Standing at the Edge of the World

When the dust had settled and Manea had been defeated, Alastor's smile had dropped from his face. He didn't say a word to another soul, simply checking on his mate's wounds before escorting her silently away from the battlegrounds, but not without one last venomous glare to the renegade curs in question. They had shown up out of nowhere, swaggering in without a care in the world and made a mockery of his wife's dreams and ambitions. It was only too disappointing that Manea had only stabbed the leader bitch's shoulder instead of her throat and put her down like a dog. That would have been enjoyable to watch! Irilyth tended to Manea and deemed none of her injuries too severe. A small blessing. The Mendacium family hid out in their caves on Alias Island while Manea rested and healed. Alastor tended to her and the pups, hunting and bringing supplies when needed. Otherwise, he diligently remained by Manea's side or guarding the door, refusing to allow anyone nearby to take advantage of his injured wife.

Alastor didn't know what the plan was now. The family seemed to be in limbo, and with the world shifting and changing for the worse around them, they would need a plan to rally and survive the endless night. Not that it bothered him much. Alastor was a creature of shadows and darkness—the night was his realm. On this day, Alastor accompanied his family down to the lake, pausing to stand beside his violet queen when she came to rest in a clearing with their children. He glanced down at Avacyn and Saracyn, his expression softening with a fatherly smile. While still small with a lot of growing to do, they were proving already that his and Manea's genes had no doubt produced two more very large wolves into the world. He gazed at their marks, which now glowed with such intensity all the time thanks to the never-ending twilight and night.

The dire brute watched with love and pride while Manea scooped up both of their children and planted a kiss on the squirming Saracyn's cheek and the snuggly Avacyn's horns. She asked if they should summon the rest of the family, and Alastor nodded. "We should." They needed a plan. Alastor leaned in to meet Manea's lips in a slow kiss, letting his lips linger on hers for as long as he could before she pulled away and howled for the rest of the Mendaciums. It was time for a family meeting.


"Alastor"