The air was growing colder. He knows what it meant — winter — but that didn't mean it was frightening in a way. He had been born in winter, during the solstice when the day was its shortest, but it wasn't familiar to him. He marvelled at each little change he saw in the world around him. The world was dying. And it was beautiful.
So enraptured was he in the ebbing and swelling of the world's magicks that he all but ignored the political drama occurring. His family, despite his differences and disagreements with him, was his family. He had to protect them, sure, but he did not know how. He did not have the magic to save either of his uncle's minds, or cleanse his mother's womb, or bring wolves to their doorstep. He didn't even have the mundane abilities to do that either.
He isn't the only one caught up in the troubles of the pack, it seemed. He can see the movement of something dark up ahead, and as he grows close, he recognizes the scent of the Dark Master. Astrid,
He rumbles, dipping his head to her.
Had she been any other person, he would have used her birthname out of spite. But he is no fool. She, while barely older than he, was the Dark Master. He knew he was usless outside of Blackfeather Woods, at least for the moment. Mother had ended his priest training and cut down his herbal training as well. He knew far less than he should had he simply followed the course. He did not know what he was, what he wanted to be, and there were too many thing linking him to Blackfeather for him to just...disappear.
The den is getting stifling,
He shrugged. While once all five of them could rest easily in their den, he and Vaati had grown far beyond their mother and siblings. I should find another den soon,
He doesn't know when he would get around to it. He's too fond of sleeping next to Vaati to even think about it. Instead, he turns the question back to her. Are you mulling something over?
She offered to help him out, which he appreciated. It was strange to see someone outside his blood family doing something like this for him, even if they were in the same pack. He nodded in response, a small smile on his face. Thank you, Nyx,
He considered calling her Dark Master (Mistress? No one had made it really clear if it was a gender neutral term or not), but decided that that was too formal.
They stood in silence for a moment. Ganon took the time to consider where he could make his den, his internal map stretching out before him, but the image fizzled as Nyx spoke again. She spoke of breeding and birthing the next generation. Was that all women were concerned about? He didn't blame them, really. It was what their bodies were made for. But the conversation wasn't just her lamenting her lack of a mate...oh no. She looked at him, right at him. Any other man would have been flattered, but his face twisted in disgust. I don't like women,
He said it firmly, And why not use my brother? He's more obsessed with the idea of purity than I am,
He knew that Vaati hated Nyx and coveted her position desperately, but he figured that joining the two bloodlines here was a better compromise for the both of them.
Ganondorf chuckled, Vaati doesn't like anyone,
He shrugged. He was used to the fact, and so was everyone else he supposed. Even Mother had a problem with speaking to him, he noticed. You aren't special, being on his list of people he doesn't like,
So far as he could tell, Ganon was on too many of Vaati's lists at once.
She asked for his advice. It was strange being asked about his brother like this, like he was expected to know what he liked. He did, to a point. Getting Vaati to like someone was beyond his means, or so he thought. Astrid — Nyx — the Dark Master(Mistress)? It seemed like an easy answer to him. Promote him,
He says. All he's ever wanted was to be Dark Master. Take him as your mate, make him co-Dark Master — he'll be all yours,
The last four words tasted sour on his mouth, however. The thought of someone else claiming Vaati was not something he could sit well with. But Astrid merely wanted children out of him. Ganon wanted more than that. So he supposed that he could allow him this.
He stares at her for all the while, his expression equal parts confused and amused by her insistence that his uncle would come back. He snorts, a smirk appearing on his face. What makes you think he will come back?
He had seen Damien's madness, albeit briefly. It was enough to tell him that Damien was thoroughly lost. Mental illness was not something you could simply bounce back from in an instance. And with him wandering, lost in the dark, twisting tunnels? Ganon was not hopeful for the return of his uncle's sanity. And if he does, I'm sure he would be fine with his nephew holding the position.
He snorts. Hope. He wasn't fond of the word or the idea behind it. It doesn't do much, but there wasn't much any of them could do. Spells of the mind were taboo, Mother taught him, even if it was trying to fix something. It was up in the air now. You can try,
He shrugs. They both know what she'll get in response. I'm sure I'll hear how it goes,
He says, referring to her impending conversation with his brother, but he supposes that he would hear his uncle's ravings echoing in the cave in response to her words.
She promised that he would hear about it. He didn't doubt it, knowing Vaati. He would make sure that everyone knew of his new position. The conversation fizzled after that. She gave him a gentle stare, quietly dismissing him. He took the hint, nodding to her before making his way around her, loping off into the distance.