The Lights of Heaven

[aurora]

In the distant country of Antartica,there was born a race of wolves unlike any other. They were known by humans as 'Artic Wolves',but amoung themselves they held a different name. Also,this country is known well for it's freezing tempratures and constant snow storms. Because of this never merciful weather,the breed of wolves had grown strong and fleet. Their paws carried them at speeds unknown to any other canine,because they had learned to escape the storm and find shelter quickly. Their muscles thick,for they had to carry a seal or lone elk miles before laying it down for the whole pack to feed on. All senses keen,their hearing could dedect a limping elk or polarbear miles away. Sight,smell,touch,and taste was also at it's best. One wolf could lick the track of a elk,and know how long ago it had been here and how far it would be right now.Seeing and smelling through the snow had been hard to learn through generations,but it was gained and taught in the more recent litters of pups.Touch was of little use,yet the wolves used it well. So I bet you are wondering,why give me this lecture about some far away breed of wolves? Because you should know where the ivory femmora that trod unto the empire of Andrathorn came from.

Her dubbance was Aurora,and she had gained that title right from her birth. Her pack,the oldest of all Arctic Wolf packs,was known to breed extroidinary heros,and one had not come in many years. When this little czaress was born,a blizzard of pure cold hatred had rang just outside the den. Her siblings died within hours,yet she lived to cuddle close to her mother. At dawn,her name was announced when she did the oddest of things. Crawling from her sleeping dam's side,the female pup had scooted her way to the mouth of the den. The storm had passed now,and in the heavens were lights of rainbow hue. Every pigment known was swirling in the yonder above in thick ribbons. Oddly,her eyes had open so that she could see this miracle.In doing so,her high pitched and squeaky howl had emmited forth to sing to the lights above. An elder wolf had padded to her side,and saw this moment as an omen. She was blessed by the lights of heaven,and was fated to be named after those lights. So it came,that her alias was Aurora.

When two years old,she had been captured by humans and taken to Canida for research. They found out what a marvelous canine she had been bred to be. Muscles were thick and strong,taking more than four men to hold her down. Fangs as sharp as glass,cutting through flesh with even a soft prick. Claws were just as deadly. Fur was thick and lush in alabaster hue,and her paws were the size of two fists put side by side. Her body was four feet long,and one and a half tall. The scientist were cruel and harmful,cutting her diet to only a few peices of food a day. For angels sakes,she was but still a young lass. Finally,the men that had held her for several months let her free in a terra not far from the Valley of Mist. She was weak,and had little way to obtain strength. So she hunted as best she could,and slowly regained her fearful stature.

Now Aurora walked silently and hungery about the kingdom of Andrathorn. She knew it was claimed,but cared little what the single Alphen would do to her. Maybe he would welcome her,and maybe not. Still,the faerie would probably give up her independence and join his pack if he allowed her everlasting food and a place to stay. Besides,it was time that this four year old girl settled down to live a life that she well deserved.

[icefire]

Icefire smelled a fae. That was good. He needed more wolves in his pack. He stepped out from behind a tree a few feet infront of her. He did so cautiously. He was not afriad but respectful. He would respect anyone who wished to join him. "Good day." His voice was deep and calm. "Who are you and what do you seek in Andrathorn?" Icefire stood confident and comfortable but with no aaragoance.

[aurora]

Aurora looked over to Icefire,fear crossing across her face. As the Alphen greeted her respectfully,and cautiously approached,the alabaster fea calmed down. This brute did not look meand and cruel,but she could never be to trusting. Bowing deeply,she looked at her paws instead of at the leader's face. It was rude to look a commander right in the eye. Then her voice came,sweet and enchanting like the song of which angels sing.
"I am Aurora,and my day has been very pleasant thank you. I come here to seek food and shelter,but perhaps even join your pack. Would that be alright M'Lord?"

[icefire]

Icefire gave her a kind look which she probably couldn't since she was looking at her paws. "Aurora... A pretty name. Powerful too. a fierce beauty. Yes of course. My home is yours. I hope you find it suitable. We have few wolves at the moment as you see its a hard journey here. Ovboiusly nothing you couldn't handle as you look well." His voice was kind deep and lustrious. It was the kind of voice that intellegent and curious as well as respectful powerful. "You may look at my face. I am not the kind to care for my fellows fawning over me. We are all equals here am simply a guide a little higher than the rest. I simply ask for respect loyalty and obediance. I feel sure that will suit you. You seem of the independant type. I respect and enjoy that. Well Aurora welcome home."

[aurora]

Aurora tucked her tail between her hind legs,and held it against her stomach. Looking up to Icefire,she crawled over to cower beneath his front limbs. Head rose just abit,and the femmora nibbled the Alphen upon his chin. This was one of the highest ways to show respect and loyalty to a high ranking wolf such as the one brute standing before the newly claimed vix. Now that she was apart of a pack,she felt safer and more comfortable.

[icefire]

The brute accepted her respectful move. after a moment he stepped back. He lowered himself to the ground of her height, he looked straight into her eyes which wasn't common. "You will find, Aurora, that I am a little different from most leader figures. When you live under my shelter you are free to be independent and express yourself. Everyones opinion is heard and thought about. If we are all respected then we all grow to care for eachother. It keeps us strong to be like this. We may be small in size but in heart we are one of the biggest with our understanding we form bonds of friendship and loyalty to all." Then he smiled got up and said. "Now let me show you home."

[aurora]

Aurora smiled to Icefire,silently noting his endless kindness and gentle respect toward her. From her blurry past,she remembered well that brutes could turn on you in a blink. So as the Alphen began the tour,the mist fleeced vix followed at a distance. She was now walking normally,but her tail was instinctevly tucked between her legs. Summit was held low,at the height of her knees. Nares almost brushed the dirt,but she arched her boa to prevent that.
Gaze swept over the land,soaking in it's beauty and graceful naturality. Oh,how Andrathorn would make a perfect home for her. Plenty of shelter from storms and prey was bounding about in large numbers. This domain could easily fit a pack of thirty or more wolves,not including the pups. Did Icefire plan to rule a pack that large once more members came?

[icefire]

Icefire lifted his head. "This is home. It is kind and beautiful giving me everything I need. In a moment I will introduce you to two of the pack that have an interesting role. They live with us only two seasons of the year when it is hardest to survive as a loner. I think you will like them. I hope that my pack will soon grow. I know many believe it will be hard for me to contain leadership. This crossed your mind for it lingers still in your eyes. As it does in anyone to whom lay eyes open this site. If all goes as plans I feel sure I will keep it. Also I hope to someday find a fae to help me rule."

[aurora]

Akasha nodded,taking in his words and thinking on them. So she was his only real pack member? The other two just wander in and out as they please? Shrugging,the femmora easily accepted this information. Being a free spirit wasn't bad,and having friends that would help you during a time was need wasn't bad at all. Voice once more spilled into the atmosphere.
"What do you look for in a femmora? If she is to be your Alphess,then there must be certain qualties she has."
Now relaxed and comfortable around Icefire,her true self was begining to show. She hoped that coming here wasn't a bad choice,that she would be accepted for who she was.

[icefire]

Icefire thought for a moment. " i ask of only two things but they may be the hardest things in the world. I ask for her to be able to judge others for who they are. Also I ask for her to be herself and judge herself for who She is. That may seem easy. It is not. But if you are able to do this then you will find you are completely satisfied with life." Icefire smiled. "Now on I am pleased to present Razor and Soren. One pure black wolf and one pure white one stepped out from behind trees. Razor has a certain talent. He has the finest voice I have evry heard. He recites poetry very well. Razor would you mind?"

The black wolf stepped forward. he nodded to Aurora.

A golden crown adorned
A flower from within
Vines upon a broken wall
A fight where no one wins
A heart with in a silver grasp
A casket left to the wind
Pearls tossed upon a stormy sea
A bird of beauty to take no heed
Sunlight shattered by a single blade
A ray of hope left to bleed

Razor finished with a bow and Icefire cried. "Bravo!" though he said it with a smile on his face.

[aurora]

Aurora nodded to Icefire,accepting his words and what he wanted in a Alphess. He would have a hard time finding a fea like that,for many did not accept themselves. The frost cloaked vix had heard of those just souls who accepted others,and she herself did that. But to truly accept who you are and what you are,is the hardest thing for everyone. Well,everyone except Icefire. As she walked along side him,she thought about herself. Four years of age,born into a small pack,cruel parents,hateful siblings,and now she walked a loner. Glancing toward her new Alphen,she wondered if he had noticed yet. No,he had not. Should she tell him? Yes,but it was too hard. Twas the reason why she hated brutes so,and had the painful look in her eye.

As Razor and Soren appeared,Aurora stiffened. Muscles tightened,and the coloress seraph growled softly deep in her throat. She was surrounded,but she bet that she could outrun all of them. Hackles raised slightly,but were let down as Razor's poem lifted into the atmosphere. Her angelic tune came forth a few moments after Icefire bravo'd his friend.
"Well done Razor,but I must ask.
What does it mean?"

[icefire]

"It means be free. even when you are tempted trust your heart. in the blackest of times it means hope." It was not Razor who answered but Icefire. "I made it up for him." Razor nodded. "Icefire you should recite it poems only truely live in the one that created them." Icefire nodded, "Yes but I'm afraid it won't sound half as lovely as when you did it. but that can't be helped." As Icefire recited his poem his voice rose and fell his eyes clouded and emotion sparkled there. As he stopped he whispered "It means Life. Forget sounds good. Forget I don't think I could. They say time heals everything but I'm still waiting." He cleared his throat. "so do you have anything to share with us Aurora?"

[aurora]

Aurora stared at Icefire as she found out that he had written the poem,and what it truly meant. Then all attention was turned to her,and the trio of brutes were awaiting her answer. Did she have anything to share? Colorless faerie was still as stone,her eyes wide and frightened. Backing away a few steps,she spoke in a shakey whisper.
"Do you mean...m-m-my p-p-p-past?"

[icefire]

Icefire shrugged. "anything." he said softly.

[aurora]

Aurora nodded stiffly,then sat down upon her haunches. She would tell them her tale,because never had she told anyone before. Taking a few deep breaths,the ivorn dancer settled down into a calm state. Then she parted her jowls,and sang her past. From begining to end.
"I was born in the pack of Sapphire Caves,we were a mountain pack. My mother,Shalkia,and father,Shadow,were the Betas. I have two siblings,Moon Shadow and Starlit Warrior. The first is my black brother,and the second my grey sister. They were strong,agile,and glamerous beyound compare. I however,was the runt and 'ugly pup'. Mother and father rejected me because of my weakness,and so did the pack. Except,the Omega couple. Fethesus and Salem,both very kind and my adoptive parents. Salem nursed me,for she herself had had a litter in the time near when my mother birthed me. I grew up with two brothers,both very nice and kind. I learned everything I know today because of that family,and I shall forever hold them most highly in my hearts. Yet when I turned two,the Alphen decided that he needed a queen,and I was to be it. I had grown into my own special beauty,or so said Fethesus,my adoptive father. He was weary of the Alphen,but allowed the brute,dubbed Eagle Racer,to take me into his den and cold heart. When I arrived in the pitch black hole,I heard the breathing of several wolves. I did not learn their names untill after my rape. Each one of them took me as their lover that night,but lastly was the Alphen. He was the only who deposited pups within me. As I lay weak and on the brink of dealth,my attackers walked by me and whispered their names. Here was the list:
Ace
Lunar Blade
Moon Shadow - my blood brother
Darken Rahl
Eagle Racer.
Quite a list,eh? Now to see why I am so weary of brutes? My own brother and Alpha,along with other pack members,forcebred me. I was chased from the pack,and my adoptive family was killed. At age three I had the pups,there were three. Two males and a female,their names? The first male was brown with a white path on his left eye,his name was Dameon. The second male was white with brown paws,his name Blitz. The female was grey with a black muzzle and tip of tail,her name was Kaleena. Just before I got here,they left to go find their own packs to join or start. I told them my past,and they hate their father as much as I hated mine. So that is it,my tale. Do you see now Icefire,why I do not accept myself? I feel dirty and I feel like a who.re!"
By now tears were falling from the alabaster nympha's eyes,running down her cheeks then slipping to theearth below.

[icefire]

Icefire watched for a moment then bowed deeply. "You Aurora truely are a queen amoung us. You have no need to feel dirty for their actions left no "dirt" amoung you for it is they that dirtied themselves. You have your rights to be wary, but i hope for you to learn that in Andrathorn we are different." He raised himself to his paws.

[aurora]

"I trust all three of you,just as much as I trusted my adoptive family. I would not have told you my tale had I not felt comfortable. I thank you Icefire,Razor,and Soren for you have lifted a great burden off my shoulders. Now I feel free,and accept myself amoung you. This pack is where I was meant to be,and I am glad you let me join. Thank you,I owe you a great deal."

Her voice came,through fading sobs and a lump in her throat. Aurora now felt at ease with herself,and comfortable about this trio. They welcomed her for who she was,and accepted her no matter her past. She accepted each of them into her hearts,and now accepted herself. It was hard,but she understood now that she was no who.re. Icefire was right,the ones who had done this to who had dirtied themselves. She was pure and good,nothing like them! Never would she be like them!

[icefire]

Icefire gave another bow and smiled. "I hope you find what your searching for here Aurora."

[aurora]

"I already have."

Aurora whispered the sentence,turningn her head away so that she looked at her tail. Laying down,the ivorn femmora kept her gaze away from the rest of the pack,not wanting them to see her eyes.

[icefire]

Icefire smiled. "then I hope it stays here."