Zalen was no fool, he was no idiot, and he was very much in tune with the goings on of New Dawn’s small yet intricate society and he knew that there were some that were not happy with him. He could sense their whispers, their questions, ones they were afraid to ask him or say allowed; he could understand that, he had been acting somewhat strange as of late, due to the circumstances. Many wondered why he had not searched for Titania, others also asked why he so suddenly had taken to strict dominance over the females, and even a few had noticed his distance from the pack and his departure past the northern borders. He felt that should explain himself and simultaneously believed it was none of their business. This conflict forced him into a cold silence from which he desperately was trying to break.
In the midst of the sudden shift in New Dawn that was caused by Titania’s disappearance a horrific event had taken place; the young and beautiful Palaydrian had lost her litter. Zalen had been so concerned over his own pregnant mate that he hadn’t even truly noticed Drin’s maternal state until it was too late. It seemed that X’yrin’s prophesy of the spirits of their ancestral mother’s stealing the lives of the unborn pups was true; but Palaydrian, of all people, did not deserve it.
Zalen had seen the concerned and pained look in Jiva’s eyes, he knew it well; it was the same sadness deep within Shadowfang’s and surely mirrored in the Alpha’s own. And so, today the ebony king had gone looking for the girl, to make sure she was alright. He hadn't spoken to her in such a long time, and it had been for purely selfish reasons. She was the sweetest creature and had always found a way to cheer him up even in the face of dire circumstances, and he could only repay her in kind. Locking onto her scent, he began his search.
Heaven was a place on earth with Leaf and Jiva. The Omega had almost completely forgotten about the things within the land that deeply saddened and disturbed her. She and her son had gotten a clean bill of health from Sky and as far as she was concerned, the den Jiva had made for her had become her true home away from everyone else. So far, her secret was still safe and she knew there were two other wolves other than her mate that she could trust with the knowledge of Leaf. Her heart ached to re connect with Fayne some time soon especially because the expecting mother was, well she was expecting! Even though Drin had lost her own brood, she could still be happy for someone she counted as a best friend and besides, the void of parenthood was filled now with her fox kit. Gone were the days of crying over the memory of their faces, Drin was officially a mother. The woman also needed to thank the silver fae for the words of encouragement and her presence on that fateful day. She’d simply lost her mind that day before withdrawing completely away. Understandable that her brothers and sisters didn’t come looking for her as she was sure Jiva kept them updated, if there was any sense of alarm, she was sure someone would’ve sought her out by now.
The young Soul was lounging in a spot of sunlight filtering through the treetops near her home. Half dozing and half awake, she listened as Leaf noisily nursed away, his small gloved paws kneading into her stomach as his mewls punctuated each suck as if he were saying “this is good mommy, I can’t get enough”! A tired chuckle slipped past her lips as she nuzzled him gently to physically say “slow down”. Feeding times made her delirious with happiness but they also drained her. It was the perfect time to nap as the fox kit normally went into a little coma himself with a belly full of milk. Sleep when the baby sleeps made so much sense to the young mother now. The little kit was still definitely on the small side, but it was amazing what a week and a half could do for the formally skin and bones creature she had found abandoned in the woods. Her tawny ball of fluff had filled out and had a more significant amount of energy these days. Usually after naptime, she spent her afternoons chasing Leaf around and playing hide and seek with the toddler, always making sure that her hiding spots were extremely obvious for the little tyke.
Leaf’s mewlings came to an end when the kit abruptly pulled away and gave his mother an exaggerated yawn. I feel the same way too little bear, she said, lovingly dipping her head down to lick at the child’s face before he curled up tight like a kitten beside her. Drin curled her body around him and lowered her chin to her paws. Hunting for her own sustenance could wait, naptime was far more convincing. Her ocean eyes closed as she allowed the forest sounds and her son’s breathing become her own personal lullaby. It was with her next inhale of air that she startled awake. Leaf gave a small squeak of protest, but immediately flattened his body to the ground as Drin’s upper body became alert and on guard. She sniffed at the air suspiciously before rising to all fours. She knew that musk anywhere. Leaf, go inside, she said in a stern tone which caused the kit to skitter towards the den and disappear inside. Drin’s hackles were now rising, she hadn’t seen or spoken to Zalen for quite some time, why on earth was he headed this way? The woman stood her ground as conflicting feelings rose up in her. While she still loved and respected her alpha, the safety of her child was of the utmost importance. She sat back on her haunches and waited for the tell tale shades of black to appear, trying her best to keep the bristling at bay.
Palaydrian’s scent had definitely changed. The smell of pregnancy and milk clung to her regular odor. It was a strange smell, one that Zalen could not truly say he had ever smelled before, though he recognized it instantly. It was understandable though, the femme had only recently lost the litter, her body would still be clinging to the maternal form for some time yet. He wondered if Titania also looked and smelled the same, but these thoughts hurt too much to continue and so he snuffed them from his mind. Tracking Palaydrian was taking him farther away from the communal den, most likely to her birthing den; he wondered why she still lingered there, wasn’t it painful for her?
As the scent got more and more intense, he knew he was getting close and so he slowed, his Lupus paws carrying him nonchalantly over the ground, his tail in a low hang. He could only imagine the state of mind Drin might be in, so he was going to take this encounter slow and casually. She appeared in the distance then, shining gold in the sunlight and standing outside a dug den, her body screaming of agitation. Zalen lowers his head and sleeked out his fur as he approached, his tail wagging slowly; dominance was no needed here, it was clear who was in charge, and it was not he.
Zalen wanted badly just to walk up to her and nuzzle her in greeting, but he hesitated. She looked like she was guarding the entrance to the den, and this immediately concerned and peaked his interest; he raised his head slightly and black ears swiveled like satellites to listen inside. What was she hiding in there? Had a puppy survived? No, it had been told to him by many that all had perished; what then? God forbid, was she guarding their bodies? The thought almost made him shiver.
But there was a scent here, it was the scent of a puppy but not a dead one; what she adopted a straggler? He looked up at her, Palaydrian, what are you hiding in there? His voice was firm, but calm. He didn’t want to frighten or anger her, or make her think he was angry; he was not, he was just curious.
When he finally appeared, Palaydrian rose to her fours and was surprised with herself at the dominance she naturally displayed. Tail held high, chest puffed out, and hackles bristling with anxiety on her back. Never in her life had she challenged the iron fist of rank, let alone a male but this was her alpha, her leader! Oh Luna what was she getting herself into? The shock may have registered in her face for a split second, but she couldn’t let her guard down now, not after she was already so far committed. The only soft feature of her body were her eyes, windows to her soul that spoke depths of her emotions. While she loved and knew she should trust the ebony man with her life, here she was faced at the precipice of insubordination and beyond. She felt only anger and misunderstanding towards the man, but worst of all, Drin exuded alarm. This was the threat she had been trying to avoid since taking Leaf in.
His wagging tail only strengthened her resolve, she couldn’t allow him to easily crawl into her heart as he had in the past. The days of telling stories and sharing feelings as if they were the best of friends was shelved at the moment. A piece of her ached for that relationship once more, but she couldn’t help but feel dejected by his actions and defensive in Titania’s stead. It was silly, but she took Adonia’s “offenses” personally and bitterly knew that grudge would be held fast onto. Her eyes picked up on the curiosity registering on Zalen’s face, so far he knew to be on guard but he was already close enough. Not able to hold back, Drin rushed forward with a snarl stopping a few feet from the large male and planting herself sideways to block his view of the den. It’s none of your concern! She bellowed, voice shaking with uncertainty, but body speaking volumes of her intentions should he challenge her.
Limited interaction with the pack combined with the natural call to motherhood had caused the normally calm and light hearted woman to become a bit feral. She bared her teeth to her alpha for good measure before sheathing them behind her dark lips. The healing cut on her forehead felt wet now, all the aggression must’ve started to reopen the wound, but still she didn’t drop her guard. Have you come to seek my blessing? She spat, mentally chiding herself for jumping to such an accusation. You will get no such thing for your grievous actions or your harlot...and for that I’m not sorry. Her heart was racing and she could feel her paw pads sweating. To be this disrespectful was almost painful, but the floodgates had opened and she couldn’t stop as the angry tears welled up in her eyes.
Zalen was surprised to find Palaydrian take advantage of his self-chosen subordination by taking on a dominant and bristling stance. This chance in her immediately stopped his tail from wagging and instead it became stiff as all he senses were suddenly keenly on her instead of what may be hidden in the den. She snapped out his viciously, saying that what she to hide was none of her concern. Though her body told him vehemently to stay away, her eyes gave way to the inner pain, and he knew that she was only reacting in such a way to protect herself and whatever it was in the den.
Zalen took several steps away from her, ears folding against his head and he let a whine escape him as she snarled viciously; he had never seen Palaydrian this way and it frightened him. What did it mean that Shadowfang had fallen into suicidal depression and Drin had become all pins and thorns but when Zalen had lost his litter he had turned to silent stone? He supposed everyone had their own ways of dealing with trauma.
The dark Alpha was about give the golden lady her way and retreat when suddenly she spat out words that at first confused him, and then like an arrow shot hot to his core. Anger and rage bubbled immediately in his chest and exploded outwards through his skin; sleekened fur changed to bristles, teeth flared and ears shot forward, and his body seemed to enlarge as he came into his full dominant posture. Sorrow or no, no one had a right to say such things about a pack member and he charged forward at her.
The slanderous words had lashed out like a whip and now she could never take them back. Her eyes narrowed to slits as time and space seemed to slow down and the majesty of her alpha was coming towards her with fangs bared and fur on edge. In an instant she became Syliat’s prodigy, bloodlust and fury. Her great grandmother always knew the darkness was in there, and without hesitation Palaydrian let rip a startling growl, half scream and half roar as she too launched herself forwards. She became the ANGRY SWAN, preparing herself for the inevitable rain of claw or fang that was sure to come as the gap between dark and light began to shrink. Though Palaydrian was large for her sex, Zalen was an impressive creature and would certainly have the upper hand in pure muscle against her post pregnancy frame, but all she saw was red.
The world still moved at a snail’s pace as she bounded forward and that was when she shifted. Eyes blackened to a shiny oil sheen before Drin became a beast of wolf in her secui form, last used when the wolves of her previous pack had tried chasing her down and taking advantage of her. The shift took a matter of seconds triggered solely by her plight and now she was more of an equal match to her leader. There was less than two yards between the bristling wolves when Palaydrian’s guttural shout cut through the air, For Titania!
The world sped up and it was now or never. Would friends become foes? Would blood be drawn? Would Omega actually challenge Alpha? Sister wanted brother’s blood and brother most certainly wanted her’s or at least for her to atone for what she had said. The two yards quickly became one when suddenly a terrified and feeble scream cut through the feral monster’s defenses. Momma!? Drin skidded to a halt with a surprised bark as the black dissipated from her eyes and she shrank into her natural form with a violent shudder. Her head snapped towards the den she had tried in vain to keep from Zalen’s prying eyes, but there standing in his fluffy glory was the tawny kit, Leaf.
Blue eyes of innocence were rimmed with moisture belonging to the fox with the too-big-for-his-body ears. Awareness and realization hit the fae like a wall of brick. What the hell was she doing? Yes Zalen was her alpha, yes she should always show him respect, but above all he was her friend and she had been foolish to think that he didn’t mourn the loss of his own children and mate as everyone else surely did. I’m...I’m so sorry, she stuttered with a whine before rushing back to the child to assure him that everything was okay. The kit backed away uncertainly, seeing her shift must’ve frightened him even more than all the ruckus and displays of violence. Momma’s here, it’s okay shhh...my little bear spoke, Leaf talked to momma! She cooed until the kit allowed her to approach him.
She wasn’t sure what ground she stood with Zalen anymore, but she had promised her son that no harm would come to him, especially not from her. Wary eyes rose to her alpha, her body now a complete 180 from the bristling mass she had been earlier. I was protecting my son, she explained as another submissive whine pushed through her nares.
The Alpha was shocked at what his Omega did in front of him; his charge had been nothing more than a mock, but seeing her reaction seized up his throat as if she was physically crushing it. Zalen had no fear of Palaydrian; any pain she might inflict on him would not be felt until later, but the idea of having to fight her was something he had not been expecting. But there she was, charging back at him and shifting so quickly it was unreal, suddenly outdoing him in size. He was suddenly reminded of a similar golden wolf in Secui; Saxif, a friend from his past, their first encounter had been one of violence. Zalen had won in that case, but he’d have a run for his money with Drin here unless he too shifted; so he prepared himself when suddenly the beast before him shrunk back into Lupus, recalled by the sudden cry from behind her.
Zalen’s face melted from snarl to shock when he saw standing at the entrance to the den the smallest wolf pup he had ever seen; no, it was no wolf, not even a coyote or dog; it was a fox. The Alpha’s face must have been priceless in that moment, stuck somewhere between surprise and complete confusion. What was Palaydrian doing with a fox kit, and why had it called her momma? But everything was suddenly revealed as the woman went to placate the clearly frightened creature, before turning to him dead-pan and saying that she was protecting her son.
In that instant, Zalen’s heart broke anew, Oh, Palaydrian… He said barely above a whisper; she had obviously taken the loss of her children much harder than he had expected, and had taken in a babe not even belonging to the same genera as they to replace her loss. And what could the Alpha say? He surely couldn’t deny her this whelp for comfort; it was a tiny thing but plump from her milk most likely, she obviously was too filled with grief and had become too attached to the small thing to see what consequences her actions might bring in the future. The dark king let out a heavy sigh, his muscles trembling as the adrenaline seeped away from them, Show him to me. He said, making it clear in his voice that he would get to see the child even if she did not bring him willingly.
What had started out as a carefree day had quickly careened into a high energy conflict. All the violence and sorrow Drin had been bottling up had spewed out of her like a volcano. In her breaking point two things had happened; she had realized where her true feelings were coming from and secondly, that Zalen wasn’t the enemy here...it was herself. She needed to blame someone for all the grief she felt over Titania’s disappearance and apparent amnesia as well as the loss of her own children. Sure she had mourned in her own way and cried enough tears for everyone, but all the rage that had been piling up in her needed an outlet as well. And now here she had been faced with a man she loved as friend and brother, but because of her brokenness over Titania, it only felt right to feel betrayed and angry with him as he had not so secretly satisfied his own urges.
But who was she to judge? Everyone dealt with loss in their own way, perhaps it was the only way for her alpha to truly move on and begin repairing the damage in his life. Palaydrian had always been a rational wolf, but lately she had been allowing her own sadness and anger take control of her life, but no longer. Her son’s cry had broken the spell and now she was wide awake. Everything was coming at her in a blur and while sorrow remained, rage was finally banished for the time being. Being this stubborn and close minded wasn’t at all the kind of wolf she was and now all she felt was embarrassment.
Emotions swung like a pendulum from low to high, hot to cold. Palaydrian’s body quaked with exertion and recognition of the past few minutes but her muscles ached too much to lower herself even further. Her body language spoke of shame as she cast her eyes down to the fox with a dejected nod. It’s okay little bear...step forward, she whispered to the kit, though he hesitantly stuck to her leg trying to melt into her fur. Drin’s head dipped behind the kit’s rump and gently shoved him forward with her snout so he’d be in front of her. I’ve named him Leaf, she said after taking a deep breath. I know he’s not one of us, but I couldn’t leave him abandoned in the wilderness when my body still had so much to give...and...well, I was afraid you’d turn him away. The truth was out. She had played this scenario so many times in her mind as the kit couldn’t stay a secret forever, but never in any of those fantasies had she seen what had transpired.
The transformation in body posture that Palaydrian had taken on was astounding, and she once again was her soft, meek self, in not a little broken. She looked at Zalen with sad, shame filled eyes she drew the little kit closer to him, and then with a push sent the small thing Zalen way. The Alpha towered over the cowering, fluffy babe, but lowered his large head to sniff at him. Leaf, what a strange name for a strange creature. The pup smelled of Palaydrian through and through, and her milk, and it was not an unpleasant smell. Palaydrian spoke as the dark king inspected this tiny subject, and she admitted that she had been concerned that Zalen would not allow Leaf to stay with her. He raised his head to look at her with apologetic eyes and then let out another sigh.
The kit was very small, perhaps a few weeks old, its eyes still blue and large and peering up at him with fright. He immediately felt pangs for his lost brood; no wonder Palaydrian had picked this stray up, wolf or not, it was a child in need. How could he turn it away? He had been an orphan too, and had it not been for the kindness of strangers, he would have died. Looking at his Omega, he spoke, You will make an excellent mother and will raise him well. But understand that things may not always be as easy as they are now. He was referring to his kindness; Leaf might become too much of a burden on Palaydrian and the rest of the pack when it was full grown, but that would remain to be seen.
The seconds ticked past like hours as the Omega held her breath in wait for her alpha’s answer. He sniffed the air around Leaf delicately, though the kit cowered even lower to the ground when the unknown wolf’s head came at him. A soft high pitched whine escaped Palaydrian’s throat as if to say “it’s okay sweetheart, momma’s still here” as the urge to cuddle and reassure the kit overwhelmed her. This was the ultimate show of trust for no superhuman gift of speed or strength could save Leaf from any sudden life threatening attack Zalen could very well dole out. Drin was at the disadvantage now and was hopefully not risking her adoptive son’s life in vain. She tried calming her nerves for both the kit’s sake as well as her own, and also for her alpha whom she was sure had his own thoughts on edge.
Drin knew the moment of anticipation had passed when green eyes met ocean and she let out her own sigh in tandem. The dark male’s words hit her where she hadn’t expected. Drin’s eyes suddenly welled up in tears, she felt a mixture of great relief and sadness, but above all, the Omega felt encouragement and hope which she hadn’t realized she had been missing all along. I truly hope so, I kept blaming myself for what happened to our brood, she was speaking about her children with Jiva, but I feel Luna has given us a second chance, she said as she gently nuzzled the still in shock kit. Her watery eyes lifted to meet his once more. I can’t thank you enough Zalen and I understand. Another predator in the woods wouldn’t be accepted, Leaf would have to know his place and that would most likely never be within the communal den.
Please forgive me for my outburst brother, I’ve let my misery touch other facets of my life and I would not want for there to be tensions between us, she said, blinking away the tears that had threatened before and readying herself for a conversation both she and he so desperately needed. Titania’s memory needed to be put to rest along with any other ill will before their relationship as Alpha and Omega or brother and sister could continue. She wasn’t asking for a full explanation of Zalen’s actions, but she needed to understand and have him realize where her anger was stemming from.
