i am the blood of the mountain

Calls to challenge are something that caught the attention of every alpha in Moladion, whether it was meant for them or not. When the call had risen that afternoon, when the sun had reached its zenith in the sky, I had heeded it. My ears had pricked forward as I gazed out and away to the east. For some nine years Isola and Kane had ruled in Diveen, facing their fair share of would be usurpers, not to mention engaging in war with Iromar during its darkest days. Though I held a great amount of faith in the King and Queen of the City of Angels, my heart still leapt uncomfortably within my chest each time I heard a new challenge fall at their paws. They were more than alphas, they were the manifestation of a set of ideals to live by. For ones who had so long proved their capability to rule, and defend their home, I wondered if ever the day would come that those who were jealous of what they had would finally concede. They had built an empire.

As the afternoon wore on and the sun slipped from its highest point in the summer sky, I went about my business. But always in the back of my mind were Isola and Kane and their pack. It was only when a foreign howl faintly lifted on an easterly wind that my ashen crown lifted and mahogany eyes fixated upon that which I could not hope to see from so far away - the wolf who had displaced the Angel family from their home. My ears pulled back in slight dismay, hoping that whichever former alpha of Diveen had faced this adversary had come out of the battle at least mostly intact. There were wolves out there who would kill for power, one had taken my mother's life in order to steal her throne. But I remained confident in the back of my mind, refusing to accept the possibility that one of them might have fallen in battle. As the foreign song died away, I made my way down the mountain. For years longer than Isola or I had been alive our packs had been friends - family really. She had taken in my youngest sisters and their guardian when Purge had her slippery hold on Spirane. Whether Isola brought her pack here or perhaps to Taviora did not matter, I would meet them along the borders either way to ensure she and her mate were well.

For some time I could only pace in the foothills, remaining well within the boundaries of my pack, close enough to the base of the mountain that I could see an extensive reach of the borders. Constantly my ears swiveled atop my head, listening for the movement of wolves beyond the eastern borders of my lands or their approach from the southeast. But the first thing that I felt was the pull of my soul, and that was how I knew them to be close. Meryl was with them. Quickly I moved towards the borders, even as Isola's short call for me was given. Approaching Isola, I could tell that it was not her who had faced the challenger. My eyes flashed over the group of wolves that she had separated herself from, but I did not spot Kane's form. I thought the worst as a whine reached my ears and I locked my assured gaze upon Isola once more. Her words, though, put my thoughts at ease, for Kane would come still. Her words were rushed, and I looked upon her with compassion but also strength, for I thought that perhaps she did not require someone to feel sorry for what she had lost, but to be strong for her in this moment where she deserved to be not completely held together for once. It was the reason, I suspected, she had separated herself from those of her pack who had followed.

"Heyel has not arrived here yet," I said, though it was the only words I was able to get out as the movement of another caught my attention. The angel marked shewolf tenderly approached Isola, speaking hushed reassurances to her mother. As she moved to enfold herself around Isola I averted my eyes, giving them a moment of privacy as my eyes flitted back towards the group, seeking the form of my painted healer, Meryl. I spotted him with the others as Calliel spoke softly to her mother, trying to calm her frayed nerves. When I looked back to Isola and her daughter, the girl was doing what she could to steady the rapid breathing of Isola. In everything that I said I kept strength, for while her daughter offered her comforts in the way only family can, I offered those that only one Queen may unto another. The safety of her pack. "You and your family are always welcome upon the mountain, Isola. You and they will be safe here. If Heyel does not arrive before midevening, I will send out scouts to search for him." I would have said much the same about Kane, if I had not already caught a glimpse of a large black wolf slowly moving towards us.

ooc; if possible please let kane reply next, I believe darq already has a post in the works.

daenerys