Virtue Itself Turns Vice

The day had come. As Mariah crossed the sand bridge, her silver-marked paws sank slightly with each step, a physical echo of the heavy responsibility she bore. The air was sharp and cold, her breath misting up before her eyes as she led Caedes through the biting winter winds. Her heart pounded like a drum, a crescendo of anticipation that was hard to ignore. The wind tugged at her jet-black coat, revealing patches of crimson that seemed all the more vibrant against the stark winter backdrop.

Her eyes were drawn ahead, to the rugged expanse of Alias Island. It appeared desolate now in its winter guise, barren trees reaching up like skeletal fingers from the rocky terrain, standing as silent sentinels against the ice and snow. She knew the island well - it was her home, after all. The thought of presenting Caedes to Avacyn filled her with nervous anticipation that matched the frigid landscape.

In her mind, Mariah could already see Avacyn's gaze examining Caedes with a critical eye, searching for something wrong. A reason to turn him away with the tension rising between their alliances and their new neighbors. It would probably be easier that way. But Mariah didn’t want easy. She wanted Caedes to prove himself, to earn acceptance, not just for her own sense of order but for the fleeting sembalance of peace it would inevitably bring.

As they crossed onto the island, she called out for her sister in the meeting place. As she cleared her throat, she shot an affectionate glance at the massive obsidian brute at her side. What were they going to be in for?

"Mariah Mendacium"