"Hmph" she breathed, a smile trying desperately not to show. She was...happy? No, she was elated to finally be able to tell someone of her escapades! Though to Soul these stories held no relevance to life and its lessons, perhaps to others it would serve as a guide on what to do, and what to avoid.

Channeling her thoughts, trying to pick apart every memory and describe it to the fullest extent the elder smiled, pressing her head against a slightly enlarged chest in pleasure. "Sure. If you are positive you wish to hear..."

"We'll start with the beginning, yes? The dawning of these woods, though do not get me wrong; I wasn't the FIRST wolf, so before me there were many tales left untold and countless adventures gone unnoticed. My time came when I fled the bloodshed and horror of my first home. I was a pup back then and lived with three of my siblings, my two Alpha parents and the pack we all called family." pausing, Soul released a long, exasperated sigh. These wounds were still fresh, and ached as she dug deeper into the past. "I guess I didn't live my entire life in these woods we sit in now but...I usually don't even count the time before I arrived. I didn't know much as a pup outside of the fact that I was part of royalty. Everyone treated the children well, but my siblings and I were above the rest. Catalyst [my father] saw to it that we would have the best treatments. For us there were no limitations, no hurdles to cross. Life was made easy, and for that I was always a bit resentful; I entered into this world knowing nothing about survival. Instincts were there, yes, but I was spoiled and couldn't dirty the whites of my paws or handle the crush of bones between my jaws.

"With us, and even with my mother things were all fantastic…but my father was conflicted with political matters, and during the first few months of my birth, he found himself buried in forming alliances and guarding the pack. One night, I overheard my mother and father arguing over a term I had never heard of before; War. They spat angry words to each other at first, and cursed and snarled…but then whimpers surfaced, and the soft tone my mother always had came chiming in as a last resort. My father was not moved, and for three days disappeared from the pack grounds. Everyone but the family knew where he was, but no one would ease our minds and hearts. Then, the third night came and when the moon was high in the sky several shadows came from the tree line and howled to the heavens. My father came home that night and apologized to us, but took my mother aside and gave her his own sort of apology. We fell asleep together in our den and for some time after that things were going smoothly.

”Seven days after his home coming, a different call came on an eastern wind and woke the pack. There were strange footsteps heard, and in the air a smell so foreign came wafting. Smoke clouded the skies above our home, and while we all stood in the open field near our dens, surrounding us were creatures who mocked and jostled us. I looked at the forest line and saw wolves; some standing on all fours while others stood upright, and strangely balanced well. The pack was ambushed, and everyone seemed to scramble for freedom, or fight for their lives. My father told us to go, he’d catch up with us soon enough but my mother would not leave…that night she lost her life, as did my two siblings and the only pup to have escaped would be Me. I ran away from the fires and the noises, the fights breaking out around me, never close enough to threaten...


“After many days of running I found myself at a river where I drank and drank till I felt pounds heavier. The forest was different than my home, but was thickened with overgrown vegetation, and for several more days I spent the night in this fox den or that, traveling short distances and eating whatever I could find [that would involve too much effort]. It wasn’t till I ran into several other puppies that I felt some what at home. They were welcoming and kind, some more than others and offered me friendship. When I grew older, I even banded together with a few of those wolves and we started a pack! The future seemed bright, and for the most part it would be…I met Isaac while running with the new leads, and a friendship blossom immediately. He was strange, but captivating and being born a girl who usually got what she wanted, I sought after the boy of my ‘dreams.’

“Things moved quickly, due to my persistence and soon I was confessing my love to him. He was hesitant, and I believe for a long time neither admitted to nor denied his own feelings, but when it came down to the nitty gritty, I had won him. You have loved, yes? I’m sure you must be now, so lovely and kind…And I’m sure your mate adores you for those qualities. Isaac…Isaac loved me differently than most would care to accept. I believe he loved my admiration, my faithfulness and my friendship, but not me. I was sweet like my mother, kind even when I insisted on having my way…He was calculating, always one step ahead, and nearly as unpredictable as the weather. He also wasn’t the best looking wolf in the land but…I loved him.

“And that really isn’t the point. You see, there were other wolves that belonged to this forest, females and males alike who needed attention, and wanted it any way they could get at it. Elphaba was her name, and though she was my friend, she also was one of my greatest enemies. She and Isaac formed a bond I couldn’t touch, and together seemed to fit like a puzzle where as I could not. Perhaps there was no relation between them, or perhaps there was but when I saw them together, alone, speaking soft and tender words I could not hold back my anger. I didn’t mention it, but during the time between finding kinship in Elphaba and bonding with Isaac, the two of us bore several pups. I was more attached to him now than anyone ever had been, and yet he still chose to disregard our relations. I think back now and see it as my own fault; I believed a con artists lies, fell for the bait and was caught in the trap. I hurt myself in loving him, so I can not blame anyone but myself. I do not regret my past with Isaac, I just choose not to relive it.

“After that I was broken. My children grew up and the pieces that once were Soul now separated and became stricken with pain. One of my daughters, Naib, stuck it out with me till she found love elsewhere, and I could not hold her back from that. I even met with a lovely wolf named Leigh, but that fell apart fast when he disappeared from the woods. I didn’t know where my place was, who really cared for me, or why I ought to even fight for life any more. I began to…hear the voices when night came around, but they became more constant and intrusive, distracting me while on hunts, or just walking around the woods…Things were worse off a few years back, so you are lucky to have not caught me then!”

The wolf chuckled, her voice cracking in the effort. “But I’ve been getting better, some what. You’ve helped me more than anyone else, and I do thank you for that. I really believe I needed your company.”

There was something about the story, hearing it now while it all lay in the past that gave Soul some comfort. She leaned back in her place, wrinkling her nose and furrowing her brows as a wide, toothless smile formed. Not looking at Amaury, the wolf let out some more laughter before whispering, “That really is something…huh” and then glanced to the younger canine before her, a kindness spread on the contorted position her face held.