{Don't} Call her name; She {won't} look at you.

[Pocket Kitsune]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=F4D179] Winter had claimed Farbe. The autumnal Graces of the October seasons now bowed their head in mute tidings of pledged loyalty to the winter queen. Her trailing train of ivory robes stretched from one end of the woods to the other. The earth beneath worn pads was as dry and rough as the cracks that decorated the underside of the Queen's feet. The grass of the woods, that flushed like a maiden with pale jades and cool yellows, quivering and vibrant with the kiss of life from spring's rays, now lay underfoot a dull bracken color. Even the tallest of grasses, at best troublesome and an annoyance to struggle through by late summer, as they snagged at pelts with greedy burrs for fingers and shaggy beards of wheat full of seeds, were trampled flat. Their heads bowed before winter's absolute and merciless reign. The gentle rolls of the lands still compelled, and were of course, still beautiful--even in their faint colors of light golds, dirty yellows, and fawns. There was a certain poetry in the way that a few patches of snow, cloaked by the faint bruise-blue of shadows, where the weak rays of the sun's light could not reach them, capped the crests of these gentle knolls. Yes, winter could be beautiful, too. For all it's harshness and it's swift and bitter bite. But Amaya was tired of grays. Soon spring would chase winter from her throne--forcing her gnarled fingers of ice to release the lands. And though she was no longer a pup, she knew full well he'd be giddy and drunk on the uplifting mood that spring's warming breath brought. For now, though, even the vibrant autumn leaves were covered in snow, and silent. The months had turned to ash under her ebon paws. By the time midsummer reached Dachau again, she would be three winters. The black she-wolf shook her head quietly to herself at that thought. How is it possible that an entire year got away from me as quick as a rabbit? And Aurex. Aurex had vanished with the first of the leaf fall. With not a word to anyone, the alpha had slipped away. As had most of what had once remained of her pack. The only wolves that still dwelled in Farbe, were herself, her four swiftly growing children, Blaez, and the kindly, elderly female, Hekka. She had found the sunbleached bones of Gehfarr not a month ago, ribs open to the sun as if arms flung up in jubilant praise. And though she hadn't known the old wolf very well, she still mourned his loss of life. But with Aurex gone, his laws no longer mattered. The only law that reigned here now was hers. Though soon, she knew, the Vier would send a replacement mate. But she was determined that he would bow before her whims, not the other way around. Which is why this afternoon found her carefully remarking the borders of Farbe, overlaying her rank scent over the faint markers once left by Aurex. It was a self-emancipation, of sorts. If he did return, he would be treated no differently than Blaez or Hekka, unless he somehow won back his rank in her eyes. For now, however, she settled on the task of slowly but surely rebuilding Farbe and securing it's future.

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