How she had come to the cavern was still vague to her slowly awakening mind. She looked about in wonder. So convinced had she been that she knew of all the secrets the mountain and heights had hidden, that surprise was the last emotion she had expected to encounter as she wandered into the small cavern on dawn, light gently filtering in through gaps in the domed ceiling, the iridescent water, reflecting wonder in her eyes as she came to sit on the stony path about the waters edge.

The snow began to fall then, through the roof, lit perfectly by the rising sun, touching gently on the surface of the water before melting away to nothingness. The gentle trickle of the small waterfall music to her ears. She missed waterfalls, and the way they sung, a tune so different to the whispered secrets of the wind. They gurgled, happy tunes, sad tunes. This one sounded lonely. Lonely like the wolf that batted the pristine surface with her paw, so much warmer than the icy lake that had embraced her life on the mountain.

It smelled like you could drink it, it didn't hold the salty tang of the ocean, and so she lowered her head to lap at it's pristine surface. It wasn't the most pleasant water she had tasted, a little dusty if she had to pick a word... but it sated her thirst.

She still did not know why she had come here. She was supposed to be looking for her love, but slowly, her resolve was slipping, her heart tired of the ache. Maybe it was time to give up? A wind blew through the cavern then, sudden and unexpected, gathering her scent and throwing it back out to the heights, but she did not care. Nobody was out there to find her here.

Nobody would notice if she wandered deeper into the caverns. Her golden eyes rested on the dark places, just out of sight. What secrets did they hold? And dare she look? There was no thought as the tawny wolf rose and began to pad towards the darkness. Perhaps, it was time...

She was lost in her thoughts, or perhaps the lack of. There was a cool breeze blowing through the cavern, although it may have been coming from the hole in the roof... she couldn’t be sure... She did not hear the steps behind her, nor the first whisper that would alert her that she was no longer alone. Where did it lead? What was on the other side? Was it another way to the eastern valleys?

His scent teased her nostrils then, just as she had imagined it doing so many times before. She had been from one side of the Lore to the other to no avail. It was hopeless. She would never find him. It was a lost cause. She was a lost cause.

“I’m home...”

It was the words that sounded so real, that caused her heavy head to swing and look over her shoulder. Dull golden eyes falling on the mirage of her lost mate. It couldn’t be real. She had fooled herself too many times before. She wouldn’t put herself through that again.

She turned back to the darkness then, when the wind swirled by again. Stronger, this time, his scent. So close...

Her head turned back then, a more vivid light in her eye as they met the slate-grey eyes of her love. The rising sun, accenting the small flecks of blue and the silver about his face. He was ragged and worn, he looked like he hadn’t stopped running for days. Wonder, and confusion were painted on her face as she took a cautious step forwards, her head canting to the side, probing the vision before her. Testing it, waiting for it to waver before her eyes. But it remained solid.

The distance between them was closing in slow motion as one foot was set down in front of the other, inching her way closer. Finally, their noses almost touched as she froze, loosing herself in the depths of his eyes. With a final jerk she pushed forwards her nose slipping comfortably under his chin as she pressed herself into him the same way she had in the wildwood, the first time they came together.

“Now... you’re home...” she whispered the words catching in her throat. His timing couldn’t have been better if he tried.

Softness wrapped around her then. It wasn’t just Rhysis who had come home with her touch, but her as well. Suddenly, the bad didn’t seem so bad anymore, the injustices done paled in comparison to what would be. It was only a matter of time. Together, they were unstoppable.

She breathed deeply, bathing in his scent. The tang of old wounds, healing wounds came to her nose, but at least it didn’t reek of infection. As he raised her head up and their noses touched a genuine, happy peaceful smile worked its way to her face. If this was just a dream, she never wanted to wake up. All of the worry and anger could be pushed down for just a moment, but a small darkness to her thoughts still remained. She had so much to tell him, she had been so busy.

She was more angry now that she had been the night her pack had simply nodded to her, as if that were any way to greet a leader. She should have quashed their rebellion and disrespect then, grasping them about the muzzle and giving them a good shake, chasing them off with sharp bites to the bases on their tails, much like the way they hunted prey. They should have known they were blessed to walk the same ground she did, to breath the air that was hers. She would never be so lenient again.

But now was not the time. Soon. So very, very soon. They would know what wrong they had done by leaving her as the lowest, by keeping her children from her, interfering in a rank challenge of all things! They would pay for their stupidity.

“We have a pack again.” she whispered, a proud light in her eyes, along with something slightly more sinister. “We just need to collect our children from Athena...” and burn her whole world down...

She could not remember if she had ever heard those words leave his mouth before and for a while she thought it simply a figment of her imagination. When she saw the hurt look growing in his eyes, however, she realised what she had missed in her distraction, but realised the moment for returning the sentiment had passed. Well, they would have plenty of opportunities for that later. If all went to plan.

She thought for a moment, of how they could reclaim their kingdom, they had numbers in their side, simple enough, but there had been hints of a scent about the borders that told her they were best put to settle elsewhere, and leave the Poisoned wolves to face their fate. Perhaps. Perhaps they would thrive, perhaps they would fall. Only time would tell. It wasn’t time she was willing to waste. Not with them so intent on keeping her well below her station. Not while there was ever a chance for interference in private matters of rank. She would never lower herself in the presence of anther again.

His voice was like music to her ears, she almost hoped that he would never stop speaking, the voice lulling her into a peaceful place. A safe and warm place, where there was a whole lot more light than she had seen in what felt like a very long time. But his question ended and so did his lack of promise, and it was her turn to speak again. Oh how she loathed to use her voice more than she must these days.

“I left them on the Rise to scout ahead.” she explained in a whisper, almost fearful to break the spell, or dream, or whatever this was. She still was not sure it could be real. “I will not promise it either.” she added in her own darker tones. She was reluctant to leave this place just yet. They still had so much to discuss. But the words simply would not come. She pressed herself back into her mate. “I missed you so much. I searched, and searched... but I could never seem to find you.” she whispered into the fur at his nape. She loved him, she loved him with all her heart. She just couldn’t say so yet.

The questions began, almost reminding her of another she had encountered on her journey. She was almost pleased for the change of topic, there was simply far too much to work through between them, and a whole lot to be done before they would have the time. “Tenzin, Valiant... the girl her bought with him... Romanis I think her name was? She is not much of a talker... and Gale. Rais is waiting for us at Poison Path.” She answered steadily. Wondering if he had gathered any of his own?

She smiled his apology away, the time for speak of such things was over. He was forgiven, for whatever had driven him to leave their pack, whatever had caused his madness. He was right, there was more than time for all of this later. Now was a time for action.

Her heart caught in her chest in knots when her referred to them as his children, for the longest time they had been hers and hers alone. It was good to know that he would stand at her side again. She would have her family and she would have her pack. There was no stopping her now.