Zelda was very much the light side of this coin. It was probably odd in ways unknown to many just how similar the pair were but in different ways. Both held to their morals, their words. Zelda wasn’t about to go back on her word to Halcyon, Aster, Pine and Cenmatl though either. SHe had promised she would get all their children back safe, and regardless what would come of her she would do it. However, light and dark were always doomed to clash and clash it would. Zelda’s shield to Blackthorne’s sword and it was hard for either to take ground. Would the shield knock the sword out of the hands of it’s wielder? Or would the sword at some point find a way around the shields defenses? Zelda was the Guardian of the Forest, her blood called for her to protect those that could not protect themselves, the exact opposite drive of the wolf that stood before her now.

Zelda didn’t come to fight though. She wanted to avoid fighting with the wolf if all else failed. Needless bloodshed solved nothing after all. How he ascended to the throne though, while bloodless, wasn’t by any means anything to be proud of. Sure… not everyone could be as peaceful and forgiving as the auburn and tan wolfess, or her companion and their family. She hardly doubts that this wolf came alone though, he had plenty of time, and she wasn’t exactly stealthy in her approach. She might have attracted the attention of all his pack as far as she knew, but her intentions were not to turn this into a brawl. Bloodshed would solve nothing here… not for her, not for him. If he killed Zelda and Teza he would only encite the rage of Taviora on them. They would rally at her death, she was certain. Peaceful as they were Pine, Cenmatl, even her uncle Halcyon she was sure, would rise up with all the forest wolves on their tails to forcefully remove those here. Zelda didn’t want that to happen.

He wasn’t going to make it easy though. It seems he had missed her meaning. She stood letting him talk and explain not interrupting him as he did so. Zelda thought though that he was too confident. He would have torn Pine to shreds? He would never know seeing as he was hiding behind the pups as little shields. He discredited her, wrote her off because she loved her children enough to let go of the pack for their safety… Zelda couldn’t say she wouldn’t have done the same if placed in the same position they were. Size didn’t dictate skill though, perhaps he didn’t know that Pine had skillfully dispatched the lands previous alpha before her. Who knew… maybe he would still be next, yet by her fangs. Having no heart didn’t make you stronger… having things you cared about, wanted to protect gave you genuine power and strength to do things that normal will power couldn’t. Zelda had seen it first paw.

She finished speaking though when he silenced himself. He moves and Zelda watches carefully as he places Aspis at the forefront, and Zelda was genuinely curious as to what he was doing when he asked the boy if he had been harmed ‘without cause’. Her ears flicked slightly ‘without cause’ meant to her that he likely had laid paw or fang on the children for falling ‘out of line’ in some way. What rules did they have to keep to to being punished. Her gaze hardened, not comforted at all even at Aspis’ words, if anything her resolve strengthened. Zelda lets him continue showing off the boy as if he was some prize, she guessed in this case he was… and it felt dirty thinking that she was going to be tempting fate as she negotiated all their return.

He says he is taking care of him, teaching him how to fight even. All that was well and fine but how would he know that Aspis’ parents would have never done so themselves if not given a chance. It was not like the boy was very old. He just had his first birthday when he was so ferociously torn from his family after all. This year would have been the year for him to learn, to be taught. What was being taught to him now? She tried to meet his eyes, she could tell he was annoyed by the dark wolves’ words she wanted to show him though that there was hope left. She hadn’t given up… she would never give up.

HIs words grew cold though, at the very least it seems some of what she had said had reached him. Though her head shook. ”If you give me all three you have my word as I said before. I feel that is more than fair enough to let you and your enemies fight your own battles. There is no need to involve those children further. Though what lies I have might have said, I have no idea. I have spoke no lies. I have no intentions of making enemies. I detest unnecessary bloodshed and will avoid it if possible.” She restates to him, wondering if that would be enough to show she meant it.

Though he went on to mention severing ties with their parents, that was impossible, but there was one thing she could do instead. ”I cannot, and refuse to break ties with their parents. However, instead if you were to give me their children, I will ask them all to leave you be, to live at peace in my forest with their entire family. I am rather close to both sides of the family, and they would listen to my reason. It is all they truly want at this point is to have their kids back. There is no need to threaten me and mine, and destroy anyone. I will keep my word, if you do.” Zelda says. She wondered if it would be enough. SHe wondered too if she could stay the angry parents rages too… WIth them safe she thought she could. They would owe her that much she would think to help her uphold the bargain. Blackthorne had a lot to gain by making this deal she thought. He would take the heat of of himself, leave him and his apparent other enemies to squabble and even keep their parents out of it further. Her gaze hardened though, narrowing upon him and her ears laying back slightly. She was not to be threatened, nor her family, or her pack, and she wasn’t going to stand down in this deal. If he made a single move towards her or her own, he would see the divine fury of the “Goddess” of the forest. She would leave with no less than his word, which seemed to be pretty important to him in keeping, that she would be taking all three home.