It would seem that ever since she was born into this world she was destined to have unrequited love. As a child she did not feel the warm embrace of the tender touch from her Mother. She would never feel the strength and protection from her own Father. At such a vulnerable age she was exposed to detest, hate, and fear, never knowing that she should have been exposed to love, understanding, and acceptance. She had tried, always, to please those around her. As a pup she remained quiet while the other pups within the pack whimpered and cried. She would practice her pouncing and her ability to sneak up on others, hoping to hear those warm words of praise, wanting to know what it was like to feel accomplished. When she tried to be close with the other members of her pack she was pushed aside, snarled at, even chased away, and yet she simply could not understand. She wanted nothing more than to feel acceptance and love, and it would seem, that she would never get that within her pack. As she grew older she would try to look for it elsewhere, attempting to join other packs and then destroying them when they feared her. Keeping to herself she allowed her solitude to help build numb and slowly began to grow accustomed to the idea that perhaps she would always be despised, and she would use their hate against them. Like fire to oxygen she would allow herself to feel their hatred, to feed off their repugnance, and used their abhorrence of her as reasons to attack and destroy them. If they could not accept her then she would not accept them. If they wanted her to be the Monster they deemed her to be then she would gladly play the part, allowing them to create her in their detestation sight of her. She grew to accept that she would never be wanted by another and so, she kept herself aloof, keeping away from everyone, believing it was the only way.

Fate would force her soul to be bound to a soulless creature, letting her be tethered to a beast that did not want to be connected to anyone at all. This connection would spark back that hidden desire she had thought was extinguished so very long ago. Here, with this gift, she could attempt to see if perhaps she could be accepted by another, maybe she could know what it was like to be embraced with that tender touch or feel the strength and protection, not from parent figures, but from a lover. But that was impossible. She knew that from the start when she realized that she would be forever bound to the Moldaion Demon. Once again she would close herself off from that desire and use it to completely build a cold greystone wall around her heart and very soul. Only the chains that bound each other would remain and she would not think anything about that desire and hope. His admittance that he did not hate her gave her the idea that perhaps she could keep him safe, as it would be keeping herself safe, if she got a pack and provided them a home. If she could not connect with him and feel what she wanted, then perhaps she could feel that amongst others of her own kind. Yet that was a foolish thing to think that was possible. Now she was with a pack, a pack that understood she was Alpha, and she accepted them as they acknowledged her and Tobias rank. She would protect them, care for them as an Alpha, but that possible doorway to be seen and accepted by others seemed to be closing each day. To know that the keeper of her soul may never be capable of truly understanding all she did for him, that he would never carry on a full conversation with her, that he may never full connect with her, appreciate her, or even love her, was hard and yet she carried her burden silently. No other wolf would be capable of such a thing – perhaps that was why Fate had decided she be tethered to him. Because she was a wolf that never felt accepted, that did not feel reciprocal, and so, she could continue living for the rest of her life never knowing such things. Could Fiammetta endure the same fate – could any other wolf? The answer to that is No – no other wolf could endure this, but Tick Tock, and she quietly without any argument – accepted it.

If Fiammetta was indeed trying to get a rise out of Tick Tock she would not get anything today. Years of solitude and living numb allowed her to barely feel any emotion, especially anything that would cause her to overreact in such a destructive manner. All Tick Tock saw before her was a broken and burnt wolf that still held onto resilience as seen in that fiery red orb. Her resilience can be respectable, as it should be, and yet she had yet to learn when it was appropriate to show your hand and when you kept your cards close to your vest. She would remain standing still as she quietly observed the battered girl. It was clear that Fiammetta was trying to force a cloud of doubt in her mind about her counterpart, and yet, years of knowledge and understanding of body injuries reassured Tick Tock that she was in fact correct. Tobias would be fine, he would limp for a while, but he would be well in no time. He was not maimed, because if he was, he wouldn’t have shown himself to her – weakness was not something she could tolerate. She had killed her first imprint and she would do so again if needed. Fiammetta was blinded by her own wounds, as she was far worse, and besides she had lost. Slowly and assuredly those cold lyrics would drip from her muzzle once more as she deconstructed Fiammetta’s opinions.

“You should look at the damages he has inflicted on you. You are much worse off. He will not have the limp for very long, but you will have wounds that will get infected should you exhort yourself and not rest. When he dies he will always be a legend, his infamous presence will remain scorched within the minds upon all those that lived within his time and those that will hear of his terrible tales. What about you, will you live up to be a legend yourself? How would you want to be remembered?”

Tick Tock was a legend in the lands outside of Moladion. She was well known. Yet here she was not known, and if anyone saw her, they would see her only as Tobias’ imprint. Even if she had done something special, even if she had done some greatly accepted by all, or greatly hated by all – it all did not matter. She would always been seen as his imprint, she would be a prize to be had to break Tobias, just as he would be a prize to others in order to break her. They were each their own weakness, and yet, their each of their own strength. Just like she accepted her Fate to never be accepted or feel love she too had accepted the fact that no matter what she did, or what she tried to become, she would always be considered a wolf that belonged to Tobias. She would not fight that, because there was nothing she could do. She could become a great Alpha and yet she would never be legendary. Indeed it would seem that Tick Tock was fated to get the short end of the stick in many and all things. As to what Fiammetta wanted to be remembered as, Tick Tock greatly wanted to know, she was curious about the small framed girl. She had taken an interest in the wolf when she was dying within the pool of mud, her entire form charred, and Tick Tock knew that in order to save Fiammetta she would have to attack her. It did not phase her that Fiammetta decided to cast away the candor of her belief of her rank and those that lived within the flat lands. As always Fiammetta was allowed to think and believe what she wanted and once again Tick Tock’s candor showed as those cold lyrics flowed easily from her maw.

“You did not know of me when I attacked you and yet you still do not know of me now that you are here. What I spoke was the truth, and if you wish to doubt me then that is your choice. Whether you become a leader or not you are capable of a transformation – after all – you already went through one…I am sure you will go through many in the future.”

No one could live forever. She knew very well that one day he would die and she would feel that void once more, but perhaps, she too would die if he did. She did not know, but she knew that one day they would be dead, and so would Fiammetta. That was one thing that she understood at a very young age, that no matter what one did, Death would always be there. As for Fiammetta hinting that she would want to be a leader Tick Tock was not bothered by it. Everyone was entitled to have a goal, a dream or aspiration, and she was not here to snuff it out. Rather she was here to do the exact opposite. Earlier when she spoke about transformation her voice held a subtle tone of encouragement. Tick Tock believed that any who dwelled within the flat lands she would make it her job, as an Alpha, to make them all achieve what they aspire. That included her new found prisoner. Though her show of attempting to appear dominate was uncalled for and not allowed. She had swiftly and quietly put the girl in her place, grabbing her muzzle and forcing Fiammetta to bow in such a humiliating manner. Tobias had decided it was best to ensure that Fiammetta be reminded that she was not in charge her and when Tobias was done circling and inflicting his pain on the girl, only then, did Tick Tock release her. As Tobias began to inquire the girl about her brothers she found herself unneeded at this time. Slowly she would return to her dark paws as her dark sapphire eyes shifted between the two as she spoke her farewell, assured that the two could continue on with whatever conversation Tobias had in mind.

“You shall stay with us for two weeks. Until then you will not be harmed by those that dwell here should you not attack them or force them a need to attack you. I am sure we will meet again, until then, enjoy your first night in Asteraia.”

Her presence was no longer required and she knew it. Already she had enforced Fiammetta to submit and acknowledge her rank. Tick Tock had greeted and welcomed her with open paws to the flat lands. She had accepted Tobias’ prize of a prisoner. He was safe and well and she could return back to the den they shared with Flare and allow herself to rest and sleep. She would turn away from the two as she moved in a lackadaisical manner, her dark grey tipped tail swayed side to side. Tobias may never understand that he was being protected by her, that she had given him a pack and a piece of land to call home, and gave him the opportunity to become as he always should have been recognized – a King. Everything she did was unrequited, and yet, she did it all the same for him without any thanks or recognition. What other wolf would give as much as she did to an imprint? As the cold rain continued to fall down upon her darkened pelt Tick Tock would make her way towards her lair content with the events that occurred tonight.