I’d never really considered other families all that much beyond my own. Selfish I suppose, but until more recently my own family and Diveen was really all I had ever known after all and as such my world had been relatively small- if not simple, restrained entirely to that one small pack. I had learned about others of course, Heyel had always ensured I wasted a good many afternoons being told of that and that and who and why. It never really occurred to me, I suppose, that the why of it especially- was rather heavily biased towards Heyel himself and yet for so long his word had simply been law. I was raised in that belief to an extent and believed it still. The worries of others, the lineage of others had never really seemed tangible until recently- until Covet and all that came after him. Until Heyel died I suppose. It was after that, I think, that I started actually noticing others and how they effected the world around me, driven by their own goals or desires or bloodlines. Genetics are important after all I think, your either useful in life or you’re not. I mean really, it was as Heyel had said- most lines simply fade and die, wolves forget- remembering he said, was the key to success and honestly I think I see his point. If others remember you then your successful aren’t you? Because good or bad, someone remembers and the story goes on. He said a lot of things Heyel. I probably should have listened more. Zelda turned away then, whatever I had been about to say falling silent, evidently my question had…upset her I suppose. Maybe her grandparents had died only recently like my own, maybe it still hurt for her- that I understood.

I hadn’t expected the answer I was given though, the violet of my gaze widening slightly in surprise before I frowned. Jaidah. I knew that name, or at least, I’d heard it before back in Asteraia when I told the girl puppies that the reign of their Mother would never last. I had been barely a year old and I had predicted then what had already come to pass. It had hardly been difficult to see after all- I mean really. What I didn’t know though was that Jaidah had come to power through the death of others, the murder of them, to be more specific. My gaze flickered back to her own, the tears beginning to form in her eyes seeing a moment of disdain cross my own features. Why did girls cry? I mean I was sad too but I didn’t cry. Alright fine, maybe I just don’t know what to do when they do it. Am I supposed to hug her or….lick her or….something? Mother never cried and maybe it was for that reason that I hardly knew how to handle the situation- hoping entirely she wouldn’t burst into wails or something because honestly if she started that I had no idea how to stop it even if I wanted to.

“Oh…no, don’t cry, I didn’t mean to upset you I just was curious that’s all. Please don’t…leak everywhere.”

Alright- I was never going to be good with crying, so shoot me and maybe I should have been a least more sincere but I was still learning the finer points of my gentlemanly charm. Her words however, still managed to have the same effect as she continued. Why would Jaidah kill Rhae? Had she meant too or had it just been an accident? Aunt Isola had never killed any of the wolves she had defeated, neither had Uncle Kane or Cousin Achilles, my features frowning once more.

“That, I think, is not how packs work. When Impa took Asteraia she never killed Jaidah, I’m sure of that. Wolves die, maybe it was an accident. I’ll find out though. For you. I’ll found out. I give you my word on that.”

I would be many things in life but I would never be the sought to break my word once I gave it. Angels, after all, do not give our word lightly or so I am told. Yet another task to add to my every growing list of wrongs to be righted. There was more to do then I had truly anticipated, her mention of darkness bringing the handsome tilt of my head back towards her, silver tipped form aglow in the sun.

“I will found out the truth and then when I do, if need be, we will act- or I will, once you decide what you want.”

I meant every word I said of it, maybe I was young, we both were- but I have always known entirely what I will be one day and there is no need to wait until I am too old to truly see it fulfilled. Such is the blessing of intellect I suppose. She moved then, suddenly placing her head in my shoulder as I froze. It was instinct I suppose, gaze staring rather curiously at her, apparently her head had sort of…toppled over for some reason. What on earth was she doing? I suppose I don’t mind though, it’s kinda nice really I mean, maybe I don’t hate it at all. I would keep my promise though, I would utilise my assassins if need be and find out the truth of this, what Zelda wanted to do afterwards, well, that would be her call to make and not my own or that of my groups. We were here to do a job after all, not decide the outcome of each of them though I already had my own thoughts on the matter. Why kill for a land you don’t even care to keep? Maybe Jaidah was like Covet, he had taken a land he had no interest in leading, his reign (if you could even call it that, look how generous I am) was the shortest and most unsuccessful I think we have ever had, or at least so I am told. It had been amusing though, to watch wolf after wolf abandon him as he spouted some nonsense about freeing them from oppression or something like that, I’m sure that’s what it was, who knows- he was delusional after all, mad, convinced Guardian, of all wolves, along with Achilles, had said something to upset him. Maybe he had been teased as a child or something, his feelings sensitive, I could see that, he was fairly unattractive. I’m glad I don’t have black eyes.

She leaned away from my shoulder at last, my form having remained rigid, holding her up as I let my lip quirk up with my own smile before I nodded, if she wanted to go now then why not? Maybe I could ask Impa about Jaidah. It was a start. Whether Zelda would like Impa or not though I hardly know, I could only see. I am not sure she can chase out this darkness Zelda talks off but maybe she can. Time would tell I suppose.

“Come on then.”

I moved to nudge her, loping suddenly forward, waiting for her to come to my side until the red colour of her own fur brushed against the white silver of mine and I loped along next to her, heading towards the plains and the field pack. It wasn’t all that far really and to be honest I hardly minded being seen with Zelda exactly. I was fairly sure she was probably my girlfriend- I just…..haven’t brought up the subject yet. Either way I hardly minded who saw us together, she was a bit pretty, I think. We reached the field pack soon enough, my paws halted briefly upon the border, releasing a bark of sorts to let whoever was round know I was here before striding in. I knew the Alpha, that entitled me to come in didn’t it?

“Impa! Impa!”

I called again, pausing beneath a small shade tree to seat myself, gesturing for Zelda to do the same as we waited, the fields spreading out all around us. I truly did like this land.

“I can see why your grandparents liked it here. Are they buried here? Should we visit them? I see no reason why Impa would stop us doing that.”



h y r u l e
The Once and Future King