some poor maid blabber on endlessly. Poor darl tried to doll me up real nice." She explained, seasoning this statement with a very unlady-like snort. The lieutenant noted a glitter which must've been some sort of make up on her nose, utterly failing to conceal the duelling scars that his Captain usually wore with pride which now made her cringe curious look. "This better be worth our time." She said savagely, cracking her neck as if she were getting ready for a brawl, which caused the young officer to take an involuntary step backwards, incase she were to turn her impatience on him. He scolded himself for allowing himself to show weakness in front of a female... Well, sort of female.

"Why are we even here?" He dared ask, gesturing at the glittering mass of the wealthy and glamorous. They were at a party, one of such luxury he had never seen and probably never would again. He had been made to bathe for this occasion by his comrades, but even so he still received strange looks out of the corners of the party-goers' eyes. He felt uncomfortable and very self-aware in the midst of so many well-groomed lubbers, the mar in their otherwise pristine environment.

"We're here to see the governor and his mistress." The ghostly pirate explained. "We're on a diplomacy mission, and these folks aren't used to... our kind, so mind yer manners." She concluded, as they finally made it to the entrance of the estate, a shining gate with too footmen posted side by side, watching only half-interested in the going-ons. One of them seemed to be falling asleep.

"Well?" Said the Captain, presenting her side to her first mate like a gentleman might offer his elbow to a lady. The poor lad seemed confused at first, and his superior pitied him. "May you please escort me through the gates, Mister Ronen." It was more of a command than a request, but at least the poor dear understood and recognised it. He look his place right beside his Captain, and despite the strange look on his face and him being considerably shorter and ganglier than the so-called lady, they looked somewhat presentable and the footman let them through, even if they raised an eyebrow at the odd pair.

"We probably won't see 'em 'til toward the end, so we better go enjoy ourselves." The lad thought it was amusing how she said these words so grimly, even under all the glitz and glam, his Captain was still there. The slur in her speech that she had acquired at sea wouldn't wash out even with her best efforts, like a questionable stain on his favourite sash. 

Together they made their way through the masses which usually stood aside for them as if they were letting a bride through to the altar, or as if she were their commanding officer. The young wolf considered the latter to be more likely.

"Watch yer back. We don't know these dunces from bilge rats, and any of them could alert the local law enforcement. Be ready." She ordered as if they were going into the enemy lines.

She had insisted on bringing weapons with them, and although Amir had been lent the dress sword of one of his commanders, Shanty had brought only her crude fighting blade made of good steel rather than the weak, shiny tin that Amir's puny little thing was made of. She expected an ambush, obviously, but Amir didn't think any one of these cowards had it in them to challenge them, and if they ended up calling the sheriff on them... Well, he didn't want to think about that.

"Go enjoy ye'self, lad. That's an order. I'll go see if I can sniff out the old sailor myself. Report back to me in a turn of the glass." And so she left, straight for the bar.

--

"G'evening." She greeted. "This is one of my... officers, Lieutenant  Amir Ronen . . . Trip?" She called her first mate sharply, noticing he was eyeing some fillies who were giggling like small children at his quiet observation. He winced, and suddenly his back straightened and he stood to attention. "Nice to meet you, sir." He said obediently, much to his Captain's pleasure. "You said you had a offer for me, and that you were willing to pay for my audience." The Governor seemed slightly hesitant, maybe even flustered. "Yes..." He seemed to recover when a voice called from beyond. "Henry?" His wife came to his side. The husband stood to attention. "Yes, dear. Please, meet my wife, Catherine. -Dear? These are the freelances I told you about." 

"That's one way to put it." Commented Shanty rather slackjawedly, however - to her credit - Catherine did not seem offended. This provoked a air of approval from the ghostly Captain. "I believe you had a proposal..?" 

"Indeed." Said the governor's wife, seemingly taking charge naturally. "We are in need of protection." She said somewhat abruptly. "Privateers are looting our merchantmen and leaving the hollow husks to rot - unsavoury fiends! - and so we require the help of your mercenaries." Shanty smiled slightly at the term 'mercenaries.'

"I am listening, pray tell." She signalled to go on, and the mistress visibly puffed up and went on with her previously planned speech.

"They are a danger to the trade company, and must be rid of. Should you accept, you shall accompany our ships on their journey eastward and sink or capture any ship that poses a threat. Any loot you receive from plundering these vessels will go to you rightly, and you shall be paid a further two hundred gold for each journey." She concluded.

There was silence for a few heartbeats while Shanty considered this proposition, before she finally spoke. "So you want to fight privateers ... with privateers?" She asked doubtfully.

She smiled.

The tavern smelt moist and dank and was all round an utterly revolting establishment. But, as the only lodging within many days' journey, the exiled queen did not have many other options.

The dingy little hovel sat at the outskirts of --, a rather pitiful excuse for a kingdom by Ria's standards. It was obvious that it's king did not care much for his people - or for upkeeping hygiene. Dirty bilge rats ran amok even as she stepped into The Crimson Angel and found the pub to be cosy, grimy and a generally welcoming bucket of bilge.

The exiled queen briefly wondered what she had done to deserve such a fate.

The establishment was surprisingly popular, a rowdy bunch of what Ria could only assume were outlaws lingered in the background, singing merrily and drunkenly. There were soldiers and the local law enforcement, too, passed out despite the racket. But the vermilion lady simply walked past all of the riffraff and chose a nice secluded table in the shadows where only a ragged traveler sat in what seemed to be slumber -- or quiet observation.



A uproar startled her from her thought, as even the boisterous singing was drowned out by the noise.

She watched with keen interest as a dark figure chose this moment to enter the scene - no, she seemed to be the cause of the scene. She was a young wolf - well, younger than she was - with a bright, passionate look in her eyes. When she entered the tavern a cheer rose up among the commoners and many of them got up from their seats to swarm her. Despite a moment of hesitance, the she-wolf soon handed over what she was carrying - a sack of some sort? "Share it out in equal shares." She commanded before retiring to the table next to Ria.

She looked over to the exiled queen for a second before turning away. It was only a moment later that she looked back and locked eyes with her, an interrogating look that was burrowing it's way into her soul. "Who are you? I haven't seen you around here before." She started carefully. "Are you passing through?"

Ria smiled slyly. "You could say that, I suppose. Should I know who you are?"

The other she-wolf recoiled slightly, carefully considering what she was about to say. "No. I'm only known for what I do."

"Such as ..?" The foreign queen asked, curiously. The dark she-wolf looked up at her again with her interrogating gaze.

"Who are you?" She asked again.

And without a moment hesitation, the foreign stranger replied.
"Ria. I was a noble like you, once."

The she-wolf's eyes widened.
"Wait, I never said anything about-"

"You have that look about you, underneath all your dirt."Ria interrupted, smiling slightly at the she-wolf's reaction.

"Well, to be fair, I am only middle-class, not royalty."

"You could be." She replied, gently.

"No. Especially not with that sorry excuse for a King on the throne. I'm perfectly happy how I am, as a friend of the people." The young vigilante spat.

"There are ways, you know."

She scoffed. "Such as?"

"A rebellion."

"You're suggesting mutiny?" She looked at the foreign wolf quizzingly.

"I prefer 'resisting tyranny' - mutiny is a strong word."

"There is no resistance, though. As far as I know, no one has been foolish enough to cause anything of a stir."

"You could be the first." Ria prompted.

"I can't start a war on my own." She responded despairingly, drowning her bitterness.

"You said you are a friend to the people - are the people a friend to you? They respect you, even celebrate your presence -" She gestured to the commoners passing around rations. "Would they follow you to battle if you mustered enough troops? I do not know, I am nothing but a weary traveller, a refugee running from a burning kingdom."

The she-wolf gave her a curious look, not as forceful as before but much more wary. "Who are you?" She asked once more.

"I am more than I may appear."

"WAKE UP, SLEEPING BEAUTY!" She shouted in his ear.

"Ocean-?" He groaned, covering his head with his paws. He opened a droopy eyelid to reveal one glassy, unfocused turquoise eye. He tried to study the figure before him, and although his vision was blurry there was no doubt at all it was his dearest friend.

"GET UP, MAGGOT. CHOP CHOP. ATTEN~TION!" She continued yelling random phrases at the lump of wolf. "WE'RE UNDER ATTACK! PREPARE TO BE BOARDED." She flopped over onto his side, letting her legs give out under her completely.

"GAHH! OCEAN!" Well, he was awake now. Ajax glared daggers at the Queen, who only smiled cheekily. "... G'mornin' prince charming!" She fluttered her eyelids innocently. "Good morning, your Majesty." He replied hoarsely. He swore she was like the little brother he never wanted, but somehow needed. When he saw her self-satisfied smile he shoved her away playfully, and she bumped his shoulder in bloody vengeance.

"Please tell me you've done your morning rounds already?" He shook his fur out groggily, causing a cloud of dust to rise around him. She sneezed melodramatically and used her paw to wipe the non-existant snot off of her nose and onto the King's side.

"Nah." She said, to which he only gave her a puzzled look. "I mean- What if there were bad guys out there? I'd be carted off like a maiden in distress, and where would you be? Sleeping still! We gots t'stick together, y'know." He knew she was just making excuses, but even still he could see a point. He just didn't know why she insisted on waking up at the crack of dawn.

He gave a sly smile. "I highly doubt that. You would've scared them off on sight." He replied saucily, to which she just stuck her tongue out at him.

Their morning banter was interrupted by a howl. Long, deep, belonging to a large male. Adult. Both their faces became deathly serious. They looked at each other. Wolves? But not even the loners came this far north.

"Shh! Do you hear that?" Ajax said unexpectedly, both craning their heads and perking their ears. There was a sound that sounded like the earth if it had a heartbeat. Both knew what that meant. Ajax looked to the north. "That's the caribou. They're stampeding." But it was coming from a different direction than the howl. "More?" Ocean stated what they both were thinking. They both looked out over the snow dusted hills. The mountain lions had headed further north, the bears would rather scavenge carcasses, and the howl ... The lost and desperate? Explorers? Or perhaps ... perhaps someone who was actively seeking them. There was hope shining in the King's eyes. "We'll go to the one that's closest first. The other one is probably heading that way, anyway." He speculated. Ocean nodded and both leapt off of their perch and briskly disappeared into the evergreen forest.

[WHISKEY AND DAMO MASTERPIECE HERE GUIZE]

"Hurry up, slowpoke!" Ocean screeched as she blazed past Ajax, playfully kicking ice up in his face. She glanced behind her at the startled King, only to trip over a protruding root with an undignified yelp. A tree branch above her shivered, and then a massive pile of snow plopped down upon her head. The Winter King pranced up to her, covered up to her chin in snow and gave a playful bow before her.

"Might I be of help, your Royal Highness?" He mocked, grinning like a fool. She was loudly cursing, not to mention shivering. It was her turn to glare daggers at him, and it looked like she was plotting something when he bounded away as graceful as a gazelle. He could hear her yelling as he trotted off in the snow. "Get back 'ere you coward! Don't leave me half-buried in the freezing cold, damn you!"

He didn't get very far, though. He stopped at the wide open clearing and stood watching the caribou majestically gallop by. He scanned the tree line for the culprit of the morning chaos, and they landed on ... two wolves? Mates, probably, looking for a place to stay or hunting for their young. He looked behind him. Ocean wouldn't be far behind, surely? So he decided to confront the strangers.

Damocles noticed the wolf, and knew immediately from the way he held himself and strut about that he must be the ruler over this stretch of territory. He looked from the wolf to Whiskey, who was sitting by his side. "Whiskey ... If they attack us, or even try to threaten you ..." He trailed off for a second, the worst possibilities plaguing his thoughts. "I want you to run." He said. "I don't know you but ... I couldn't bare if something happened to you or if I lost you..." He barely even processed that last bit, but it was true. He'd never know anything truer.

"I wouldn't want to lose you either..." She said softly as she registered the last few words of his sentence.

Someone cleared their throat.

"Excuse me?" He interrupted. "I am King Ajax. This is Velheritz. I'm the owner of this land." He began. "I don't know which one of you spooked my herd, but most wolves don't appreciate strangers hunting in their land."

Whiskey started. "Oh, uh. We don't mean to intrude-"

Another voice, loud and vulgar and far different from the stranger's respectful one was heard from behind the King.

"Lay off, Ajax. You'll scare them." The Queen chastised, appearing next to him with a look that said I'll get even with you later. She was about as tall as him, perhaps a hairbreadth taller although not as burly. Together they were somewhat imposing, Whiskey could see how they became Monarchs, although she wondered at the Queen's manners that did not make it seem that she was born to this role.

The King cleared his throat vocally, rolling his eyes a little. "-And this is my fellow ruler, Queen Oceania." She winked at the newcomers. "I suppose he's given ya the whole rigmaroll already, then?" The strangers just gave her an odd look.

"-As I was saying," Ajax continued.

"-That was me, hunting." Whiskey said quickly, but then decided to clarify. "But, I wasn't hunting- I was just..." She searched for a phrase. "Chasing them? ... For sport?" She quickly changed the subject. "I'm Whiskey, and this is Damocles, we-" She hesitated and glanced at Damocles for confirmation. "We wish to join your pack.

Ajax's eyes widened.

Damocles.

He knew that name.

Many feared it.

"Damocles ..." He said, testing the syllables on his tongue.

The great grey warrior stiffened. The King knew who he was, what he had done. But the thought of being banished, that the King might sell him out never occurred to him. The only thought that occupied his mind was Whiskey. What would happen to her? What would she think of him? He was silent, waiting for his sentence.

"Damocles ... The killer of Kings and Queens of kingdoms near and far ... in my land."
The King looked pointedly at the creature before him whose tale had been written in blood. How many had died at his jaws?

Ocean's eyes widen, her expression turned to mild alarm. She stood closer to Ajax, looking at this newfound threat with protective watchfulness. She guarded his flank as he did hers.

"You have let your presence be known. Why?" The King asked suspiciously. Somehow Damocles seemed ... different than in his tales. There was no murderous light in his eyes, but rather a different kind as he sat next to the mysterious she-wolf beside him.

Damocles lifted up his chin, actively avoiding Whiskey's beautiful light green eyes, fearing what he might find in them. "We have told you already. We wish to join you." Or at least, he hoped so. She already knew that he'd had done some horrible things, but now that she really knew... would Whiskey still want to be with him?

There was a moment of utter silence, the atmosphere thick enough that you could cut it with a spoon. He looked upon him with a calculating look. Ajax stood, quietly thinking. All eyes were upon the Velheritz Monarch.

"I believe you." He said finally.

Their relief visibly started to spread across the duo's faces. Whiskey beamed at Damocles, and he felt his worry and guilt melt away like snow in the spring.

"You could've tried killing us in the night with us none the wiser, yet you didn't. I trust you." The King said, smiling benevolently upon the couple. "We best be heading home now, I can smell a storm brewing. Follow me, if you please." He said, nodding respectfully toward the newcomers and taking his leave.

The two looked upon each other with happiness, but said not a word. Instead, they walked together behind Ajax, leaving the Queen to her thoughts.

"Great." She said aloud. "Because murderers are people too, aren't they?" Ocean thought sarcastically, falling into place next to Ajax.

The nameless she-wolf had been on the verge of their territory when she heard the angry voices. Her original task was to investigate what plants were native to this area, and in doing so she had found a new type of wild flower she had been previously unaware of. What she was not expecting was to have to have stumbled upon a trial.

"She is a disgrace to all that is wolven! Cast her away and the rest of her feral kind!" One of the angry voices shouted. Intrigued, the ordinarily rather solitary creature approached, spying from around a tree to see a small gathering of wolves, all ganged up around a familiar face. ...Bell? 

"Drive her into the lake to live with the other monsters!" Cried another voice followed by lots of muttered agreement. 

"Silence, you bloodthirsty lot. This is not an execution. Yet." A monotone voice commanded. A greying, hunched-over figure emerged into the light with a weary look upon his face. To the wander's surprise, many of the mob were silenced. Only the more exasperated of them kept making a fuss.

"Is there anyone willing to stand up for the accused, or must we submit to the vote of the majority and lynch the poor girl?"

"Drown her in the black water!" Roared the mob, howling for justice.

"Hold it right there, this bairn is no devil." Interjected the nomadic healer, revealing her presence to the company.  "What are you about, threatening the poor darl?"

"This fiend attacked my mate unprovoked, with the mad look in her eye!" Screeched a frenzied individual with scruffy brown fur and wild eyes.

"She's only a wee girl. She'd never intend you any harm in her right mind." The stranger challenged.

"She is unpredictable and out of control." The greying elder stepped into view. "If she cannot obey our law then she cannot stay here and must be banished."

Even with his crooked posture, the elder towered over the outlander. He obviously commanded the gathering's respect, and some of them were even looming over his shoulder, watching this newcomer warily.

 A voice in the back of the she-wolf's head told her to back off before this situation turned for the worse, and normally she would've listened. But there was something else telling her otherwise, something stronger, making her stand her ground, to stand up for the poor lass whose life had barely even begun.

She stood between the convicted and the mob.

"No."

"No?"

"Let me take care of her. I am an experienced healer and custodian. I'll be able to handle it."

"Even if you can get her to behave like a civilised creature, this pack is not a charity. Everyone must pull their weight, and there can be no exceptions."

"She can be my assistant, then." She offered solemnly.

The elder was silent, contemplating the diplomacy of the situation. The pack was very much in need of a competent doctor, illness and various ailments running rampant among the moorlanders.

"... Very well. So long as you prove your worth." He said finally, scrutinizing the newcomer and the outcast with a critical eye.

"We cannot have any more episodes like this. I hope you understand the gravity of your situation. It is now both of your heads on the line."

 He spoke loud enough so that the entire gathering could hear him.

"You must swear to serve us ever faithfully, take full responsibility for your charge and earn your keep." He put an emphasis on his final words, looking pointedly at convicted she-wolf with his soul-piercing gaze. The outlander stood in front of her and looked him right in the eye.

"You have my word of honour."

When the company started to file out, grumbling with disappointment, the nameless stranger turned to her new charge with a small smile.

The poor thing was terrified, eyes wide with panic and her entire being shaking. Normally, the voice of reason would nag at her, questioning why she sacrificed her freedom for some whelp. But looking into those big, green eyes and seeing a kind, bright young wolf, this road-weary nomad had no regrets. She would prolong this child's life as long as she could, and perhaps, together, they could find a way to help others like her.

"It'll be a'right, lass." She quietly said to the sorrel she-wolf.

"I can plant a grove if you can help nurture it."





 For some reason I have headcannon that the pack we join is ultra superstitious and has weird terms for things and is basically the Salem Witch Trials. LOL.
Hmmm, now I kind of want that to be a thing.

By the way, this is after they first met. -- wouldn't join a pack unless it was for some grave reason. ~ 

Malakai's Lament (written by me, full song):

“T'was many nights ago,
When I fell into the sea
When the moon was a-glow
Oh, riddle-dam-dee-dee!”

'What a strange tune.' Thought the she-wolf. It didn't sound like any sort of song she had ever heard in her life. It didn't seem to come from anywhere in particular, and she couldn't see anyone around. Yet still, the masculine voice continued.

“Just when I thought it'd be my last
The siren braved the tide
Pulled me from the Vast
Thought I surely would've died

T'was many nights ago,
When I fell into the sea
When the moon was a-glow
Oh, riddle-dam-dee-dee!”

It was almost as if the trees were alive with music, singing to her as she gradually became more and more lost. After a while, she found herself swaying, dancing her way to the source as the tune got into full swing.

“Saved by the Siren of Vastwaters!
So my life for now I'll keep
One of Poseidon's daughters
Spared me from the deep!”

Kai belted out to the song of his heart, completely unaware that he had an audience. As he made his way through the forest of fig trees, he too wasn't entirely sure where he was going. But he knew he'd find his way sometime, so he cheerfully hummed his ballad.

Then he saw a figure in the road.

The music died rather abruptly when he noticed the wolf's ghostly white fur and he gasped rather audibly.

Could it be?

The she-wolf seemed to hear his sharp intake of air and looked his way. With some relief and perhaps a little disappointment, he noted the markings upon her face. She too seemed somewhat startled, but then she seemed to recover enough to ask him a question.

"Were you the one singing?"
She asked with an air of awe.

Kai nodded.

"Do you mind if I tag along and listen?"
She sounded almost a little embarrassed at voicing the request.

But Kai only smiled, pleased to have someone to enjoy his music.

"Right on."
That was all he said, and started whistling the tune again, walking along the winding road of mist and tall trees.

“Ne'er did I see one quite so pretty
Eyes shinin' like mirrors and glass
Looked upon me with pity
An' carried me back to grass”

As they walked along together, she wondered if he just made up that phrase to flatter his newfound companion. Either way, it was still a rather beautiful song.  

He hummed softly as they walked along.

"You're Lionfi- I mean, Malakai, right? I met you before I joined the pack."

"If Malakai doesn't flow, just call me Kai, but Lionfish is cool too if that's what comes natural to you."
The musical and somewhat odd stranger sugggested.

"Oh. Nice." She noted. "I'm Windsong."

"Windsong? Gnarly. Your parents must've been some groovy folk."
He grinned at her.

"They were."

"My folks were cool too, I suppose. I miss them."

"What happened?"
Windsong asked cautiously, slowing in her step.

"We were separated. I was kinda trying to find my way back, but, well... I don't know where they are anymore."
Kai laughed nervously. It was more than that. He was lost - and still in this forest. He looked to the sun. It was setting. That probably wasn't good.

"That's awful."
Windsong said.

"Well, not quite. I got to meet you, at least. It's nice to have someone who appreciates my singing. I'm fairly sure the local wildlife don't."
He laughed again. He had a lovely laugh. Pleasant and cheerful. Windsong liked this guy. He was one groovy dude.

"Is there more to your song?"
She asked hopefully.

"Are you sure you want to endure my singing?"

"I'd love to."
She smiled at his humbling joke, although in truth he wasn't all that bad.

Kai cleared his throat and started up again, but this time Windsong joined in with the tune, crooning harmoniously with his lyrics.

“She left without a trace
Not even marks in the sand
Never again I'd see her grace
Who left me in a strange land

Saved by the Siren of Vastwaters
So my life for now I'll keep
One of Poseidon's daughters
Spared me from the deep”

The light slowly faded and the trees thinned. The sky turned orange and then purple. Above them the pale moon rose into the night sky.

“T'was many nights ago,
When I fell into the sea
When the moon was a-glow
Oh, riddle-daa-dee-dee!

So I heard an eerie song
Next night 'fore I went t'sleep
Sung by the same one,
Who saved me from the deep”

As the song wound down they could see the pack gathered around the den site. The pups playing with their parents and the stars twinkling behind them.
They had found their way home.

“So to you I give this song
Ye'll beg of me, is it true?
Well, perhaps one day
She will save you too.”

The pack was in sight, most of them gathered around to rest for the night while the guards patrolled. Windsong looked up at the sky. The sun had set since they had found their way out of the mighty figtree forest, and now the stars had lit up the night sky in the most spectacular of ways. She was glad that someone else was here to enjoy the show. It was only ever lonely looking at the stars when she was on her own.

When they had reached the den site, all the pups had rushed out to come greet them and listen to the last verse of their song. Most of them had scurried off by now, either losing interest after it was obvious that the entertainment had finished or when their parents had beckoned them back to their beds. Windsong could hear some of them humming as they hurried over to where their mothers were impatiently waiting for the little scoundrels. Kai seemed to have a good influence on them. All of them. Even their parents. The adults came out to watch the two strange wolves, fascinated by their bizarre show they had put on. The couples seemed particularly interested. Windsong noticed some of them scooting closer to one another, as if to go unnoticed. But she knew otherwise.

Kai seemed to be unfazed by his sudden fame, however. Perhaps he didn't even notice it. He didn't say a word as he swayed his way back out of the den site.

"So did it happen?"
Windsong asked once they were our of earshot.

"What happened in the song, I mean."

They seemed to be heading to a cliff that overlooked the horizon not too far away from the main den site, but close enough so that they could hear the soft chatter among the pack.

"Of course it did. In fact, it happened to someone I know. Perhaps someone even you know."
Kai affirmed in a rather mysterious manner.

He sat down in the soft grass. The water crashed down below them, and they had the perfect view of the stars.

"What is it about, then?"
Wingsong asked curiously.

Kai looked out to sea, breathing in the fresh tangy air. The cool night breeze blew his long shaggy fur, causing it to wave wildly behind him.

"It's about hope and new beginnings. Things to be thankful for in the face of disaster."

For a while there was silence as Windsong took that in. She wasn't quite so sure that it was about hope. It sounded rather lonely at times, perhaps even sad.

"What is the Siren of Vastwaters?"

Kai's back straightened, although Windsong didn't seem to notice.

"The Vast is a great inland sea." He explained. "The Siren is a beautiful wolf - or a spirit, who can save you - or lead you to certain doom."

Windsong tilted her head. A spirit?

"She saves the wolf in the song and gives him hope. When he despairs he can hear her singing. The wolf sings this song to thank her because he never got to, and to tell others that not all is lost. Perhaps someone - or something - is willing to save you."

Kai seemed to go into a dreamlike state after he told this tale. Windsong looked at the strange wolf - perhaps just as strange, if not more so, than she was considered to be.

"Do you come from this place - Vastwaters?"
She asked carefully.

Kai seemed to break out of his trace, and that warm, friendly smile graced his face once more.

"Yes, I am. If you go there they'd tell you tales of things far more epic."
He chuckled.

Windsong joined in his laughter. It was contagious.
"I prefer this one. It sounds like it comes from the heart."
She mused.

"If it's just great as you make it sound, I'd like to go to that place someday. Hear the songs, meet your family - they must be fantastic people to have raised you."

Kai beamed.

"It's a nice place. Beautiful. But this place - and everyone I've met..."
Kai gestured around him.
"... Are just as beautiful."

She smiled.

A strong breeze split through the evergreens and greeted the sides of Elwyn and Finna with the affection of
a young child. It was cold, but welcome to the thick pelt of the warg. Flowers were pushing their way out of the snow to greet the coming season, the first sun of the spring cresting the horizon and it's light pushing through the trees in beams.

And Elwyn sang softly to welcome it.

It was the first day of the first year, and Elwyn decided that this would be the best for her people. This would be the year of rebirth, and not just for her.

The snow was still soft and was carried by the breeze whenever kicked up by Finna, who was stretching her legs, testing her speed and revelling in it. In the coming months there would be much to do, and this would be their one moment of respite for a long time. The Harbinger had returned, and there was business to attend to.

"Is this traditional of Finna's People?" Asked the warg to the doe. Her dialect had been improving in the months she had been travelling with Finna, however it was still broken and hard to understand with her thick growl. "We welcome the bright day with song and dance and offerings."

Finna - or, 'the doe' as called by Elwyn - slowed her gait to that of the lumbering female, not even out of breath. "I would not know, but I'd suspect not, friend. From what I know, we did not have the unending nights of the south."

Elwyn laughed. "Ah, they took the morning for granted. I see." She paused. "But Finna, she-- you do not." She said with a little more thought, switching her phrasing midsentence. "That is why you are Harbinger."

Without giving her time to take her meaning, Elwyn clawed at the ground. Her great paw scooped away the thick layer of ice, revealing the first budding flowers struggling to pierce through the snow like spears. She plucked the eldest with her claw and inspected it. It was a bell-shaped flower in a striking colour of cobalt blue.

"Life is meaningless without death." She said. "I too would not treasure it as I do without knowing fear of the dark."

Finna still did not take her meaning, but looked at the warg and the flower with interest.

"-Would not love the morning, had not things to accomplish now, before I sleep."



wsdkjgashslad learning how to write for Elwyn