__Fᴇᴏᴅᴏʀᴀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʟᴘʜᴇss__
She called love's name, but it never answered.
She called love's name, but it never answered.
Feodora could be swept away in the mornings, the kind of mornings long before dawn, before she could hear even Ethereal stir from her lonely, distant den and rush into the sleeping woods beyond. They romanced her with their quietness, their quaint and polite delicacy. The dark and moon-touched winds that had stirred the night's very core, as they died, would always ghost thinly through the open mouth of the den and whisper sweet promises into her listening ears during those dawnless mornings. In her lucid, half-dreaming states they would assure her of Cassius' love, would assure her that he would never let go.
That time had passed hours ago. The air was still now, crisp and cold and thick with the promise of heavy trials. She could not think of the weight that bore upon her when her consciousness would bring her to doubt her bleary memories of those tender, luminesced whispers of the wind, of course. She had no time for such trifling selfishness, such mistrust for her most dearly beloved. She had the weight of the pack to consider first and foremost, as was her desire and duty. Today was a big day for them all, including her alpha. Ever since becoming mated to Cassius, she had committed this day to memory, the annual Winter Address. It was important to Cassius and so it was important to her. She knew the stakes of the lean times ahead.
Her head draped affectionally over the neck of her slumbering alpha and her body nuzzled warmly against his, she smiled with only the slightest twinge of her hidden insecurities and turned her head in to gently nuzzle her mate at the ear. She hated to wake him to his responsibilities when he was so peaceful, so beautiful as he was, but it was her job to keep him functioning at full capacity. She had dedicated herself to knowing how much sleep he needed every night before he could undertake his responsibilities, how much time he needed and could have to complete his every task as an alpha. She managed him with the most loving dedication so that he could shine for his subjects, so that no wolf may doubt his greatness.
"Wake up, my love," she whispered sweetly into the ear she had nudged, finally uncovering him from the warmth of her overnight embrace so that the encroaching winter's chill could help to stir him. "Today is an important day, do you remember?" she inquired gently, her smile tender and patient as she laid against him. "Today you give the Winter Address to our otherwise fumbling pack." Her nose crinkled. A tease. She cherished each and every pack member, respected their strengths and weaknesses alike with a regal wisdom and elegance. She was eager to watch them all work in perfect harmony with the regulations of Cassius' address this season, eager to watch what her mate kept so perfectly together work in all of his brilliant leadership.
"You must not keep them waiting." She pressed her black nose tenderly against the side of his muzzle, a small kiss. Though her thoughts stirred already with thoughts of keeping Cassius on schedule for the day, of her dear Vesper's hardships, of conducting business with Freki, of finding a moment to accompany her dear Elizabeth on a hunt, of catching up with Finnick, of inquiring about the patrols of Erianthe and Rowan (and perhaps make another attempt at friendship with the cold-shouldered Erianthe, perhaps accompany Rowan for a short distance on his next patrol), of finding a few quality moments with her dear friend Ethereal, she could still curse herself to think that, in the back of her mind, she wondered with trepidation if Cassius would return her intimate gesture or leave her cold.
That time had passed hours ago. The air was still now, crisp and cold and thick with the promise of heavy trials. She could not think of the weight that bore upon her when her consciousness would bring her to doubt her bleary memories of those tender, luminesced whispers of the wind, of course. She had no time for such trifling selfishness, such mistrust for her most dearly beloved. She had the weight of the pack to consider first and foremost, as was her desire and duty. Today was a big day for them all, including her alpha. Ever since becoming mated to Cassius, she had committed this day to memory, the annual Winter Address. It was important to Cassius and so it was important to her. She knew the stakes of the lean times ahead.
Her head draped affectionally over the neck of her slumbering alpha and her body nuzzled warmly against his, she smiled with only the slightest twinge of her hidden insecurities and turned her head in to gently nuzzle her mate at the ear. She hated to wake him to his responsibilities when he was so peaceful, so beautiful as he was, but it was her job to keep him functioning at full capacity. She had dedicated herself to knowing how much sleep he needed every night before he could undertake his responsibilities, how much time he needed and could have to complete his every task as an alpha. She managed him with the most loving dedication so that he could shine for his subjects, so that no wolf may doubt his greatness.
"Wake up, my love," she whispered sweetly into the ear she had nudged, finally uncovering him from the warmth of her overnight embrace so that the encroaching winter's chill could help to stir him. "Today is an important day, do you remember?" she inquired gently, her smile tender and patient as she laid against him. "Today you give the Winter Address to our otherwise fumbling pack." Her nose crinkled. A tease. She cherished each and every pack member, respected their strengths and weaknesses alike with a regal wisdom and elegance. She was eager to watch them all work in perfect harmony with the regulations of Cassius' address this season, eager to watch what her mate kept so perfectly together work in all of his brilliant leadership.
"You must not keep them waiting." She pressed her black nose tenderly against the side of his muzzle, a small kiss. Though her thoughts stirred already with thoughts of keeping Cassius on schedule for the day, of her dear Vesper's hardships, of conducting business with Freki, of finding a moment to accompany her dear Elizabeth on a hunt, of catching up with Finnick, of inquiring about the patrols of Erianthe and Rowan (and perhaps make another attempt at friendship with the cold-shouldered Erianthe, perhaps accompany Rowan for a short distance on his next patrol), of finding a few quality moments with her dear friend Ethereal, she could still curse herself to think that, in the back of her mind, she wondered with trepidation if Cassius would return her intimate gesture or leave her cold.
