It was almost like she didn’t trust me, her eyes narrowing slightly as if I was offering her a snake rather then, well, let’s call it a business contract. Maybe she simply wasn’t used to dealing with inspiring young wolves, I hardly know and yet realistically it only endears her towards me more. She was smart. If she wasn’t she would hardly have looked suspicious of what I was saying and my words, really, are decidedly suspicious. I’m good at saying a lot and yet nothing all at once, it makes it easy for me to gauge others, to watch their reactions, to learn who they are before I offer them too much of myself in turn. I might be young but I’m not a fool. I was destined to be more then those who came before me. I know what I need to do and who I need to be and really- I was offering this Taika of the Fields a chance to be part of something rather grand. Whether she took it up or not was entirely up to her. It was no loss to me if she didn’t, only to her. I let my ears prick forward once more as she spoke and I continued to sit before her, entirely unable to understand if she really did love mud or she had just fallen in it on the way. If I didn’t think it might offend her I would almost have considered asking. Not that she would likely admit to having face-planted in a puddle, the thought bringing a momentary simper to my lips all the same, a look perhaps out of place before I let the violet of my gaze return to her own.

Her words, I am sure, were only further proof that for a loner, well, she was actually pretty smart. She was almost a wasted talent really, maybe I was getting a little ahead of myself with someone I hardly knew but she had a decent head on her shoulders, a good mentality, the sense to actually question. I was hardly trying to fool her into anything but if this was the sort of wolf that would be willing to help then I didn’t have too many worries about actually trusting her to an extent. Only time would tell whether my trust was truly well placed and until I was assured of her there were some things I would keep to myself. It never hurt to have friends though and if I could make one hear today then I was one step closer to doing what Zelda said, to…..keeping that darkness at bay, in whatever form it came. I don’t think I can be who she thinks I am. She thinks more of me then I do myself, Im sure, but I can try and if I have to take Zeus and those like him down then so be it. I have seen what hate can do and I swore I wouldn’t let it happen again. I just couldn’t do it alone. That was the mistake assassins made in the past. They worked alone. We could be stronger together- and with a little help from our friends- my lip quirking slightly upward at her words. I didn’t find them funny, I just found her….amusing in general, pleasing really. I nodded, speaking now, voice slightly heavier perhaps in some effort to further explain what I was asking.

“When some of the wolves of Diveen went to Spirane in the time between the leadership of Isola and Achilles- they were attacked. They moved in small parties for saftey as they travelled between the packs but one of the parties was set upon by a wolf called Zeus. An old warrior, Sulan, was killed. He…..he was my uncle, great uncle really, it….it dosent matter now but he was killed and the others were hurt, almost all the wolves in that party were older and they didn’t have much of a chance. Later another wolf called Aviias was attacked, she is my cousin Guardians companion. She was attacked because she chose to leave the loner lands and make a home with Guardian. Zen my grandmother was kidnapped, Emerald, a young wolf was taken and then…..then….”

I felt myself turn away, I wasn’t ashamed of this story I had to tell, I was ashamed of the way my voice threated to break, teeth clenching, biting down. I was not a child, I would not cry, I was stronger than that- more then that. My head snapping back to her own with far more defiance now.

“Voltaire, an old wolf in my pack was killed. Achilles, our leader then, had captured Zeus but he got away, he killed Voltaire on the way out and I tried to help Volt but I couldn’t…..I couldn’t fix him…I couldn’t make him breath again but I tried. A few days later another wolf came to our pack- he came in the middle of the night but this time I stopped him. This time I saved someone- he had been sent by Zeus to kill Amir, a warrior in our pack. I stopped him but now I know there are more. Zeus is a loner, but others are helping him- that’s what I am asking from you, to use what resources you have to tell me if you find Zeus, anyone working for him, or others who would seek to bring harm.”

I paused once more, tail flicking lightly, gaze glancing down towards my paws as I shifted my weight.

“Voltaire died at my paws, his only crime was being a wolf of Diveen- that was the only crime of any of those who died. I know pack affairs are not your business and Im not asking you to be involved in them, Im asking you to help me protect other loners from being recruited at all. I am not acting on behalf of my pack- I am acting alone, just as myself, Diveen is not involved in what I’m asking you. The wolves who support Zeus seem to think he is some kind of God. I have friends…..a small group of wolves helping me but what I want you to do, Taika- is listen for me, see and hear what I can’t and if you find any trace of Zeus or his followers, to bring that information to me. Even if you see or hear of any wolf who threatens others, tell me and I will help. Me and mine- we are here to help anyone we can. I have nothing to give you in return- at least not yet, but one day I will. I promise you that. I will repay you.”

I felt my lips pull into a grin once more, eyes returned to her own at last, her stipulations for this agreement hardly anything I was unwilling to agree too, after all, if they were innocent of any crime what use would Taika have to report them at all?

“Those who band with you are yours, I’ve no interest in them or their business- unless they deserve it, as you say. Will you help me then? Can you do this?”

I had told her the truth, the reasons behind what I do, the choice was her own and if she choose not to help, then so be it- at least I had warned another wolf that she and other loners were surely just at much at risk of falling victim, else being recruited by this lunatic wolf. Assassins had been hired in the past, but maybe it was time we took the fight to others before it could start. I was looking for Zeus, he alone had become my single target but if Taika came across any others with a desire to kill- well, I could stop them too. Majoa, Militas, Ashei, Tael and Sicares- we were here for a purpose, to help, we just needed a little help to do it.