Fragarax hunched in front of the long table. He skimmed over the numerous scrolls laid before him. Sorca, who took a number of their forces to search for Ruby in the Abyss, left him in charge of her duties. It included overseeing their troops, monitoring their armory production, and taking the reins of the day-to-day operations that the demoness general had to deal with. He had to relinquish his previous duties to Ronnan, the werewolf leader, who he had little to no trust. He couldn't find anyone better to handle his tasks so he'll just have to put a little more faith in his kin. 

Fragarax groaned with exasperation. He never knew that such a massive amount of work was typically done by the demoness every day. It made him have more respect for Sorca and less respect for himself. Not only did she have to handle the responsibility of making everything work perfectly, but she also had to calculate the logistics, feasibility, and amount of money that goes into things. That gave him a new set of problems because he is not an educated wolf. 

Ruby had taught him how to read and write when they had spare time but even today, he is still having trouble understanding which letters make which sounds. Plus, he is almost completely ignorant about math. He doesn't even understand the basics of arithmetics. 

Ruby tried to teach him once but alas, he found that of all the dark magic in the world, Mathematics is the evilest of them all. Now he understood why the Vikings left Mathematics to the women. It is a form of witchcraft only beings with complex brains could understand. 

He scratched his head, failing to make any sense of the mysterious symbols inscribed on the paper. Looking around, he saw other wolves and officials busy with their respective tasks. He wanted to ask for some help but he wasn't sure how to do that. He's always used to being the one who helps and now being helpless like this feels... unfamiliar. He wished that his lady mother, Ruby, was here to help him understand. But she isn't so he'll have to do things on his own. 

"Hello, Fragarax." Runa greeted, bringing snacks and some blood wine for the pack. Seeing the charming face of the she-wolf was a refreshing sight after gazing at mysteries for hours. He smiled at her though tiredly and greeted her.

"Oh, Runa. How have you been? It is good to see you."

"I've been doing well. I've finished my tasks so now I'm just looking for some thing to pass the time. How about you? Are you doing well?" Fragarax debated whether to tell her anything or not but he hasn't made any significant progress so covering his incompetencies would only cause problems for others. He decided to swallow his pride and tell her his problem. 

"I see... So, you just need some assistance. I can help you with that! I'm not doing anything important so squeezing in helping a friend is not a bad idea don't you think?" Runa said with enthusiasm, taking one of the seats around the table. 

"The arithmetics is hard for me to deal with. I cannot understand what the information meant." Fragarax mumbled shyly, lowering his head in shame. 

"Oh, don't worry. Everybody finds themselves in a pickle sometimes. We just need some help. Like the Wolf and the Golden Egg." Runa replied as she skimmed through the scrolls. 

"The Wolf and the Golden Egg?" 

"Yeah, it's a little fable our biological mother told us when we were growing up. It's my favorite bedtime story. Have you ever heard about it?"

"Can't say I have. What is it about?"

"What? You don't know it? But it's one of the most popular stories of our kind! One where wolves aren't villains but protagonists." Runa looked at him with sincere surprise making him feel flustered for his lack of knowledge. This is not a great day for his confidence.

"I see. I... I never had a mother who would tell me stories. Well, not until our Queen mother. She had a lot of stories to tell." Fragarax released a fond laugh remembering times when Ruby would run a brush through his fur and tell him some stories from her village. He found those moments very happy and he cherished them dearly. 

"That she does. Would you like to hear a new story while we take a break? It would help us unwind and clear our heads. Take off some pressure to work more effectively later."

"I wouldn't mind. Truthfully, I could take a little break from all of this. Would you like to take a stroll with me? Ummm... Only if you want to." Fragarax offered as they left the hall. 

"Sure!"

Once upon a time, there was a golden egg. The egg was beautiful and radiant, no one knew what the egg was or what it was gonna be but everyone who saw it expected it to be the most perfect being in existence. The lion said the egg would be a king or a queen someday. The tiger said that the egg would be a warrior. The buffalo said that the egg would be an exceptional hunter. The swan said that the egg would be a magician. 

Everyone already has thoughts on what the egg would be and what it would do, yet what they didn't think about was what the egg would want once it hatched. 

The wolf, unlike everyone else, gave one look at the egg and thought to himself. "This egg is dead."

It was true. The egg will not survive, it will not even hatch. This mystery creature won't be anything wonderful or fantastic. It won't have a future because it won't exist. It will not have the chance to invent itself and the wolf felt sad about that. He refused to accept that. Surely, there's a way to change this little egg's fate. He really wanted to see what it would be so he decided that he would try to make it live. 

The wolf went down through a cave and met with a queen. The queen is powerful, she is a sorceress. She can decide the fate of others and change destiny. 

The wolf asked the queen to make the egg live, in exchange, he would do anything for her. The wolf is a prideful creature you see, so asking for favors isn't something he likes and yet he still did it. The wolf begged her for seven days and seven nights to accept his request but the queen refused again and again. 

The wolf was persistent. He really wanted the egg to live and the jackal, who was passing by, saw this too. As a good friend of the wolf, the jackal knelt before the queen and begged with the wolf.

The queen who grew annoyed with their persistence finally made a bargain with them. If the wolf could bring back a special magical seed, then the queen would do as he wished. The wolf agreed with her condition and did his best to look for the seed but it was an impossible quest. The magical tree where the seed came from no longer exists. The wolf had to keep searching and searching with no rest but he still failed to find the seed. 

He knew that every time he fails the more likely that the egg would die. He was about to give up when the jackal came with his other friends and helped the wolf search for the magical seed. It was truly a difficult task but soon enough they found one and only one of the seeds. The wolf and the jackals rejoiced and they brought the seed back to the queen. 

The queen, even though she doesn't really want to revive the egg, complied with the contract because she was fair and just. 

When the egg hatched, it turns out, it is not the most beautiful being in the universe. It is not the most perfect thing in existence. It was pretty but it was common. The egg is now a little yellow bird and it was average. The other animals felt disappointed with what the egg became but not the wolf. 

The little bird is special to the wolf because of the time he spent caring for it. He cherished the little yellow bird as his friend and taught it how to fly. Now the little bird can soar through heaven and reach heights he never thought was possible. The little bird and jackal showed him that fate can be rewritten with a little help. 

"That's a nice story. I'm not one to ask for help but I won't refuse it either when offered." Fragarax commented after the fae finished telling the story. 

"I noticed that you weren't really a big fan of getting help, especially earlier. You weren't having a good time by the looks of it."

"Yes, we wolves work in packs but we must be able to fulfil our duties for the pack as well. I just thought that if I do better I could make it happen. Turns out I can't. At least not on my own." Fragarax ran his hand through his fur, feeling a bit self-disappointed. 

"Can I be honest with you?"

"Of course. Is there something wrong?"

"No, no, it's just I constantly feel anxious and I just can't keep this in my chest anymore." Runa admitted keeping her head bowed. 

"Anxious? Do you want to talk about it?"

"I didn't have a home before... All I had was my sister, Alaska. Before all of this, we were what you call... Pets. We used to be playthings for humans, performing certain things to bring them entertainment. Most of the time we are used as tools to slander, saying how ugly and lowly we are. The worst part is when we are being kept tied up and drugged and they would do terrible things to us without our consent. I could only cry. It makes me curse who and what I am. I began hating myself and my body. Wishing every passing second that I was never born." Fragarax clenched his fist feeling immense anger because of her painful experience. He never expected that Runa would be the kind of person who suffered like this. She was always so kind and so sweet. He never knew that suffering was what hid under her radiant smiles.

"But one day, Skoll and Hrod appeared, killing all of those who enslaved us. We were so grateful for them and then they came with an offer. We could roam free to do what we want or we could come with them and serve our father, Fenrir. We were very scared and excited. We had nowhere to go and no means to know where to go. But now we were being offered the opportunity to actually meet our ancestor, our father! Our family! So throwing our doubts into the wind we came along and to our surprise, we didn't meet a terrifying and majestic God of destruction. We didn't meet a great massive wolf who embodies savagery and wild ferocity like we expected. No, we met a beautiful woman who is filled with love and youthful passions."

Fragarax chuckled. "I also did not expect our sire to take on this form. She is far from the ferocious Fenrir that our brothers described."

"She was small, cute, and frail-looking but in all honesty... She is probably one of the strongest people I have ever met both physically and emotionally. And I know that I have made the right choice because now I am happy to have met such an incredible mother. And I am also happy... To have met some incredible people here... Like you." Runa paused meeting his eyes. She looked so sincere, so raw, and so gentle. Fragarax couldn't help but hold her gaze and stare back with desire and understanding.

"I'm also glad to have met you. You are by far one of the most impressive wolves I've ever acquainted myself with."

🌷

Sorca strolled into the bar where she first met Arethria and Dothron. The couple wasn't there anymore but some of the previous folks were still present. A dull red hood concealed her identity while a mask covered half her face. Some of her demons have randomly positioned themselves across the room in places where they would be subtle but able to observe others. Meanwhile, the wolves she has taken accompanied her to bring more intimidation. Their bulky and unfriendly appearances successfully warded off any unpleasant company and allowed her to navigate her way through the bar. 

The general flipped a coin to an imp who acknowledged her and pulled a lever hidden behind him revealing a staircase leading downwards. Sorca cautiously entered and observed the path the torches revealed. The wolves are great with their senses so she has no problem with detecting unseeable danger. Most of them lingered in the darkness avoiding conflict or waiting for others to disturb them but the general had other things to do. 

"Ah, Sorca, the carer of the common rose. How have you been?" 

"I've been better, Selena. Was it fun playing queen with Prince Dyrroth incapacitated and Alice frolicking with her elves?" Sorca scoffed at the dark elf's epithet and took a seat on one of the stone chairs surrounding the table. 

"Most certainly. I just got Lunox a new jewel necklace and myself a new hoard of clothes. Dyrroth's treasury sure is vast, no wonder he was able to keep Ruby by his side despite his awful personality." 

Selena had a carefree smile while the demoness poured herself a cup of liquor. She was huffing something glowing in a hookah and it seems that she's been doing it for quite a while now. Pounded mushrooms and powdered glowing crystals are popular recreational medicine in the Abyss. It gives a sense of calm to the violent and bloodthirsty demons that dwell in the chasms. Selena is known to be indulgent and extravagant but it is rare for her to partake in illicit substances. There must be something going on than meets the eye.  

"What news about the legions? How many remain loyal and how many defected?"

"Those loyal are very few now. Remember, Sorca, the Abyss only follow the strong so those tired of waiting for our little prince to wake up sought new opportunities serving new masters who are basically nobodies. To those little runts, what use of big bad Dyrroth's strength if he's as good as dead? And his wife is not even a demoness. She's a princess regent in name only, Sorky."

"I know that. That's why it is my duty to pull the strings while our lord is resting. Tell me something I don't know." Selena rolled her eyes at Sorca's apathy. 

"Oh, and do you remember Shaw and Eladora? Those incubus and succubus bastards tried to kill Dyrroth last night. You know how long Lunox and I stayed up all night to safeguard him?"

Shaw and Eladora are twin demons of lust who led the clan of Asmos. They own most of the pleasure houses in the Abyss and arrange the most peculiar and extravagant orgies in the entire Chasm. They've pledged their loyalty to Dyrroth and served as his informants since all secrets are spilled in the sex houses.  

"I always knew those two would backstab us, I just never knew when. Did you handle them?" Sorca never trusted them so the news did not surprise her as much but their boldness still infuriated her.

"Of course I did. But they escaped. Slippery sex demons."

"It doesn't matter. I will take care of them. I should have done this earlier but there are other matters I needed to accomplish."

"Like babysitting? Suzzie, if you want Dyrroth to remain relevant I suggest you show the strength of your master now. Bring in your so-called army of wolves and colonize at least 5 opposing factions to show them that Dyrroth's legion is still strong. I've tried to hold off things as much as I could but there are too many players now, Suzzie. I cannot handle everything on my own and I don't want to overwork Lunox even more." complained the dark elf, acting meek and mild. 

Selena's words held great truth and her suggestion is logical. Many demons seek to be the next demon king with Dyrroth incapacitated. Everyone always seeks to elevate their rank and be higher than the rest. However, when Dyrroth was still up and about no one could really dare stand against him so most joined him. After all, if you can't beat them, join them until you can stab them in the back later and one up them. That is the principle of how to survive in the Abyss. 

Dyrroth held great legitimacy among most demons. He is being backed by the queen of Blood Demons, Alice, and his mentor is Thamuz, the king of Fire Demons. To further his claim, the rage of Abyss was given to him in the form of a crystal resting on his chest giving him great power that he used to wage wars, win them, and expand their conquest. With his accomplishments, no one questioned his ability as next in line to be the demon king. 

Dyrroth has proven time and time again why he is worthy to be the next king of all demons. His only questionable decision was consorting with a human girl causing disapproval to rise among his followers and subordinates. This distaste was later neutralized when Dyrroth himself announced that he had chosen his wife because she is the avatar of the great beast of Ragnarok, Fenrir. Most thought that it was a sensible match and expected that they would bear powerful monstrous children but some prejudice still persisted. 

"If we don't do anything about this soon, our faction will be eradicated and Dyrroth's reign will end before it even begins. Tell your queen to march her forces and display her power. Lunox and I have been doing our best to preserve Dyrroth but it was a death curse."

"We have a bigger problem."

"Far bigger than our impending doom at the hands of usurpers?"

"Far beyond that. Ruby is missing. She was attacked by Gavanna and fled through a teleportation pearl. We think she might be here seeking Dyrroth but when I went to his sanctum, she wasn't anywhere near him nor anywhere in Chadis. I need your help to find her. Without Ruby, the wolves wouldn't act until she is found safe."

"Where could one girl possibly end up in this vast Chasm? It bores me. Every news story seems all about her. It's like the world revolves around little miss perfect." Selena scoffed, taking a drag from her pipe. The blue and purple smoke escaped her lips as she exhaled her worries and displeasures. 

"Are you jealous because she is going to become the queen of Abyss instead of you? If you didn't reject Dyrroth before because of your capriciousness you could have gotten everything you wanted. But perhaps it was for the best. I like her far better than you. She is passive in Abyssal politics, she will not be a hindrance but a support system for Dyrroth. Unlike you who will become a constant threat looming beside him." Sorca smirked, patronizing the elf. Selena glared at her briefly before composing herself. She mustered a sweet smile laced with venom and replied. 

"How could you think so little of me? I did like Dyrroth at one point but it wasn't enough to sustain a relationship. He is annoying, hot-headed, and impatient. Lunox is a better match for me and I don't regret anything even if I have to work harder because of it. Plus, I don't have to endure having Alice as my mother-in-law. That is the biggest advantage of not going through with our engagement." Sorca couldn't help but agree, though she would never admit it verbally. 

Selena remembered the times when she and Dyrroth were still together. It had been buried deep in the past but it resurfaces from time to time. Their relationship wasn't a successful one, they may have connected once but that ship sailed and sank. All the blame can't be attributed to Dyrroth entirely because she knew that she was as difficult and stubborn as him but it wasn't all bad. 

Dyrroth is the type of person who loves with his whole heart. He lavished those he favors with gifts and pleasures. Sometimes seeing him give Ruby all the things he did for her was... Well, it was difficult to watch. But then she would remember all the pain and grief they caused to each other and that's when her reverie would be broken. She would see Lunox and realize how happy and healthy she is right now. She would tell herself that it was for the best and she would be glad for him because he finally found a girl who "gives him dragons."

Selena may have been his temporary companion, but Ruby is his destiny. She's his soul mate. It's so lame for her to admit that but it is the undeniable truth. 

"Either way, can I expect your help or not?"

"Of course, what choice do I have? I will ask Lunox to lend me some help but for a fee."

"Sure, just make sure the treasury won't run dry for your opulence or else I will have your head on a spike." Sorca sighed, taking a drag from the pipe Selena offered. 

"Always so stiff Sorca, perhaps you should be having sex to loosen up all those tense muscles. Araignée is probably super stressed right now following Alice's whims and wants. You should pay her a visit and maybe the two of you could hit it off."

Sorca contemplated her suggestion. With all her duties and the duties of Dyrroth that she had to undertake and micromanage she has barely any time to connect with her wife. She was greatly missing her partner and her absence is beginning to take its toll on her mental health. However, they're in a severe state of emergency. Enemies surround them, Ruby is missing, and Dyrroth is at the brink of death. Sorca must choose between her wife and her duties and it's killing her being pulled in all directions at once. Any more tension and she might break. 

She needs rest. 

Ruby would understand. She is not incompetent. She can handle herself. Plus, she is not quitting, she is just going to take a break. 

"... Perhaps you are right. I cannot keep being apart from my wife for so long."

"A little bit of selfishness doesn't hurt. And I'm sure that Dyrroth's human mate will be fine. She is a God after all." 

"Just don't let the place burn down and try to find Ruby as best as you can. I will just check up on Araignée and I will return shortly."

"Very well. And the beasts you've brought with you?"

"They shall remain here to guard Dyrroth and seek Ruby. You shall command them in my stead."

"I'm not a pet carer unlike you, Sorca. I too have business to attend to."

"The most you do is order someone to clean up your own messes. Now, I will be back within 3 days time. I expect things to remain less chaotic than I find them today. Oh, and send those Sex Demons a gift for their last attempt at Dyrroth's life. Be extremely creative."

Selena grinned malevolently.

"You know I will. Have a safe trip."