I hadn’t slept at all, moving through the storm to ascend the mountain in the dark of midnight. My body ached from the exertion of attacking a body that would not fight back, throwing myself against him over and over again and receiving nothing in return. But I had pushed myself past my limit, traveling into the peaks and approaching the large rock formation that had always been a symbol of my relationship with Leonidas, much as my throne reminded me of my father. In my exhaustion I had nearly attacked the boulders, wanting to tear them down and cast them off my mountain. But as I stood beneath them I made myself see sense, walking away with fury still warming my veins. Why had he come back, if he’d only meant to leave again? Why had he made me so many promises, only to break them? My heart had been his for the taking for such a long time, and now it felt as if he had cast it aside with an utter sense of finality.

The storm had waned only as I reached the highest point in my territory, and I sat and gazed out upon the vast darkness of the world as the skies finally began to clear. For some time I stared out into the shadowed lands of Moladion, and as the moon revealed itself from behind the storm clouds it cast its dim light upon the land. Vaguely I was able to make out the the concaves of Mecor Valley and the reflections of the river within. I turned my eyes skyward as the stars became visible as well, and it was as if there had never been a storm at all. Time passed in silence as I reflected on all that had happened, what I feared I had lost forever. Was it all for the best? Was my brother Taliesin right? Had Natu had the right of it, saying that this end would give way to a new beginning? I had so many questions, and in that moment of sleepless anxiety, I wished more than ever that my parents were still alive.

It was not until dawn painted the horizon an illuminating shade of red that I shifted my gaze and realized morning had come. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath that filled my lungs to capacity before I slowly released it through my nostrils. As the last puffs of air were exhaled, warm mahogany eyes looked once more upon the break of day. Though I had not slept, there was a clarity there that had been absent only moments before. I was a Queen, a leader, and so much more. With renewed strength I rose to my paws and turned away from the summit, strides lengthening to cover more distance as I began my descent. I moved over familiar trails, stretching my limbs as I jogged along. In truth I was not entirely sure of my destination, but there were always things to attend to and so I would carry on as I always had.

The sun had cast a morning glow upon the eastern face of the mountain when I crossed paths with a scent I did not recognize. Slowing to a walk, I lowered my nose to the ground and sniffed at the fresh tracks left in the dirt. Lifting my crown once more I peered in the direction that the scent grew stronger, the way she must have traveled only moments prior. Ears tipped forward, listening for movement, but hearing none. I followed the path, hair bristling slightly at the thought of an intruder. Coming around a large rock formation I entered the wildflower meadow that ended in a sharp overhang of rock and saw before me the shewolf sitting upon the precipice. At this closer distance my nostrils flared to take in her fresh scent, and there was something that mingled there that I recognized. Slowly my coat smoothed out once more as I came to realize whose scent complimented her own – Ragnarok. In truth I did not know much of him, though he’d been born when I was a yearling, we’d never played. I held almost no memories of him, other than his scent and appearance. He had left the mountain years ago, returning only when he was stolen home, and leaving once more at the first opportunity.

I briefly wondered what had brought him home again, but more interestingly was what had brought her here. As I moved through the wildflowers towards the rocky edge where she sat, I brushed through the foliage and did naught to conceal my approach. The last thing I wanted was to startle her and see her fall from the cliff she perched upon. No, I wanted her to know of my presence, and I came to sit beside her not only because it was my duty to investigate her presence here, but also from curiosity. As I lowered my hindquarters to rest no more than a couple of feet away from her I breathed, “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” before my sharp mahogany eyes turned towards her, wondering if she would realize who she kept company with, and if she would be prompted to explain her presence upon my mountain.