when can i see you again

Standing tall once more, a blue tinged tongue flicked outward, brushing the clinging droplets of water from blackened lips. "I thought my mother had abandoned us and I hated her for it. I hated her for shutting down my dreams of being a princess." Iolaire scoffed lightly and cast Deathbelle a glace over her shoulder. "I was so naive. I was convinced that I was royalty. That some day my father would come looking for me and I'd get to live in the big castle with the rest of the family." The woman rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Pathetic."

Turning, she made her way back towards the woman resting in the center of the furs. "My father did eventually come looking for me. He came looking for all of us." Iolaire seated herself before Deathbelle, curling her tail tightly against one slender hip. "He murdered my brothers. He would have murdered me if he'd found me. I only found out later in life that my mother had left us to try and draw him away. It hadn't been her intent to abandon us. In her attempt to save us, she suffered another grievous injury. Lost an eye."

One foreleg raised and Iolaire rubbed gently at her face. Her exhaustion was apparent, but she needed to finish her tale. "A wandering pup, I happened upon an old crone. She taught me the art of healing and poisons in return for caring for her. She wasn't always nice, but our agreement was mutually beneficial. When she died, I was a free agent. I moved from place to place, trading my skills or other things for food and protection." 'other things.' Vague. "I honed my skills in diplomacy. Became the charming creature that I am now." Io shot Deathbelle a winning smile, lips pulling back from pristine white teeth.

"What else..." Iolaire tilted her delicate skull from side to side, thinking of what else to share. "There was a man. I loved him. When he found out that I was incapable of having children, he abandoned me. Gave me to his men to be raped and abused. That bit was fun." The woman wrinkled her nose. It was clear that she'd come to terms with that part of her life. It was over and done with. No use in thinking on it. "I've served alphas. Kings. Czars. Nowhere ever felt like it was worth staying in. I took what I needed from them and moved on to the next place. Nowhere ever felt like home until I came here and met Sirius." A light shrug was given. Her gaze then moved to settle upon the pretty face of her lovely, resting companion. "And you."