Innocent until death

Kore slowly plods underneath the willow trees as his mind churns with questions. The changing of seasons marks his, and his siblings, second year of life which, many wolves consider to be adulthood. Yet a darkness hangs over the small trio as it has become clear that their brother, Kalyke, has disappeared. How long his blue fire-kissed sibling has been missing, is uncertain but Kore and Ao know that something happened. It had been difficult to bid his moon touched sister farewell but the safety of their brother is important to them both and that is why he is here, slowly searching the land for any sign of his missing sibling.

A sigh rolls past his lips as the galaxy-cloaked man realizes that this is, yet another, dead end. Frustration has him kicking a small pebble into the lazily flowing river that weaves its way through the roots of the trees. Suddenly, a loud splash catches Kore’s attention and he pauses to listen. Loud splashing continues and a bird begins to make a racket. Dread drops a lead weight in his belly and the tall man rushes to where the chaos is unfolding. Light blue eyes quickly spy a raven that is flying toward him and it seems to understand that he wishes to help. The pair rush to the scene and the man quickly takes in the area.

The raven swoops down toward the water, as if, pointing out a spot and Kore hurriedly leaps into the cold liquid. It comes up to chest and he gasps as the chill hits his body but he continues on, hastily wades to where a dark shape struggles underneath the surface. Inhaling, the man wraps his slender forelegs around the small wolf before holding his breath and plunging his head underneath the surface. He finds the weeds that are keeping the wolf prisoner and, with a carefully placed bite of his saber teeth, he frees the trapped limb.

Withdrawing his head, he uses his legs to swiftly pull the smaller wolf to surface where, once she breaks above the water, the taller man gently grabs her scruff. He tries to be as careful as possible with her scruff and his sabers as he nimbly leaps onto the safety of the shore. Once his paws hit dry land, the galaxy clad man promptly, yet cautiously, lays the monochrome woman down. Panting, Kore gently lays a large paw on the smaller wolf’s side and he leans down toward her face, listening for the sounds of breathing as he softly says, “Hey there. Breathe. Can you do that for me? In through your mouth, out through your nose. Nice and slow. Like this.”

Kore mimics the slow, steady breathing as he does a quick check of the woman while hoping the few things that he picked up from his sister is helpful.


"Kore Regni"