The last time he stood before the tomb was when he had asked Aster to become his mate. Now, almost two years later, he had returned to pay his respects. The four stones still stood in front of the caved in den, but the winter snows had erased the bloody paw prints. Each stone represented the parents of Halcyon and Aster, four great wolves who had died before their time. Within the cave, rested the bones of Tick Tock and Tobias, the old alphas before Halcyon's reign.
It was here that those who had passed would be honored and it was here that Beltane would show her leader how she would take care of their memory. Though the bodies of Iblis, Rhae, Aithne, and Praetor did not reside within the plains, their spirits did in their children. It was important to Halcyon that they be honored and the wolfess had proven before that she was wise beyond her years. He was curious about her and was interested to know more about where she gained such wisdom. Something about her was so familiar and yet so foreign. Sitting next to the graves as he waited for her, the russet wolf quietly howled a lullaby. It was a song his mother had sang when she wanted her cubs to sleep. A distant, fuzzy memory came to his mind and a single tear fell from his eye as he hung on to it for dear life.
A long time ago, Halcyon and his siblings had all been together in the den. Viserys, Aurai, Isolde, Mugen, and himself were all tucked away as the night crept over the plains. For a short time, they were a happy family and things were perfect. Iblis and Rhae curled around their cubs and the large wolfess began to sing a tune. Their father joined in and soon the whole family was howling joyously. Sighing heavily, the older wolf wondered how his life could have been different had his parents not died. He probably never would have met Aster and his own cubs may never be born. The thought of them made his tail give a little wag. The day wore one and now he only pondered about his pups, wishing they would hurry up so he could meet them at last.
Eight - Loves Aster - Protects Solstice - Alpha of Asteraia
Father of Aspis, Idrisa, Archana, and Perun