The world always seemed to shift with the changing of seasons. There was something new to discover and something new to explore. Whether it was in the physical world, magical planes, or within Masque herself, there was a new wonder to brighten her life. As time had passed and she and her mother had continued to care for and love Eldritch in their own way the truth had started to be pieced together and the spell had been broken. As the realization dawned, so did a smile on the masked girl’s face. The time they had spent together made truth or belief irrelevant and the same. Masque had come to love the Lost Prince in spite of his gruff growls and sharp edges. There was still always a light and a glimmer in him she saw in his lavender eyes. She danced in that light and basked in it through the grumpiness.

Three years old now, she was truly starting to come into her own. The puppy awkwardness had slowly started to shed away to reveal a fine boned feminine figure. What once were wiggles of excitement were now dances of energy and grace. It seemed like a magic spell had gripped the girl and through the seasons transformed her to a lovely woman, just about to burst into the world come the blooming spring of her adulthood. Even the pearly scars on her face had begun to fade through the magic of time.

It had been a while since she had been staying close to the packland of Taviora, answering the calls of her free spirit with more frequency and determination than she had in her youth. Lately she had taken to shamelessly getting to her paws and loping off into the world only to return days, or possibly weeks later. The dangers of the night were real to her, but the call to roam overpowered her senses to near blindness. Eventually she always returned to the forests though, to the sides of Taika and Eldritch, assuring her parents she was alive and well before galloping off again into whatever horizon called to her. It had been a couple weeks since she had returned to her parents, and this day she was jumping from bush to bush, slowly making her spiraling way to their favorite dens. She had cleverly dodged Taika and found Eldritch relaxing in the summer sun. Her grin shined unseen on her face when he got to his feet, his uncertainty evident in his raised hackles.

Masque gave herself away with a rich laughter before she leapt from the bushes she had been hiding in. Out of his reach, she landed in a perfect playbow, tail wagging high above her head. Guess again! She barked happily, dashing around him, paws kicking up dirt and twigs, enticing him to play with her.