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I find myself traipsing over the borders of Diveen, heading out into the open lands. I don't really have a reason why but why the heck not? The pack war is over and Diveen was victorious. My wounds are healing nicely. I still have a little bit of a limp from the tender flesh on the inside of my back leg healing from damn Ruvindra but the bite to my cheek is pretty much closed up as if my other wounds. I hate thinking that the mark on my face will scar and that Isola will think less of me for it. I love her to death but her family is known for being a little vain. Heyel is proof enough of that. I caught him giving me glares from across the pack land just for my hair being messed up. He's the king of vain. Isola has treated me no differently, still as loving as ever though she's getting round with pregnancy again and she looks amazing, in my opinion, anyway. I dote on her as always and hunt for her as often as necessary, being sure to bring her exactly what she asks for so we don't have a rerun of last year. I still recall that temper tantrum with a shudder. She can be quite cranky when she's feeling her hormones. None the less, I look forward to my newest litter this spring. I'm sure they'll be just as beautiful and perfect as the last three. Achilles is growing like a weed. He's still in his awkward stage, being only two but he's brave and strong. He'll be a wonderful king some day. Sage and Solaris are outgoing as ever. Solaris is already forming groups among his peers, plotting Tor only knows with them. My lips form a grim line. I know about his escapade to Iromar during the war and I plan to have some words with my son for his reckless behavior. He has all the good intentions at heart but they're going to get him hurt or killed one of these days. We have too many enemies there for him to be putting his life in danger like that. At least Sage sticks to Diveen. She's slowly making friends. I don't see Baylee around as much anymore but she's always been more of a loner. I try to leave flowers and such by her den just to let her know I've been by and that I'm thinking about her. No matter if she's not my blood, I still think of her as a daughter and I always will. Vega still sticks to Isola like glue and really, it's adorable to behold. She really has come to endear herself to my mate though I know she could never replace the girl's true mother, Pompeii. Achilles seems fond of her and though this strikes me as a little odd, seeing as how they were practically raised together, I guess I can't make too much of it since there's no blood relation. Besides, he could just think of her as a little sister, though I wonder sometimes. I find myself trotting into the field, a spot I haven't been to quite yet. I sniff the air and I'm pleasantly surprised to come across a familiar scent. Zeteri. My sister. My tail starts wagging and my ears prick forward as I pick up the pace to a gentle lope toward her scent. I haven't seen her since she came to Diveen looking for her family. I'm more than happy to see her back in Moladian. I've missed her and I know Chance and dad have too. The thought of my father makes me frown a little. I haven't seen him since before the war and he didn't even show up to that. I hope everything's okay. I've noticed Natalya going missing a little more lately and I wonder sometimes if he has something to do with that. Perhaps a little investigating is in order, though I hate spying on my father's imprint. None the less, I know if he'll go to anyone, it's her. I can make out Zeteri's black and gold figure up ahead and I bark out to her to let her know whose coming but I can sense that she's already distracted by someone else. I flick my head, eager to see whose greeting her but the wolf I come to recognize is the last wolf I thought I'd see. I hear her bark and it's neither warm nor inviting, only standing to make my hackles bristle instantly in defense of my sibling. Stella. I had thought her gone from Moladian or dead but it seems she's not done haunting her half siblings. Yes, I know of her true ancestry to Abraxus over Devil but even as he will always think of her as his daughter, so I have and will always think of her as my sister. She holds some kind of loathing for us as if just sharing blood with Devil makes us her enemy. I've never understood her feelings for my father or the rest of her siblings. What has he done to deserve her wrath? What have we done but be born with another male's DNA? It seems like a overly dramatic temper tantrum over things you can't change, if you ask me. I can tell by her predatory stance that she doesn't seem to be over it though and I almost sag in weariness of this ongoing battle that neither side will win. I watch as she approaches Zeteri, a fierce almost insane look in her eyes and my lips curl back, revealing slivers of white fang, my ears flattening to my skull. How dare she target the most innocent of us! Can't she even pick a fair fight? I don't doubt Zeteri's capabilities to defend herself; if anything, it brings Stella's into doubt if she's got to go after the sister whose not known for violence. The thought makes bile rise in my throat. Still a child, then. I race to Zeteri's side, not stepping in front of her as I'd like to do, but giving her the choice to stand beside me and let each other be our shields. My gold and blue eyes glare daggers into Stella, my voice dripping like bitter honey. "So nice of you to return, dear half-sister. I would drop the half but I know how haughty you get over your bloodlines. I guess things never really change, do they? You're still griping over the technicalities of our birth. You're still a child at heart, to hold such a grudge. We've done nothing to you but grow up beside you, protecting you as siblings should. Blood shouldn't matter when it comes to that. Grow up, Stella, and I don't mean literally since I know you'll probably just through your meager ten pounds and three inches difference in my face. Grow a spine and get over it." My eyes are cold, though they still hold traces of warmth reserved for those who deserve it. My muscles are tense, my fore legs spread wide in a battle stance. I still hold the fresh scars of winning a war against Iromar. She's probably been killing innocent children or the like, taking her lessons from Tobias. I still remember seeing them together tormenting Zeteri as a puppy. I was disappointed in Stella then. Now I'm just sickened by how low she'll stoop, coming back to start trouble like she has the right. She may think of herself as the big bad wolf but I'm here to show her that this house of cards won't fall down. We're too strong for her because we stick together, as family. She was a part of that at one time and I bet if she played her cards right and repented, she could have that shot again. But not like this. She's letting her pride call the shots and that's no way to win. Sorry, honey, but the bad guys never win. They just go down screaming. Ask Tobias about the last time he attacked a family. He got ganged up on by the whole pack. The same fate will hold true for Stella if she doesn't watch herself. Kane_male_bound to Sinopa_mate to Isola_father to Achilles, Sage, & Solaris_son of Kiska&Devil May Cry_High King of Diveen_seven years old |