I would have been able to find her beneath a blizzard during a storm and in the depths of a wildfire were I to desire it. I can feel her heartbeat, I can damn near feel every inhale of frosted air within her and honestly….I’m not entirely sure I like it. For so long I had been plagued by a sinlge imprint, Cat Eye having walked within my shadow for so very many years, so much so, that when the sky had fallen that fateful night that it had been to her I had gone. My mate and sons burned while I assured my imprint would live and perhaps, call me jaded- but I never did like the power over the soul an imprint possessed. It had been both a blessing and a curse when Cat had died, taken by the old aged that barked and nipped at my own heels with a furious endevour of desire. I had been free of her and yet, at the same time, well…..she was gone. For near on ten years, more perhaps, Cat Eye had carried my soul and I her own. She had never been my mate and yet I had slept beside her, walked beside her, fathered her child in the years after Zeivah’s death and my discovery of Zen. An imprint is so many, many things and I had been relived I think- to have ownership of my soul returned to myself and yet, as I have said……there is little that is comparable to the loss of a imprint, a whole left gaping, a wound left bleeding and by fortunate or folly I hardly know it would seem a new contender for the possession of my very being had come into existence. It was a small mercy perhaps- that she was white.

At least the violet of my gaze need not be assaulted by Natu, her position with Spirane yet another useful endeavour. It would have been so very….agitating to have had her align with the wrong pack. After all, it would hardly do to allow such a weakness, my greatest perhaps, to be wandering around the depths of Iromar. No- that she is within the mountains and beneath the watch of allies is a pleasing thing and yet even such knowledge cannot entirely stop my ridiculous and obsessive need to see her, to be near her. Perhaps it is merely the call of winter, after all, perhaps Zen is to aged to bare children, yet for those such as myself, males, the ability truly does not lessen, my record already having proven I am rather the exceptional sire and while further children hold little interest to myself it hardly means the need has lessened. Females still look as entirely appealing as they always have.

“Now what, might I ask, is so fabulous about this heavily wooded area that you have decided to stop and stare at it, hmmm? Honestly, do you not fear that leaves and dirt may launch an assault upon you, Natu? I find it a genuine concern.”

My words run easily from my lips, as silken and smooth as they have ever been, coming to stride forward, wandering towards the sacred creature that held the soul of myself within her. Some part of myself was delighted at her presence, form shifting slightly to brush against her ever so subtly in some for of greeting and yet more so it soothed that longing ache within myself- soul satisfied in this moment, purring like a damn well contented kitten at her closeness as I simply moved to seat my snowy form beside her own, eyeing the sodden ground and mud touched leaf litter with clear disdain. I never did understand forests. Nor why anyone would want to live in them- much less walk in them. I am doomed, it would seem, to have myself tied to….dirt-loving females. Fate I think- has a very odd sense of humour. I offered her a grin all the same, little more then a lazy smirk really, entirely assured my presence would not thrill her and yet I have built a career out of appearing at inappropriate times. It’s my thing.

“Now tell me, darling, how is Spirane faring these days now that Purge has been removed? I should think you must all be rather pleased to have the mountains true heir returned. Unless you have no wish to discuss politics, we can always talk about the weather or the trees and yet my ability to discuss dirt-ridden foliage is sadly limited- just a warning.”

I lifted one foot experimentally, frowning slightly at the dirt that clung to it beneath the snow and ice before offering something of a sigh.

“Are you looking for something out here, or is this just what you do for fun? When the excitement starts let me know, I shall brace myself.”




h e y e l
The Original Angel