A Change in the Winds (Demin)

[Relairah]

The seasons had always been harsher on the Giaku isle than some other places, except perhaps the northern realms. Even after the wolf Vita had brought life and beauty to it, there were parts of it that would always be the same. By nature, those that had once made the isle inahbited and full of life had been somewhat impervious to whatever the isle brought them. But now that it had been turned to ruin, it was perhaps even worse off now than before.

The sun was at its highest, the rays bringing warmth despite the chill of winter which had settled in. He had been in these lands for several days now and his mind and soul were in a constant internal conflict. A combination of wrath and guilt, among other things. For so long he had lived without concern for anyone else other than himself. And for the first time, he had begun to wonder if that were atually the source of more ruin. Regardless, it was too late to change the past. And even a part of him continued to feel it was not his respondibility anyway. No matter his bloodline.

Erebus was one of the remaining Druins, and at that, one of the even fewer remaining heirs to the once-magnificent-empire. Though he had never particularly taken pride or ownership in this fact. He moved at a steady pace between the enormous towers at the center of the isle, in and out from the lines of shadows. His teal mane billowed over his white scales, his unusually long twin-tails doing nothing in particular behind him.

"Grr it all..." he muttered to no one in particular.

[TehDeminz]

Charon sat stone still beneath the shadow of the former imperial tower, breath coming out in frozen clouds as snow fell softly from a gray sky. His breath was a slow rumble that sounded much like breathing of the earth itself, steady as he sat beneath his home and simply thought. It had been years since the Demon War's end and the land that had once been Giaku had yet to recover. The work of Vita and countless minders and menders had been undone in a matter of weeks, a life's great undertaking reduced to desolation in a small fraction of that lifetime. The barren wasteland his home had again become brought back memories from long, far off days before two packs became three and before three became one, during the reign of his father Tartarus. Charon had been different then; a spoiled prince who felt power and respect were his birthright and any who dare not give him either were worthy only of enslavement or execution. He had grown and tried to do what was best for his family and for the Empire. But the Empire had fallen and the line of Apollo the Great no longer sat its throne. All that remained of the Old Giaku was the desolation and misery that had ravaged the empire under Tartarus's reign.

The Primus had been lost in thought for what seemed like hours. Snow had begun to collect on the black furred behemoth. With a sigh Charon stood to all fours and shook the snow from his body, the dark plates making up the scales on his belly making a sound like grinding rocks. The massive spikes that usually adorned his back were absent, though the circle of small spikes around his head that earned him the title of "Crown of Thorns" were present as always. He turned to re-enter the imperial tower, to lounge in his quarters with his favorite pleasure-slave instead of attending a meeting of the Vorlfur's leadership. Yet a familiar scent just barely reached him through the cold smells of the wasteland. He turned to look into the center of the imperial towers, blind-looking eyes squinting trying to make out the figure they saw against the blinding field of white. A growl rumbled in his throat when he realized just who it was.

Charon quickly strode over to his brother, a growl lacing its way through his voice as he spoke.

"You aren't welcome here, Gycazadd."

[Relairah]

So caught in his own thoughts, Erebus hadn't much been paying attention to anything around him. Aside from the fact that there weren't many that still resided here. Or at least, if they did, he hadn't encountered them. He paused in his step as another figure came into view. 'Charon...' Perhaps the last he would have expected to encounter... if any of his family, for that matter. A frown graced his lips as his brother's words reached him. He was silent a moment, his gaze simply observing the other a moment.

"On the contrary, I was granted permission by the new emperor." He ignored his brother's insult. Though he found numerous questions rising within him. Had their home simply been abandoned after the packs had united? Clearly there were some who remained. But then... why did it remain so desolate? His mind then drifted once again to the past and how things had once been. Truly, he had missed much in abandoning his home. He hadn't cared to know. Until now.

But he didn't voice these questions just yet. "It appears to me that you have little interest in the pack's affairs anyway, brother."

[TehDeminz]

Charon sat back on his haunches, the scales on the underside of his tail grinding against the earth as he curled it around his feet. He eyed his long-missing brother with suspicion, a derisive chuckle leaving his muzzle at the mention of the 'new emperor' and Charon's own lack of interest in the internal politics of the empire.

"Then allow me to roll out the red carpet, brother. Had I known an upstart who's never been to my home had given his permission for outsiders to set foot in it, I would have thrown you a banquet." Charon said, placing a hand on his chest in feigned surprise. He spat on the bare earth and placed his hand on the club-like formation of stone at the tip of his tail. "As for my lack of interest in the boy-king's whims, I have a grieving son and a dying grandson to watch over. I remember my family, 'brother.'"

[Relairah]

Erebus carefully observed Charon's movements, his long ears flicking back slightly at the uttered words. He had always deemed himself someone of incredible self-control, in particular over his thoughts and emotions. Even when he had traveled so long ago with Endymion and that wretched witch of a demoness-wolf. He had somehow managed to contain himself. Albeit difficultly. Still, he could taste the oozing sarcasm and venom that seemed to coat the other Druin's response. If it were possible, his frown deepened and his brow furrowed, his eyes narrowing.

Ignoring the comment of a feigned more hearty welcome, Erebus focused on the last phrases concerning their family. If he felt anything about the insult directed toward the new emperor, he gave little indication. He had no real loyalties to him, despite the fact that after his brief encounter, he had to admit he had seen something of note, no doubt, within the far younger wolf. Nevertheless, his own true intentions were quite far from bowing to the other or even accepting without argument that he must accept him as his own ruler.

So, indeed, the real matter was that concerning the Druin before him. "Yes, I'm sure you're quite heart-broken. Though clearly you don't remember your closest blood. Nor did you shed a single tear for any of its members lost. Tell me, how it is, that the once great empire built by our own family has been turned to this rubble despite your presence through it all."