Aurelia stood at the edge of the stone circle, her heart filled with a deep reverence and an overwhelming sense of anticipation. The mist danced around her, weaving in and out of the ancient stones that loomed above her in a majestic fashion. It was as if the circle itself was a living, breathing entity, pulsing with supernatural energy. She had discovered this sacred site shortly after their arrival at Druid's Moor, and she knew it was a sign from the goddess herself. The impending Hunter's Moon hung low in the sky, its gentle light illuminating the intricate carvings etched into the stones. As a devoted follower of the triple goddess, Aurelia felt a sense of connection to this place unlike any other. She closed her eyes and breathed in the mystical air, preparing for the powerful rituals that would take place under this moon's watchful gaze.

Aurelia carefully and deliberately arranged the candles, their wicks trimmed and wax melted just enough to hold their shape. As she placed each one at the base of the stones, their flickering flames cast dancing shadows on the thick layer of vibrant green moss covering the ground. In the center of the circle, she reverently laid the fox carcass as a tribute to the spirits of the land. Its fur was sleek and glossy, shimmering with hues of red and gold in the firelight. The scent of burnt wood and herbs filled the air, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. Aurelia stood for a moment, taking in the tranquility of this sacred space before working her way to stand over the fox carcass in the middle, preparing herself for the night of meditation before her.

"Aurelia Veratti"

Sauntering through the mists of the Moor, Rhazien couldn’t find it within himself to return to his den- not after his conversation with Sephiran. Kaino, you cunning little viper. She’d stolen an alpha’s son right out from under his nose- intending to use him as blackmail, to overthrow the father and gift his throne to Sephiran. It brought his mind back to his training session with the girls- and how Elysia had proposed a similar idea. But whether Kaino did this on her own, or had collaborated with the other girl, was unknown. In truth, Rhazien was irritated - hurt even - because Kaino hadn’t consulted him first. But alas, he couldn’t put a shackle a ball and chain to his niece. It was up to her to decide her own fate- he was just there to back her up, if need be.  

"Rhazien Saxe"

Whispers of ancient incantations floated on the cool night air as Aurelia tilted her chin to the sky, calling upon the powers of the goddess to guide her through this sacred ritual. The Hunter's Moon seemed to glow with a newfound intensity, its silvery light bathing the stone circle in an ethereal glow. Shadows danced around Aurelia- she danced with them, elongating and contorting in the moonlight as she began to chant in a language long forgotten by most. The words flowed from her lips like a melody, resonating with the very stones beneath her feet. The wind picked up, swirling around her in a spiral of energy that seemed to echo the ancient chants of her ancestors.

As she reached the crescendo of her chant, a soft rumble echoed through the circle, causing Aurelia's heart to quicken with both fear and excitement. The ground beneath her trembled slightly, and she felt a presence stirring around her, unseen but undeniably powerful. The fox carcass at the center of the circle seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly light, its fur standing on end as if electrified by the gathering energy. Aurelia's voice never wavered as she continued her incantation, her eyes fixed on the shimmering form of the fox in candlelight before her.


"Aurelia Veratti"

As he walked, his mind was reeling- swarming with the possibilities, the outcomes, and even the tragedies that could result from this ploy. The urge to satiate this uneasiness echoed in the dark corners of his mind, as Medulla was waiting for him in his den. Always ready to quell his depravities. But of course, the tides were ever changing- a different form of satiating presenting itself, just beyond the veil of fog. Aurelia’s perfume, intertwined with the scent of a fresh carcass, wafted around in the mist- beckoning him forward. He was drawn to it, loping through the heather and soft grasses until her silhouette appeared near the circle of ancient stones.

"Rhazien Saxe"

Aurelia could feel the ancient powers converging around her, a symphony of magic and nature intertwining in perfect harmony. As the last echoes of her chant faded into the night, she fell to the earth, tucking her limbs beneath her as she clung to the ground. She could practically feel the energy crackling in the air like electricity. The stone circle hummed with life, pulsing with a vibrant energy that seemed to seep into Aurelia's very being, even if it wasn’t real- it was very real to her.

She closed her eyes and let herself be consumed by the powerful but invisible currents swirling around her, surrendering to the overwhelming presence of the goddess. Images flashed behind her eyelids - visions of ancient forests, shimmering lakes, and starlit skies. She felt herself soaring through her existence, connected to all living things in a web of intricate threads that stretched back through eternity. She could feel the presence of the fox spirit lingering nearby, its essence a comforting presence that seemed to guide her thoughts towards clarity and purpose. In this moment of transcendent meditation, Aurelia felt truly alive, truly at peace.

"Aurelia Veratti"

He didn’t hesitate to approach her- slow in his movements, careful not to disrupt whatever ritual she seemed to be doing. Her voice filled the clearing, chanting out into the heavens, just as she fell down onto the earth with her eyes held shut. Stopping at the entrance of the stones, he leaned up against one- propping himself in that suave manner of his, watching in interest as she finished her performance. Like a peeping tom in a girl’s window. This was such an intimate thing - surely very important to the azure beauty - and although Rhazien wanted to invade, he found it more… appealing, to witness the intimacy. The tip of his tail flicking, tongue sliding across the roof of his mouth. Perverse man.

"Rhazien Saxe"

As Aurelia's eyes fluttered open, the remnants of her trance slowly dissipated like mist in the morning sun. She pushed herself up from the damp ground, a frown deepening the lines on her brow as she took in the sight of Rhazien standing before her. The male wolf's fierce gaze seemed to pierce through her, breaking the serene atmosphere that had enveloped them during the ritual. A sense of irritation simmered within her, like a pot of water ready to boil over.

"What do you want, Rhazien?" Aurelia's voice was deceptively calm, belying the annoyance that simmered just beneath the surface. Her eyes narrowed into slivers of moonlit steel, their ethereal glow casting shadows across her delicate features. The remnants of the ritual still coursed through her body, a pulsing energy that crackled and hummed beneath her skin. She could feel the power coursing through her veins, and she was in no mood for interruptions. She had been in the midst of a deeply spiritual moment, and he had rudely shattered it with his intrusion.

"Aurelia Veratti"

He waited until she came to- pulling herself up from the ground, boring that deep, sapphire gaze into his skin. Oh, was she mad at his intrusion? He couldn’t help but smile- lips pulling back into an uncanny smirk, as his eyes trailed the curvature of her youthful body. Even now, she was a beauty- wrapped in an ethereal blanket of mist, as if it would devour her at a moments notice. “Nothing in particular,”  He begins, shifting his weight to lean harder against the ancient stone. “Though, I have a feeling  you might be needing this, in the near future.” In a single fluid motion, Rhazien lifts a paw and shuffles it beneath his grizzly bear coat- taking longer than needed, only to pique her interest. Finally, he pulls out the dagger he’d taken from her- the steel of the blade shimmering in the reddened moonlight of the Hunters moon.

"Rhazien Saxe"

With a bated breath, Aurelia's heart raced in anticipation as she watched Rhazien produce her dagger from beneath his coat. The moonlight caught the blade just right, causing it to glint and shimmer like a precious gem. It was a tool of immense value, one that had been confiscated from her during a previous altercation. She longed to feel its weight in her paw once more, to feel the connection to her ancestors that it represented. Despite the thrill and longing coursing through her veins, Aurelia maintained a calm and collected facade, unwilling to reveal just how much this dagger meant to her. With calculated movements, she approached Rhazien, every step deliberate and precise as if performing a delicate dance with destiny itself. "You've had my dagger this whole time?" she asked, her voice neutral. Honestly she was surprised that he had kept it, and hadn’t thrown it away as soon as he had taken it from her. “And you’re giving it back to me?” This was the part that had her suspicious of his intentions. Or was he here merely just to taunt her with it? That seemed more likely.

"Aurelia Veratti"

Rhazien could see through her collected facade- she may have acted like this blade was insignificant, but he felt the energy in her shift the moment he pulled it out. It was important to her, no doubt- and that was confirmed when she questioned him about it. His smile widened, morphing from a charming grin to a roguish smirk. He loved having leverage, and he wanted her to squirm for him. “Of course- I’ve kept it safe, just for you.” He said, watching as she gravitated towards him- tracing every movement, readying himself in case she decided to strike. Of course, he doubted she would do so- why bite the hand trying to feed you?

Lifting it up, he raised it towards her handle first- waiting for her to reach out for it, before swiftly pulling his paw back. If only to tease her. “I am.” He says, wanting the anticipation to build- feeding off that longing look in her eyes. And then, he raised it back towards her. Allowing her to take it, if she reached out again. “Tomorrow, Sephiran and our warriors will attempt to overthrow a kingdom and claim it as ours.”  Certainly Aurelia already knew this was Sephiran’s plan all along- but it had come prematurely in his opinion. “And if that pack’s alpha responds with violence, the Sultan intends to march us into war.” There was a mischievous gleam in his eyes as he looked down at her- one that gave insight to the excitement buzzing around in his abdomen.  

"Rhazien Saxe"

Aurelia's patience wore thin as Rhazien toyed with her, teasing her with the dagger. A flicker of irritation crossed her features, but she held back the urge to snatch it from him, determined to maintain her composure. He pulled it just out of her reach, a sly grin spreading across his face as he enjoyed her frustration. But when he finally offered it to her again, she snatched it up without hesitation. The cool metal of the blade sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine, and she reveled in the familiar weight in her paw. It was as if the missing piece of her had been restored, grounding her in a way that nothing else could.

His words, however, cut through her satisfaction like a razor-sharp blade slicing through silk. The revelation of Sephiran's plan and the impending conflict sent a chill down her spine, spreading icy tendrils throughout her body. She had known that their group's intentions were not entirely peaceful- far from it, really. But the thought of plunging into war so soon unsettled her to her core. She met Rhazien's gaze, her eyes narrowing into sharp slits as she processed his words. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked, her voice deceptively calm but tinged with suspicion. She could sense an undercurrent of hidden motives in his disclosure, or perhaps it was simply his desire to hold power over such sensitive information. Either way, she knew she needed to tread carefully around him - like walking on thin ice, unsure of when it may crack beneath her feet.

"Aurelia Veratti"

Watching her toy with the blade, passing it between her paws, reveling at the weapon he’d so kindly taken from her- he couldn’t help but keep his smile. Whether Aurelia admitted or not, Rhazien senses a darkness within her- one he believed could be honed into something grand, if she opened herself up to it. She was the Sultan’s toy, after all. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t be more.

Her eyes narrowed tighter, morphing into slits. And then she questioned him- wanting to know the undercurrent of hidden motives, as she depicted them. “Joining us would be in your best interest-”  He says, getting straight to the point. “-if you wish to break free from your Sidi title.” His coy expression suddenly fell flat- a seriousness contorting his gaze, as he stared down at her. If she wanted Sephiran to see her as more than a plaything, she needed to prove she could be more- and what better way, than to stand at her Sultan’s side and offer her tooth and claw?

"Rhazien Saxe"

Aurelia's piercing gaze hardened as Rhazien spoke, each word landing like a dull thud in her mind. She was immune to the power struggles of the pack and had no desire to prove herself to Sephiran or anyone else. Her loyalty lay elsewhere, deeper than the superficial hierarchy of titles and positions- first and foremost to herself.  "I am not interested in playing your games, Rhazien," she said, her voice firm and unwavering.  "I have no desire to break free from my 'Sidi' title, as you put it. To break free of it would be to acknowledge it in the first place." She took a step back, distancing herself from him and his machinations. The dagger in her paw felt heavy, a reminder of the his initial statement. You might be needing this. Did he really expect her to fight for anyone other than herself?

"Aurelia Veratti"

Of course, Aurelia wouldn’t be so easy to control- in fact, she was outright defying the suggestion he’d given her. Glaring back at him with those sapphire eyes, issuing a silent challenge he wasn’t going to answer. That’s where he differed from his nephew- where he would respond with violence, Rhazien remained the tactician he sought to be. His suave, devilish smile returning to his face, as he maintained their intense eye contact.

Shaking his head, he takes a step forward and she moves back. His eyes trailing down to the blade in her paw, wondering if she was going to yield it against him. “My apologies, Aurelia. I’ve made you believe you have a choice in the matter.” He says, taking another predatory step forward- slowly closing the distance between them. “You will be joining our war party- and you will show Sephiran you are more than Sidi who warms his bed.” A short pause, before he continues. He makes it known that regardless of her beliefs, she was a Sidi in the Saxe world - a world she now lived in, until the end of time.  “I’d hate to see all of this…” Another step forward, as he aims to loom over her now. Wanting the warmth of his breath to caress the top of her head, to swirl the fur in her ears. “…potential, go to waste.”  So badly he wants to reach out and touch her- the forbidden fruit of the Moor.  

"Rhazien Saxe"

Aurelia's eyes held a steely glint, her unwavering gaze meeting Rhazien's attempt at intimidation head on. She stood firm, refusing to be swayed by his threats or his attempts to assert dominance over her. Her words were laced with an underlying tension, but her voice remained steady and resolute.  "You may think that I am without choice in this matter, Rhazien, but you are gravely mistaken," she stated, her tone betraying none of the emotions churning within her. Her stance was one of fierce defiance, her chin jutted forward and her eyes ablaze with determination. She seemed to dare him to challenge her further, daring him to try and control her like a pawn on a chessboard. Her grip on the dagger tightened, its sharp edge glinting in the pale moonlight. She couldn't help but wonder why they needed her specifically, among the other potential militants. Did their ranks truly lack capable fighters? Or was there another reason she was being called upon? The cool metal of the blade was a reassuring weight in her paw. At the end of it all, she couldn’t help but ask.  “Why do you want me there so badly?” She asked in the same pointed tone she had been using up to this point.

"Aurelia Veratti"

That tantrum of hers - he couldn’t even consider it to be resolve - was going to get her killed. But alas, she was too young and unbroken to realize it yet- but perhaps someday, it would be molded into her very being. Being Sephiran’s toy, it wasn’t in his power to work on her. That was something only the Sultan could do. In his power, he could only give her unsolicited advice and relay commands- whether or not she adhered, was a different story.

Even with her glaring, Rhazien kept a neutral expression - aside from his long, toothy smirk - keeping his eyes trained on her, watching as she tightened her grip on the blade. She didn’t have the resolve to attack him, that he was sure of. “Because I believe there are… things inside of you we can hone-” He says plainly, taking a step to the side, slowly starting to encircle her. “- a darkness that can thrive, if you allow it.”  He stops once he is standing in front of her again, his body partially perpendicular to keep her from easily running off. “Unless, I’m wrong?”  He questions, staring down into her eyes. “Perhaps you are worthless- a mere pile of flesh and bone, who will amount to nothing?”  Not meaning to torment, but a factual statement- in this world, what else was she but a Sidi for the Sultan?

Releasing a sign, Rhazien makes a final and bold move- brushing his shoulder against hers, a nearly electrifying feeling of lust resulting from the contact. Fuck, he wanted her. But alas, he couldn’t have her- unless he wanted to face the wrath of Sephiran. “I do hope to see you there, Aurelia.”  Lingering in her proximity, savoring the closeness and their contact. “If only to prove me wrong.” He finally pulls himself away - forces himself to, really - before gravitating away from her and vanishing into the mist. He couldn't spend the entire evening trying to convince her to join their party- he had other things to attend to.

-exit-


"Rhazien Saxe"