It had taken falling into that deep looking pond for me to finally realize that it was time to begin working on myself once more. To quit wallowing in the shadows, languid and growing fat. I often felt as if the backs of my ears were burning from the gaze of Aithne in the heavens, her disapproval so strong that even death couldn’t hinder it. She had always had such a visage. The kind that could make a wolf re-think their entire being just so she wouldn’t look at them in such a harsh light. As a child I had bucked beneath the weight of it, a furious little fire-sprite who didn’t like being told what to do. Then she had died and so had Praetor in one fell swoop and I had been as helpless then as I was when my entire world came crashing down with the appearance of Blackthorne.

I was cursed. It was a knowledge deep inside me that whenever I endeavored to do something, anything, that trouble would appear.

So I decided I would hunt for trouble before it found me again. But first I had to shed a few pounds. I began to loop the border of Taviora daily and sometimes spent hours running. At first I groaned, annoyed at the way my breath seemed to become labored so fast, but as the days dragged on and my body began to come alive again, I felt centered. Stronger in myself. Once I could lope for hours without feeling the need to keel over and die, I knew it was time to turn my pursuits to something focused. I would be Taviora’s trickster.

That didn’t stop my daily exercise though and besides, I had to let the new Alphess get settled before I could harangue her about whatever tasks she had. Once upon a time, I had been the one people would clamor too in search of guidance. It smarted a bit but I would bite my tongue because I hadn’t been that great of a Queen, less of an Empress, and maybe blood didn’t make one a good ruler. Aithne had been great. I was just a failure.

I catch the scent of the new female on my rounds, pausing mid-stride to sniff the air before turning my path until it aligned with her fading trail. I moved quietly though I was much heavier than the female who had come before me. The brush of a leaf against my paw has my ears snapping back in irritation. Damnit! I freeze, breath inaudible as I wait, before stepping forward again and peering out from behind an oak tree. I see dirt scattering everywhere and a chocolate female pulling furs out. The kind that had years of dust and grime on them. Who was she?

”Halt thief!” I demand suddenly, stepping out with my fur on end, hackles rising as threat emanates from me. My tail rises dominantly as I glare. ”Who are you to come stealing from the dens of the forest folk? We do not tolerate outsiders!” Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Zelda had always been kind to outsiders and Midna was her blood so probably the same, but I had to scare the female. Besides, it felt good bossing someone around again.