Occasionally I slipped out of Taviora for a jaunt around the freelands. It was good to keep an eye out on what was going in the world. Sometimes I worried we were too focused on what was going on within the borders of the forests and did not step out of the pack lands to gather what we could. That was all well and fine, but it made information….scarce. Maybe if we had stepped out of the shadows of the trees more often Moteuh would not have been killed.

It still left a bitter taste in my mouth. Watching that bastard slaughter an innocent pup. She had gone to the swamps to try to find the answers and had been killed for her curiosity. With that one snap decision the warriors of Taviora threw themselves into support of Matini. Or at least I did, which might not have counted for much. But still, one more body and one more set of fangs could go a long way. I was not as bulky or strong as my brother, but I was sure my own gifts could help. I could not get Teza on the throne he deserved, but I could get others.

As I padded along the trails my mind started to wander. I really wasn’t much of a scout. It was really boring trying to look at everything when really nothing was there. But wait! Something was. I stop for a second and look over at a wolf laying in the middle of the fields. A quick sniff and I realize it is a she. She seemed to be a little dizzy and nibbling on….grass? One of my gold brows raises in question and I can feel the corner of my mouth twitch back in its permanent smirk.

You know… I don’t know about you. But I find squirrels are a little more delicious than grass. I sauntered up to her, flag flying high. Hello, my name is Tezacotl. Prince of Taviora. Might as well spin that old web again. I grin at this woman, adopting my twin’s name and wearing it perfectly. Boredom brought up old memories. I was older now, I could try again. Something about learning from mistakes.