As soon as the pack meeting had come to a close, Epiphron had retreated. The decision she'd made -- to offer to take Chrysanthe's place in the alliance, and hand her the throne -- was becoming more of a reality as she wandered from the meeting, sliding into her den, slipping gladly into darkness. If Gerhardt accepted, she would soon be going to Seracia in the coming winter, leaving her family and everything she had ever known behind. But first, she needed her father's approval. Anxiety wracked her soul, eating her from the inside out. Eventually, curled against the solid stone wall, wishing desperately she had the same kind of strength that the earth itself seemed to possess, she drifted to sleep. Her night was restless, and she tossed and turned, filled with uncertainty and fear that she hoped would dissipate upon awakening. Sure enough, when the sun's relentless rays impinged on her sleeping quarters, she felt much more sure of her decision to offer to switch, in Chrysanthe's place. It would be for the best, and she knew it. Quietly the girl rose to all fours, letting loose a howl for her father. The brute was growing older, and much frailer, and his days were growing short. She could not bare the thought of disappointing Cairo; that was one of her greatest fears. She lowered her muzzle and waited quietly for his arrival.

OOC:I was trying to get ahold of you to see if you were fine with this? But, I sort of felt as though it would be natural to time skip this a bit? Considering what happened, since you aren?t on skype ATM, ill go w/ this then when we have a chance to talk, we will correct whatever it is you need.

He, surprisingly, did not ache anymore than he had days before. There was still the crippling notoriety that the king was old, but fact of the matter was, he was ready for whatever came his way. The real problem was, making sure everyone that he loved would be fine without him. A simple whisper and a daring chant, he rumbles, his glorious life something he had always thought about, every event having been something extraordinary. Though, things of the ordinarily extra, were not always, necessarily, positive. He had faced near war, near death, and even several cases of betrayal. Sometimes, even he was the betrayer.

Simply and understanding, he descended to her summons, her inquiring call, and without a moment?s hesitation, he would amble towards her. Always, he had been at the beck and call of his daughters, and always he would do so, at least so long as he was there to do so. He would pull be her side, attempting to brush his head into her shoulder, a show of affection, and he would waste no more time getting off his legs and moving himself to a more earthly position. His body would fold and his head would rest against the blades of grass. His breathing was soft and yet he would look at her, listening, yearning to know what it was he could do for her.

Her father had suffered greatly following the meeting. He had entirely missed her proposal, the one Chrysanthe had accepted so graciously. He had abandoned the meeting, and then returned to find that Syrinx had challenged for the throne -- and then his heart had stuttered, causing him to fall and grow weak. She had not seem him since then. Erani had been able to care for him on her own, and Epiphron knew her father didn't need to be bothered by her just yet. But, hearing that he was coming back to himself, she called for him. And so he came, dutifully as ever, almost hurriedly; as quickly as his old bones could carry him. His arrival made a broad smile spread on her lips, a look of pure joy overtaking her as she saw how swift he moved. He was clearly doing much better, compared to how he had been at the pack meeting. "Father!" She greeted him quickly as she nuzzled into the fur of her shoulder, pressing into his reassuring embrace. Soon he settled on the earth near her, a lucky spot that was void of snow and ice. Perhaps it was an omen, she thought. "You have no idea how happy I am to see that you are well." She admitted freely and with little shame. Her joy was obvious, from the wag that had begun in her tail to the smile that seemed as though it might never fade.

He would never be as strong as he once was, and that was fine. It would take him no more time for such thoughts to settle in. His mind was at ease, and over the course of the days...had it been days? He was unsure, regardless, over the course of time that he had laid in recovery, he had been told of the happenings, and as if that was not enough he had witnessed all he had needed to see. His own two children at arms, something he prayed he would never have to hear or see again. Even in the afterlife. His smallest daughter, Epiphron, would grace him with her lovely presence. Firm smiles and incredible understanding were given by her. He was happy to see that she was happy at the mere sight of him, and prayed that even in his death she could remain smiling, strong, ready.


"Did you need me, sweet?" he was doing his best to be calm in almost every way he talked, but the levity of love for his daughter would never be vacant from his tones. He would never face forcing himself to speak to her with love, and thus his ears tilted forward and he readied himself for whatever information she had.

His love for her never seemed to fade, even as he begun to grow older and more weak. She would not deny that it pained her to see him in such a state, even if he seemed content, as though he was embracing his inevitable fate. But the smile on her muzzle was genuine, and she could not contain her sincere joy at the sight of him. Walking and alert, coming to her as she called him, for she needed him badly. "I wanted to see you," she said simply, warmly, as that was more important than almost anything else to her. To ensure that he was okay. "I wasn't sure if you knew what happened at the meeting, father. I've relinquished the throne to Chrysanthe. I just wanted you to understand that there is nothing more I would like than to rule Valhalla. It has always been my dream, but..." she paused, considering how to frame her thoughts. A gentle nuzzle was given to the side of his neck, the compassion she felt for her father as evident as ever. "Chrysanthe would not have been happy with Maverick. And I, father, have met him before. And I have fallen for him. I'll be going to Seracia soon to ask Gerhardt if he minds the change of brides, and if he doesn't, I'll be going to Seracia as their Princess soon, following the wedding." Would he be disappointed? Upset? How could he be, when Chrysanthe was such a perfect leader?

Cairo would listen to his daughter effortlessly, there was nothing more perfect in the world than her beautiful tones, than knowing that she was growing into a woman that anyone would be proud to have been, and to have met. She had her flaws, like any other, like himself, but she dared not to let them drag her down, and he hoped and prayed that she realized that in her imperfection she was without flaw. A sigh rumbled from his lips as he nodded his head at her, "You must understand, Epiphron, betrothals are something our family practices, but you did all come into them on terms I am far from understanding of, I apologize," He nodded his head towards her and beckoned for her to come forward with a visible nod of his head.

"If you think what you did will bring happiness to yourself and those around you, then I call you wise, and I call you loving, I couldn't be more proud of a daughter of mine, Epiphron," A tear would not become present, but mostly it was from Cairo not allowing such a thing to happen. These things had changed him, this life, and it was time that he truly start preparing them, letting them know that they had never truly displeased him. Even Eos who had chosen her own route away from home, "If that boy ever mistreats you, Epiphron do not hesitate to find your brother, but also, remember the consequence if your brother believes you harmed, I won't be here long enough to protect you, but you better believe I'd haunt his ass,"

Epiphron's eyes burned with love as she watched the man. How long did her father have left, she wondered? It hurt beyond belief to dwell on such questions, but she knew she would be leaving soon, and would be around less frequently than she hoped. As he beckoned her forth, she slid close to her father, relaxing at his touch as though she were merely a pup again. With him, she would forever be a child, and she would not shy away -- she embraced him with no hesitation, nuzzling into his thick chest fur as though there wasn't a place she would rather be right now. "We will prove to you our greatness, father," she murmured, her lyrics painfully honestly. Chrysanthe ruling Valhalla, herself ruling Seracia -- and where had Eos and Syrinx gone off to? Surely they would settle for nothing less than they deserved, despite their own imperfections. "The Adravendi name will never die." She would be sure of it. She spoke these words with alarming confidence, and she pulled away to smile lovingly at Cairo. "I would never let him hurt me," she assured him quickly. Not that he ever would. "Don't worry. No matter what happens, we Adravendis will always protect one another." Even if she wasn't particularly happy with Eos, or with Syrinx, she would die for any of them -- she knew she would. "father -- I love you."