King for a day. That was how Halcyon saw his time ruling over Iromar. It had been good while it lasted, but it was nothing memorable. His name would not go down in history nor would he be someone that others looked up to with admiration. The scar he wore on his throat was more permanent then he was. At first, he felt upset by this thought. But as time went and wounds healed, be began to realize he didn’t care. Perhaps he would never be able to fill the shoes his father once wore, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be his own wolf. It was that thought that gave him the courage to leave the only home he had known and strike it out as a loner. The winter came, with its blinding snow and freezing nights, and made him regret leaving in autumn. Even now, as the day drew to a close, Halcyon wished for nothing more than to sleep in his warm and comfortable den back in Iromar. But, as it was, he was left to find someplace else alone.

Deep snow made the trek difficult, but the russet wolf eventually found a fallen log that had rotted away over the summer. Termites had hollowed it out just for him to slip easily into the bowels of the trunk and tuck himself away from the cold. Curling himself into a tight ball, the lone wolf allowed sleep to take him to a warm and happy place. But the rest was not long lived. A sudden, powerful feeling washed over him that not even unconsciousness could stop. His heart began to beat to another rhythm that belonged to another. His breath came in quick bursts at the excitement his soul felt being so close to her after so many years. Without warning, his eyes suddenly shot open and he moved like a bullet into the dark forest.

Fate guided him. He did not need to sniff her out, nor did he need to see where he was going. Even if he was blind, deaf, and dumb, Halcyon would find her. She was the only thing he could think of in his moment. Aster was gone, Iromar had vanished, Athine was no longer. It was just her. Her golden crown, brindle legs. Eyes so soft and pure. The scent of the mountain, her homeland. Bastille. Her name made him shiver. Somewhere in this forest, the wolfess was wandering. Did she feel the same thing he did? Was the imprint bond as strong, as demanding, as terrifying as it was for him? Honey colored eyes continued to search until, at long last, they found her. Just as beautiful, just as radiant as the first time they had seen her all those years ago. Did she remember him? After all, how long had it been since they had seen one another?

Quietly, Halcyon moved forward until he was in her gaze. No words came to him as he simply stared at her. She had grown. Looking at her, he could see she was an adult now, just like him. The winter’s call was not unknown to him. If she asked him to, he would have her now, even though she frightened him. Such was the strength of their bond. He was hers to control. Did she even know? Finally, after what felt like ages, he bowed his head and spoke softly. " Bastille, it’s been awhile. How have you been?" More questions began to fill his mind. He realized he knew next to nothing about the wolfess who owned his soul. Part of him wanted to forget her and the other wanted to know everything about her. Would she ask about him? What would he tell her? Keeping silent, Halcyon waited for her to speak.