There was a feeling of guilt that seated itself deep within my belly. I had been gone from Iromar for who knows how long – I only remembered washing upon the shores of it those many months ago. What happened prior to that was a mystery to myself but a lapse in my presence here had seemed to cause so much. If I had been here, instead of off meeting with my siblings, would I have been able to prevent this from happening to Raven? I hardly remembered her as a child, if I had even known her that far back, only bits and pieces of the old Iromar came into my mind’s view. Yet I feel this unquenchable need to have been there to protect her. Even now as I stand before the mouth of her den.

The larger figure of another breaking through the foliage hits my ears as I turn to see Aithne approaching. She does not look pleased and my stance instantly shifts into a submissive state, ears back and tail tucked low. For a moment I am afraid that I may have to defend myself against her misplaced anger; for what does she have to be angered about in regards to myself? But her demeanor quickly shifts and an apology is murmured shortly thereafter. ”It’s alright…” I answer in a slightly dejected timbre. I keep my attention focused on her for a moment longer as she gathers her prey up to drop closer to the den for Raven, ensuring that she wasn’t going to go on another small rampage before I spoke up again.

”You must care for yourself to care for your child in turn.” I offer Raven my advice whether she desires it or not. Despite this whelp being the result of a terrible crime, it did not ask to be conceived or brought into this world, it does not know of how it had come to fruition. It is innocence in the purest form.

A few moments pass by and the approach of another larger wolf has me turning to see the darkened figure of a stranger. My hackles bristle and despite my smaller size I aim to defend either of my pack mates from whomever may come this night. My muzzle wrinkles into a snarl as the male’s scent wafts toward me, telling of his association with the scene of the crime and his alliance within another pack. My lips only sheath my fangs slightly as my mind begins to piece these things together; we had caught the culprit already, perhaps this one had simply been at the scene for another reason on that day. He brings with him a carcass and leaves it near to the den just as Aithne had. Only then do I calm completely and accept his presence among us.

My ears flick toward my empress now as she speaks, nodding when she glances to me before chiming in. ”Aithne is right. You can deny that the lowly cur is even the sire of this beautiful girl if you wish it to be. She looks nothing of him, Raven. Just look at her…” I finish gently, urging the young girl to accept Jinx, to love her in any way that she possibly can. We can all dismiss Malignus as the father of this child if it will help her move on. I would.