I allowed my attention to drift downward again as the young girl stood up on her hind legs, pressing her forepaws to my shoulder as she leant forward to whisper and ended up nearly yelling into my poor left ear as it folded back in response. Favourite? I don’t remember being the favourite although it was nice, I think, to be someone’s favourite- her words bringing a crooked grin to my lips all the same as she told me off for using the royal titles. I frowned slightly, chocolate coloured head tilting to the side. If Tick Tock didn’t like titles I had never been told and really I suppose I have always used them because they are appropriate and right, at least to my understanding. As for saying her brother had a strange name, well, it wasn’t as if I said it was terrible.

“What your Mother does not know won’t hurt her, so lets not tell her ok? It can be a secret for you and me.”

I grinned again, flashing that same boyish, lop-sided look. I think I was always be sort of scruffy and gangly looking even though I wont ever be all that tall. It’s just the way I am I suppose, more boyish then manly. I don’t think it matters much, it let me do my job well all the same. No one ever suspected the sweet, gentle, scruffy brown boy did they? I could be endearing when I tried, my features decidedly trustworthy and that, I think, made me good at spying. Other wolves always liked to chat with me, or share secrets and that was always helpful in working them out. For now though there was no need for the Princess to tell her Mother about any of the apparently incorrect things I did. I hoped she liked keeping secrets. Children always like that don’t they? For her part, the black female at least looked mildly amused as my attention returned to her, the comment upon the names earning her a nod. It was true enough after all, there were the strangely named amongst us, much more so then Prince Gunsynd. My question about her children however, seemed to momentarily throw her off, the amber of my gaze narrowing slightly though I assured my features remained smooth the moment her gaze returned to me. As I said before, I am good at what I do. I am friendly and I am kind because it is who I am- but I am not foolish and it would be a foolish thing to trust so blindly that all strangers have good intentions. For now however though, I held little concern. Mothers could be forgetful.

“Their Father is not around?”

It was an innocent question, truly, my head tilting slightly in surprise at this. I had been raised in the mountains myself and really, there were a lot of families there- to find a lone Mother was unusual I guess, although perhaps….well….perhaps it had simply been something of a fling. There was no need to judge, my parents had never officially declared themselves mates either, it was just unusual, I suppose to find a wolf of her age without a partner. Her mention of her children falling off however, brought an easy chuckle to my lips.

“I grew on those mountains myself, along with Pandora, my sister- we never fell. I am sure your children will learn to be sure of foot in time although if you are looking for somewhere without such ledges you will find no flatter pack.”

Well- it was true. Asteraia was made of fields and the occasional rocky outcrop or collection of sparse trees to make our dens beneath. Nevermore interrupted again then, though I hardly minded, the girl nuzzling into my leg though I simply let her- why stop her? The puppies were our future, they needed to be looked after and I had no problem watching over them. She was kinda cute I suppose and I am the favourite, the glance the white-eared female had offered at that earlier declaration hardly missed, a brief grin flashed back at her. The words the Princess offered now however, saw my grin falter. Did her Mother really tell her such things? That others wanted to kill her? I knew, in the least, about Tobias- everyone does and yet some part of me had believed, I suppose that her Mother would have kept that from her, Tick Tock’s own reputation equally as….muddy. I knew these things, I did and yet I was happy here, so were the others that called this place home. If anything, well, we were the best protected pack out there. Hearing the child’s words however saw my own features falter. Had her Mother truly told her about her Father, or even her own actions in the past? Why would she do that? The concerned look the black female offered was overshadowed by her sudden words, asking what sort of monster would kill a child.

I don’t know why I did it, I don’t, the words coming from my lips without my true consent, muzzle lowered to reach for Nevermore, drawing her back closer to myself, putting myself more…..noticeably between her and the other female though it was decidedly subtle. It was just instinctive I suppose, something about the wording of the black female…..seeming a little pointed I suppose, even if she hadn’t meant it.

“No one. No one kills children.”

I cut off any words Nevermore had been about to say, my own voice holding a finality to it, ending the conversation here and there. I knew about the children that had died at the jaws of Tobias. I knew about my own Uncle Valkyire, brother of Pan, torn apart on the black plains by Tobias or so they say and I knew exactly why there would be wolves who would seek actively to harm Gunsynd or Nevermore……..in vengeance for the lives of the children they have lost. Yet here and now is not the time for that conversation, especially not before a stranger.

“Any pack protects its children.”

These words were offered more lightly now, an easy grin touching my lips once more as I looked at the child at my paws. I…….I don’t know what to think on actions of the past sometimes, I know things have happened but I will….protect my pack and those within it, even if it is only from words. The conversation at least, became lighter then, my head nodding.

“Yes, Nevermore and Gunsynd are the youngest, yet we also have a few yearlings and young two year old wolves as well. The oldest amongst us, I think, would be near twenty though he is still active, we have a few more in their prime. We are a smaller pack, I suppose, but a lot of us stayed after Jaidah left- we like it here and the pack has started growing now. What did you say your name was?”

I paused, waiting, slightly embarrassed I had gone this far without asking her for it.