I am not a prideful creature. I do not go about asking for praise. I quietly do my work and stick to myself. I have already gone to Glorall to secure a pact between us and their new Alpha. I hope that once I am much better I can go to Diveen and negotiate another friendly meeting. As for the new Alpha of Asteria I am unsure with what to do seeing how she was once one of our captives. I think that will be a difficult one and I will have to speak to Aithne about it and see what she wants done – rarely do I go to her for advice. Yet I think this time I will have to. But I cannot work. I was told I couldn’t. I was supposed to rest. The Medicine Wolf of Tavoria had been within my cave leaving me more drugs to take and some food to eat, and I have been resting well. I know it will take some more time until I am perfect, but I have to be patient. As I stare outside my den I lay my ebony skull down and over my crimson paws. My russet trimmed ears twitched backwards and forwards as I thought of just how I would present my thoughts and ideas to Aithne in regards to new and improved alliances. Though my train of thought is halted.

I hear a stranger’s call at the border, and I let out a sad and heavy sigh. I was sad that I had been left out of the call. Did I still not matter? Did I still carry a rank that did not show others that I was capable of great things, that I do could be considered a leader? I know I am young and nearly on the cusp of adulthood, but look where I stand. My own peers from different packs and even to my own – I hold a reverent rank, a proud rank, and yet he does not care. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I mean, no one really ever sees me for me. No one sees my value. I know I have some worth. Sure, my Mother had abandoned me, she had seen me as nothing more than a debt paid, but I had my Father. He wanted me. He always said he did, but then he too suddenly disappeared and I was all alone. Without anyone to go to I was left alone to survive. I may be a part of a pack, but this pack did not care for their own, especially because I did not carry the Demon blood. I may have had the Demon marks thanks to my Father being a son of Demons, but he was cursed to having a lighter soul serving as the Servitor. It was embarrassing to be related to him, but I think it was mostly because I carried Mother’s inability to tolerate weakness of any kind. I could have stayed within the swamps, I could have stayed within the mud and muck and not do anything for myself or my pack. Yet I hungered for recognition. I craved to know what it was like to be known, to be liked, to hold value.

I have been getting over a terrible sickness. Because I had created a pact between us and Taviora my hard work paid off. Their Alpha had brought over their top healer after we requested aide. Even though I had offered to accept their young into our swamps, in order to form a bond between the two packs, I had forgotten thanks to this disease. And yet I was forgiven. Both Alphas didn’t scold me for failing. At least they knew and understood. This spring though, once the frost has melted, we will accept their young and any of their members into our swamp and hopefully prosperity and friendship will grow. Not many Demons haunt these grounds anymore and I crossed the entire land to bring the new face of Iromar. I was black and I carry the crimson marks, but it was how I approached the other leaders, how I acted with humility and respect, without any chilling threats or foreboding warnings. I had shown the outsiders that there was change coming to Iromar, a good change, and I knew that if I continued my travels I could help bring Iromar into the light. We had a pact, or a at least a peace between all packs, and that was something I worked hard on to achieve. I am three years old and look what I have done! I think I deserve to be called upon.

I need to go I think. I have to go. I have to show this stranger that he was wrong to leave me out. He may not understand how important a Diplomatic leader is, but I have done many great things even though I am almost a pup. For a moment I struggle to get up to my paws and I lean against the wall of the cave for a moment. I am determined to get to him. I want to show him and any other wolf that I at least matter. Quietly I begin to head his way each stride more powerful then then the next – using my sorrow as fuel to get me there faster. When I get closer to the border I raise my head slightly, partly so I can see from the tall reeds, but also to show my rank. The only two wolves that I will ever bow to would be Aithne and Andras. I see Avery and myself as equals – we are similar to one another. We are close to both Andras and Aithne and we want nothing more than for Iromar to be successful and thriving. We are opposites at our jobs, but both sides are imperative. I just wish this stranger understood that. I know Avery and Aithne will come, but I am unsure if Andras will come. He has been so inconsolable with the loss of Lilith that this stranger’s call might have not broken Andras’ trance as he thought of his lost soul.

My ebony frame traced with blood-red markings moves quietly with the muck. My ears are pointed forward as my red banner is lifted slightly higher. My frame is carried with a show of humility, my dark violet eyes speckled with icy blue peer at him as I study him quietly. With the autumn winds picking up I am sure my scent is being carried over and Avery and Aithne will know I am here. I know many things about each pack. I am quiet and observant. I am well aware of some of the loners. It pays to be quiet. Sometimes it even pays off to be forgotten, but not right now. I do not want to be least considered by anyone. Once I get to the border I set myself down on my haunches, a bit dizzy from the hike, but I do not show it. Softly my voice slips out, my voice cracking slightly because I barely ever talk, my eyes looking to his own as I greet our visitor.

“Hello, my name is Raven. Why have you come to our borders?”

It is an innocent question, one that I am sure even he would understand. For all I know he could be here for a dark purpose and I cannot allow anything bad to happen to the pack that I will eternally serve.