My Little Diamond [Dianthe]

[Aurik]

While things seemed to be going in slow motion around him lately, others were on fast forward. It seemed like just yesterday that Roka's pups were born, and yet the male was still not taken in like a true member of the pack. It was true that Aurik had never intended to set foot on Kairos territory, let alone join their ranks. But he had done so to protect his friend, and yet she had been absorbed even further into their world with each passing day. Gone was the bitter wolf who was starved and drowning, and in her place was a bitter wolf who was caught up in the craziness of that world. The male she was so eager to follow... He was not loyal to her. Roka deserved better than that, and Aurik was not certain how much longer he could sit around and watch her change. This was not the Roka he had grown to love, yet he simply could not abandon her. And now, he had other purpose.

From the previous litters of the beastly alpha, many giant wolves rose to support the ideals of the pack. Each one seemed to be larger and more vicious than the last, yet there was at least one that did not fit into the mold. Dianthe. The little she-wolf was the epitome of innocence. She was nothing like her siblings, and Aurik had an almost primal need to protect her; shield her from the corruption of the pack she was cursed to be born into. But there was only so much she could do.

Many of the young were not far from their mothers at any given point, but Aurik was careful. He knew that she was aware of him, but there was only so much he could do without Goliath's deathly eyes upon him. The giant brute already distrusted him... disliked him because of his impairment. But he was no worse than any of the male's own sons. His only shortcoming was that Mother Nature had dealt him a poor hand in youth, leaving him in a world of perpetual silence.

But now, the pups were getting older. Perhaps his little diamond was still okay. Maybe she still could be saved from the corruption, in the way that Roka and her own pups were not. There had to be hope out there somewhere.


Tags: Dianthe
Notes: Guess who I decided NOT to kill!

[Dianthe]

 She had to admit it was freeing to be away from the ever crowded caverns, but there was part of her that was unsure of being out so far. The quiet girl padded here and there to see what was where, purely innocent in her diversion of exploration. Mother wouldn't find her since she was to keep to the island for some unknown reason to the growing silver girl. When she asked, all she got in reply was a sweet and quiet, 'Your father wishes it.' The lilac eyed princess wondered briefly if she should stay on Inamos as well, but she was never told directly to stay...so....here she was. 

She liked the quiet, it was peaceful and the stress of so many contenders from attention just melted away. Let those who had the drive to prove themselves do what they liked. It was easy to get lost in the bustle, not that she really tried to stand out. One may think her looks would do it for her, make her shine like some precious gem, but that was not how things worked here. Being unique like her was not important where strength and size were prized.

The sweet tempered girl pushed those thoughts aside in favor of more gentle ones. Even though flowers had faded and colors darkened, she liked the look of this place. There was beauty to be seen in everything if one just paid attention. 

Her silvered fur shone in the sunlight like polished metal, bright eyes darted everywhere to drink in the sights. Yes, beauty was here.

A breeze blew and brought her a dried leaf to play with. Even if she was close to a year in age, she enjoyed the simple antics of puphood. Batting the delicate thing with her paws, Dianthe smiled as the breeze made it dance before her. The possibility of being in trouble was forgotten as she continued her careful game with the playful wind. She knew how to be delicate, something lost in Kairos or maybe never even existed here. Hopefully, she could encourage something like it to life here if she could just have the chance.

Aurik

[Aurik]

The outskirts of the Kairos territory tended to be the safest place for Aurik to lurk. While it was nice to be able to keep an eye on Roka, he could not recall the last time they actually spoke, let alone had a meaningful conversation. It was a lonely life around a pack that he was even sure he was a part of, as Goliath had never truly welcomed him into the fold. It was bittersweet. On one hand, there were not wolves constantly trying to gut him, but no one was particularly friendly, either. There was no one there when the male had been alone, but it was almost worse to be alone in a crowd. At least if he chose to live away from them, they could not hurt him anymore than he already was.

Even now, though, the male was observing. Though he had rarely interacted with any of the other wolves, the male had found himself particularly protective of Dianthe, which was half the reason he found himself near the lake on this dreary day. The little one was starting to gain more independence from her family, and Aurik could only stand by and watch as she grew into a striking young lady. She would soon be snapped up by one of the males in Kairos, and the thought terrified Aurik. Dianthe was nothing like her sisters; one could tell simply by watching her interactions with the things around her. She genuinely cared about others and appreciated the world around her. Everything was not about dominance or success for her. Aurik knew she had such potential, but Kairos would stifle her creativity and free spirit.

But Aurik could not stand to let her wander the territory alone. Heavens only knew what dangers were lurking in the shadows, and while she may not have acknowledged his presence, he was intent to look out for her, like a guardian angel. His behavior might have been construed as creepy, but there was no ill will in the male's actions. He simply wanted to ensure she was given the best chance in life, and if that meant sacrificing some time out of his endless days to watch over her, then so be it. Roka would not let him watch over her anymore, so it would only make sense that he had to find someone else to protect. The male was a nurturer by nature. He had no desire to act against Kairos. He only wanted what was best for the ones he cared for, and this little angel had found herself right in the center of his attention.


Dianthe

[Dianthe]

Her solitary game kept her occupied for much longer than one of Kairos probably should have been. She could see imaginary figures walking around her with scornful expressions or mocking smiles, her invisible company obviously thought her ridiculous. Shrugging prettily, the young wolf looked back at her simple toy. It was a shame more didn't see the potential in the simple things like she could. This leaf would have been crushed, ignored and never given a seconds thought. 

Finally a gust of breeze took it away and she simply watched it go, content to have had it for the short time it was allowed to stay. "G-good bye." She said as it twirled away, almost like it was waving it's own farewell. Off to find another occupation, the silver streaked girl padded slowly to enjoy her exploration. She had no destination in mind, simply the taste of freedom on her tongue as she breathed in the fresh air that was somehow so different from the island from which she came. 

Bright eyed and happy, the Alphas daughter practically danced amongst the shriveled up grasses. That is until she caught the scent of another, her feet stopped and her ears swiveled in search of a sound. Lilac eyes cautiously looked about her, wondering if her father had sent some one to reprimand her and bring her back to the island. "I-I didn't k-know I wasn't su-sup-posed to l-leave." She said quietly to the unknown wolf.

Pausing once she found him, Dianthe tilted her head curiously. He didn't seem upset with her so her body relaxed and she flashed a shy smile. Friendliness was her initial response to almost everyone right off the bat. Let the others be intimidating, she liked to see others smile."H-hello."

Aurik

[Aurik]

Watching over Dianthe was probably one of the more enjoyable things Aurik had done lately. Apart from his occasional visits to make sure Roka was still in one piece - though she never noticed, or did not acknowledge his presence - he was mostly free to roam around, so long as he did not get in the way of any of the "real" Kairos members. It was an interesting lifestyle, but he could not bring himself to regret his decision. Somehow, Roka had managed to make a life here, even if he disapproved completely of what she was getting herself involved in. It did not take much to realize that Sabaoth was exactly like his brother: a whore. The large male would do whatever he wanted, Roka's feelings be damned. He would love to speak his mind to the male, but he enjoyed his face in its current configuration, and speaking out against the General was a death wish. Sab could do whatever he wanted, and Aurik was not sure he could still be around to pick up the pieces of Roka's heart after the dust settled. If she could tolerate living here, that was fine. But what Aurik could not tolerate much longer was lurking in the shadows while everyone pretended he did not exist.

Even now, Aurik had been watching over Dianthe for quite some time, and she had yet to notice him. He was practically invisible to the pack, which was likely the reason that, even though Goliath never extended full membership to him, he got away with hanging around on their territory. He was not a burden on anyone, and he did not interfere with their pack politics. He would rather play the safe card and lurk until he could not stand to do so anymore, than abandon someone he loved and wanted to protect. Even though his focus had shifted, he lived by the same motto.

Unlike many of the others, Dianthe's stutter never bothered the male. He could see a slight discrepancy in her speech pattern, but it was never noticeable enough for him to identify that she was any different than the others. So when the little wolf finally noticed him lurking, he could only offer her a soft smile and kind words. "Sweetheart, you are fine," he reassured the young wolf, his gentle brown eyes soothing the young femme. "I just wanted to be sure you did not get hurt," he admitted gently, fighting off the smile that threatened to spread across his face. It had been so long since someone noticed him. Even the seemingly meaningless interaction meant the world to Aurik, and it reassured him of something.

He still existed. And to someone, he still mattered.

Dianthe

[Dianthe]

She flat out beamed at him when he spoke to her so kindly. The expected lecture on how she shouldn't be here especially alone was nowhere in his tone or entwined in his words. Just kindness. Her silver brushed banner waved softly behind her and the smile never faltered on her ebony lips. "T-Thank you f-for your c-con-concern, kind s-s-sir." Frankly she didn't really know what to do now. No one but a few of her immediate family ever expressed a passing care of her well-being. Of course she knew her mother would be the most affected if some tragedy befell the odd girl and her sisters would follow their mothers example. Poor Castalia would probably never leave the safety of the caves again if Dia happened to die out here. 

Looking at the face of the male carefully, she tried to place him within the pack ranks. Unable to place him definitively, she tilted her head once more. Would it be rude to ask such a question when he just said he was watching over her for protection? Rank didn't matter to her but it obviously was quite important to the others. 

Choosing to push it aside, she put forth a different question. "H-have you b-been here long?" How he chose to answer that was up to him, whether it be here watching her or here as in Kairos or whatever, it was an open topic and she was curious as to how this conversation would go. 

He seemed the patient kind, since she didn't see that dim light take over his eyes when she spoke like so many others did when she tried to talk with them. It bothered them that she struggled to get her tongue to obey her, it made her self conscious which only made the problem worse. 

"w-what's your n-name?" She asked once the realization she never introduced herself came to her mind. "I am D-Dianthe b-b-but you c-can call me D-Dia. It m-means 'F-f-fl-flower.'" She smiled again at that, she loved flowers and it felt a little special to be named after them. Even though it seemed everyone knew she was the Alphas daughter, there were just so many it was easy to forget who was who so she liked to start things off like they had no idea who she was and in all honesty, she was one whom many had a tendency to forget.


Aurik

[Aurik]

Aurik could do nothing but smile at the young femme as she spoke to him, actually acknowledging him. It was such a foreign feeling these days that her attention was enough to make his day. The male nodded slightly with her words, acknowledging her and hanging on her every word. Not being able to hear her did not matter; she way she radiated happiness was enough to make everything worthwhile. Never before had the male received such a reaction, and it was addicting. He would do anything to make her smile that way; absolutely anything at all.

"I have only been here for a liitle while," he admitted sheepishly. The male did not want to seem as if he were stalking her, because there was nothing sinister in his actions. He meant what he said; he only wanted to be sure that she was safe. As she introduced herself, he dipped his head slightly in acknowledgment, effectively missing the last half of her sentence. "It is nice to meet you, Dianthe," he retorted happily, "I am Aurik. No nicknames, unfortunately!" The pup-like grin on his face was infectious; it simply would not go away. Unlike the others in Kairos, Aurik was not around with the pack's last season to know of the female's heritage. He was blissfully ignorant to many of the pack's social dynamics, other than what was blatantly obvious or what some of the wolves spoke about around him, not realizing that although he could not hear, he was extraordinarily talented at reading lips. 

"What are you doing all the way out here, sweetheart?" he asked her affectionately. He was craving any interaction he could get, particularly from one who was not talking down to him or insulting him at every turn. What he did not realize was a stutter, the grey male interpreted as the female speaking slower than normal. It was a welcomed change, as many of the others spoke so quickly that he simply could not follow along in the conversation, leaving large gaps in his understanding. Her words were just spaced enough for him to follow with ease. It's only a matter of time until she realizes, though. She will want nothing to do with you once she knows, the nagging voice in his head teased. His own insecurities were his worst enemy. Many a wolf had left him behind because of his impairment, and Aurik could not be certain just how much the others in the pack had worn off on Dia. Would she turn her back on him in a heartbeat just like all the others? "I know that most of the others never leave Ina'mos. It tends to be far more peaceful out here."


Dianthe

[Dianthe]

He was so different from the others, there really could be no comparison made between them. He was calm and relaxed, seemingly uninterested in the normal aspects of life that she was raised to view as important to a pack. Deciding almost immediately that she liked him, Dianthe listened carefully to his words and giggled quietly at his introduction. "I-I m-may think of a n-nickname f-for you one d-day." A half promise with a smile, "N-not t-that your n-name isn't l-lovely. I-it is!" Hoping she didn't insult him, for many took offense quickly around here, Dianthe kept her posture friendly hoping that would make up for the careless way she spoke. 

"I-I just w-wanted to see s-something new. T-the island is c-crowded......and e-ev-everyone is s-so serious." Wanting a place to be herself, the lilac eyed girl needed to venture out. Even being patient had it's limits when all the youngsters her age just wanted to talk about proving themselves, gaining rank, impressing Father or even chose her to prove the already obvious fact that she was weaker than many of them. 

"T-this place n-needs more of that. P-peace and quiet." Trailing off in her thoughts before she realized what she said and her eyes widened and her ears pulled back slightly. "P-please don't t-t-tell F-Father I said that. H-he won't c-care to h-hear it." So odd, she usually thought out her words carefully before she spoke, choosing what would be most eloquent. But out here, with this wolf, she became more blunt and honest without even realizing it. 

"D-do you c-come out here a l-lot? I-is your f-family here as w-well?" Wondering briefly if he kept a harem like her father and uncle, but then assumed he probably did. Most males seemed to and she couldn't come up with a reason as to why he wouldn't. It was the normal thing to do around here. Yet she pictured him being more attentive to his mates than the Alpha, whom she knew had yet to spend any real time with her mother. Being Alpha must be very busy.

Aurik

[Aurik]

Insecure.

That was likely the best word Aurik could use to describe the smaller wolf in front of him. Her body language screamed it in all directions, while her words were almost attempting to discount it. The grey male smiled at the young wolf, unable to think of an accurate word or reaction to express his gratitude. Even in the few moments they had actually interacted, Dianthe was so different from the rest of Kairos. "Do not worry, Dianthe," he grinned with a wink, "I won't tell anyone." It was nice to interact with someone without feeling like there would be consequences, and Dianthe did not seem like the type to go running to her father and complain that the stupid deaf wolf did something unscrupulous.

Life around Kairos was always tense, and Aurik flinched back slightly at mention of his family. It was not often that anyone asked, and the comment was clearly not intended to cause harm. "Unfortunately, I do not know where my family is anymore," he admitted softly, his gaze dropping with mild embarrassment. He barely glanced up in time to catch her next words. "I tend to stay out here more often than not. I am not welcome in with the main pack."

It was more than the male intended to disclose, but Aurik could not find it in himself to sugar coat things to her. He was miserable here, and there was likely not much more time until he would leave. The pack held virtually nothing for him, especially with Roka's absence in his life. The male never did understand if she avoided him because of Sabaoth or what, but they would likely never be the same again. Things were changing, and Aurik was never sure what the next day would bring.

Dianthe

[Dianthe]

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A sigh of relief escaped her lips when he promised not to tell. It was going to be their little secret and it was rather thrilling to the gentle girl that someone would do that for her. She was too sweet tempered to wonder why he would do it, if he had some double reasoning. Dianthe didnt think like that, she just saw a good, kind heart. Smiling her thanks until the breeze brought another leaf to her paws, which caused it to fade slightly as her attention was diverted, the urge to play with it tugging at her as the shriveled thing danced in front of her. Batting it gently, she sent it around her for the breeze to carry further away. "N-n-not now friend." She said as it flew away.

Raising her eyes back up to the earthy male as he spoke of no family, not even here within the pack, her brightness faded in sympathy. Pointed ears fell and her brow creased as her face tilted towards the sun which only highlighted the expression. "Th-that's awful. W-w-why not? Father should let you in! I know you are d-d-different from the others, but I l-like it." When she spoke her expression never changed, she still hadn't put together he actually couldn't hear her, she was more focused on the fact he was sweet. Her heart ached a little now knowing her pack could be so harsh to a wolf like that even in their own ranks. "If you d-d-don't mind, I c-could visit you. That way you won't be so l-lonely...I wouldn't be either. W-we could be f-fr-friends!" Innocent features lit up at the idea. Maybe he was someone she could talk to and perhaps he could teach her something's the other adults were always too busy to do because they focused on the more prominent pups for training.

A sudden thought struck her and her smile once again fled from her face, "Unless, I would b-b-bother you...I don't have to v-visit." The sudden idea that he may grow tired of her company made her a little sad but she had to admit it was possible for an adult to dislike her. Even this one...who called her 'Sweetheart' and had warm eyes. Pack life taught her to make herself scarce when she was unwanted or else face someone's anger and irritation.

It was his decision in the long run. She would do as he wished, she hated making others upset. Dianthe was a gentle thing that tried to make everyone happy, a hard thing to do when one is surrounded by temperamental warriors for the most part.

---

Tags: Aurik
Notes:

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[Aurik]

Although Dianthe was rapidly approaching adulthood, Aurik could not help but admire the pup-like innocence she still possessed. By her age, he was already jaded and initiated into the real world, where it seemed that she had been protected from the bitter truths the world had to offer. Her concern for him was refreshing, as it had been so long since it seemed as if anyone cared about him. He could only smile sheepishly at the young one, shrugging slightly at her words. "Your father has allowed me to stay for this long. Not many want me around," he advised her calmly, though the connotation behind the words was clear. He was not welcomed, so he stayed away. It was nothing new for the male, but that did not make it hurt any less over the years. It was why he had doomed himself to remain a loner, why he never put himself out there for others until Roka stumbled upon him. Now, this little femme was captivating his heart in her own way, and once again he was finding that it would be difficult to walk away.

"I would very much like your company, sweetheart. But I do not wish to get you in trouble," Aurik reminded her gently. It was the furthest thing from his mind to put Dianthe at any risk, and the male was not truly sure how Goliath would react with him interacting with one of his daughters. He was on thin ice within the borders of Kairos as it was. It was highly unlikely that the alpha would look too kindly upon him befriending one of the young females of the pack, even though his intentions were nothing but pure. He saw in Dianthe a kindness and love of the world that was so scarce among these wolves. It reminded him of his mother, but Dianthe was different. She had no reason to have such a bright light in her, yet she still far outshone those around her. She was an enigma, a light in the darkness. Aurik was naturally drawn to a kindred soul, and now that he had met her... truly met her, he was not sure he would be able to stay away.

It was the young wolf's next words that stopped Aurik completely in his tracks. "You could never be a bother. You are so different than anyone else around here. You have showed me kindness where the others do not acknowledge me, sweet Dianthe," he reassured her. Her company was currently the only thing that was tethering him here. He would go see Roka one last time, to make his peace with her. Her absence and disregard for their friendship weighed heavily on the male, and he could not in good conscience walk away from her without clearing the air. But if Dianthe asked him to stay, he would.

He wold only stay for her.

Dianthe

[Dianthe]

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She liked his voice, it was calming and comforting as he words wove into her ears gently but it was still hurtful to hear he wasn't welcomed into the pack openly. Why stay? She had to wonder but she wasn't sure how to ask right now without sounding rude. Having just made a friend, upsetting him was the last thing she wanted to do.

Tilting her head when he mentioned her not getting into trouble, the lilac eyed girl thought hard for a way to get around it, "I'm almost g-g-grown up. M-maybe he won't c-care once I'm b-big enough t-to take c-care of m-myself. You are p-pack after all. H-he would k-know you wouldn't hurt t-the Alphas d-daughter, right?" Looking up at him with big, innocent eyes, Dianthe radiated trust to her new friend. She knew he meant no harm, he had a gentle heart. Even being a warrior based pack, Father would have to respect a kind wolf and believe his children would be safe with them, otherwise what kind of pack would it be if everyone was edgy and suspicious of the others intentions? She was confident in her reasoning, not thinking if it was naive or not. Dia saw things black and white, right and wrong. She went with her heart and her head mostly because she didn't know the difference between the two.

A smile brightened up her features once again as he commended her being different. It seemed everyone but her mother and sisters ever appreciated it before, now Aurik said it like it was important to be so, like she actually mattered. "I like you, A-Aurik. The others d-don't matter really as l-long as you're h-happy." She tilted her head again, "Are you h-happy?" The innocence coming to the complete forefront as she stuttered her way along, "I m-mean you w-would h-have to be a little, right? Y-you came h-here for a re-reason." Was she getting to personal with someone she hardly knew? Probably but her curiosity was peaked. "I h-hope you are anyway." Her voice got very quiet and her ears lowered. Not knowing exactly what she was doing, Dianthe stopped altogether before she dug herself deeper and risked angering him. Males she knew always got angry if she asked to many questions, like she was stepping on their tail or something. Mother taught her the safety of silence and Dia found herself retreating into its embrace.

---

Tags: Aurik
Notes:

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[Aurik]

Aurik had to admire the youthful innocence of Dianthe. She sincerely believed that everyone was welcome within their ranks, where Aurik was the prime example of the exception. He was no thread to Kairos; all their members knew as much. He was far smaller than even the majority of the pups that towered far above their ranks. There was little he would be able to do, even if he wanted to. But the way Dianthe spoke, she believed him to be a full member of the pack, and he did not have the heart to correct her. He would never be welcome here, but that was okay, so long as he could watch over the ones he loved.

But her questions about his happiness caught the male off guard. Was he happy? He once thought he was. He was going to be spending time with his best friend, keeping watch over her so that she could live a happy life. The male was a symbiotic creature at best; his happiness thrived off those he cared for, and right now he had been separated far too long from his friend. He was not sure if he could come up with an honest answer for Dianthe that was not depressing, because Aurik himself was not sure whether or not he was happy. "I like to think I am, sweetheart," he started cautiously, thinking of the best way to explain things. "I have a very dear friend here in Kairos. I would do anything for her, and I have not seen her in a very long time." Put plainly, Aurik missed Roka.

He had existed so long on his own, and Roka lifted the fog of the world from his eyes. She was there, terrifying to him at first, but that rough exterior fell away for him. Aurik had to believe that somewhere, his Roka still existed, even within the depths of the Kairos pack. She was still his friend somewhere, but he needed her now. Dianthe was a breath of fresh air, but she was not a substitute, nor did the male want her to be. Dianthe was her own little category in Aurik's heart now, but Roka would always be his first and best friend. There was nothing that could change that, even with as much hurt and pain he felt now.

"I will find my happiness, little one. I do believe it is out there somewhere."

Dianthe

[Dianthe]

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Once again he surprised her. Instead of being angry or irritated that she would ask such a probing question, he simply answered her and that was that. Although she had to admit that although she kept telling herself he was different, she treated him like he wasn't. Expecting to upset him with every word or somehow offending him in a way that would ruin her chances of having a friend in him, Dianthe saw now she had to treat him like she saw him. From what she could see there was no reason to fear him, so she had to stop acting like there was.

"I'm g-glad you h-have a f-fr-friend." She beamed up at him with a wag of her tail, triangular ears once again perked up and eyes brightly emitting her joy at hearing such news. "W-well if you h-haven't seen h-her, w-why don't you g-go visit h-her? I'm s-sure she w-would love t-to see you." An innocent silver face kept looking up at him like life was just that simple, she never imagined anything could keep true friends apart for long. The tangle of fully grown adult relationships was still a puzzle to her, but she liked to cling to her belief that everything could be fixed with a little patience and love.

"I h-hope you d-do. You h-have a nice smile." She stated in a matter of fact manner. Seeing joy in others was something she loved, something she got from her nearly mute mother. Since she had a friend now, she wanted to make him smile and being the little burst of sunlight that she aimed to be, Dia was determined to keep her friends happy. Even if the only friend she ever had beside her family was the male she was looking up at, that would be enough for her.

---

Tags: Aurik
Notes: Sorry this is so short.

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[Aurik]

Although young, Dianthe's words held a lot of wisdom that Aurik may not have seen before. He smiled softly at his young companion, basking in the feeling that he did, in fact, have someone that cared about him. "It seems, sweet Dianthe, that now I have two friends," he remarked happily, his tail wagging leisurely as he strolled up to the smaller wolf. Perhaps she would take it as overstepping, but the male could not help himself, much like when he was around Roka. He nuzzled her neck affectionately, but while doing so he completely missed her comment about visiting his dear friend. It was moments like this that the male did not realize the full extent of his impairment. As he stepped back, his gentle brown eyes gazed down at the young female, her compliments nearly bursting the male's heart with happiness. It was many years ago that he had last felt this happy, and Dianthe was the reason why. Although he needed to seek out Roka so that they could resolve their issues, he was happy here, like Dianthe had mentioned. Maybe his happiness was not what he once might have expected, but right then and there, he was happy.

"I need to go seek out Roka," Aurik stated softly to his young friend, hoping he would understand that although he might not have wanted to go, he did need to do this. "We have things that I must speak to her about. I apologize, my dear friend. Please be sure you are safe out here," he cautioned her. There were many wolves in this world that would not hesitate to strike out against a young Kairos wolf, particularly one with Dianthe's lineage. While she did not look much like her father, the blood of the emperor still ran through her veins, and that was a threat to her. He would do anything to protect her, but he could not linger indefinitely. He needed to move before someone came along and reported his whereabouts back to Goliath.

"Do not lose the happiness you have, sweetheart. You are a breath of fresh air in a very dismal world," Aurik grinned at the young wolf, his eyes dancing happily as he turned west, the daunting task ahead of him once more. The swim to Ina'mos was difficult, but he would manage. If he was going to stick around any longer, he had to make his peace with Roka, even if that meant he might be back to one friend once more.

But at least I have one.

Dianthe