Kaukab awoke to find the twins missing, the ground still warm where they’ll all fallen asleep together. He sprang instantly to his paws in panic - their names firing off his tongue like the calls of a terrified bird - before his mind caught up with his galloping heart and he decided to look for them. Part of the lad was not surprised that the girls had left without him; they were as untamable as the wind, playfully cruel, and did whatever they pleased. Both of the ivory-and-black faes had probably thought it would be funny to scare their betrothed a little bit. Thinking of their dark green eyes glittering with laughter helped ease some of the acid worry burning at his heart . . . and so Kab set off to track them. They hadn’t bothered to hide their scent, which only confirmed that they wanted to be found again. The starry prince followed their perfume as it twined gently through the forest with a determined furrow in his brow and energy lending a spring to his step.

Nukilik and Kallik’s scent wove beyond trunks and branches, over carpets of fallen leaves still silver with frost. Eventually it merged with the cologne of another wolf: an adult male whom Kaukab had never met before, although he recognized how this signature sewed itself into that of the twins’. Could this be their father? The one with which Kershov hoped to form an alliance? Trepidation scurried down the boy’s russet back. Kershov, quite frankly, unsettled the earthen teen. Kab was certain he wanted to come face to face with whatever brute his father had deemed worthy of tying himself to. Would this other king be cold? Aggressive? Perhaps he harbored a soft spot for his pups - because neither Kallik nor Nukilik seemed like the type who had ever been abused. Trying to calm himself as the path finally exited the forest and curved into the plains, Kaukab took deep breaths and picked up his pace. Only a little farther, now. He mustn’t keep his brides waiting!

Grass soon brushed Kaukab’s belly, tumbling into tangles and rough patches as the terrain began to resemble more of a tundra. Huge boulders replaced towering trees, their crowns wreathed in a pearly mist. Mismatched eyes of sunlight and obsidian stared in wonder at the scenery . . . the little hessian had never before been to this part of Blossom Forest, and therefore felt in awe of what surrounded him. It was like . . . a sea of grass, undulating in the wind, colors muted and softened around the harsh shapes of dark rock scattered along the horizon. “Graes Waegholm . . .” This desolate wasteland was to be his home now. When Kab remembered the lush greenery of Wudubearo, with its emerald moss and it’s vibrant wildflowers, his heart gave a painful squeeze.

A few more minutes of plodding over the terra, and at last he came upon the gathering. Pebbled pathways hidden among the rolling hills spilled into a clearing shaded in grey fog that skimmed the ground, momentarily obscuring the wolves who joined together. The perfumes of Kallik and Nukilik were much stronger now, along with that of their father and another sister. With his tail hovering at a respectable height just below his ankles, head lowered, eyes downcast, Kaukab walked slowly up to the massive black-caped alpha who surely called this place his kingdom. After clearing his throat nervously, the young wolf started to speak.

“Er . . . hello, Siku Sir. My name is Kaukab. I was told I am to be betrothed to the twins?” The last part escaped as a shaky question, and Kab quickly bit his tongue, scraping one paw in the dirt. “I mean - I have been betrothed to the twins. I plan to respect that union, and hope to offer my strengths to Graes Waegholm.” Never mind that the dusky lad had no expertise to drawn on yet, or that he’d never been away from his family or birthplace before now. Never mind that Siku was still so damn huge and intimidating, just like Kershov. The snow-speckled soldier had a job to do here. Expectations lay heavy on his shoulders. And - wait, who was that?

Gaze brightening, Kaukab’s attention suddenly went toward a ginger-hued wolfess standing off to the side, her lanterns not quite meeting either brute. She had a petite stature, with an almost vulpine face; the pelt that hugged her small frame looked thin and short, nothing like the thick robes Kab himself wore. In short - she was fascinating, because Kaukab had never seen a creature like her before. “Hi there! You’re very lovely. What’s your name?”