It had been a few weeks since the storm that was Kaius had come and passed with his death. The wounds on my throat had healed, once again, and the wounds sustained by Astaroth and Aithne had also healed, but what hadn't healed was my pride. It was a huge reality check, that I was never truly safe and that I wasn't as strong as I had thought I was. I couldn't help but feel like a burden to those who had helped keep me alive again, especially to Astaroth, as he now spent a lot of time hovering over me protectively. If only I was bigger, stronger, faster, he wouldn't have to worry about me, fear about my safety, I would be able to hold my own in this world where I was an underdog. But I wouldn't stop fighting and surviving. If anything, this kick in the pride filled me with a fire, handed me a match and set me ablaze. Nobody believed in me, but I could do it.
Astaroth had REALLY been hovering over me. So much so, that it was almost suffocating. I loved him, and loved having him around, I needed some time to myself; at least more than what he gave me. I needed to stretch my legs and run and it was hard to do that when he was always so close by. I understood why he was doing it, after the amount of times i'd been hurt under his watch. But today, with winter having throwing my hormones crazy and giving me particularly dirty thoughts and urges, I needed to just be alone. I had a lot of stuff on my mind, and with Astaroth so close, there was no way i'd be able to focus on what I need to focus on when my mind wanted nothing more than to jump him any time he was close.
So when he went out to hunt, I slipped from the den and ran. Ran as fast and as far as I thought I could make it before Astaroth would return, see me missing, and come looking for me. I couldn't help the joyful laughter that came from me as I ran, enjoying the feel of the wind through my fur. I felt free whenever I ran, because running was the only thing I was good at, other than getting hurt and worrying Astaroth. Running kept me alive on multiple occasions and had even made Astaroth proud of me, which meant the world to me. Unfortunately, while I was normally a graceful runner, faster than anyone I have ever met, my hind leg had not healed quite correctly, giving me a bit of a funny gait; though it did not impede my speed or run, and it was only really visible when I walked.
I didn't have a predetermined destination in mind as I ran, I simply ran. Yet where I ended up made me smile: the crags. It was a place full of memories for me, and I guess instinctively I was just drawn to this place. It had been the site of where my life changed forever, where my soul was made complete: the place where Astaroth imprinted upon me. It was hard to imagine that the shy, anxiety filled wolf back then was me today. In fact I almost never shyed away from a situation, although maybe I was still just as awkward as back then. I remember seeing a younger Astaroth waltz into the small gathering and challenge that large, vulgar male who had perched himself upon a ledge like a wolf among sheep. It had been a quick glance my way as I ran to my only friend back then Enderly, but that's all it took for our lives to be set on this wild and strange path together.
I slowed to a trot as I entered the field that had held all those wolves that day. I knew that Astaroth would probably have gotten back to the den already and noticed my absence, I could expect him to track me down any time now; something that was made even easier for him to do by the heavy pheromones I was giving off during my heat. I quickly made my way to the small cliff and waterfall, scaling it to the exact ledge the male had perched himself upon several years back now. I laid down, tail swiping side to side as I waited for Astaroth to arrive. I knew he'd be upset for me leaving without telling him, but i'm glad that I left, and i'm glad that I came here. I loved him, with all of his flaws, and I hoped that he loved me too, despite causing him so much trouble all the time and being the farthest thing to his ideal female.
6 years/Chained to Astaroth/Loves an idiot/Raptor of Iromar
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