The tiny creature had no clue why she had even met up with her horrible excuse for a sister, she didn't know why she had accepted the journal that the woman had handed her. She had seen the dark glimmer in her eyes and had known that there was nothing pure, nothing good that would ever come from such a beast. Instead of tossing aside the parcel the first chance she had the pygmy woman had returned to her old den, the workshop she went when space was what she craved.
It had been a while since she had taken the time to indulge herself in the written words of another and the scripts writing with it's curls and flourishes was not easy to comprehend. Firefly had marked the place in the old worn and faded journal where she believed the tiny woman would be interested to find information from their past..but instead of flipping right to the chapter Zana had started from the beginning.
It had been the life and times of Iskata Sadira, her mother, the one time Matriarch of Phoenix Valley. It was her secrets, her worries, her laughter and tears all bound together..the private thoughts of a woman that Zana had always believed was a monster. The words in the journal tugged at her heart, her fingers trembled and a cold chill slithered up her spine as the truth of the woman she never wished to know was drawn into light.
She had reached the parts where Firefly had wanted her to start and slowly the diary slipped from her tiny fingers and clattered to the floor. It was confirmation, but with the poisonous bite of a rattlesnake. She had never believed there was any doubt she had been a creature of the clan but to put a name and a face to the man who was her father. The bitter sound of irony was laced with the laughter that cascaded from her lips as she bowed her head between her knees.
She was a Lykoi in blood..but it came with a price.. Samuel Lykoi was her father, it was a bittersweet knowledge that came at a price..
Helotes was trying, trying desperately, to ride Potra, but she just wasn’t having it. Between trying to buck him and slinging equine curse words at him, the Hydra male had had enough. So instead, he took to leading her, and had been doing so for several hours now. He was tired, but he knew she was more tired still, after all that bucking and braying. Still, he knew it was time to head home, and so turned in the direction of the mansion.
His path would lead him through the hot springs; not the best place for a horse not sure of its feet, but Helotes was sure he could lead the filly across without any problems. Even in the warming air of spring the mist clung to the earth here, and the bubbling of the springs spewing it forth like the earth was a breathing dragon. It was wet here too, and Helotes could feel the sweat begin to gather beneath his fur. He wiped his eyes then, so in the moment of darkness, when the laughter came, he was sure it was the ghost of his brother. His fur immediately stood on end, ears twitching in every direction, and Potra snorted in surprise. But it did not take him long to realize the voice had been female, and it had been Zana’s.
He could recognize the lilt of her voice from anywhere, and immediately his heart skipped a beat, and he turned from his path to head towards her old den, a hollowed out tree, which was not far off. Soon it came into view, appearing in the mist like a hulking, twisted thing. The laughter had faded, but Helotes was still on edge because of it, Zana? He called out. He wondered what she might be doing out here, rather than being in the mansion with Timori.
The pygmy creature had not expected anyone to find her in the old den. That was a foolish idea though for there was one soul who could find her wherever she was in the lands. It shouldn't have surprised her when his warm voice came calling through the opening of her one time den. She flicked her ears back slightly as she abandoned the book on the floor of her den and crept to the entrance to glance upon Helotes.
Her grey lilac orbs shimmered darkly as she spoke. "Helotes..?" She wasn't certain what he was doing out but she didn't mind. Time with Helotes was few and far between anymore now that she had been placed back into the ranks she had grown to know so well. She wouldn't hold a grudge to anyone for the position she had once held being filled but she knew that she would have to prove herself to her lord to keep within the ranks she knew.
She let her claws trace small circles on the bark of the tree as she asked softly. "How are you.." She knew he would know what she meant. There was no need for words after the Hydra had showed his true loyalties to the clan and to his leader. She had seen the pain he had gone through and honestly she hoped she was never placed in a position to try her own loyalties. She wasn't certain she could make the right choice.
Umber eyes peered into the darkness of her den as she spoke, and even though she came to the entrance to talk to him, his focus was there. Something was amiss; why was she hear? She had abandoned this den when Timori had come along, so why was she back? This was a place of comfort to her, a place where in the past she had been alone. She had come here to be alone for some reason. But before he could think on it more, his heart tore his attention back to her.
He could drown in her eyes, those deep lavender pools framed in dark lashes. Her orange fur was beginning to reappear; he was glad of that. She was asking him how he was, a silly and strangely formal question, so he ignored it, instead, sliding a dark gloved hand onto her ginger cheek and drawing her in for a coyote kiss. He held it for a moment before sliding his muzzle along hers to lick her cheek, Zana, what’s wrong? He asked, surprised that he had even done so. But he could sense that something was off, and he needed to know why.
She knew it was foolish to act so prim and proper with Helotes. He had always been able to see through her games and strike right to the heart of the matter. This time was no different. She cast her eyes downward when he graced her with the gentle kiss, her own nuzzle against his face was barely recognizable as she sighed softly. Trust Helotes to cut deep and true, ignoring her question and presenting her with one of his own.
She lifted those grey lilac orbs as she whispered softly. "I know who I am..." It was barely an answer, hardly an explanation but she wasn't even sure what to think of the truth yet. The male that was her father had tried to kill her when she was just a pup, some cruel mocking game, not unlike when Haku had pinned her in a rabbit's den and she'd barely escaped, the horrible creature having nipped the very tip of her tail fur off as her ribbons had unraveled.
The sigh that escaped her lips was bitter as she closed her eyes again, the scent of her cousin and lover so rich she couldn't help but reveal the twisted truth. "Samuel Lykoi is my father.." for the first time she had confirmation that she was a Lykoi in more than just name alone. The same blood that founded the clan flowed through her very veins... but instead of being proud she was afraid.
He loved how she just melted into his touches now, whatever rigidness there had been before had gone. But now, there was something else troubling the little femme, and after they had pulled away from each other she told him; she had found out who her father was. He remember in the past she had told him of how she was unsure of her heritage before, but somehow she had now found the truth, perhaps from that book lying behind her like a discarded carcass.
His eyes met hers then, and then it dawn on him; Samel Lykoi? That sounded familiar- wait. Oh Zana… she’s your sister. Was all he could say, but that was all that had to be said. Helotes knew that Samael Lykoi was notorious for being a breeder, and so it would only make sense that he was the unknown sire. Helotes could only imagine how this made Zana feel, Are you… ok? He asked, look up at her with scrunched eyebrows. He knew she wouldn’t be too happy about being Halo’s sister, if only half-sister, but how would she feel besides that? Glad? Angry? He just had to know.
His touch was something she could get lost in, almost able to forget the truths that had been so cruelly dug up by a sister she hardly knew nor cared to know deeper. The warmth of his fingertips was too much and as though he knew he pulled away just in time. The littlest member of the clan didn't know what she thought. Her heart was troubled with news that was black and bitter. Once she thought finding out who her father was would be some grand adventure but now that she knew.. it was only something she wished she could bury once more. She had survived so long without the knowledge.. she could have lived forever with a ghost of a name as the only detail she had.
That wasn't the case now and the pygmy woman had to face reality. Her shoulders drooped as Helotes came to the one conclusion that she had tried to ignore. The one woman who hated her with the deepest passion in the clan was the closest thing she had to kin here as well. She shrugged slightly as her fingers brushed the pages of the journal. "I had no choice in who my mother and father were.. does it matter who my siblings are?" She would never be the one to tell Halo they were related. She was not afraid of the woman, there was little to fear of her now.. but she wasn't certain if she wanted ties that bound them either.
She turned those sad orbs back to Helotes as she spoke honestly. "Ezekiel is more of a brother to me than Halos will ever be my sister.. no matter how pure her blood and mine might run.." There was nothing about the woman she could have ever admired. She had been vain, arrogant and conceited... She had skill in what she did, but her heart was cold as stone and Zana believed she would never change. What did it matter if she did... she would never embrace Zana as a sister.
Zana was difficult to read in this moment, so Helotes had to let go trying to do so. Either way, she seemed indignant, frustrated and sad, but content in a way, finally knowing what had eluded her for so long. She spoke of how Ezekiel was like a brother to her more than anything and Helotes nodded. Omni had become closer to him as a sister than Columbine had been as a brother before his death, so he could understand how the bonds of blood were not always the strongest.
Helotes lifted a hand to draw clawed fingers through Zana’s dirty blond frizz; it seemed whatever dye she had used had scared away the naturally occurring ringlets; he missed them, but knew they would return soon; he wanted his old Zana back.
Then, coming a little closer to the entrance, Helotes rested an arm on a nearby bough and then rested his cheek against it and gazed at her, So then… He started softly, You’re a full blood Lykoi. We’re more related than I had thought. Some may think us crazy for being lovers. He chuckled slightly, remembering how Valkyrie had acted when she believed she and he were related after their tryst. It was a silly thing. Though Helotes would have frowned upon the coupling of siblings, or even first cousins, the Lykoi tree was so tangled that it would be difficult to find exactly how closely related he and Zana were. He could ask Kaena, or even Myrika if he truly wanted to know, but honestly, he really didn’t.
Her mind was a whirl with the truth of it all. Where she belonged, finding the truth and trying to link everything together. She hadn't even thought of the fact that confirming her identity as a Lykoi also confirmed their relations were closer than they had originally thought. As Helotes reminded her of this, his fingers rolling through her shortened mane she raised her head suddenly, her eyes bright as she whispered. "Does it..bother you?" Her heart pounded at the idea of the warrior not wanting her because of their ties of blood. She knew things were different in the lands where DaVinci held the place as their alpha but this was not Eire and it was true, others might frown upon their union... did Helotes himself..
She pulled away from him a second as she scanned his face, trying to find the answer before here but it wasn't written in his expression. Her ears pinned back as she asked again. "Do you not want me...because of something we can't change?" She didn't believe this is what he was saying when he'd spoken but she had to be certain. It would break her heart and make life in the clan hell for the pygmy woman if he said otherwise..but she wouldn't force this astranged relationship on him because of finding the truth of it all.
After he spoke, a strange look dawned on her face, and she turned her full attention on him and away from the book. She asked if it bothered him, and he looked at her with a confused expression which was only righted after she continued to asking if he no longer wanted her because of their blood ties. He flicked and ear, a strange grimace coming over his face, before it melted into a soft grin, Of course I still want you, I want you more than you could imagine. You could be my own sister and it would not change. He leaned back against the branch and then laughed, Of course, if you were my sister, I wouldn’t do it. But still… His voice faltered under the absurdity of what he was saying.
Helotes came forward then, a cupped his lovers face in a large paw, Nothing could happen now to change what I feel for you. It’s set in stone mi amor. He leaned in then to bump noses with the small woman, and looked lovingly into her eyes.
She was a dark brooding thing when it came down to the truth of the matter. At times she could be light hearted and gentle, even sweet and sassy, but somehow in her life she had always come to the conclusion that she was not good enough, or that she had to have approval or even just a need to be wanted and needed.. when things got bad the tiny creature turned in on herself and shunned the world. The darkness had started to creep across her heart with the thoughts haunting her that Helotes might not want her for what they really were now, it was silly, she knew, but she could barely trust herself, yet alone another.
Her life was a strange complex web that she had just begun to unravel, in ways the others of the clan knew her better than she knew herself. Helotes was more aware of who she really was than herself for the small woman's obsession with belonging and her need for security created a vast world of disabilities within herself and her innercore. She should have been glad when Helotes spoke up against her thoughts but she was more stunned than anything. Her grey lavender orbs shone with tears as she lifted her head, leaning her face and muzzle into the warmth of his palm as she stuttered. "Nothing?"
Her eyes gazed up into his face with love, though a small voice reminded her in a cruel manner that she had been the one to set the distance between them. Forcing the male she loved to beg for her hand from their leader, knowing that Ezekiel felt off towards their relationship. She didn't know if her quest had done more good or bad but hearing that she hadn't lost Helotes for a matter of blood warmed her soul.
The soft storm that raged in her eyes was quite becoming, though he would never say that to her in this fragile state. The way the tears gathered in her eyes, reflecting the dim light that cascaded into the hovel of the tree made it seem as if precious stones clustered in the inky corners of her vision. He was truly in love with the small woman, and despite her now having confirmed her heritage, there was something more pressing that he had to tell her.
Helotes slid a large finger to wipe away a stray tear, and soft umber eyes radiated joy and understand as he began to speak, Zana, you sure have put me through hell, and I know for damn sure I’ve done the same to you. But I feel like we can face everything together and overcome it, whether it be the attack on Inferni or your being the sister of the serpent. He chuckled slightly, But, at least we will be together through all of it… Zana, Ezekiel has given me your hand, and I intend to take and have it forevermore. And with that he leaned in to kiss the girl deeply, the woman who would be his for the rest of their lives.
She loved the way he spoke to her and she thrived on his touch. She bowed her head and leaned into his touch as he spoke. It was only mere moments before she lifted her head again to gaze into those eyes. She could loose herself in the tenderness of his gaze, though she would never tell him if he didn't know already. The two of them were a mystery, the product of a forbidden love that the world would be forced to accept..and with every passing word from his muzzle she felt her heart beating faster and faster. She had had fears that Ezekiel wouldn't allow their mateship but here was confirmation that he had in some way allowed Helotes to take her as his own. She couldn't speak, atleast not right away, though the love and hope that rose to frame her face was more than enough.
And then he kissed her. The beating of her heart that she thought could get no faster seemed to burst with the raw emotion and love of their bond. She leaned into his hold as the tiny woman closed her eyes and savored the moment, wishing it would last forever.. but knowing that these tender seconds were just that and they must be savored like the rare beauty. It took longer than she would have imagined to recover but when she did she whispered softly. "And I intend to be yours forevermore.. if you will have me.." She felt the tremor of tears that flooded her eyes cascade over her lids as she laughed softly. Even in the face of war and terror she knew that they would be together. She was afraid but she would have Helotes beside her every step of the way and she would press on courageously.
