⛓️ Zhi'Aji ⛓️

"A storm is approaching" Queen Malice stated calmly to her pack mate Covu.
"Do....do you suspect it means something?" He replied with uncertainty in his voice.
Malice faced her dark soft back to him without word and continued walking towards the den entrance.
He followed with a curious look in his eyes wondering why his leader did not respond to his question.

Covu had been close with his Queen during her short lifetime, he had watched her grow into a dedicated and practical leader to their pack. Although Malice was called "Queen" by her group of loyal followers, she would never consider herself above them, leadership is not something she had ever wanted and Covu knew this. Malice had confident private conversations about it with him previously on numerous occasions.

They proceeded into the whispy, cool Cave which possessed hanging flowers and vines scattered all around, soft sheep wool and caribou hide adorned the ground where her pack rested. Some slept deeply as Covu and Malice gently tapped their cold paws on the stones and crunchy leaves which had happened to float in on occasion, despite the best collaborative effort from the wolves to keep them out.

They approached an area in which Malice often tucked away into when needing time to herself, a small pocket at the back of the large cave. "Oh... would you like me to leave my Queen...?"
Malice slowly slumped upon a heavy layer of sheep wool she had been hoarding. "You gotta' stop that Covu, you know how I feel about..." her sentence cut short by a sharp stab to her abdomen, she shrieked in pain with a brief look of panic upon her delicate face. "Wh... what's going on?!" Covu, worried and confused tilted his big head as he lowered his gaze to her eyes directly.

"Covu, I need to ask you a favour" she looked into his honest eyes and continued, "I believe the incoming storm is a sign, you see a few nights ago I was so...." pain came once again and shut her vocals of, replaced by a scrunched expression and another yelp. Covu began to look concerned but remained calm, knowing Malice wouldn't allow it to stop her finishing what she needed to say. She assumed a curled up position and continued.
" I had been doubting my place in this world, as the leader of this pack, as someone who prefers peace, someone who doesnt feel i belong... " she puts her chin upon a stone and looks at Covu. " Whilst I was pondering these thoughts, a beautiful bird with endless tail feathers taller than the creature itself approached me, unphased by my predatory nature, she spoke to me, when the bird did speak, the world went silent and I felt complete isolation.... it was beautiful Covu" a single tear delicately fell down her cheek tuft. Covu felt the energy in the air shift into a strange melancholy vibe as he stared straight back into her firey orange eyes. " What did this creature say Malice?" He started to feel anxious almost as if he knew where this was heading.

"I see your pain wolf, I see you are not meant for this world... you try, you slave and you doubt, each day. Allow me to set you free of these unwanted burdens, allow me to bring you peace....yes?....simply pluck a feather from my tail, this will break your connection to this torturous world, sent to another where you will be complacent and happy"

A few others began approaching, their natural hearing abilities allowed the den to listen in on the conversation even from the other side of the cave.

A beautiful wolf named Kiska who served as the pack herbalist looked angrily at Malice, " Queen... I heard what you said, you have taken the feather haven't you...? I know, I smell the essence of it on you, I've heard of this legend before whilst training, if this is true Queen, there is nothing I can do" Kiska lowers her head to the ground and pins her ears back.

All the wolves that have now found themselves around Malice now possess worry within their faces, numerous wolves began voicing their concerns, some loudly, some muttering, and some remained silent, confused.

"ENOUGH" Covu snapped at them all, all the chattering canines now rapidly silent. He turned to his Queen and best friend. "Please tell me this isn't true...? Please...?" She averted her gaze, he sighed and rested his large heavy body in front of her, touching his cold textured nose ever so slightly into her fur, taking a deep breath in.

"It's true, and I'm sorry to you all, I am leaving.... how ever I asked a request from the bird, that you won't be left, that somehow I will remain to take care of you all in some way..." She slightly smiled with glossy eyes now full of salty tears, slowly raising her tail which had been tucked in a fluffy curl, a beautiful, tiny fluffy creature trembled and began to squeak and whimper looking for the warmth it just had.

The entire den was silent, shocked, they didn't understand, Malice was never mated, how could this have been? Covu, eyes as wide as ever, suddenly standing, blinked relentlessly at the tiny puppy "h...h...how? I don't understand?"

"This is my promise and my gift to you all, you will be safe, you will be loved and respected, and you will have a confident leader who is born to make hard decisions and fight for you, I have tried but it has never felt right, I hope you all understand... I love you"

The wolves, still standing and watching began whimpering, emotions and scented feelings swooned the den, the air became heavy, the storm rumbled in the distance.

"Zhi'Aji, thats her name... Zhi'Aji your new Queen, my beautiful girl and your future protector, please..." malice swiftly raised her head to Covu "Make sure she becomes everything you need, love her and guide her Covu"

As soon as these words were spoken, a sudden giant bolt of black lightning traveled through the cave, blinding the entire pack for a few seconds, wolves scattered in a fright, but as quickly as it had came, it was gone... and so was Malice, a long and happy howl echo'd through the den, forests and surrounding biomes. The venerable puppy the missing Queen had lovingly named Zhi'Aji remained, wriggling and shaking helplessly towards Covu as a source of warmth.

Covu and the pack did indeed raise and protect her, the new young queen excels in her duties and remains a beautiful example of a true leader, her birth story known far and wide and eventually the rest of her legend will continue to grow with time.