I chuckled softly at the words of the black-pelted wolfess beside me, her green eyes held against my own as I brought a smile to her lips. Well, I had repaired the damage to the life of one, it was one more then I had an hour ago and yet there is still so much to be done. Honestly I see why it is most wolves do not live to such an age, choosing to die before it seems they have more memories then life left to consider and yet I have never been such a creature to dwell, nor to regret. Nor have I ever been content to die unless I am ready to do so. A falling rock was not the glorious end I had planned for myself, no, if I was going to die I was going to do it in dramatic style and not until I had completed the mission I had set for myself and returned my pack, my family and those sword to me to their correct place in this life. I would fix it. All of it. Perhaps I could even acquire Zen’s help, I like the girl and find her company pleasing and pleasant after so much time without one by my side I will admit to finding the warmth of her side a pleasure I have missed. Hmm, perhaps I will speak to Zen of my plans later. The black female took another bite of our shared meal as I licked my own lips, tendrils of blood and warmth melting against my tongue as our conversation paused a moment.

Violet eyes returned to her own as I heard my name once more, expression curios and expectant as she begun to talk, a tale of sorts. I do rather enjoy such stories and indeed for a moment I found my attention entirely on another creature save for myself as she spoke of her brother, head dipping in a nod as she inquired as to my memory, one eye raising in slight surprise. I rarely forget anything, darling. Even so the midnight girl continued on, engaging my attention with a story of her birth pack, one I do believe we had argued about the principals of some years earlier, when he sat alone in the dark on the night of our meeting and I was content to point out the flaws in her words, a game of sorts that brought a smile to my lips even now. She spoke of her Father, of her Brother and the role he played within this society. Perhaps such a thing was common for such a pack and yet despite all the tradition of my blood, despite the purity of a line so old and the traditions so ancient that I still up-hold. There is one I have never engaged upon. The right of the male-born. That is a tradition I have no time for, a tradition in which only males may inherit rule of lead. I have lived to long and seen too much to ever believe a female incapable. They may lack strength and size, yet females are more intelligent, more cunning then any male can ever hope to be. That her father pressed her brother so hard was incorrect, he would do nothing but ruin the boy. Many great wolves make bad kings and indeed, many bad wolves have made great kings in turn- yet forcing another into such a thing will never achieve a rounded result. Zeivah always thought I encouraged our children to much, I saw no harm in that and still don’t. What is wrong with them knowing that I think the world of them? I smiled distantly, sadly, Zeivah and I would never argue over such a thing again.

Attention returned to Zen once more as she continued, saying indeed that her brother had only ever sought to make his Father proud. Was that not the goal of every son? To make his Father say such words? I paused a moment, words slipping briefly from my lips, words that were my own secret, private words.

“I....never knew my Father. I knew he was an Angel of course but aside from that I have only the barest memory of him, an old memory, a broken one.”

I could not say why I chose to offer them, or for what purpose, my head shaking lightly as if to rid myself of such thoughts, content to pretend I had never offered such things. She would not care to hear my own faded memories, nor was I good at sharing; her story had simply...reminded me. When she spoke again I grinned, a genuine, devastating grin that lit my features.

“My darling, your words please me more then I can say, but you do not know all the things I have done. Perhaps one day I will share them with you, though surely you would not care to hear them and be better not knowing. There are things I have done, Zen, things that would surely not make you so pleased to know me, yet to have you believe as such is....pleasant. Thank you.”

I would never make it to heaven, I knew that already, there would be no place for me among the clouds. I had done to many wrongs in this life. Though perhaps the right that I had done outweighed such a thing, perhaps I had made amends, I cannot say and yet for whatever reason, that Zen believed so highly of me was...important. Violet gaze met her own once more.

“I will lead beside my daughter and her mate, I will guide them for as long as I can, until they are ready and yet, perhaps I am ready to step down Zen. I will always be there for those who need me, for I gave my word, but I know to that I am tired Zen. Yet there is still much to be done, I have a new plan and to do that I do not need a crown. Well, at least not one that big, i like to believe I will always wear a crown, don’t you?”

I grinned, smirking with teasing delight at the girl as she assured me that she would always listen and perhaps she would, we would see, in what was to come I might well need someone to listen. She spoke a final time then, my grin fading slightly as she did, head turning from her own. Why did she say such things? Why did she bring such thoughts to my mind when I wished to keep them away? I turned, refusing to let her see the grief in my eyes. If Cat Eye had not survived I would surely not have either, the loss of both her and Zeivah would have destroyed me entirely and yet....perhaps it would have spared the pain of a wound that won’t heal no matter how much I lick it and cover it with over things. It was so raw and hot and yet I could not allow the mention of her name to bring me undone. It was two years ago, two years......and I had been cold and alone every night since though I had longed for something, anything to warm that spot. Azrael, Isola even Ferox had slept beside me in an effort to relive such a pain and though my body and soul craved for Cat Eye like never before I was far too full of pride to share my den with my imprint, though I desperately desired it. She was what I lived for now and yet even she could not warm the space my Zeivah had left. Would anyone ever fill such a space? When I spoke, the words were soft and distant.

“There is nothing anyone can do, Zen. Nothing. I do not wish to speak of this now, perhaps one day I will and indeed perhaps it will be you I speak to when the time is right, but not now. Unless you can bring her back, but I have tried every prayer I know, in every language I can speak and all they do is remind me that I let her down.”



h e y e l
The King