.∙`͠ *~ﻕIs It Fate or Plot Which Leads Our Steps?ﻕ~*͠ `∙.

[Relairah]

Summer always made the world beautiful. More green, more signs of life and color. Yet this summer in particular had been wrought with matters of graveness. A present threat from an old foe, another more subtle indication from someone yet unseen, and worse, the land itself disturbed and troubled. She had long been accustomed to abnormalities, but she could sense in her stomach the implications of the present ones. Her white paws tread over the earth gently. The unrest of the spirits was taking its toll and she knew she appeared more and more weary. She was not far from the base of the mountains, drifting between the bit of trees that lay between their tunnels and the vast fields at the heart of the territory.

Antarctica glanced southward, releasing a soft sigh. 'Aelariah, Gjelu... I hope you return soon.' Her brilliant blue eyes turned skyward, then, toward the many brilliant stars. She was glad they were not hidden beneath cloud cover. Their twinkling light offered hope, she had always felt. The way they glimmered in the darkness, reminding the world below that no matter what, there was always hope. That hope was what she had always and would forever cling to no matter what happened or how dire things got.

At the moment, she could only hope that her dear children returned successful from their quest. In their absence, things got worse daily, and especially the imbalance seemed to grow. It would only be a matter of time before catastrophic events would begin taking place. Either magic would leak from the spirit realm and begin to cause effects unbridled, or the land would begin to deteriorate and all the work the earthen wolves had done after the Demon War would begin to unravel. She wasn't sure at the moment which... though both were equally dangerous.

Such heavy thoughts, she mused to herself with a small sort of smile. She preferred to think on lighter affairs. These thoughts had grown in frequency for her since she had first visited the mysterious cavern below with her beloved and Hawke and shortly after Gjelu and Aelariah's leaving for their quest. She turned her attention toward the mountains once more. Ever strong and stable. Yes, she must focus on hope and lighter thoughts. On what she knew was possible in their future. She continued her walk forward.

[Mokobo]

Fate. Such a foolish concept, conceived by mortals in their fruitless attempts to understand the machinations of the universe around them.
What a fool I've been. The sounds of paw-steps falling in rapid succession and heavy breaths echoed across the roughly hewed stone. The soft, multi-colored light of the various glowing mushrooms warped around the wolf's frame, causing shadows to dance over the damp walls of the tunnel. Fatigue caused the wolf's muscles to burn, but he dashed through the gloom despite this weakness. The gilded wolf had not slept for several days, not since he first began to unravel the mystery which had perplexed him. Just how late, or early, it was on the surface Hawke could not say. However,  he knew the news he carried would surely shake the last ghosts of sleep from the others. I only hope I'm not too late.
The true curse upon mortals is not their short lifespan, but the inability to foresee the consequences of their own actions.
With their homeland so close, Gjelu had insisted they travel on through the night. Their family, their pack, and even their very home depended on the swift completion of their quest. They had been gone far too long, delayed by several setbacks, but now their lands were in sight. Eagerly Gjelu dashed up a familiar rise in the rolling plains to survey the pack-lands beyond. In the east the first hints of the sunrise brightened the horizon while the stars above continued to glitter brightly. A broad grin broke out across the young warrior's face before he quickly turned to face the direction from which he came.
"Hurry up Aelariah! We're home!"
"Doesn't look like home to me, Icewulf, it's far too flat- and Southern."
The rough voice, broken by a violent fit of coughing, reminded Gjelu to the burden which had constantly troubled them upon their quest. After learning Navlos' true identity, that of their father's former comrade and attempted murderer, the siblings had a moral dilemma placed before them. On the one paw, their companion was a beast of destruction and mayhem, but on the other he was also very ill. Navlos' mind and body were both broken, and the lunatic even thought Gjelu was his father. It was for certain if they had left him to his fate, the insane wolf would have surely perished. While such was a fate that he most certainly deserved, Gjelu felt it was immoral to simple leave the wolf to his doom. To do so would be the equivalent of Navlos' own actions. It had taken much to persuade his sister of this truth, and there were times that Gjelu wondered if such a decision had been wise after all. One thing he was sure of was that their father would be most displeased.
"Come on, let's finish this."
The actions of the past and present alike weave a web of consequences. A web so delicate that the smallest act can result in drastic changes.
With a frightened gasp Icewulf awoke from his dream. He had been back at that dreadful cliff on the fateful eve which had changed everything. With a groan he laid his head down upon his paws once more as he composed himself. Something did not feel right, and while the aged warrior tried to tell himself it was just the nightmare he could not fully believe such a reassurance. There was a presence, one he had not felt for quite some time. Gently Icewulf made to embrace his beloved, but instead found her place by his side both empty and cold. This discovery unsettled him more than the nightmare or the nagging feeling at the corner of his mind, causing the wolf to spring to his feet.
"Antarctica?"
The echos of his voice which bounced off the walls of their den seemed hollow and foreboding. Icewulf's heart began to pule rapidly, pounding within his ears as he cast his gaze about in a desperate search for any sign of his mate. Yet there was none to be found. The veteran wolf took a deep breath in an attempt to calm his heart, telling himself that sure she had just gone for a drink of water. However, as soon as his drowsy mind relaxed, Icewulf at last realized whose presence he was feeling. No, not him, not now. The white fur at the wolf's nape puffed up in agitation as he took a moment to be certain of this revelation. With a snarl Icewulf dashed out of the den he shared with his mate, looking about the gloom of the early morning in one more search for Antarctica. Almost immediately a nearby raven issued a harsh call before taking wing and flying off into the stars above. Icewulf raised his maw to issue a howl in order to call his mate, but quickly stopped himself before the first note could pass his lips. If he was right, and the betrayer had returned, then he could not risk his beloved revealing herself to him. For a moment the white wolf surveyed the clearing surrounding their home with his snout to the ground. After a few moments of search, Icewulf found his mate's scent and tore off into the forest to find her.
Mortals fear change, but they do not realize it is the water which sprouts the seeds of the future.
"So, you're the murderer's mate."
Stepping out of the surrounding darkness Oren looked at Antarctica with gloomy, orange eyes. After several weeks and even more attempts, he had at last managed to pierce the borders of the pack. While he didn't understand what it was Shanto wanted with this female, Oren had felt compelled to fulfill the former's wishes. There had been times he had debated simply leaving these lands, but every time he had made to do so his body seemed to act upon its own whims. Lately his mind had become clouded, and there were large gaps within his memory. Oren's only hope was that if he obeyed he might some day be free of this dreadful feeling grasping his heart. Standing on his hind legs, the druin slowly drew his father's sword before beckoning Antarctica with a sad, forlorn sigh.
"You'd better come with me."

[Relairah]

Her brother's enthusiasm as well as the sight at long last of familiar territory was all she needed to find another burst of energy to push her forward. Truly, they had been through much since they had left. It felt almost surreal to be so near their borders. She was exhausted. Her eyes had begun to twitch and her muscles ached. She now appreciated what training she had gone through in the past, though it hardly compared to that those of the Defenders endured.

At Navlos' words, Aelariah frowned and did her best to hold her tongue. He had increasingly worn on her nerves, though she was content to trust Gjelu's judgement. If nothing else, once they were home, their parents would sort out what to do. After all, her brother had a point that the insane creature was helpless... and besides, he was doomed anyway. It was probably better he was with them instead of out wrecking other poor creature's lives. She slightly cringed at the memory of the tortoise. She was confident they could handle him if he did decide to suddenly go into a maniacal rage. Despite what they knew of him from his past. At least, she hoped so.

As soon as they were within their territory once more, she turned toward the Spirit lake. They needed to get the treasure they had brought with them there as soon as possible to restore the balance to their land. At least, that was her thought process.


Antarctica stopped mid-step as the Druin made his appearance. She frowned at his words, blinking slowly. There was only one she knew of that would refer to her beloved as a murdurer, and she was confident he wouldn't have been able to enter their lands - let alone get this far. Of course, she knew of his ability to invade the mind of another and take over... like a disgusting parasite. She stepped back. "You don't look well." Her tone was tender, but her instincts put her immediately on guard. If this Druin before her was infected with Shanto's magic, there was nothing she could do to help him.

She had heard of how much effort it had taken to remove the shadow from Káshila - and while she possessed strong healing magic, this would be different. Aside from the fact he was twice her size at least and was towering over her with a weapon. She was out of her league against him, and she knew it. Despite that, she was not going to simply surrender. She took another step back, preparing to spread her wings if neccessary. She wouldn't try to fight him. Nor outrun him. But she would have an advantage in the sky. "What is it you want?" she asked, trying to buy time.

[Mokobo]

A future with no memory of that left behind.
There's something about this place.
As their merry little band traveled beyond the borders of the pack-lands, Navlos found himself fascinated by his surroundings. At first glance everything had seemed so peaceful, so boring. Yet with each step he began to realize the surrounding terrain was far more interesting than its facade made him believe. The very scent of the soil seemed to tell the tale of its history. Wars had been fought here, rivals had been bested, vengeance had been attained and tears had been shed. So many countless tears. Beneath it all coursed a more primal sensation: power. Yes, there was much power in a place like that, which gave credence to all the events the dirt told of. There was something else though, a memory of Navlos' own which tugged frantically at the end of his fractured mind.
"Icewulf. This place seems- familiar."
A future with a chance to rise above.
At those from their unwanted companion, Gjelu came to a jerking halt in the midst of their march. With the fur at the back of his nape raised slightly, the warrior wolf wondered if perhaps he would come to regret his act of goodwill. It was too late now, however, to turn back from the course he had set them on. For a brief moment Gjelu would cast his Aelariah a meaningful look hoping to assuage any shock she might feel, and perhaps a bit of his own as well. After this exchange he would gave a small, reassuring nod before turning his head slightly toward Navlos.
"No time to dawdle. We must hurry."
It surprised Gjelu how much he sounded like his father in that moment. Not just in rhetoric, but in repetition as those same words had been spoken to him during the Demon War. The desired effect was deftly achieved, apparently, as the only response Navlos gave was a gruff grunt of affirmation. Barely repressing a sigh of relief, Gjelu turned to look at his sister once more before offering a small smile as if to say," See?" Yet this moment of relaxation was short lived, as suddenly the sounds of some creature crashing through the underbrush before them drew near. Quickly Gjelu dropped himself into a defensive stance, and was surprised even quicker to find Navlos bristling beside him. The two exchanged a quick nod, far different than the one the siblings had shared earlier, before turning to face the unknown.
A future I have helped to build.
Bursting from the bushes came Hawke, his chest heaving from the exertion of his previous speed. The gilded wolf's entire frame was tensed with anticipation as quickly surveyed the three before him. First this sharp golden eyes fell upon the fairer of his former pupils in an almost disapproving way. As his gaze shifted across their group and fell upon his former comrade, and attempted murderer, the unsatisfied look firmly set in. Hackles raised in agitation, Hawke made to speak, but found himself interrupted before the first word left his mouth.
"Hawke! You gave us quite the start, you sly ol' fox."
"Navlos, silence."
This rapid exchange, followed by obedience, clearly took Hawke by surprise. So much that he took half a step back while his brow shot upward. This was not what he had been expecting, not all in the least bit. However, with things in their current precarious state, anything other than what he had expected could only be better. Taking this new revelation in stride, Hawke would turn to Aelariah and Gjelu with a determined focus.
"Navlos?"
"It's what he call himself now."
"Now?"
"It's- a long story."
"Well then make it shorter, we have to hurry."

"What do I want?" The question came through Oren's gritted teeth in the response to Antarctica's inquiry. Such a simple question had held him silent for a few moments, but it had set light a small anger within his chest. In the span of a few heartbeats it had grown to a good blaze as he wished for his home. Then the anger became an inferno as he thought of how he had come to be in this very spot. This was not his homeland, not his concern and most certainly not his kin. Why should he be the one to skulk in the dead of night on such a spineless errand when he had been trained from his earliest memory, by his father, to become a warrior? Smoke began to curl out from beneath the young druin's dexterous paw which gripped the hilt of his blade tightly.
His entire frame trembled with the force of his displeasure, before suddenly going slack. It was almost as if Oren's rage had been a bubble that was suddenly popped. Visibly the adolescent canine deflated into the somber mood he had upon his arrival, almost resembled a marionette as its string go slack. In deliberate movements, so as to not exacerbate the effort, Oren sheathed his father sword upon his back before letting himself fall to all fours.
"What I want doesn't matter. What matters is that if you want to see your family whole again you will show me what interests that desert dog-" Here Oren's anger rose up once more before being swiftly quelled. "-and your mate so much. Show me this Grotto."

[Relairah]

Aelariah smiled and nodded back at Gjelu. For now, things were under control. Yet before they could resume their pace, Hawke was bursting through the bushes - and he looked ready to do what was necessary. Once again, Gjelu quickly curbed the situation and she found herself noticing his similarities to their father, much as the revelation had struck him. "Hawke, am I glad to see you!" she said, pouncing toward him. She at least had the luxury of being excited, she decided. "We can fill you in on the way. Let's go!" She glanced toward Gjelu and Navlos, gesturing with a head motion and moved past Hawke.

"How is mother?" she asked, though the question came out a little more demanding than she'd intended. When they'd left, Antarctica had not been well and while she knew her mother had tried to keep things rather quiet - in fact, she wasn't even sure if anyone had known of her and Gjelu's quest - she also suspected that if Icewulf were to confide in someone it would be the golden wolf beside her.

"To answer you, we ran into this... lune..." she said the last part somewhat more hushed "while we were captured by some sort of fish creatures. He thought Gjelu was Icewulf and was absolutely going mad. We thought it best to keep an eye on him, and well, once he was tagging along we couldn't really change our minds or ditch him. So... here we are." She hoped her short-ish version would satisfy Hawke for now. There was a much more urgent matter to tend to.


The evidence of the Druin's being under Shanto's control became quite clear the moment he responded to her question. At least, his body and mind's response, though as soon as he settled, she took another step backward, her frown deepening. Surely, by now, Icewulf would have noticed her absence from their den. He had a tendency of coming after her when she rose early - if she weren't back by first light. She knew one thing: if Shanto was the one pulling this poor Druin's strings right now, there was no way she could let him see the Grotto. Even if they hadn't quite made sense of it yet, if it was important enough for him to send a spy, it was important enough to keep him away from it. Shanto must truly be desperate to have sent this Druin into the heart of the Empire. Or maybe he was relying a little too much on this pup's relation to Deathblood.

Several possibilities crossed her mind. She could flee, or at least get some ground by taking flight. She'd have a bit more time now that his weapon was sheathed. She could lead him into the caves but take him to the Cave Demons instead. She hoped he wouldn't know better. She could continue to stall... or she could try to take him on long enough for someone else to arrive. The Vorlfur were typically very aware of trespassers, so if someone didn't, that could only mean something even more sinister was happening elsewhere in the pack lands.

"Very well, Druin." She turned only enough to begin moving back toward the caves, but every instinct within her was aware and at attention, in case he tried something while her back was turned. She could see his movements from the corner of her eye. Besides, they were a bit of a walk away from the caverns, and she was going to take her time. If it came down to it, she could pretend she'd forgotten the way.