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Weeks had passed since the fall of Faust and rise of Ren's new order. The Dark Ages had descended like a thick, heavy blanket upon all of the wolves of Vale in what seemed like the blink of an eye. Some saw the new leadership as just a changing of the guards, but for Nyru, she saw it as an end to all that Vale had once stood for. The Black Watch had replaced the hierarchy and, subsequently, Nyru and Notah as Betas. Ren was working to remove any shred or reminder of their Astir and his rule.

She could not bear it. The land was overrun with enemies now. Vektren shared Vale's lands -- no doubt their payment for helping to kill Faust. Nyru had not been back to the den site and only learned of what was happening from the wolves who chose to visit her. Despite their pleading for her to return, she could not. Not without Faust or some clue that would cement his true fate in her mind. No, she would stay high in the mountains until he was found.

Notah had visited her. The sight and scent of him brought her back to reality, but her visit there was fleeting. For a moment, she remembered what it felt like to hold a rank she had earned through hard work and dedication to Vale. When was the last time she had organized a patrol or hunting party? When had she last served her pack? It seemed so long ago now.

After Notah left her, she continued her search for Faust. Her fellow Beta's offer to help her filled her with renewed vigor. Maybe together, working as a team again, they could find him.

But it was not to be. Notah's voice broke the silence of the mountain's winds early the next morning. She could hear his defeat, his anger, his hatred, his sadness. Notah, it seemed, had failed too.

A heaviness filled her heart and chest that felt like cold boulders weighing her down. Tears flowed endlessly and fell from her cheeks and the tip of her nose right into the abyss where Faust had fallen. It was so dark and cold down there. How could anyone survive?

Her body trembled as the realization washed over her. He was gone. The heaviness planted itself in her body and kept her from moving. If she left now, what would she return to? A pack run by Ren and his henchmen? A land soiled by the paws of enemies? There was nothing for her now except the mountain. The others of the pack had stopped checking on her, no doubt believing her to be dead or just giving up on her. If she stayed here and let the mountain take her, perhaps then, she would know peace.

Peace. Faust had believed in it once and brought it to Vale. She had enjoyed it for the past year after she had lost everything and everyone she had ever known. He saved her, not once, but twice now. Aryn. Faust's voice entered her mind as she lay quietly upon the cold stone and snow of the cliff. Aryn. Did he want her to go to them for aid? Did he want her to escape Vale and find a new home?

Her eyes slowly opened and lifted from the darkness of the abyss. No. He wanted her to not give up. He wanted her to stay alive and, in turn, keep Vale alive. 'Aryn' was Faust's last word and final gift to her -- the gift of hope.

Nyru strained as she pulled herself up with a wince. Her legs felt numb and tired and her body begged for nourishment and care. She stood at the edge of the cliff and felt new tears begin to form in her eyes. The darkness beckoned them to fall, just as they had done thousands of times before. But they did not.

"I'm so sorry, Faust," she whispered into the wind. "I never wanted anyone to die for me. If it takes every last breath from my body, I promise you, I will fight. I will fight to take back our home."

Her eyes remained misty as they lifted from the darkness and stared at the rising sun that peaked over the horizon. No more tears would fall today. Powdery snow whipped around her as she bowed her head in farewell to what she considered her Astir's grave. She would not visit again.

Without looking back, she turned and began her descent down the mountain. Determination burned in her hazel green eyes as she felt the urge to hunt for the first time in several days. She would need her strength and energy if she planned to bring light to the Dark Ages.

Faust's death would be avenged by his family. She would gather the wolves of Vale still loyal to him and together, they would take back what Ren had stolen from them.

This, she quietly promised to him; to Faust.

It begins!

Nyru is building a rebellion against Ren and Vektren. Who will join her? Let me know if you'd like your wolf to be one of the Rebels!

Artwork & Nyru © Quaylak

Description

Weeks had passed since the fall of Faust and rise of Ren's new order. The Dark Ages had descended like a thick, heavy blanket upon all of the wolves of Vale in what seemed like the blink of an eye. Some saw the new leadership as just a changing of the guards, but for Nyru, she saw it as an end to all that Vale had once stood for. The Black Watch had replaced the hierarchy and, subsequently, Nyru and Notah as Betas. Ren was working to remove any shred or reminder of their Astir and his rule.

She could not bear it. The land was overrun with enemies now. Vektren shared Vale's lands -- no doubt their payment for helping to kill Faust. Nyru had not been back to the den site and only learned of what was happening from the wolves who chose to visit her. Despite their pleading for her to return, she could not. Not without Faust or some clue that would cement his true fate in her mind. No, she would stay high in the mountains until he was found.

Notah had visited her. The sight and scent of him brought her back to reality, but her visit there was fleeting. For a moment, she remembered what it felt like to hold a rank she had earned through hard work and dedication to Vale. When was the last time she had organized a patrol or hunting party? When had she last served her pack? It seemed so long ago now.

After Notah left her, she continued her search for Faust. Her fellow Beta's offer to help her filled her with renewed vigor. Maybe together, working as a team again, they could find him.

But it was not to be. Notah's voice broke the silence of the mountain's winds early the next morning. She could hear his defeat, his anger, his hatred, his sadness. Notah, it seemed, had failed too.

A heaviness filled her heart and chest that felt like cold boulders weighing her down. Tears flowed endlessly and fell from her cheeks and the tip of her nose right into the abyss where Faust had fallen. It was so dark and cold down there. How could anyone survive?

Her body trembled as the realization washed over her. He was gone. The heaviness planted itself in her body and kept her from moving. If she left now, what would she return to? A pack run by Ren and his henchmen? A land soiled by the paws of enemies? There was nothing for her now except the mountain. The others of the pack had stopped checking on her, no doubt believing her to be dead or just giving up on her. If she stayed here and let the mountain take her, perhaps then, she would know peace.

Peace. Faust had believed in it once and brought it to Vale. She had enjoyed it for the past year after she had lost everything and everyone she had ever known. He saved her, not once, but twice now. Aryn. Faust's voice entered her mind as she lay quietly upon the cold stone and snow of the cliff. Aryn. Did he want her to go to them for aid? Did he want her to escape Vale and find a new home?

Her eyes slowly opened and lifted from the darkness of the abyss. No. He wanted her to not give up. He wanted her to stay alive and, in turn, keep Vale alive. 'Aryn' was Faust's last word and final gift to her -- the gift of hope.

Nyru strained as she pulled herself up with a wince. Her legs felt numb and tired and her body begged for nourishment and care. She stood at the edge of the cliff and felt new tears begin to form in her eyes. The darkness beckoned them to fall, just as they had done thousands of times before. But they did not.

"I'm so sorry, Faust," she whispered into the wind. "I never wanted anyone to die for me. If it takes every last breath from my body, I promise you, I will fight. I will fight to take back our home."

Her eyes remained misty as they lifted from the darkness and stared at the rising sun that peaked over the horizon. No more tears would fall today. Powdery snow whipped around her as she bowed her head in farewell to what she considered her Astir's grave. She would not visit again.

Without looking back, she turned and began her descent down the mountain. Determination burned in her hazel green eyes as she felt the urge to hunt for the first time in several days. She would need her strength and energy if she planned to bring light to the Dark Ages.

Faust's death would be avenged by his family. She would gather the wolves of Vale still loyal to him and together, they would take back what Ren had stolen from them.

This, she quietly promised to him; to Faust.

It begins!

Nyru is building a rebellion against Ren and Vektren. Who will join her? Let me know if you'd like your wolf to be one of the Rebels!

Artwork & Nyru © Quaylak