She was preparing to leave for Iromar. Her mind was frazzled and her usually calm demeanor was shaken. Zelda was doing this on her own. She tried waiting for him, tried to seek the guidance of those more experienced than she, but there was none this time. Zelda needed to learn on her own, but she would not be alone. She was never alone. She had taken the time to seek out her Trust, she had no head warrior and while she wouldn’t have minded bringing her uncle or grandfather along, they were a bit infirm. The journey would be long, and they were content with giving her advice and trusting her to lead them the right way. Her mother, gone, she was not sure where she had gone, to Glorall perhaps to seek the comfort of her ‘mate’. It had only been a day or two, but Shem and Asriel were well taken care of by Coza. She was certain her mother was safe and she wouldn’t do anything too rash.

In that short time too Winter melted into Spring and Tepi had, by his own will and slightly her own, stolen away two of the wolf’s sons. They were her guests now, her trump card should he decide to be overly nasty. Of course they were well cared for, but they were watched over at all times by someone, nicely. Zelda had made certain Tepi knew they would come to no harm while in her forest, made it known to ALL that they were to be treated as any of their own pack’s children were. Just because Aranck acted like a monster, didn’t give Zelda the right too. Still despite her help, despite all the preparations it was still, nerve wracking. This was a war worthy offence, yet Zelda was offering this Aranck the chance come peacefully without harm coming to his pack. They, as far as she knew, were innocent in it all. Matini had given some insight to his take over, even that had sounded dastardly. Brought in for a trial then murdering the Queen? It all smelled of bad blood.

Speaking of.

A howl echoed over the lands, one that Zelda actually recognized, only by name, never by face. Tithe. His howl once before had called over Taviora some years back, when he was ruler of their mountain neighbor asking for peace. To her knowledge her uncle had accepted but his reign was short when Daenerys came back for the home Roman had unseated her from. He did not hide his affiliations it seemed. Zelda though did not think as ill of them as perhaps maybe was due. Roman already was safely tucked away in the forest. He was, by all rights on his own, a decent wolf. Daenerys had a right to hold her grudges, but her grudges were not Zelda’s. She allowed him to shape his own character. He was fleeting, but the times they had met he had been nothing but polite and kind. Like Roman, Tithe would get a fair chance with the Forest Goddess and she would judge for herself his character.

This was something she was familiar with.

Her form relaxed and her face set into a gentle look, one that was warm and welcoming. Her longer furred, tan legs carried her quickly towards his call. Soon his silvery form came into sight, he was seated on the ground seemingly patiently waiting for whoever it was that would come to greet him.

”Good Morning.” Zelda greeted, dipping her head to the slightly older male, her tail waving lightly behind her. ”I am Zelda, Protector of Taviora.” She smiled at him warmly. ”I know of you Tithe. I have heard good things about you from my Uncle Amoxtli.” the small fem seated herself a comfortable distance before him her tail wrapping around her tan paws. ”So I am very curious, how can I help you today?”

There were some she knew were not worth helping, worth saving out there. Those who challenged and lead and lost that were undeserving of anything good in the world. From what she understood, Tithe was not one of those wolves, just like Roman. He had challenged for the mountains, long term allies of the forest, but he did not unjustly kill those around him, or harm its members. While Roman’s rule too was soon taken up by Tithe she heard no ill words of him while he ruled other than he had unseated Daenerys for a time. He seemed to have treated those who stayed fairly and kind, as did Tithe. One act alone does not ruin the others, and the act of challenging in and of itself was not always one that was abhorrent. Tithe defended what was his at the time, there was no wrong in Zelda’s book for what he had did, even if it had been against the former Queen. After all her grandfather once had taken a wolf in who had challenged him and he offered a home to another. He knew it was simply the way it was sometimes, and no ill had to come of it. There were some challengers however who did not deserve forgiveness, a second chance.

So now she wondered how she could help him and what she could do to make his life a little easier. Who knew? Perhaps maybe they could help each other.