Beyond Night and the Dark ✧ Emmeral x Alicia ✧

[Emmeral Langley]

Gideon Valen, Alpha to the Night Shade pack was a man of honor and strength.

Strong values to his leadership and people, caring towards his pack, a righteous ruler who took position some years shortly before his father's passing. Born and raised for the calling.

His presence alone commanding, broad shoulders fit comfortably with the crown, his viewership understanding to any and all before verdict was made. Well-mannered no matter the ranking, seeing every wolf as equals despite status.

Since children Beatrix Salvos was fated to Gideon, Emmeral seeing first-hand the childhood development that would strengthen their pack in the future as he found his fated mate. Blissfully weakened by the mere presence of his Luna that she only reinforced in strength his leadership and their pack as a pairing, welcoming a moon blessing as their pack would heir furthermore in the coming months as word spread of the good news of their Luna's pregnancy.

Dirt shifting cosmically as Alpha Valen landed on his back in the outdoor training grounds, Emmeral's laughter as she inhumanly shifted within her shadow wielding to appear before him, outstretched hand in offer to bring him to stand. Gideon quick to take as they rose side by side, dusting his shoulder's off before flickering a teasing few embers her way.

"Hey firestarter! Don't make me put you on your ass again" Emmeral's eyes darkened within a grin as the embers fizzled to nothingness before they reached her face.

Gideon and Emmeral were thick as thieves, having grown up together as the Alpha's son and the Delta's daughter - Both destined for a higher calling within their pack. Best Friends. The Night Shade was the largest ability wielding pack in Valtheris, aligned to many packs - their greatest being the Blackfrost Dominion in Eboncrest. Many born into abilities. Emmeral and Gideon assigned to pack duties and history lessons than involce within any other pack matters and meetings.

Gideon's gaze shifting towards the great hall as their Luna stepped out, addressed in passing to their people before joining Emmeral and Gideon among the earthly havoc they had just sparred within. A daily catch up of the pair.

"My, my, how did I know to find you 2 clowning about here" Beatrix's smile wide as Gideon joined her side. His softness towards Beatrix always enviously beautiful in seeing.

Emmeral lowered her head in greeting as Gideon's voice spoke up amused "My Luna, you must be mistaken. Fire always can find its way through darkness" his gaze towards Emmeral as she merely rolled her eyes "If only it didn't make as the blind in doing so" teasing as Emmy and Gideon were destructively powerful together in battle, complimenting one another's wielding effectively.

"Well, I must call the Alpha in for our check up" Beatrix reaching out towards Emmeral, caressing her cheek in affection and laughter "Beta Dion is looking for you to patrol" Emmeral smiling in knowing as Beta Dion requested her at half noon "I will see you for dinner" her eyes shifting between both as their weekly pack gathering for an evening of simply togetherness was hours away. Tradition to remaining as strong with each pack member, hearing their worries and triumphs, centuries old within the Night Shade pack.

With that, the 3 of them parted ways, Emmeral crossing the land towards Beta Dion's quarters - Unable to reach as the sound of scuffling focused in the distance. Emmeral's feet seeking as she walked towards the tree line, the scent grew of copper before her eyes came across an unfamiliar face concealed, collapsed of fatigue and injury by a tree base her injuries unknown of extent.

Her scent held no tethering nor was she one of theirs.

A rogue.

Weariness in approach as Emmeral's head tilted, hearing the soft rasp of crackle escaping the young girls throat. Her mother raised her to have some medical training, immediately identifying that a wound had punctured somewhere and she was internally bleeding.

Her gaze hazing over as she mind-linked her Alpha and Beta that she was bringing in an injured, acknowledging the importance keeping things discrete as she gathered the young she wolf and brought her to the infirmary. Placing her in her own room for privacy and means if needed to keep from knowledge to the rest of the pack. Working with the on-duty healer to assess the young wolf and remove her from the carnage she had endured before finding their borders.

Feathering fingers expertly sutured her side in silent work as Alicia remained unconscious, the sound of her breathing better, her wound no longer on deaths door as the final threading sealing as Alicia's finger twitched in stirring sign.

The healer whom worked alongside Emmeral was a regenerative healer, able to work and weave together some areas of damage to Alicia's body but merely gave her a more fighting chance to recover within itself than completely remove her injuries. No restrictions to Alicia as she laid on the infirmaries bed merely hooked up to drips of blood to replenish the lost amount and to aid in hydration as she was severely lacking among other things.

Alpha Gideon and Beta Dion joining them moments later having patrolled their borders and finding no signs of any others but further out from their lands were Alicia had seemingly fallen under attack.

It was just a matter of waiting for Alicia to wake up.

[Alicia Blake]

Alicia had been on her own for a few years at this point, having been cast out by her pack at 16 when the Beta’s son rejected their mate bond. The pain of the rejection had been unbearable, and to wake the next morning to learn she was no longer welcome in her home only made it worse. A branding had been burnt into her shoulder, a sign that she was disgraced from the Darkfrost pack, anyone who knew of their cruelty would recognise the symbol. 

Becoming a rogue wasn’t easy, but although being small for a wolf, Alicia was always a skilled fighter. She had been top of her class in training, and her survival skills would easily be considered above average.This meant she lasted longer than expected. 

A she-wolf rogue was rare to begin with, but a runt managing to survive alone was even more unlikely. She had faced attacks from other rogues, and even from packs who naturally were distrusting of rogues like her. This led to her being covered in scars from her past battles, and if anything it showed those who challenged her that she was no easy target. 

Alicia was now travelling once more trying to fight somewhere safe to call home for a while as winter approached once more. She thought she had found a small cave for shelter on otherwise unclaimed lands, but as she set up her small camp a group of rogues found her. She tried to fight them off and flee, but the men were stronger and greatly outnumbered her.

Barely escaping alive she was bleeding as she crossed over into pack lands, she could smell the familiar scent of a claimed land but the bloodloss made her head spin making it hard for her to determine just what pack she was invading. She made her way deep enough into the lands that the rogues gave up their pursuit not wanting to risk angering the pack. 

Eventually she managed to find a large tree out of the way where she sat down to rest, she could hear her wolf whimpering in pain in her mind. The outcome wasn’t looking good for her but she had no way of getting help. She knew there was a good chance if the pack found her here they would finish her off instead of help, no one trusted rogues and she understood why, most abandoned their packs willingly and were out to cause trouble. But Alicia didn’t choose this life, she had wanted a home, she had wanted a family, and all that was taken from her because she was considered to be weak. 

A tear fell down her cheek as her body slumped against the tree, exhaustion and bloodloss finally winning as the world went dark. 

Alicia wasn’t sure how long she had been out, but as her mind became more clear she could hear hushed whispers. Her fingers twitched slightly as she felt a solid bed beneath her. She knew she was no longer in the forest, but she had no idea what was waiting for her when she woke up. 

It took a few hours but finally Alicia woke, groaning slightly as she felt the pain in her body. She lifted her head slightly looking around as she saw all eyes on her. She looked around slightly panicked as she sensed the power radiating from the alpha and beta. She moved to defend herself only to hiss in pain from her injuries. 

She was covered in dirt and dried blood having not been able to clean up for quite some time, her clothes were torn, having no way of getting anything new. She was clearly malnourished, her eyes filled with fear as she expected the usual interrogation given by packs that found her on their land. 

She spoke softly, her voice hoarse “I mean no harm I swear” she raised her hands in surrender. She didn’t know how to explain herself, rogues were not welcomed on claimed lands. “I was in the unclaimed lands, I was attacked, I just entered your borders to get away from them” there was a fear in her voice, she was expecting them to turn on her. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary, though she noticed the drip in her arm wondering why a pack would waste medical supplies on someone they were going to turn on.

[Emmeral Langley]

Visual assessment shown the rogue was young her aura showing no attachment to a pack. As Emmeral was wiping away former markings of wounds that now appeared a nightmare to her flesh, remaining stain of red the only present of injury besides their on duty healer, Sybil could provide in magical healing and those prior to her latest attacking.

Taking into account the rogues clothing was unsuited for further wear, Emmy mindlinked Beta Dion to stop by her chambers and gather clothing for her to change in to.

Upon finishing the remove of stained crimson, Emmeral saw the rogues branding mark to her shoulder - Estimated to be a few years old at this point. Anger flaring within her mind as Andarna her counterpart and her were familiar of such tarnished traditions, the sigil familiar to a pack that eyed in interest in alliance to the Night Shade pack, the Darkfrost pack.

The Night Shade pack small but had grown within its time, it was known to home the most ability wielders within their species, strong yet humbled within their rule. Alpha Gideon, Emmeral's best friend since childhood strong in his rule.

The Darkfrost pack hungered liked savage wolves along the edges, always looking to show their strength but were never enough to go against the Night shade pack and its forces. Anyone seen at a higher calling was snuffed out before their true power was shown.

Within Night Shade it was educated to each packs house and lore which was why she knew the branding design and means instantly. Her branding and status was not enough to detear her pack from turning her away.

Emmeral unknowing to the young rogue peacefully laying before her but the branding along told a deeper story to her habitation.

Alpha Gideon first to walk through the door as Beta Dion followed closely behind, meeting either side of Emmeral, the delta of the pack.

Sybil speaking up with experienced eldered knowledge as she ensured the rogue was comfortable before returning to pack duties "Her injuries were deep. Delta Emmeral finding her just in time. A number of attackers. Injuries sustained in human and wolf form, animalistic."

Alpha Gideon's tone warm yet firm "Double the border patrols, I want to know what happened and want guards posted outside her ward. Noone gets in and out without my saying."

"As you wish," Beta Dion quick to bow respectfully as his eyes briefly went to the rogue "what of her?" his words unwavered by the carnage before them, experienced in battle to be unphased. Emmeral sometimes thought he was a robot. Joking his wires would show every now and again in teasing manner.

Sybil chiming in before Gideon's ruling finalised "She bares the Darkfrost branding. Her aura carries no pack ties out of its binds within the brand. Even my magic can't heal. Whatever happened, her injuries were precise for killing"

Gideon's eyes peered towards the unconscious rogue "Emmeral you remain if she wakes up. Call me when -" before Gideon was able to finish the rogue awoke startled, memories flooding to her attack that left her in defence mode to which Gideon and Dion took a step towards Sybil in protection.

Emmeral remaining her ground as she awaited till the fear in the rogues eyes alerted to her current surroundings.

She appeared malnourished whcih surprised none as rogues fended between themselves most of the time when it came to food and temporary claim of living.

All appeared confused as the first words from her mouth were of meaning no harm.

Gideon's voice spoke up "I am Alpha Gideon. You're within the Night Shade pack, my Delta found you. You are under our protection now." truthful within his words, no use of his Alpha tone or snide to his speech. An honest ruler. Understanding not to push right away as he represented calm for the rogue to accustom to.

Emmeral shifted a foot closer, displaying a calming demeanor to aid the rogue in feeling calmer than a sense of fight or flight mode "I am Delta Emmeral, I found you. I need you to calm, you are hooked up to fluids and blood as you were dehydrated and had lost alot of blood. Our healer Sybil attended to your wounds but you still need rest."

Sybil's eyes shown fear as she remained guarded behind Gideon's shoulder but none the less she peered curious towards the rogue.

Emmeral peered to Dion who began to track towards the door, having mindlinked he would set up patrol and survey the surrounding areas to ensure their perimeters were intact. Emmeral's tone amused as Dion's shoulder's stiffened, almost as if he was going to yell at her "Thats Beta Dion. Meaner than he looks" Dion merely laughed under his breath before leaving to his duties.

Gideon spoke once again "I must attend back to my Luna. I leave you in good hands with Emmeral but do not be fooled, she's just as deadily as I am" a prideful remark as Gideon did not shy from praising his people, particularly those he was closest to.

His gaze lowering Sybil "You may turn in for the night, thankyou for your service. Soren will be on duty tomorrow" Sybil bowing respectfully as she finished her stationary work "as you wish, Alpha Gideon" turning to Emmeral "you shouldn't be in need besides food and water" her gaze turning towards the rogue "Replenish and recover, Healer Soren will check you over in the morning." 

Gideon bowed to all of whom within the room, a gesture more given to an Alpha but he was equal to all he deemed and Alicia's rogue title differed to him none "Emmeral, keep me updated" turning with healer Sybil to aid her in her travels to her cottage, leaving Emmeral and Alicia alone.

Silence falling between them as the rogue appeared to calm down "Got a name?" key to not state rogue within terminology, Emmeral and Gideon raised by parents who saw titles as no means to differ from others. Well... other than those who had done wrong. This rogue gave her no means to categorise her to the later.