As the injured queen staggers forwards in the water she soon finds herself resting upon the calico female's shoulder. For a moment she freezes uncertain of how to proceed. Yes, Hietala was a very proud creature and often independent to the point of detriment. This time she pushed her nature to the wayside. Gazing at Maiko with her cloudy brown eyes she nods in acceptance of her help. Side by side they wadded through the water together and onto the nearest bank. Each step caused searing pain to shoot up the older woman's shoulder and neck. She gritted her teeth and just kept pushing onward, reminding herself that the shore was nearby.
She notices the hardness and uncertainty in her companion as the topic of kin comes up. Although Hietala is curious to know who this stranger was, she knew better than to pick at a raw nerve. There is also an admiration in standing on one’s paws regardless if your family was of noble birth or humble commoner. The fallen Ice Queen had not had an easy life. Although her father was a King her Mother had been a nomad. Lenore had been … an emotionally distant mother, but no less nurturing. Hietala was the only pup born in that litter and had been very much wanted by her mother and father, for so many years her mother had believed that she was barren and unable to conceive pups of her own. King Haggard had soon moved onto new lovers and sired many children. Leaving Lenore to raise Hietala almost by herself.
A soft sigh leaves her as she heads towards the grass as instructed. Every now and then she wonders if her mother would be proud of her or ashamed of the choices her only daughter had made in life. Gingerly she lowered herself on the soft grass and rested her head upon her legs that were stretched out in front of her. She waits patiently as Maiko examines the work to be done. She lifts her head and listens as the younger female explains that she can clean the wound but she would need to go and fetch a healer from their pack if she wanted real assistance. “Anything you can manage would be greatly appreciated,” she smiles meekly before returning her head to her paws and wincing in pain.
She tried her best to lay still and let the assistant work their magic, however she had never been one to sit back and do nothing and she finds herself shifting. A little movement here and a little adjustment there, stretching her skin and fur so Maiko would have an easier task ahead of her. The younger female attempts to make idle chit chat and the fallen Queen finds herself taking a deep breath, holding it and then slowly exhaling. “I’ll be honest with you, Maiko-chan, that memories of home do not bring me comfort,” she wipes her nose across her white leg.
She could have just left it there but that wouldn’t have been polite. Besides, there wasn’t anything else she could do while she lay here being poked and prodded. Though to be fair Maiko was doing a great job and there were times when Hietala barely noticed her going through the matted hairs across her shoulders. "I was born in a thicket not too far from my father’s pack in the meadows. I spent most of my time with my mother, exploring the world on my own terms and learning everything I could. Occasionally she would take me to the meadow where I got to play with the other pups, including my half siblings.” She smirked before she added, ”My father was very promiscuous.”
"I was my mother’s only child, and I guess she must have been rather protective towards me.” For a moment she falls silent and thinks about her dear mother. "I lost my mother to an illness during my third winter. She was seventeen years old and had a few more years left in her. I guess the Moon Goddess knew it was her time to go to the stars." She stares off into the void just infront of her nails. "I sealed her away under the tree where I was born and infromed my father and his pack of her passing. That night I joined them under the stars and listened to stories about her. Though none of them were particularly exciting. My mother was a fine teacher and excelent pup sitter for when the others went on hunts. She lived a very humble and quiet life." Unlike her headstrong daughter.
"I don’t know why, but even after she died I didn’t join my father’s pack. I decided to travel North where I was welcomed in by the Alpha female of the Thunder Mountain Pack. Their pack had always been trusted allies with my father and the three sisters even adopted me as the fourth member of their family.” Once again she pauses. Her heart beating against her chest to the point she thought it might break. Hopefully one day she will be able to remember the faces of the past and feel only love. She’s had enough of feeling loss, pain and despair.
Yours Sincerely,
Hietala *, The Fallen Ice Queen