I guess the saying goes that time heals all wounds. I suppose, in a way, that is true. It had shattered my very being that fateful day when Aranck took the throne. When the bison had turned upon me and slaughtered my father. In a way I was glad that Elohim had stolen me here - it meant that I wouldn't happen across the large, sway-backed creatures. Their very visage was fixed in my mind and at night I trembled in fury and terror as I assaulted them over and over, an endless hoard of horns and hooves. With gasps I would wake and my body would twitch as if their aim had landed true but no blood was there. Only phantom pain. It was nothing compared to what my dad had felt.

Then there was the beast of the darkness that lurked in my mind. Silver and coy. I hadn't actually SEEN Aranck, only heard about him, and so he never had the same face. Each time he appeared in my dreams I would attack him, I would scream at him, I would cry before him. He would alternate between tormenting me, cackling and belittling my cowardice, then he would rip out my throat. It happened so many times that I was immune to it. At least, I liked to think I was.

I had wandered away from the small glade that I had claimed near Vesper's. It didn't bother me that I had been taken here by a sort of force, more mental than physical, because this is where I needed to be. Elohim had recognized it, offering me the kind of protection that even Halcyon couldn't at the moment. A pack to watch over me. And the season had changed and I had mourned but I was growing stronger again.

Growing larger.

My paw was pressed deep into a small snow drift as if impressing upon it my identity. My eyes that had so long been empty had regained some life and with a snarl I swiped my paw across the snow, leaving a gash but not quite any claw marks. It was practice. I had seen a cougar do it before and wished I had the same sort of agile figure and wicked claws. I admired the feline creatures for they were wily and tenacious. Surely they could take down the nightmares of my dreams? A bark snaps my attention, ears flattening as I spin at once to meet whoever surprised me.

I didn't like being startled and it made me remember, vividly, the way Praetor had thrown me from the path of the charging bison.

But it was no bison this day. Pine! My eyes round in surprise as Pine bows before me in her playful gesture, the very same as when we had first met, not that I could remember that much. I had been a baby, you know. "Pine?" I say questioningly, wondering if my sanity has totally divested from me. Then she grin wickedly and I launch myself at her bowed form with a playful growl, one born of relief and happiness at her presence, intending to knock her back and wrestle with her. The exertion would do me good. We had play sparred before and it had been magnificent. Pine had always been a good outlet for me and a good protector. I had feared she would be culled in Aranck's take over. When finally the play ceases I lay in the snow, panting happily before looking at her. "Where have you been? I was worried," I say, my voice accusing and small at the same time.