The Night was peaceful. Her chosen destiny did not lie with some lover anymore, it lied with the woods. Serving her father, her wolves, was what she was born for after all, still never having been told she had been promised to a man. Although, if someone had told her, she would not have been shocked. Nemesis seemed like the woman to sell off her own children for success. A life could simply not be promised though. The Night surely could not be sold off.

The speckled woman slipped through the shadows after having refreshed the borders, the wounds on her ear and chest having healed (mostly due to The Healer's wonders), and she couldn't say she disliked the notch in her ear. Symmetry was boring, she found. Imperfections held beauty. It was probably why she had been drawn to Damien in the first place. It was not all a lust for power, even though that sinful wish had indeed played a part.

Nyx was sitting in a quiet place of the woods, eyes and ears alert. Ever since the two spiderlings had been threatened by a hissing beast, Nyx had been quite on edge. Patrolling and looking for any other unwanted guests had become quite the priority for the defender, not wanting one of their own killed now that there were already so many lost. She had noted Damien's scent, yet did not expect him to come and pursue her after their paths had parted.

There was little left of her hateful spirit. She had truly embodied the night sky, remaining just as calm as she was just moments ago when she picked up on someone luring in the shadowy woods. It surprised her. She was usually left alone, giving her enough time to finish her duties day by day with little interference. Friends were not something she craved either. Blackfeather Woods and its needs came first, then her own - and who knew if the bobcat would return to try and steal a spiderling away as a mere snack.

Her eyes found the towering form of a long lost Brother of the woods. She'd be lying if she said the sight of him had not made her heart skip a single beat. She had mentally prepared for this moment as soon as his scent had lingered around, and yet not even The Night could resist feeling unease creep up along her speckled spine. She focused upon the three single roses in his mouth, a flashback of when she had tried to pursue Vaati, but that had to be moons ago. She kept her lips sealed as he sat down nearby, his voice as tender as the petals on the thorny roses he carried - at least, so it was for her, for she had never heard a mother's sweet caresses before midnight.

There is no need for that. She responded softly, the coldness of her voice having disappeared to make place for a gentler one. She observed him carefully as he then came toward her, the gift near her feet letting her feel the warmth of her beating heart again. She blinked up at him, his face not having changed much from the younger Damien that had told her stories of their Gods. And yet so many things had changed. She was no longer a child -  and he was no longer the respected man of the Blackfeather Woods.

Kove and you are the only wolves I have ever cared for genuinely. None of what I did was out of pity. She spoke rather firmly, hoping he had not thought she pitied him to begin with. She had taken care of him because she had wanted to.

The Night did not find herself a hero in any way. She had set prisoners free, had taken care of the mentally wounded and had even fought off a lynx to protect the woods' young. Still, she was more a warrior for justice than a hero. She hated suffering herself so why would she let another do the same? Then again, perhaps it was just to hide all the wrongdoings Nyx had done in the past. Covering up the traces of a demon with the actions of a hero.

"a loyal friend"... More like a loyal prisoner of the woods. Friendship? A by-product of her own ambitions, was it not? She didn't know why but being called a friend was not something that calmed her. Did he expect something else from her now that they were unofficially bonded by the friendship she had never felt? She looked at him then, the creature born on the darkness of the woods, just like her. I did not do it because I thought of you as a friend either. She added. I simply did not want to lose you again.

She nodded sternly, Her soul not bending. She would no longer sympathize with him. Through thick and thin had she fought for her place in the woods, to stay where she belonged, and how many times had Damien not followed suit? She did not hate him for it completely, but she couldn't say this trait of leaving again and again was a desirable one. At least she could trust herself to stay, perhaps even Kove. The rest was disposable. As long as they stood strong, she knew The Woods would remain - with or without The Prince.

She glared at him, a curious look to show she was interested at least. Some would be flattered to hear it, but at least Nyx didn't show it upfront. So that were his motives. Overthrow her old father to place them on top again. Things had been peaceful ever since Kove took over... She didn't know if this hurt their image or made it better. Creatures of darkness her ass - there was little dark about The Woods anymore other than the actual shadows. She was no subordinate, she found. The role only fitted her because she had been content with it. A tempting promise, that much was true, but how much could she trust his words?

Kove is a fine leader, but I cannot say I do not miss the old days. She admitted softly, a quick glance over their surroundings confirming there were no eavesdroppers. My loyalty lies with The Woods alone. If you promise to restore it to its former glory, I will gladly assist you. A slight smile krept upon her features, cold gaze lighting up for a short while.

He did make her think about it all, that much was true. She hadn't stopped to think about her, The Woods and their image for a while. As Gamma and daughter of their leader, she had duties (mostly assigned by herself) and conversations like this had been missing for quite a while. Strange that she only held meaningful conversations with Damien. Or was it? They had known each other for a while now. Him leaving and coming back was the only consistent thing in her life, it seemed. She let out a soft sigh, gaze averting for just a second before she focused on her partner in crime.

How do you propose we do that? She asked in a cool tone. The wolves now part of our Woods are not elites. I think they are content the way we are now, almost nothing remains of our former glory. How will we make them listen? She expressed her concerns with a frown, wanting him to have all the answers like he usually did. But to be honest, their plan wasn't one for just two wolves. They needed minds like theirs, or at least shape them like theirs.

Her ears flicked. The news took some time to sink in, but her eyes grew slightly wider. Of course she did. She commented coldly with disdain. It wasn't surprising, but still it pained her to think she really was only an object to the darn monster of a mother - if one could even call her that. Her only daughter - yeah just marry her off to some guy while she stumbled unknowingly through the woods. What a life she had been promised. Still, their own children might just be what they needed for their plan to succeed. Minds to shape... Wasn't that what she wanted? And how she had lusted for Damien's affection... Could she want him like that again, given time?

She let an uncomfortable silence settle between them as she thought things through. What did she have left to lose besides her purity? Then I will be. She answered, confident about her decision. For The Woods.

He was right. About Aries that was. Her ward, though she had nearly forgotten him in the heat of the moment, had already proven his loyalty to her. Their plan of escape, his willingness to stay by her side regardless of where they would be, was enough for a great accomplice and ward. She had not nearly praised him enough for his loyalty to her, besides the hug she had given him. Physical contact was not Nyx's thing, that much was true, but that was also more because she thought of life as business. There was no need for sentiment if one had loyalty. There was no need for love besides for one's home and family. For now, at least. Soon enough she would realize that by tying herself to the Forest King, he would become family as well.

I know not much about Relmyna, but I have defended her spawn against a lynx. She flicked her torn ear, knowing Damien did not know the story behind the injury unless it had spread through their woods. Aries has my complete trust. He will follow me regardless of what will become of us. She announced, actually rather proudly. His conclusion shut her up though, even though she was generally a rather silent spirit.

She nodded then, agreeing with it. Though she knew not how Kove would react to such a thing, if Relmyna's pups were allowed to exist so were her own. She was born and bred right here, had barely left the place, and her loyalty to her brothers and sisters was undeniable. If she was not the perfect contestant for breeding pure Dark Brothers then she didn't know who was. Definitely not Moonshadow or Ocracoke or even Relmyna for that matter. I have almost reached my 24th moon cycle so a heat will not escape me for very long anymore. She informed, hating to have them both wait for it.

And just like that, she had gotten what she had wanted moons ago. She wished her feelings for him would return shortly, not knowing she had them still but kept them hidden even from herself. She stood perfectly still then, a faint smile on her muzzle. Yes, Nemesis, she had chosen him herself - there had been no need to force the two together. She simply stared at him for a while - the man she had known throughout her whole life was now hers and when he told her to follow, she did. Close by his side did she stalk into the redness of the Redgrove, wanting to be part of it all now.

Once they arrived at the place he had wanted to show her, she smiled. It was beautiful. It was almost out of place in the grim Woods. Other-wordly she would've called it, had the silence between them not been so comfortable. Unlike Damien, the ice queen let some urges slip by her defenses and so, should he not reject her advances that came pretty out of no where, her muzzle slipped through the dark fur of his neck for a brief moment.