Night had long since fallen across Volkenheim, not that anyone could tell, it was always dark in the kingdom of the Wolves. Because of this, the Werewolves had enhanced vision and heightened senses, and used them in their daily lives. It was what was happening right now. Howls could be heard echoing throughout the woods, signalling the area in which the hunt was taking place. It sounded interesting. Eyes the color of smoldering gold stared out from beneath a dark brow, glaring at the people teeming beneath the high window. A cold wind picked up suddenly, but the huge, muscular man didn't even move. The freezing breeze phased him not. Six feet of rippling muscle moved gracefully away from the balcony's edge. Jet black hair rippled down the man's back, settling easily upon broad shoulders as the gale broke away. It was a wild mane of thick tresses, though it was usually tied back with a leather band. When it was freed however, it only added to the savage look about him. A square jaw was set angrily at the moment, leading up to chiseled features and high cheekbones. His nose was regal and straight, even though a soft scar ran across the bridge from a past battle. Slanted eyes the color of molten gold were fringed by long, jet black lashes that only intensified the vivid color.

A soft knock at the door caused him to turn, the frown falling from his full lips as a maid entered. She kept her head down and eyes averted, as was the custom when approaching an Alpha. Some of her neck was exposed, submitting to him as she walked closer. Giving her a gentle smile and a nod, Kalder turned away, allowing her to continue her duties. He wasn't as brutal as most of the males within his species, which earned him the favor of the females and most of the lower ranking Wolves. Not that he was weak, no, in fact he was one of the strongest males in the entire pack. Kalder barely noticed when the female left, he was too deep in his own thoughts. His father had only just told him about the peace treaty, and what it entailed. Elves had always been the enemy of Werewolves, after all, they were the ones that had attacked. It was in all of the history. Despite this, Kalder would have to take it upon himself to try and get along with his new bride, no matter what race she belonged to.

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The landscape of Elerium was and always had been beautiful, no matter the time of day or the cloudiness of the sky. It was dark, now, but the moon and starlight glittered over the paths winding through the city, making the pale cobblestones almost glow with an inner light, lighting the ground even though it was night. There was only one person appreciating it, though--well, trying to appreciate it, it was rather hard for her at the moment--as since it was dark only the barest amount of people were out and about, and the ones that she could see moving didn’t exactly look like they were looking at the architecture.

A faint sigh escaped into the night, and the graceful figure turned away from the window in her bedroom, moving a few feet to sit on the edge of her bed, beginning to twist her delicate fingers in the strands of her long, blonde hair. Her mother and father had just told her of the peace treaty, and while she knew it was necessary that didn’t necessarily mean she had to like it… Which she didn’t. But since she’d never really had enough of a life anyway to care, it didn’t really bother her that much. So she kept telling herself, that is.

In truth, she was just more afraid of having to be near one of the wolves for probably the rest of her life. She didn’t know anything about them, all she knew was what she had been told--that they were violent, savage, killing everything that dared to defy them. Not that she would defy her soon-to-be husband anyway, but still…

Eventually, Avalina stood, making her way back over to the window, careful not to disturb anything along the way. Her sea green gaze was emotionless as she looked out over the city again, and she had a feeling she’d be sitting at the window for a long time.

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Feeling sorry for himself wasn't going to help the anger that was slowly building up inside of Kalder. The young prince knew that his parents would eventually find him a bride, and it looked like today was that day, even though he questioned their choice. Growling under his breath, he returned to the balcony, staring up at the moon. Raising his head, Kalder opened his mouth and let out a long, deep, reverberating howl. The sound was fierce and powerful, and so loud that it could be heard for miles. Everything went silent, even the birds that inhabited the barren landscape fell quiet. As soon as he was finished, answering calls echoed throughout the kingdom, filling the air with a savage song. This was what the young prince loved about his home. No one was truly alone.

He stepped away from the edge, the cries still able to be heard as he walked towards the door to his chambers. Outside, two guards waited for him, but stayed where they were even when he continued down the corridor. After all, no one in the castle would dare to attack him, even when he was by himself. Rough stone walls covered in intricately woven tapestries were his company, as well as the occasional servant or visiting Lord. Even at night the palace was bustling. Little information about the upcoming wedding had been given out, but Kalder knew just how close it was. His father had already ordered the retainers to ready the battalion that would be accompanying them to Elerium's capital. Delicate Elves wouldn't make the journey to Volkenheim's center, as powerful as their magic was, it just didn't do any good in the harsh climates of the Werewolves' home. The trek would take Kalder and the platoon a little more than a day to reach their destination. And they were leaving at dawn. Provisions wouldn't be needed, which in turn would help quicken their speed. He would leave the details to the generals and his father, Zahar, Alpha of Volkenheim. The hulking king was the fiercest warrior to rule in a long time, but even he knew when a war had gone on too long.

Glancing up, Kalder just managed to realize what time it was, and hurried along. Princes weren't supposed to be late to gatherings of royalty. Honestly, I just want to get this over with. He thought, long legs eating up the ground. Soon, he stood in front of two colossal wooden doors, each depicting a different scene from famous hunts. It wasn't uncommon for walls or entrances to be covered in carvings. One deep breath later, and he was standing in front of hundreds of eyes, all of them in varying degrees of either boredom or anger. At the head of the long table sat his father, dressed in simple garb, his pale yellow eyes fixed on his son. In all reality, there was more than a hint of relief in their depths.

"Kalder, my son! I'm glad you have arrived. The advisors and I have been discussing the treaty. As you already know, it will be signed at the wedding, and hopefully end these troubling times." The deep voice rumbled, full of authority and confidence. It definitely left no room to be argued with. A smirk pulled at the corner of the king's lips.
"Many of my generals have been loathe to let you go Kalder, it seems they think that they need your help in training the guards and hunters."

Chuckling, Kalder settled beside the older man, threading his fingers together as he addressed his father.
"I'm sure they will live without me. After all, General Durk is the best in the entire kingdom, and he outdoes me every time we spar together." He replied. Farther down the table, a man covered in scars and bruises laughed and sent a gentle smile the Prince's way, his white hair a stark contrast against his skin, which was reddened from drink. The assurance seemed to soothe the congregation, many shoulders visibly drooping as the tension left them.

"You see! There is no reason to be worried, though I do understand your apprehension," Zahar paused, letting his words sink in, "This treaty is absolutely essential in regards to this kingdom's survival. We can no longer continue this war, too many lives have already been lost because of it." A somber silence filled the room as fallen loved ones were remembered, but it was quickly broken by the king's booming voice. "Now, let us go rest! The journey is long, and we have much ground to cover. We leave at daybreak!" With that, Zahar stood, leaving the room briskly. Bodies milled about, pushing against each other as conversations were held. But for Kalder, it was smothering. Taking his leave, he managed to escape out of a side door, and hurriedly returned to his room. Tomorrow, everything would change, and he would be stuck in an unfamiliar territory with a woman he had never met.

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Even though she knew it was necessary, and had told herself this multiple times and other people had told her this many, many more times than she had told herself, worry still coursed through her. The whole… forced marriage thing didn’t even bother Avalina that much, she had known it would happen eventually, her family had spent most of their lives--and all of hers--grooming her for the moment when she would finally be a bride, hoping that the title of queen would come with her new husband, whoever that may be. It probably wouldn’t be too bad, but…. wolves. She shuddered at the thought of it, then sighed and stood, needing to go talk to her father and mother. They were sure to clear up some of the myths about the opposing kingdom, and ease her troubled mind.

Avalina stood once more, brushing her hands down the length of her dress to smooth out any wrinkles before selecting a light shawl from on top of her wardrobe, wrapping it around her shoulders to prevent some of the cold of the castle from seeping through her body down to her bones. Her bedroom door clicked softly as she closed it, and she glanced around the hallways before making her way to her parents’ suite of rooms, hoping they weren’t busy.

The capital of Elerium was a beautiful city, but the castle itself was even grander. With its tall spires and gleaming white walls, it was quite the sight, even to those who had seen it before. The interior, however, held quite the stark contrast to the exterior. Avalina was currently walking through the north wing of the castle, where the royals’ quarters were held, and the walls were stark white, hard on the eyes, and the white marble floor didn’t help the general cold feel of the building. There were the occasional paintings or carpets along the floor, but not much to soothe the gaze and provide for an aesthetically pleasing walk. Ah, well, it was a short walk, anyway, so she just kept walking, not bothering to stop and look at the general nothingness.

The door to her parents’ rooms was a soft yellow color, and she wrinkled her nose before knocking softly, being answered by an equally quiet, “Come in,” which she barely heard through the door. She took in a deep breath, composing herself, before going inside, nodding to her father, who was reading at his desk in the corner. He smiled at her, and she smiled back, but it was tense, and her apprehension was evident as she sat down in the chair next to the king, her spine stiff as a coiled wire, “Father, may I ask you a few questions?” He simply nodded, so she frowned a little before relaxing a little, folding her hands in her lap as she thought about how she should say what she needed to say.

“All I know about the wolves is what the common people know--the rumors, the legends, the myths. For all I know, those things could be completely wrong--or they could be true. So I was wondering, what do you know about them?” The king sighed, and sat back in his chair, looking at the ceiling for a moment, before turning to his daughter, “What do I know…. the wolves are a savage race, cold and unforgiving. And I know you are worried, but you shouldn’t be. If they harm you, any one of them, the treaty will be broken, and another war will begin, and even their king isn’t stupid enough to start another war. Now, go back to your room, go to sleep.” The dismissal was obvious, and Avalina just nodded before standing and going into the hall, stopping about halfway back to her room. Now, she was just more worried. And now she was nearing the general freak out stage, so she hurried back to her room and tossed her shawl onto the bed, changing into her night clothes before sitting down by the window again, sighing heavily.

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It was a sharp shout that awoke Kalder from his deep sleep, one that was slightly panicked and rather angry. Groaning, he sat up, pushing the stray hairs from his face before stretching and rousing from the covers. A soft snort left his mouth as he haphazardly got dressed, not even bothering to comb his hair or even pull it back. When he opened the door, a slight guard stood in front of him, eyes wide as they searched anywhere but Kalder's face.

"Y... Your Highness, the king awaits, he is growing impatient." The man stammered, wringing his hands together while he spoke, obviously nervous to be telling someone of a higher rank what to do. Kalder raised an eyebrow and gave a short and vicious bark, which sent the poor boy high-tailing it down the hall. Well, that took care of his nagging father, but it hadn't exactly done him any favors either. Ah well, he wouldn't be coming back to Volkenheim until summer hit, he'd deal with the repercussions then. Pulling a thin jacket over the cheap cotton shirt he had clothed himself in, it took only minutes for him to run down to the courtyard, where the huge group of important advisors and high-ranking officers waited for him. They were impatient, he could tell by their body language, but nothing was said. Shaking his head, Kalder approached the only person that truly mattered. Zahar stood at the front, glaring as his son walked towards him.

"You are late Kalder, we should have left long ago." The statement was clipped and dripping with annoyance, but the angry expression that accompanied it didn't last long. The king's eyes softened, and he dropped one large hand onto his son's shoulder.
"Come, let us be on our way." Taking a step back, King Zahar shifted, bones cracking as his human form melted away. What was left in its wake was a huge dark brown wolf, its fur ticked with silver and black. Intense yellow eyes watched as everyone else followed suit, until only Kalder remained. With an eye roll and a sigh, he dropped to the ground, calling forth his wolf. Thick jet black fur took the place of tanned skin, scars parting the pelt in some places. His height reached five feet at the shoulder, with an added couple of feet for his neck and head. Muscles rippled beneath a strong hide, healthy and lean, and full of strength. He was taller than even his father, and dwarfed most of the other wolves in the pack. Pricked ears, rounded at the base and coming to a point, flicked back and forth, instinctually listening for danger or prey. A long, broad muzzle was attached to a massive, square head. Predatorial golden eyes searched their surroundings, resting on the giant brown wolf in front of them.

Zahar snorted, gesturing with his skull for the rest to follow. And follow they did. Kalder fell into step beside his sire, trotting just behind his right shoulder. Hours passed without them stopping, the strongest in the gathering keeping as close to the alpha as possible. Whilst the weaker ones, or the servants that had been forced to come along, lagged behind. Traveling out of their territory, Kalder saw more than he had ever before, because venturing so close to the boundary had long been against the law. It got warmer as they continued on, mountains and cold temperatures being left in the dust as they approached elvish land. There was a massive difference between the forests that the Elves inhabited and the bare mountainous ranges and spiraling fir trees that the Werewolves knew and loved. Prey was abundant in this place, with the occasional Unicorn making an appearance at the edge of a river or stream. Luckily for the creatures, the peace treaty didn't allow the wolves to use them as food, not that they would dare attack a Unicorn.

Continuing onward, the thick copse of woodland gave way to rolling fields covered in wildflowers and small lakes. Before them, far into the distance, a shining city stood, its castle's pyres gleaming in the rising sunlight. It was built into the landscape around it, using the trees and hills as walls. From this far away, that wasn't obvious, but the pack would soon see how close to nature Elves truly were.

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Avalina jolted to wakefulness when there was a soft knock on her door, and she sat up slowly, looking at the rumpled mess of her sheets before standing, fixing her hair a little and making sure she at least looked a bit presentable in case it was either of her parents at the door--or anyone, really--before taking a deep breath, striding purposefully over to the door to her chambers and opening it a crack, looking at who was standing there before opening it all the way.

A simple servant was waiting outside, and she bowed to Avalina before folding her hands in front of her, “My lady, the king and queen are waiting for you in the council hall.” The princess nodded, and shut the door in the servant’s face before turning to survey her room, frowning a little as she looked at her possessions. She wondered if she would still be staying here after she was married, but she was sure she got to keep most of her things. At least, she really hoped she could. She didn’t want to acquire all new clothes or books…. And then she started to wonder if they were to be moved out of the castle. She didn’t think so, but there was always the chance…

A sigh escaped her, and she went to her wardrobe, frowning at the clothes inside before selecting a simple, dark green dress, putting it on before sliding her feet into her sandals, making sure she looked fine before going to meet her parents in the council hall.

As she expected, it wasn’t just her parents waiting for her, it was everyone of higher ranking as well, and she sighed quietly again before picking her way slowly to her seat, sitting down as her father droned on to the rest of the nobles. She didn’t listen, there wasn’t a reason for her to. Instead, she just picked at her fingernails, looking at the jagged edges as everyone finally stood, going their separate ways. Well, not really separate ways, just a few people didn’t join the rest in the courtyard.

Avalina bit her lip, ascending the stairs to one of the smaller watchtowers to watch for the arriving party of wolves. It wasn’t long before she saw them, and she bit her lip hard enough to draw blood as they drew closer and closer to the castle.

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The midday sun beat down upon the travelers, sinking into their thick pelts with a vengeance. Soft grass beneath their paws offered some comfort, but everyone had become tired of walking at that point. Perhaps bringing along buggies would have been appropriate. A show of their stamina wouldn't hurt though, and Kalder knew that his father was doing just that, showing off. Playing mind games even after the war had ended. There was no way to tell how the Elves would take this challenge, or even if they would see it that way. Everything was falling into place, and to announce their arrival, King Zahar released a rousing cry, the sound reverberating through the air. It was followed by the entire pack's answering howls, a melee of unique calls. Knowing that he would be chastised if he didn't follow suit, Kalder joined in, his deep song distinct and impressive. To them, it was something that was normal, but in all reality it was a bone-chilling melody of predatory prowess. From the Elves' point of view, the tune was dangerous, maybe even terrifying to some.

Ahead, stone gates rose from the ground, blocking the entrance to Elerium and its inhabitants. Told of in legends, metal strands came together to form the shape of a tree, filigreed leaves seemingly dancing in the wind. A charm? No one knew, and magic wasn't exactly Kalder's forte. It was here that the pack stopped, waiting oh so patiently for the gateway to open. Trees whispered in the breeze, twigs rustling against each other, the only sound to break the silence. Rays of sunlight glanced off of the well-worn stone, revealing tiny rivers of metal hidden beneath the surface. Guards stood atop the towers above, waiting for orders, or perhaps just taunting the Werewolves with the chance at rest. Minutes passed quietly, without so much as a whisper, up to the point where the gate unexpectedly slammed open, divulging what was on the other side.

Glimmering buildings hung from massive trees, their ancient roots posing as archways and bridges to avoid the street below. Pale cobblestones dug into the earth, weaving a wide path between moss-covered homes and shops, a labyrinth of elegance. Tall lights, dark now but holding a gentle whisper of flame in some, sat sternly at the side of the road, vines crawling stealthily up the black metal. Warmth radiated from each house, so much different than the gloomy atmosphere of Volkenheim. But the wolves had gotten used to cold climates, evolving so that fire was only used in extreme purposes. After all, why use it when you could see in the dark?

Far from being intimidated, Kalder only felt excitement. This was all so new to him, and as they walked on, a sense of adventure began to rise within him. People stared when they went by, mothers clutching tightly to their young ones, keeping them safe from the bid bad wolves. It was slightly hurtful, to see the fear in the wide eyes of the children. Suddenly, a soft coo caught his attention, and surprise ran through him when he looked down to see a minuscule babe waddling towards him. Tiny hands reached for him, clasping at the air, and with each step it became a little less stable. Dark wispy hair curled on its head, bouncing freely and falling down to just above sparkling green eyes. Chubby cheeks fraught with dimples jiggled as little feet tripped over rough cobblestones. Kalder didn't think, he simply jumped forward amid gasps and cries from the crowd. A heavy weight hit his muzzle, but it was nothing compared to some things he had carried in his maw, opening his eyes, the prince was relieved to see that he had caught the baby boy before it fell. Raising his head, Kalder gently carried him over to the edge of the sidewalk and placed him rump first on the ground. Giggling, the child hugged the huge wolf, rubbing his head against soft fur. Kalder's eyes closed, happiness spreading through him like wildfire, glad that at least someone had accepted his presence. Before long though, he had to pull away, leaving the small one to be picked up by its mother.

It took another thirty minutes of walking for them to reach the castle gates, Kalder's chest immediately puffing out as the drawbridge began to descend. Soon, he would meet the woman he was to marry, and he wondered if he would know her on sight.

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Avalina leaned against the smooth stone wall of the turret, propping her head up in her hands as the wolves drew ever closer. They certainly looked very, very intimidating, and when their collective howls reverberated through the air, making her shiver in fear before she descended the stairs, searching for a guard and borrowing his spyglass before going back up the peak of the watchtower.

She held the glass to her eye, focusing it so she could see the wolves in much clarity as they came closer to the castle. Since the wolves were so far away and not able to hurt her at this particular moment, she actually appreciated how beautiful their howls sounded, and one, much more deep and sonorous than the rest, captivated her attention until it died off, and while she appreciated the silence, she almost missed the sound. Once again biting her lip as she focused on the wolves again, she found the opportunity to study the larger ones--the seemingly more powerful ones--at the front of the horde as they stopped in front of the gates to Elerium. It was strange to her, how large they were, how they had human qualities even as wolves. How could something so inherently savage look so…. human? Maybe it was their eyes, their eyes looked eerily human. She wondered how they got the colors of their fur, was it the color of their hair in human form?

It became easier to watch them through the spyglass as they came closer, but she just became more and more tense as they prowled through the streets of the city--her city, her father’s city, her mother’s city, scaring the inhabitants. The wolves struck fear in the hearts of all, but the children more than most, except maybe the parents. The parents certainly seemed afraid, but the children….. Almost all of the children looked scared to death of the wolves, and Avalina felt her own fear reflected in their eyes, except hers was probably stronger than theirs, since hers was much more personal--at least, it would be, very soon.

Her eyes widened as a child toddled towards the wolves, and she had to bite her tongue to keep from shouting a warning, everyone would have just thought she was insane for yelling at the sky. But…. it seems her warning would have been unnecessary anyway. Her mouth formed a small ‘o’ as one of the large wolves from the front of the pack picked the toddler up and set it on the ground safely, earning a strangely grateful yet still afraid look from the parents. Her attention was focused on that wolf for another few minutes, trying to figure out who he was. She couldn’t tell, not at all, and the fact that she didn’t know was killing her, right up until the wolves reached the drawbridge.

When they did finally stop, and the drawbridge began to lower, Avalina descended the stairs once more, giving the guard his spyglass and moving to stand by her father, assuming a straight-backed position slightly behind him, anxiously picking at her already jagged fingernails as they waited for the wolves to enter the courtyard.

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Massive paws sank into the ground as the wolves stepped onto the soft soil beyond the drawbridge. Before them stood the royal family, dressed in expensive silks and lavish metal accessories. Their expressions were regal and stoic, regarding the visitors with slight animosity, but it was veiled behind carefully rehearsed smiles. They would make these savages feel welcome if it meant ending the war. Many young women cowered on the steps, staring out from behind the broader backs of their guards. Kalder studied them all, focusing on one in particular. Her svelte form was clothed in a sleek dress of emerald green, bright eyes showing a hint of interest as well as fear. Was this his soon to be bride? She resembled the King and Queen much more than any of the others, but that meant little, she could be anyone. A cue from his father caused Kalder to step forward with the older man. The elf king, or King Lazareth to most, stared down the dark brown creature before him. Zahar shifted swiftly, his large frame blocking out some of the sun. The alpha's good looks hadn't faded, despite the many scars that marred his skin. Chocolate brown hair tinged with grey at the temples was tied back neatly with a leather tie, the long braid that followed coming to rest at the small of his back. His clothes were ones made for travel, well-worn but still attractive, not nearly as exorbitant as the ones the Elves had donned.

"King Lazareth, I hope that all remains well." His father's charismatic voice rumbled through the air, deep and gravelly from years of shouting out war cries and orders, though there was a gentleness to it that drew people in. Surprisingly enough, King Zahar was much more than his reputation told, but the fierce warrior still remained. Realizing that their king was safe from harm, the rest of the wolves shifted, murmuring voices filling the courtyard as curiosity was peaked. Kalder hesitated for a moment, his heightened senses of full alert, aware of everything around him. Something was off, but perhaps it was just his imagination. Pushing the thoughts to the back of his mind, the prince changed, his wolf melting away to reveal the robust and handsome man beneath. Audible gasps and giggles from the women reached his ears, and he couldn't help but cock an eyebrow in their direction. This day, his striking features and healthy body were on full display. His usually untamed mane had been combed, tied back just as his father's was, but without the braid. Form-fitting clothes strained against the muscles underneath, leaving nothing to the imagination.

"Greetings Your Highness, I hope that all bodes well in Elerium. It is a pleasure to be allowed inside this beautiful kingdom." Kalder's deep voice was like velvet, smooth and full of respect for the foreign ruler. With a bow, the young prince introduced himself, not missing the small amount of shock that flashed in King Lazareth's eyes. Standing up straight, he moved his gaze to the woman in green, giving her a smile full of warmth. Zahar nodded to his son, then stepped forward, wanting to move the conversation along.

"I look forward to signing the peace treaty. Perhaps we could move on to the meeting?" It was a simple suggestion, but it had a sort of push to it that let everyone else know that he was impatient. Tensions were still high, and standing around flapping their mouths wasn't going to solve the problem.

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When the wolves entered the courtyard, everyone stiffened, the guards’ hands tightening on their weapons, everyone ready to either attack or run if the party of wolves showed even a hint of wanting to attack, or play tricks, anything minorly threatening or undiplomatic. But it seemed that all was well, and for a moment everyone just stayed where they were, the servant girls behind the royal family cowering behind, and the others trying not to look afraid. The stiffness of bodies once again returned when two of the wolves stepped forward--including the one who had picked up the child, the one she was interested in--and the large, brown one promptly shifted, causing Avalina to take a small step back, more than a little surprised at how the human form of the wolf looked.

She hardly listened while the man spoke, instead studying him, noting the way he carried himself. This must be their king…. Zahar, was his name? She was fairly sure that was correct, but she wasn’t about to interrupt and ask, even though she so very badly wanted to. Her doing so would leave a terrible impression on the arriving party of wolves, and would most likely make them think she was naive, at the least. At the most…. they wouldn’t take her father seriously, and she wouldn’t wish that for him, not at all. She bit her lip nervously again, and the man’s hair caught her attention. Brown, like the wolf’s pelt. A faint smile tugged at her lips, happy that she at least figured something out.

She was so focused on the crowd of wolves so that when the other wolf shifted she didn’t notice, instead turning to frown at the girls behind her, furrowing her eyebrows in a very strange way before turning back towards the front, still with the weird expression on her face, but it turned into one of surprise when she saw a different man smiling at her, and she assumed it was the other wolf when her brain returned to her head.

She had just been…. staring at him for a few moments, but when she realized she was doing that she blushed and ducked her head, before smiling shyly at him, turning her gaze to her father when the wolves’ king spoke. Lazareth frowned slightly, but sighed to himself before nodding, “Of course, follow me.” He turned to go inside the castle, and once everyone was inside--Avalina was practically clinging to her mother and her father, not wanting to get left behind--he turned to Zahar, attempting to look as friendly as he could, smiling, “I trust everything is well in Volkenheim?”

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"Very much so! Prey is plentiful this time of the year..." The conversation went on for quite awhile, soon turning to things uninteresting and droll. Instead, Kalder decided to turn his attention to studying the palace. So... clean. Everything was elegant, beautiful, but it didn't feel like a home. The aura was rather cold. He managed to keep pace with his father, staying close behind him, just in case. Being in a strange place had the whole group on edge, especially the weaker wolves, who growled at each random sound. Shaking his head, the prince brought his eyes to the interesting woman he had seen earlier. She was very beautiful, with a graceful walk and a sophisticated air, even though he could smell the anxiety coming off of her in waves. He would just have to show her that Werewolves were nothing to fear, at least not anymore. I need to get her alone... It was a thought that played around in his mind, an idea that probably wasn't possible at that moment. Of course, he was tenacious, and determined, there would be a time when being alone wasn't a problem. If she was who he thought she was of course. Even so, being a gentleman had been ingrained in him since birth, despite the reputation Werewolves had. Royalty did have to keep up appearance, no matter their species.

Suddenly, a smell hit his nose, wafting through the air like a thick smoke. Instinctively, a thunderous growl left his throat and he froze, bringing attention to himself. Piercing golden eyes searched the halls, their expression almost frenzied, and very terrifying. Noticing his son's apprehension, Zahar stopped cold, backing up to stand beside him.
"Something is wrong father. I can feel it." Kalder said, raising his head to breath in the air. Immediately, the pack gathered close, closing ranks with the elves on the inside. It was perhaps very startling to their newfound allies, but the wolves didn't think about that, only shifted and bared sharp fangs. Brow furrowed, Kalder faced King Lazareth, deciding to take matters into his own hands. A very bold thing to do, but if he was to rule one day soon, he couldn't be shy about what he wanted.

"Your Highness, you are in danger. Please allow us to help." A bow followed the plea, but it was short lived. Before he could explain anything else to the man, more than thirty cloaked people appeared, their heads lowered. At first they simply remained still, the silence broken only by the soft growls the wolves emitted. Kalder himself remained in human form, head held high and shoulders back. It was a dominant stance, one that would have sent them running had they been a part of his pack. But that didn't seem to be the case. Well, he could cross that off the list. Zahar stood right next to King Lazareth, his expression oddly calm despite the predicament they were in. He did nothing to command his wolves, only watched as his offspring confronted the enemies.

"Who are you?" Kalder's voice was mostly a snarl, but some of his curiosity came through. They were exceedingly brazen to attack in not only close quarters, but inside the most heavily guarded place in all of Elerium. Where were the soldiers under King Lazareth's command? Looking around hastily, he saw no sign of them, and barely even a glimpse of anyone else. Not even servants. That could play into their favor. The less chance of collateral damage the better. Metal gleamed under the folds of the attackers' sleeves, be it weapons or armor, it was a dangerous thing. So far, no one had answered his question, and he was growing impatient.

"Leave this place and never return. This treaty is hereby expunged." From where the voice came was indistinguishable. Their numbers were so great that it had echoed, leaving Kalder befuddled and more than a little pissed off. How could someone want the treaty to fall through? It would mean peace throughout the kingdoms. No more death, no more destruction. Also, wars were expensive, and took their toll on anyone caught in the crossfire. At this point, the prince was more than ready to get this little scuffle over with. Whoever controlled this certain group of what he guessed were assassins, was going to be very disappointed when their followers didn't return with good news. Or their limbs.

A soft chuckle left his mouth, cutting off the next threat that the person had begun. Kalder lowered his head, a dangerous smile curling his lips, a sinister sight that would shake any man's core. The cloaked figures blanched, backing up a pace as fiery eyes turned on them.
"You just challenged the wrong person." It was barely a whisper, but no one could fathom the level of fear it placed in the enemies' hearts. Without a sound, Kalder shifted, his wolf form so immense that it blocked the Elves quite effectively. Next to him, smaller wolves lowered their heads as he growled so loudly it was almost a roar.

Beside the elf king, Zahar was smiling, his fangs much smaller but still there. Those were something that never went away.
"You're going to want to see this Your Highness. Your daughter is going to be extremely well protected for the rest of her life. My son is the strongest in our entire pack, including me." Anyone could tell that the man was filled with pride, as hard as that had been to admit. Ages ago, Kalder would have dethroned his father easily, but those traditions had long since gone. However, this was a test of the young man's strength and ability to rule. After all, the wolves would only follow him if he showed confidence. So far he was doing well, but that could change, the cloaked assassins had yet to attack.

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A faint smile formed on her lips as her father and the wolf king engaged in mundane, everyday conversation--it was a good sign for the future of both kingdoms. The fact that the former enemies could put aside their differences so easily, so quickly…. It made her very happy, and it showed on her face as they walked the halls of the castle, heading to the meeting hall, the council hall, where hopefully a delicious dinner would be waiting for them, as she was rather hungry at the moment. But even as she thought the fact that her father seemed at ease among the wolves, the opposite was true for herself. They very much unnerved her, and although none of them seemed overly threatening, they were still plenty scary. And then there was that one, she could feel his eyes on her, and she bit her lip and hesitantly looked back at him a few times, wondering what all he was thinking. He didn’t seem as if he had malicious intentions, but his gaze was very intense, and he practically radiated power and confidence, unlike the princess, who was probably as weak and unsure as they came.

But that was fine, for now. As long as the peace treaty went through without any hindrances, everything would be fine.

Avalina stopped and turned, her gaze wide as a growl, a very low, thunderous growl reached her ears, and she and her father exchanged glances as Zahar backed up to the wolf who had been watching her as they walked. The elves shifted closer to them, unsure of what was happening, her father tensing as the wolves closed ranks around them and shifted, but their anger wasn’t directed towards the nobles, instead the wolves were facing outwards, towards an unknown… threat, maybe? The wolves were certainly acting as if they were threatened, but Avalina couldn’t see anything, nor could her father.

Both the king and princess’s attentions were then captured by the wolf who had growled, and his next words just solidified in Avalina’s mind who this was. She bit her lip again, glancing at her father, who’s hand moved to the hilt of his sword, his brow furrowing, about to ask a question when the focus of attention was again shifted, this time towards the threat she assumed was freaking the wolves out.

Avalina moved closer to her father, preventing herself from grabbing onto the back of his shirt in fear. That wouldn’t look good in front of the wolves, but at the moment she doubted they would care…. Her lip started bleeding, and she touched her mouth lightly, then shifted away from her father, not wanting to seem afraid in front of the man she would be marrying soon.

She watched apprehensively the near one-sided exchange between the wolf prince and the cloaked figures, noticing the metal hidden under their sleeves with fearful eyes. But she frowned, then, resisting the urge to scratch her head. The treaty is expunged? Who would want that? Besides these people, anyway. She couldn’t even fathom that, the treaty was ending the war, who would want the war to continue? Well, obviously these people, but still….

Her eyes widened a bit as the prince shifted, and she unthinkingly took a step back, the wolf’s immense size was very intimidating, even though she knew that he meant no harm to the elves. Her father was very, very tense, and she didn’t know what he was thinking right now, but she knew it couldn’t be good, how could it be?

Her attention turned to King Zahar, and she frowned a little at his words, before smiling, ever so slightly. So, she would soon be marrying the very large intimidating wolf, and his father had even admitted that his son was the best, which was very interesting to her. How hard was it for him to say that?

Her smile faded quickly, however, as she remembered the cloaked figures outside her small circle of protection. There was no way this could end well….

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Fear, he could smell it all around him. Filling the air with its sickly sweet scent. In this form, everything was tenfold. His sight, his sense of smell, his hearing... all of it heightened so that he picked up on all that happened. The heartbeats of his fellow pack members were beating strongly, with no anxiety or hesitation, they all trusted him to make the right decision. To retreat would mean weakness, but if it would save them from a battle, perhaps it was the best choice. Kalder studied the situation, noting how the enemies fanned out around them, trying to block every exit so that they didn't have the chance to escape. The biggest ones were manning the front lines, weapons drawn and pointed in the wolves' direction. He guessed that the smaller ones that fell behind had magic to defend themselves, and as a guaranteed last resort. With the Elves on their side, a few mages wouldn't be a problem should they dispose of the strongest ones first. A few stragglers were scattered further down the halls on both sides, ready to rush forward and add to the numbers, that or run when their comrades were torn apart. After all, someone had to go and tell their leader of the crushing defeat. But he was being cocky... no one with any form of sanity would dare attack the royal family without the power to back it up. Which meant that someone very intelligent and very wealthy was pulling the strings. Even Elves were smart enough to know that money meant power, and power meant control. Flicking his ears, Kalder settled his eyes on a man set apart from all the rest. He was circling around, his movements slow and controlled, each step planned out perfectly. It seemed that he was waiting for something, that or giving the commands. Take him out, and maybe the rest would disperse and be captured without much of a fight. The man was clever however, hiding himself behind whoever he passed, letting others be sacrificed so that he may live. That was the lowest form of cowardice, and Kalder despised it.

A glance backwards gave him insight into what the Elves were thinking. Their king was tense, especially because he had no idea what was going on. His daughter stood so close to him that she was almost hidden by his larger frame. Good, if the struggle got too intense, he would have easy access to her. She was important, not only to him but to the entire kingdom, the treaty rested on her ability to marry the wolf prince and secure peace for them all. Suddenly, it hit him. Assassins wouldn't boldly rush into the line of fire unless they were trying to distract their quarry. And they definitely did not form large groups to take out targets. They tended to work alone, using the element of surprise to take down their prey. Never before had an Elven assassin been able to kill a Werewolf, not because they were too tough, but because they were never alone. Even now, this big of a pack would be too difficult to defeat. Kalder raised his muzzle, scenting the air, searching for anything that seemed off. He backed up, signalling to his pack to close the gap that his body left. He stood right next to the king and his daughter, so close that his fur brushed up against her pale skin. This proximity allowed him to protect her with less effort. His large head swiveled back and forth, ears pricked. With a cry, the attackers rushed forward, clashing with the massive beasts in a tumble of bodies. Screams echoed off of the walls, a testament to how ill-prepared the assassins had been. Mere swords and daggers wouldn't slow down a Werewolf in full defense mode.

Kalder shifted closer to the princess, feeling her body heat soak into his hide. Before anyone could react, a silent warrior dropped from above, grabbing the young woman by the neck. A sickening sheathing sound reached everyone's ears as a knife was plunged into her shoulder, but the feeling of cold metal digging into her muscle didn't last long. Without thinking, the prince lunged, bones crunching between three inch fangs as Kalder's entire bite force came down on muscle and skin. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth, but at this point it didn't concern him in the slightest. Dropping the corpse, he quickly moved out of the way as guards rushed towards their young princess, catching her body before it fell to the floor. That could have been much worse... Taking this time to check on his pack's progress, he was happy to see that the skirmish had ended, and even better... no dead bodies littered the floor. Only live ones that squirmed under massive, heavy paws. Information could be collected from the ones that hadn't managed to escape. And Kalder had a feeling that King Lazareth would show no mercy.

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The one thing that really surprised her was the silence. No one was moving, everyone was still, even the wolves were still, not even growling. She finally allowed herself to curl her fingers in the back of her father’s shirt, holding onto him tightly. Just doing that was making her feel much better, it was almost like her stress was travelling from her hands and into his shirt, away and out of her, and even though she knew that was completely ridiculous it at least felt like it was working. She kept her gaze on the particular wolf that had held her attention for what seemed like ever, noticing the way his ears turned and how he watched the attackers… She tried to follow his gaze and failed, instead contenting herself with checking the integrity of the lines of defense. She felt very selfish right now, making sure that these soldiers and wolves were able to defend her even at the risk of their own lives, but she also felt very confident that they would be able to defend themselves perfectly well, and she hoped that they could get through this without a loss of life. Well, she hoped none of the friendly wolves or elves died, those others…. She could care less.

Her eyes widened slightly as the wolves’ leader backed up, and without thinking she shied away from him, or at least tried. But since there was nowhere for her to go without putting herself in danger she had to deal with his fur on her arm, biting her lip hard as she was kind of torn between moving closer to him because she knew he would protect her, but she was still afraid of the wolves, and her fear overpowered her innate sense for safety, so she clung to her father, who was still tense, just letting her hold his shirt for the time being, sensing her fear. After all, she was probably the reason that these assassins were here.

Even though she was still afraid of him, however, when the skirmish began she tangled her other hand in the wolf’s fur, slightly comforted by his large presence. She was about to put her other hand in his fur when someone grabbed her neck, yanking her backwards as she let out a small yelp, turning it into a small scream as something plunged into her shoulder, white hot bolts of pain firing from the injury.

Then the knife was gone, and she was falling, but then she wasn’t. One of the guards was holding her up, and she could still kind of see, her father looked enraged, so much so that he was just standing stock still, and there was blood on the floor, blood on Kalder’s muzzle...

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