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"The sea is no place for a wolf."
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[KAYOS ADREN PRIME]

Vaeln was here.

2 weeks before he was intended. His scent was strong as I pushed the doors of my study open, my eyes falling on the Light Wolf, a hardness in my jaw I couldn't quite get rid of. Vaeln was a menace if I ever had one. He was the reason for the noise he had blasted throughout the court with a bloody horn.

He sat across my desk, staring at me with an amused smirk.

The longer I looked at him the more irritated I got.

"Will you not speak-"

"What are you doing here?" I growled, gaze hardening.

His lazy smirk dawned into a chuckle.

"Sit Kayos. Standing there makes me feel so goddamn uncomfortable." He grinned, turning in his seat for a moment, "Offer me a drink or something. A decade-aged wine is what I would prefer."

I  stared at the obnoxious Arc, trying to stop my anger from reeling its ugly head.

"I was unaware it was my duty to make you feel ...comfortable." I gritted through my teeth.

"I am your guest. Therefore it is." He shrugged, eyes skimming my desk.

"Ah," he grinned, reaching for a Jug, "Tell me this is wine."

"You are not a guest, Vaeln, do not be deceived," I growled, prowling further into my study.

"Water," he gagged, sniffing the contents before setting the jug down, glancing over at me, "As plain as you are, I suppose."

"You- are the farthest thing from a guest in my court. You have barged into my home, unannounced, unwanted, unwelcome, and unaccepted and now you sit before me-" I looked at his casual state,  "and you dare to speak?"

"Now how else am I supposed to bloody respond if speaking is forbidden?" He scoffed, gaze narrowing on me, "It sounds like a bloody paradox if I've ever heard of one."

I ignored this, "You may very well be considered an enemy. Breaking the treaty once more, showing up before your selected time, creating havoc and unnecessary unrest in my court-"

"It was the blast of a horn, Kayos- I did not shoot a canon through your walls,"

"If you do not realize it yet," I cut, "I am not amused at your intrusion, Vaeln, I truly hope you have a valiant reason to redeem yourself-" I grunted, my head tilting slightly, my wolf a lingering threat of red in my eye.

He paused at this, searching my eyes for a moment.

The door suddenly swung open behind me, and the lure of a soft flowery scent caught me, and I inwardly groaned.

In walked Mother,  a wide smile on her face.

"Vaeln!" she gleamed, passing by me, "I can not believe it! Goddess, It is you."

The Arc stood to his feet, "Grand Luna, Aleya," he grinned as Mother trapped him in her arms.

I stepped away, irritated at her intrusion.

"In the flesh." She beamed holding him at arm's length, looking him over.

I stared blankly at the action as she studied him, "I haven't seen you in nearly two years- oh and you've grown so much, so much more handsome." She gleamed, brushing his newly trimmed beard.

"I would have visited Aleya, but as you know,  for the sake of peace, the treaty had to be respected." He grinned.

"A treaty you have just shattered, twice," I grunted.

"Nonsense, the treaty was meant to protect the four territories, not to make them enemies," Mother huffed, glancing between the two of us.

"Ah, if only we all looked at it that way," Vaeln joked, gaze straying to me.

I rolled my eyes at this, as Vaeln watched her with more compliments. I stood frustrated, waiting for their moments to end.

"I- trust you have been properly welcomed." Mother began

Vaelns gaze trailed to mine, "Certainly, Kayos has been a ray of sunshine," he grinned, "he even offered me wine."

Mother's gaze met mine, raising a surprised eyebrow at this and I shook my head.

She turned back to Vaeln.

"I was not expecting you for two weeks- where's Gail?" she suddenly asked, now searching the room for his mate.

Vaeln calmed her down, guiding her to sit beside him, " Gail's not here, Luna."

"You left her behind?" Mother asked, slapping his arm, "You dare come to visit and deny me the chance of seeing the Arc Luna of the Light Court?"

Vaeln chuckled at this, "She isn't here yet, but she will be coming," Vaeln eased, patting her arm.

His gaze met mine, "I had to be sure it was safe here. The last time I came to visit someone was direly unkind. I would not want her to live through the embarrassment again."

"Last time?" Mother, echoed, her gaze snapped to me, disappointment dawning in her eyes as she seemed to read between the lines- but I was done with Vaelns schematics.

The light wolf was my direct opposite.

Whilst I repelled everyone away, he seemed to have the uncanny power to charm everyone that ever set eyes on him.

Even my mother. He was by far, her favorite of all my cousins. I had little knowledge of what love was. I knew my mother cared for me. It was no secret she cared for Vaeln as if he was another son too. Perhaps a son she would have rather had.

One blessed by Selene and not Cursed by her.

Either way, I was immune to Vaelns charms. 

Perhaps that's where his power failed him.

"He means when he camped at the edge of our borders a few days ago, breaking the treaty. I would hardly call that a visit," I informed, walking around my desk, "neither will this be considered as one. If you will not tell me why you're blasting horns in my Court, I will get you settled in as soon as possible. The dungeons have not seen any light since they were built. Perhaps you would do them a kindness. And of course, as soon as your little mate shows up, she can accompany you too. "

"Kayos!" Mother gasped, her eyes stern.

My gaze reached to hers, "They will be released at the appropriate time Mother. Two weeks."

She gasped at this, her hand tightening around Vaelns arm. "You can not be serious-"

"—It's alright, Aleya ." Vaeln calmed, leaning forward for a moment, patting her arm tenderly before his eyes trailed back to mine, more serious than it had been. "Do not fear Kayos. I do have a valiant reason for showing up the way I have." He started.

I remained stoic, waiting for his response.

His gaze shifted to mothers before landing back in mine, "I have come because- the situation has gotten far worse than I ever thought. Then we both could ever have imagined."

"Situation?" Mother echoed, glancing between us.

My gaze trailed to hers, enlightening her. "He has concerns."

"Concerns?" Vaeln scoffed, "You confirmed there were things to fear-"

"Things that could be discussed in two weeks," I growled back.

"Well, I will have you know that these so-called concerns have drifted into something much more dire. They are concerns that finally have faces.." he trailed off, catching my attention.

"I- I do not follow.." Mother stated, her curious gaze trading between us, whilst I stared at Vaeln with more intrigue.

Faces-

He was telling me he had seen whatever it was that was killing the ancient forests, and killing the rogues. That he knew what scent polluted the trees. A scent not even my shadows could pinpoint.

"Faces?" I echoed.

"Faces that will make your insides turn. " he stated glancing at Mother before looking at me with a hesitant pause, a certain emotion crossing his face, "well, perhaps not you. Since you are part of the darkness, perhaps it will not host the same effect."

"I- do not follow!" Mother repeated, this time harsher, "Will someone tell me what these faces and concerns are?" she huffed, seemingly frustrated, her cheeks reddening as her fingers sifted through her gown.

My gaze snapped to hers, but Vaeln was the one to explain, "The forests are dying, Aleya."

"What do you mean the forests are dying? Are they being cut or-or burned down?" she huffed, "what wolf would be stupid enough to do such a thing?"

"No, no-no, Aleya. I fear it is far worse," Vaeln corrected, "they are simply wasting to bark in a matter of days. As I speak now, half of my western forest has been turned into a wasteland. There are no leaves, no grass, the trees are dead, and a fog lies heavily between the dead stumps. There is a whisper in the air, a scent unlike any I had ever smelt before-"

"Wasting?" Mother echoed, her voice a loose gasp, "The Western forest? That is the largest in Valcane!" Her eyes widened glancing between the two of us, "A-And you say half of it is gone?" she started, a certain look of surprise and bewilderment in her eyes.

"Nearly," Vaeln replied solemnly.

I must say, even I was surprised. Half of a forest as large as that in a matter of days.

Vaelns gaze met mine as if knowing what it was I was thinking, before looking back at Mother, nodding.

"You understand why I am here, now?"

Her gaze fished in his, "the forest- " she gulped, her gaze shifting for a bit as if trying to wrap her head around the news, "were there any rogues found? Those trees are known to be infested with rogue packs."

Vaelns gaze met mine again, nodding once more, "There were first reports of bodies of rogues found dead, rotting within the trees, however, when I sent for an official report, not a single one was found."

Mother was at a loss for words for a moment, before she spoke, "No bodies?" She blinked for a moment, "You said you found, faces for your concerns."

Vaeln nodded, pausing for a moment, "It is the true reason why I am here. I did not know what these scents were..until now."

I watched him carefully.

"This ...face we found. I feel only Kayos can understand it."

My gaze reached to his, watching as he spoke-

I could feel mothers eyes on me at his revelation.

"The problem I fear came from far beyond the borders of Valcane-" Vaeln continued.

"Beyond?"

He glanced at Mother, "These faces are forged in the lands of men."

"Men?" It was my turn to interrupt, eyes narrowing on him, "I know these scents, and I know the scents of men. They are not the same."

This was a fact I knew true.

"I did not say they were men," Vaeln scoffed, sitting back in his seat, "I said they came from the land of men-" he reached into his pocket, taking out a singular small piece of drenched wood.

The bark smelt different. It was damp. I didn't need to touch it to figure this out. Its scent alone spoke many things, including the fact that it came from a tree that was not planted in Valcane and was most likely a piece from a boat.

"A ship," he stated, "was found wrecked a mile away from one of our ports. They were no bodies on the ship, we think they might have died at sea-" he started, "however two things were recovered from the wreckage." he got to his feet, "one is more of a monster than a mere thing." he drawled, "I brought it here."

"What?" Mother began, looking up at Vaeln.

I, however, was curious, my head tilting to the side for a moment. My tone is slow and easy-

"You brought a monster from the sea, here?" I asked.

"Does that upset you?" he raised an eyebrow, smirking.

I could have smiled but I remained stoic, "Where is it?"