Night fell over the wolves of Darkwater Rapids with a graceful, scrum-free peace, a hush taking over the lively forest within which they made their home by the water. A familiar ache set into the matriarch's bones as she approached the den; she could hear the restful breaths of five dark wolves. Her heart yearned to join them, but her toes itched to take a walk with her thoughts. Rarely one to fail her impulse, Ava turned her gaze for the treeline and smiled softly. I'll be back before long, she decided, and set off into the darkness.

Her pawsteps took to matching the song of the rapids, gently moving with the rhythm laid about by the white water's dance. Ava did not stray too far from her home, no more than an hour's worth of time, and approached the Pass that separated the Vale from the Edens. It was nothing more than a night time jog around the neighborhood, at least it was until the light streaming through the cracks in the canopy began to change colors. The silver moonlight shifted into shades of yellow and green, glittering on the dewdrops that had started to appear on the grass. As the trees began to fade away and ascend Ava picked up her pace, thoroughly enjoying the sting of her muscles as she put them to good use and eager to see what was causing the strange light.

When the canopy broke Ava stepped out on to the stone surface of the rising peaks, tilting her muzzle to the sky. Awe cloaked her expression when she found the most dazzling display hanging overhead. Caverns of green light ribboned through the clear night above her, illuminating the trees and boulders that dotted the mountainside. The stars sparkled blue behind the grand display while the night sky took on a purple hue, complementing the world in an array of cool bliss. Her movement began to slow as she stared up ahead; never had she seen the aurora borealis quite so intense. It would be an absolute shame to turn her back on such a show.

A cluster of large rocks just ahead gave her the perfect vantage point. The night quickened and the colors intensified as she bounded forward, one strong push of her hind legs propelling her swiftly on to the rock tops. As she she-wolf sank to her belly upon the cool stone she never once moved her eyes, vibrant amber depths trained diligently on the cascades. Content to enjoy a moment of beauty, the dark Queen let her chin rest upon her crossed wrists, reflections of the heavenly splendor dancing in her gaze.

Maksim's voice found her in the darkness; it was the only distraction that prompted her to remove her gaze from the sky. She sought his swift-approaching form as the trees receded, easily finding his green eyes as the lights from above seemed to catch his stare, and gave him a demure grin pending his arrival. She'd known plenty of wolves who had little heart for imagination or fantasy, abandonning childhood most absolutely. Some glittering lights in the sky were pretty, sure, but nothing to gape over in awe. That Maksim was not one of them was a pleasant discovery. His fortitude in duty was nothing less than outstanding; how well they two got along was an excellent bonus.

Stories. Her dark ears perked forward at the word. In all truth Ava loved them, more than she'd realized she had when she was growing up. The thought of Vafri, the weasel of a bard, brought distaste to her mouth - but his tale of the first hero had been absolutely captivating. As he briefly outlined the tale - the serpent and the savior - Ava wondered if he'd humor her enough with the full version. "No, I've never heard such a tale." When she glanced back up she saw the serpentine grace of the twisting lights, the undulating patterns of blue and green not unlike snake trails woven into the grass.

She tried to remember, then, the only one she knew. "I've heard a story about the great snake who guarded the black sea, and ghosts and heros, but it was about the falling stars..." That didn't make any damn sense, she realized as she trailed off. In her defense, it had been a long one and she'd last heard it a year ago and immediately after Naira had gone in to labor so her memory of the tale couldn't be exact. With a bashful snort she shook her head, going back to reiterate what the actual point had been. "You think perhaps it's the same snake always terrorizing the sky?"

Her smile failed to wane as she turned her eyes up to the green lights in the sky, her ears turned toward his voice as she pictured the story he spoke unfolding on the black canvas above. The twisting lights became that great insatiable serpent while the stars above seemed to connect into a great wolf Prince. For a moment her mind wandered as she wondered if it was Rowan or Mace who would become such a hero - perhaps both? - and if Maksim had pictured himself as the youth with a righteous vengeance when he'd heard the story himself years prior. Never the less she abandoned her thoughts to heed his words and watched as the stars and lights battled, until the twinkling lights consumed the shimmering wraith in a saving act of valor.

Ava blinked almost reluctantly and let the night sky return to reality. There was no wolf made of stars dancing with the devil above, but she was happy to note the lack of imagination didn't make the sight any less spectacular. She grinned at his remark about the differences in stories at times and countered, "What, you don't believe you're seeing a ghost at this very moment? Revenge is powerful. Perhaps powerful enough to cast the sparkling remains of your soul into the sky." Her voice portrayed a deep wisdom, but the twinkle in her amber eyes made certain that he wouldn't perhaps mistake her for an overgrown child.

Returning to sincerity she let her golden gaze fall from the sky, readjusting her wrists so as to better comfort her jaw. She glanced upon her subordinate, curious for friendship. "Had you always pictured your life like this? Or were you ever hoping to be the Prince savior of the world?" As the words left her mouth she realized they weren't as silly as they sounded, truth be told. Wasn't everyone the hero of their own story? Maybe their lives, perhaps a little inflated and embellished in some places, were the stories of the future. Would pups some day learn of a great and prosperous pack, lead by shadow wolves across a treacherous mountain to seek the great paradise? Maybe she'd start the tale herself with those four back at the den.

A lopsided grin adorned her face as she watched Maksim box with the glittering lights, chuckling at the image. Of course she didn't doubt him. Of all the oaths Ava had ever heard, his was certainly shaping up to be the most genuine. If a giant snake ever descended from the heavens to swallow the world, Maksim would be there at the front of the line. His history attested this fact. As this was the first time he'd ever really spoke of himself the dark Queen was certain to listen intently, though it helped that she was honestly curious to know where her strongest member had come from. The more he revealed flattered the woman, honored that he'd chosen to lay his roots down and grow a tall tree of his own with them.

Though she hadn't known him she felt a quillet of pride for his accomplishments on his noble quest. Ava had certainly gotten lucky that he had stumbled upon her border; they could use more wolves like Maksim but it was evident that the man was one of a kind. The short histoire was over, though, and so was her time to mull it over as he directed the question on her. She dismissed his apology, "I'm happy to hear you ramble," and wondered with a cheesy grin where she ought to begin her story. Feather Valley was long a place of the past, and though she would be overjoyed to see a sibling of her own once more she didn't long for them, or for a home that once was. Her home and family were here now.

Finally she answered, "Yes, and no. I had always wanted this but I was never sure if it would really happen to me." Ava flicked her ears, hoping she could keep herself from running her own mouth. Her story wasn't so complicated, but the erroneous details were scorched into her mind and it was difficult to pick apart what was actually necessary and what was an irrelevant memoire. After all she had briefly mentioned Poison Path to the male once before, so she didn't want to bore him with repetition. "Once I held a high rank in Poison Path, my former pack nestled by the Lake up there," she turned her head to motion up the mountainside. "Kade was always Guardian of Grizzly Hollow. I always knew I loved him, but the time was never right. I thought I might stay up there forever. Then things in that pack went south, quickly, and so did I. So I left the Lore completely." Admitting the fact left her voice soft and dry, certainly not proud of herself in those times.

Thankfully she found it easy to block reminders of that miserable time from her mind. After a moment's pause and a wry grin she continued. "I came back, when I realized what a fool I'd been. When I ran away from the bad I left behind a lot of good and I had to return for it. I sought Kade. I left the Poisoned behind. That's when I knew I would have this, one day." Hope was evident in her bright stare as she surveyed the twisting aurora, an unsaid prayer of thanks for the way her fortune and hard work had converged. Then she considered what he'd said once more, that he hadn't gotten exactly what he longed for. She pursed her dark lips in thought and wondered if there was some way she might help his legacy as he had helped the Attayas. Suddenly she found an idea. "Could I ask a favor of you?"

The pitch-black female was pleased though not surprised to hear his immediate acceptance of her inquisition, though she suspected he might himself be pleased though not surprised about what she would offer in return. She let her gaze drift away from the glittering light show to fall upon her subordinate, hoping to convey her sincerity. "As I understand you're not much into being handed undue spoils," she grinned somewhat sheepishly, as though her words were spoken in blatant ignorance of his earlier sentiment though this was false, "but I'm sure you'll find you're much deserving of this. You are a commendable protector of this pack and your efforts should be honored. I'd like to name you the first Guard of Darkwater Rapids."

The first. There would be more, she hoped, though she preferred each of her own be as dedicated and capable as Maksim. Truly it was quality members she sought to share her table. She had a social heart and in the past it had been easy for her to slip away from her territory at night, delving into new lands and making friends wherever she could. That was still her intention, but she was not a girl anymore. She was an adult proper, a lady Leader, a mother of four. There was no where her presence could be but here. Therefore all those friends she yearned so smartly for had to be close to home. This, she found, was not only manageable but even easy sometimes, so long as she tried.

So she did what she could in her power to make her friends, to keep them safe, to keep them happy. After all she was only so strong because they enabled her, so Ava saw it fit to return the favor as much as she could. Give them credit, reward their efforts, be their friend too. Maksim was even overdue for such things, as his surety had been unwavering since the moment he came across their border in the Cedarwood. Ranks were left to the individuals, but she could imagine him scaling them should he prefer it. Perhaps she'd mention that later; after all, she had just offered him a further burden - one step at a time.