Father,

dark grace, dark prince

─

he was growing strong as the days went on. his birthing was not difficult but it was complicated. his horns were nubs just then but they had been sharp in the womb nonetheless. his body was large and rounded. his mutations were painstaking to have as well; he often complained his mouth hurt- his stronger teeth and jaws aching often. sometimes, they cut his mother's teat. and with his mane, Androcles experienced weight on his shoulders- enforcing him to use his neck muscles incredibly young. and oh these hematite horns.. they ached and hurt like no other. tender most days as they grew from his thick skull. a headache the young puppy dealt with occasionally. why was life so unfair so early? why did Androcles feel pain?

grumpily, he sought to distract himself from his headache, his horns growing by the week. sometimes bleeding. but he went away from Medusa's den, hoping to avoid father's lectures and more healing as he learned to dread the patriarch's hospitality. the male's build was stocky and thick- muscles increasing as he aged up. finally old enough to leave his mother's den, Androcles was quick to explore outside of it. hades was already doing it..

he ventured close to the water edge then, his small ears swiveling at the sounds of nearby packmates and birds. his nose sniffing as he cautiously peered down into the water to see himself, tilting his head as he watched the water ripple from fish underneath. sighing, Androcles sat with a slouching back. looking for reasoning to his questions.





Speech ─ Think