Dad! Dad! Dad! What are those?

Tithe watched as his young, copper guilded son scampered from his side to poke his nose at a cluster of small creatures hanging from the walls of the grottos. A single leathery wing stretched at the disturbance in the air before the fuzzy beast burrowed deeper into the wiggling mass of its buddies. Watching them and watching his son’s curiosity about the creatures that held such a strange affection for. Those are bats. They are small creatures that tend to live in families. They keep each other warm, and are very close. Much like a pack…

The shield that had slowly started to rise over Tithe’s face fell again at the thought. There was a lingering hole where the sense of purpose had once filled. His family warmed his heart and filled being with a burning ember, glowing with pride whenever he looked upon them. They were the embodiment of his loyalty and his honor. They walked outside of him and soon he knew he would watch them walk into their own lives. He knew there was more to the world than the life they had come to. A world in the freelands, unprotected and alone. The sense of peace in the world was slowly starting to shift. Sounds in the night grew deeper, and Tithe had begun placing himself at the mouth of the den, protecting his loved ones within. This was not the place for them.

Can I live here with them? In the grottos? Bazyl’s voice brought him back to here and now. He blinked down at his son. He had grown much in the year of life, but still had far to go. It made Tithe’s heart ache. But at this moment, he answered with a dry and firm. No. His son was made for more than lurking alone in the shadows of the grotto with bats. He could have a den, in a pack and invite the bats there. Tithe sighed gently and turned to leave, Bazyl quickly catching on and padded forward to trot awkwardly at Tithe’s side.

Together they walked under the midday sun, through the fields and valleys to the forests of the freelands that Pandora had brought them to. The sun lit the budding trees with golds and ambers, polarized by the vibrant greens of new growth. Bazyl eagerly sped up, his tail waving nonchalantly behind him as he laid, poised, beside the mouth of the den. As far as puppies went, he did not tend to share the over excitement of most youth. For his age there was a sense of calm reserve. Compared to the solid shields of his father, however, he was as bright and expressive as the sun. His tongue rolling happily out of his mouth, the youth contentedly stayed close by, watching the sun and the trees with his clear metallic eyes. The boy quickly was able to find contentment in the simplicity. He settled his head on his legs, eyes unfocused in the thoughts of his own consciousness.

Tithe regarded Bazyl for a moment, wondered where Thyme had wandered off to, and turned to the den, his head tilted just so and a small grin on his lips. At this moment he could not have been more content. Pandora? He asked softly. Through all they had been through together he still refused to intrude on her without permission. Their shared space was still her own, it was not his place to invade when she did not want him. Even at this distance though, he could feel the constant tug and the quickened beat in his chest to be closer. Still to this day his breath caught and only she could make him breath again. Pandora, I was wondering… perhaps it is time to consider a pack? As if something called to him, the knight lifted his head to look around the trees. The sun was still hours from setting, but already the birds in the trees had started to quiet their songs. I worry about our future out here. The words were not said but he shifted slightly on his paws. Since leaving Spirane, the thought of trusting another Alpha, or another in general was hard to grasp. He knew those close to him, and knew he could count on those with whom he shared a bond through life or through fate.To trust another with the fate of his family pressed a heavy weight onto his form. Internally he braced himself with the stance and the conviction of what to do. To sacrifice his discomfort for the sake of his family was a small price to pay. He knew he could fight the demons within him. He did not know if he could fight the monsters prowling the nights.