I wasn't nearly qualified enough for motherhood, not without a mate. From the time I was a pup my life had been laid out in front of me: I would train under the elder Speaker and, upon coming of age, be elevated along with Quixote to the leadership position at the right hand of my brother and spend my remaining days directing the pack's actions as the Dream Speaker. No hunting, I was too valuable. No offspring, my Dreams were too important. All that went out the window when my life went up in flames and my brother led me from our scorched forest; the survival of my pack and my bloodline rested on our haunches. Now it's just my haunches. I barely managed to feed my surviving pup on our pilgrimage to Moladion because I'm a terrible hunter, and I couldn't even foresee this unseasonable blizzard!

I make my way back to my den, plump rabbit in tow, weaving my way through the forest past marked trees as the storm picks up. I count my blessings for having caught my prey before the snow fell as I fight my way through too-deep slush; how is it already up to my underbelly?? A sound catches my ear, reflexively jerking my head and slowing me to a trot. There it is again, that can't be... I fight through the freezing slush towards the phantom voice, and drop the meal meant for my boy as his dark figure is swallowed by the snow. MALACHI!! In an instant, the distance between us is closed and I claw and fish for my son, the snow stinging me until I find my target and free him from his prison. He's practically frozen solid! It's ok baby, momma's here, you're going to be ok. He manages to get to his feet and I quickly snatch up the hare and nose him along at a brisk canter.

It doesn't take long to reach our den where I immediately drop the rabbit and curl around Malachi, desperate to clean him of snow and ice and warm him before he's further affected. Don't. Sleep. I order firmly; I can't lose you too, not so soon after Isabelle! Malachi manages to squeak back a response and I feel a little relieved. Stories, they seem to be all I’m good for since losing my connection to the Moon and the Dreams she gifted me, I think my dear son was a fair trade. I smile endearingly and tighten my hold on my boy, chuckling lightly. Another hero story, hmm? How about Tekiotl* the Demon Slayer~! Malachi does love his heroic tales and his excitement is doubly reassuring, it’s impossible for me not to swoon at his reaction before beginning in earnest.

Long ago, before the mountains rose, before the seas filled, and before the forests grew, there was a mighty wolf by the name of Tekiotl who was known the land over for being able to capture any prey; no beast was too large nor too quick nor too tough for Tekiotl. Tekiotl’s aunt, Nochtli**, was the Dream Speaker for his pack, and warned Tekiotl of the dangers she foresaw. For many, many years he kept his pack well fed and safe from predators, until Nochtli warned of Demons to come. Massive walking nightmares of shadow and flame, they were unlike anything anyone had ever seen! The Speaker told of countless packs beyond the horizon that fell to the beasts, but Tekiotl was the biggest, strongest, fastest wolf, and he was not afraid of the Demons. You cannot fight the Demons, Tekiotl. They are stronger than you know, you must outwit them! Against the pleas of the Speaker, and determined to prove his greatness, Tekiotl ventured out to meet the Demons in battle that they would be stopped for good. Despite towering above the wolf, Tekiotl was not afraid as he engaged the Demons, biting at their hides and clawing at their horrible faces- but his advances were quickly stopped when he was struck to the ground with a single blow! Badly wounded, Tekiotl returned to his pack ashamed, and as his wounds were tended to, the Speaker Nochtli appeared before him once again. Tekiotl. I warned you not to face the Demons, but now they have been provoked, and I have seen our pack’s end by their flames. As he healed, Tekiotl thought about what the Speaker had said, and what she had meant by it. Determined to change fate, and prove the Speaker wrong, Tekiotl set off one last time to face the Demons. This time, he did not directly attack them, but rather provoked them, and led them to a great lake. The Demons, so enraged by the quick Tekiotl, were tricked into the lake where they succumbed to the water and hardened to stone! The great Tekiotl returned to his pack triumphant in his quest after heeding Nochtli’s wisdom. Tekiotl would go on to be a great Alpha, but those are stories for another time. By the time my story was finished, Malachi had stopped shivering and I gave him an affectionate kiss on the head. How was that for a story about a hero?

*OOC : Tek- sounds like “Tech”; -i- makes a long “ee”; -otl sounds like the end of “bottle” or possibly preschooler trying to identify an otter.

**OOC :Noch- sounds like “Knock”; -t- make a long “tea”; -li sound like “lee”