I laid quietly in the grass nearby the den, patient as I waited for her to reappear. There was a lot for her to process, waking up in a place she did not recognize guarded by a wolf she did not know. I knew that she had not been around Diveen much in the past seasons, and I honestly wondered if she even knew about Kane's defeat. I seemed that there might be more that I needed to tell her than I originally realized. My coal black forelegs and paws were stretched out in front of me as I simply waited, mulling over everything that I would need to inform Emerald of when she did decide to come outside - assuming she did not bolt away from me immediately. Warm brown eyes lifted away from my paws lying in the grass to the den's mouth as the girl finally emerged. I was glad to see that she did not seem quite so tense as she had inside, but she still seemed wary of me. She came closer, but not too close, and I accepted that for what it was.

I remained as I was, lying down, so that my posture would never appear threatening towards her. Listening to what she had to say, I shook my head softly. "You needn't apologize to me, Emerald. You have been through much, and more than you realize." Brows pulled together in concern, but I figured it was probably best to start from the beginning, and answer her questions as best as I could. "Earlier this summer, Kane was challenged for Diveen and lost to a wolf named Covet. He banished Achilles and Guardian, and almost the entire pack left home with Isola. We came here, to Spirane, to seek shelter among the mountains. Lady Daenerys has been most hospitable to us." I paused, letting this information soak in, making sure Emerald understood all I said. Then I continued. "A couple days after our arrival, I could tell that Isola was on edge, nervous about the wolves that she did not know the location of. So I went out searching for anyone who had straggled behind or lost their way. As I scouted through the valley, I caught Sulan's scent." Once more I paused, blinking at her as she stood a short distance away.

"When I found him, he was under attack by a large white wolf. This Zeus you spoke of, I assume. You were nearby, unconscious. I rushed to Sulan's aid, and together we kept him away from you. He fought back, attacking both of us. Eventually Sulan pushed him back, keeping him at bay and asking that I take you to safety." It took every ounce of my resolve to keep my eyes locked on Emerald. An ache welled in my chest for what I had to tell her next. But I had to be strong for both of us, because if anyone deserved to hurt over this, it was her. "As a father myself, I knew how important it was to him that I got you to safety. He was holding his own, and so I went to you, picking you up and turning to take you to safety." I took a deep breath and pushed on to the hardest part. "Zeus overpowered Sulan, pinning him. I am so sorry, Emerald...he did not survive."

I wanted to go to the girl, to offer her my comfort and console her in this. The loss of a parent was never easy, and I still remembered the day that I had been reunited with my mother Moth only to have her deliver the gut wrenching news that my father Acheron had perished in the sky fall. But Emerald barely knew me at all, and so I stayed where I was. Though I did my best to remain strong for her, there was evident sorrow written across my face, for I had lost a pack mate that day. I had failed my pack that day.