Change on the Wind

Hati Catori · 08-20-2012, 03:09 PM

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long post is long!

Word Count → 636

A wolf's howl rent the air. Hati's ears perked, noting with surprise the authority and commanding edge; it was the call of a leader, summoning his subjects. But it was not one he recognized.

The dark wolfdog stepped from the stables into the bright sunlight, self-consciously brushing strands of hay from his mane. He was obedient and he would come when called, but it didn't make him any less frightened of what he would find. For a moment he feared his father had abdicated the throne. Vigilante was preoccupied lately, and weary, over-burdened by the lifetime of responsibilities he had shouldered. They were all worried about Ayita's health, a gloomy cloud that hung over their household. He could only assume the worst.

A flurry of hooves told him Alder had left already, and Hati hesitated, wanting to follow as quickly as he could. The sooner he arrived, the less attention he would incur. For the first time, he would ride into public. He went to Asagi, his mother's chestnut mare; she had given him permission to ride the horse while she was bedridden, knowing the horse would not get exercise otherwise. Someday he would have his own partner, but for now, she would have to do. She tossed her head and whinnied with recognition, prancing easily from her stall as Hati led her. His nerves were jangling, too engrossed with worry over the surprise meeting to focus on the mundane ritual of saddling her, replacing her halter with a bridle, placing his foot in the stirrup and mounting. Practice made it come naturally, and they set off at a brisk trot, wind streaming past his troubled face.

They arrived at the amphitheatre without incident, and Hati slipped to the ground, patting Asagi's neck gratefully. He would thank his mother later for lending him the amiable horse, and dropped the reins, letting the mare wander. Hawthorne was nearby, and the horses would likely stay together. Hati hurried through the crowd with his head down, not making eye contact with his fellow Courtiers. It went against his desire to be polite and fastidiously well-behaved, but there was someone in the group he wanted to avoid above all else: Skoll. The brothers had a shaky truce around the house, but neither had apologized for the fight, nor had they spoken much at all since. Terra arrived with her infant sons in her arms, and Hati smiled weakly in greeting, though he wasn't sure she had noticed him. He was in too much a hurry to find his seat. He was alone for a just a moment, before a shadow cast made him look up. Alder was there, claiming the seat beside him, flooding him with relief. He flashed the Marshal a nervous smile, still tense about the meeting but secretly hoping Alder would notice he had ridden the whole way there by himself.

It was then he registered the wolf speaking on the stage was Silvano Sadira, the refugee from Crimson Dreams. As he spoke, Hati felt an immediate pang of sympathy for the fallen Dauphin, and cringed to think of the disgrace of the Serf title after all his seasons of loyalty to the kingdom. What had happened? Had his father really agreed to this? He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, anxious and unhappy. It was no reflection on Silvano, whom he considered a friend after they had tended to the horses together. It was rather his fear of the unknown, and the culmination of all the unwelcome changes that had coincided recently. His pale eyes were wide, gazing at the new Constable he was honor-bound to follow. He had no questions he dared voice aloud. Skoll's loud challenge made him flinch, though he did wonder what the answer would be: what would this mean for their kingdom?

Table by Raze!

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