Word Count › 376
The most massive characters are seared with scars
Rain fell on the lands of the Waste, a spring storm to cleanse the clan by washing away the last traces of blood and death from the war with the wolves. Of course, the stains were too deep and too numerous to completely disappear from Inferni history, and Vesper knew it would take more than a drizzle to put out the fire. They would always be feared and hated, and while her soul struggled against the misunderstandings, she knew she would not see everlasting peace in this lifetime. Perhaps she would be reborn as a wolf, and continue the work from the other side. The thought brought a smirk to her lips.
A hybrid howl pulled her from her thoughts, and reluctantly she pulled out from underneath the deer pelt flap at the entrance to her cave. She’d heard the first cry, but for once the constant patrols had made her weary, and she knew some eager young scout would be raring to meet the newcomer. Whoever it is chose a hell of a time to show up, she thought, just as a raindrop landed in her eye. Half-blind now in addition to half-deaf, she made slower progress than she meant to toward the border, small paws squelching in the soft earth and eardrums ringing from the peals of thunder.
When the border stakes finally came into view, the Centurion cantered the last few yards on all fours and paused, taking in the gathered group. Emmanuelle was as lovely as ever, but the war had changed the sweetness of her heterochromatic eyes, and for a long time now Ves had ceased to feel a warm spark toward her. The wolves had taken away all of their innocence, and she didn’t feel obligated to protect her anymore. Trying not to frown, she glanced at roly-poly Zana beside her monster of a horse, and after she had acknowledged her clan mates, stared at the blue-grey newcomer.
“So who is this?” Vesper asked, addressing one of her comrades although her blue eyes remained fixed on the stranger. She could only assume that he’d told them all the relevant information. Her lips twitched in a half-smirk, and her tail shook water behind her. “Unless you want to speak for yourself.”
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