King. The word was still so strange to Iblis. He had a pack, a home, and a new life. The determination that had helped him win his new home had not waned once as he began to build Asteraia. The first year had almost come and gone and his pack was growing stronger every day. Soon they would be just as strong as Diveen and as wise as Taviora. The warrior king was proud of his family, but something was missing from his heart and as they say, old habits die hard. Nearly seventeen years as a wanderer made living in the same place difficult and one night Iblis found himself leaving the pack. It was supposed to be a short journey, run around the free lands and be back in the den by sun rise. But things seldom go as they are planned. The king had many enemies in Moladion and he was always being hunted.

Getting older meant slower movements. It surprised Iblis how easy it was for the two, much younger wolves to subdue him after the fight. Then came the large brute, the leader of this little gang. His teeth shone brightly in the moonlight as he sneered down at his captive. Had he threatened Iblis directly, the wolf would have found his threats falling upon deaf ears. But it had been is family that had been the targets. His children weren’t even a year old yet. There was no way the king could let this maniac hurt them. So, without a fight, Iblis went with them. Two wolves stood next to him at all times as they took him from Moladion. What happened next was a faded blur. There were many fights, new wounds to add to his already scarred pelt, and failed escape attempts. It wasn’t until the fire that the russet wolf could finally get away. The forest echoed with the calls of dying wolves, but to the one who had been dragged away from his family, it was like music to his ears.

Nothing could stop him from getting back to Asteraia. Even as the days grew shorter and the nights colder, Iblis moved with the same speed and determination. Finally, after countless days, the king had come home. The sun had set and the sky burst forth with thousands of stars. But he didn’t stop to admire them. No, he moved like lightning to the den. His heart sank when he found the hole empty but the scents around was still fresh. Following them, he saw them at long last. Rhae, in all her beauty and glory, sat with their two youngest pups. Young Viserys, his white fur glowing in the moonlight, and Isolde, their miracle child. She had grown strong and it was almost like she hadn’t been that frail pup who had almost died. They all looked so peaceful and for a moment, Iblis stood in the dark and watched them.

It wasn’t until his daughter spoke about him fighting with the Ice King that he chuckled and moved forward. ”The Ice King and his army rest well tonight after their final victory. The stars sing them to sleep as they rest their weary paws.” Slow, yet eager, paws carried him towards his small family. He would not tell the pups of his capture. But he knew that Rhea would see the healing wounds and would ask when they were alone. For now, he would be happy with his family and hope that they would be happy to see him. How he had missed them all.