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Roses. The smell was intoxicating.

So intoxicating, in fact, that Cancer had found himself lured in to its sweet scent and nectar that he'd been spending much more time in and around Sarissa's lair. It was his kingdom now, after all, and he chose to set up camp right here amongst the thorns. Oh, if only he had known what those thorns truly meant; yet the boy was drunk on Sarissa and this small patch of Alteron. The pack was not what he had expected, but it seemed even Cancer could find a small patch of heaven amongst the wet, thick, heavy world around him. He had found Eden among Hell, and the false King couldn't be happier.

He'd found himself lounging right outside her den, dappled light warming patches of his pelt as he attempted to snooze. He hadn't found comfort since his time within the pack, but now he felt as if he was finally understanding what it meant to feel like home. He didn't understand these content emotions, but the fringe was never the less content in having his Queen and having his life. Things were seemingly going his way and had it not been for the needed rest, the boy would have been bouncing off the trees and telling every third person that he had claimed the most beautiful, smartest, wonderful woman in all of Alteron. He had convinced her to love him. He had grasped her within his embrace and she fell willingly- he had won.

Cancer let out a contented grumble as he stretched out among the damp ground, yawning loudly and watching the world go by. He'd almost missed the flash from the corner of his eyes, but the fringe rolled up and sat, watching a figure in the near distance wandering. His ears perked as he took in their form only to blink and smile widely. Althea had seemingly wandered in to his nest- and Cancer was eager to show her how far he had come.

"Clicker!" he called out, rising to all fours as he plodded after her, head held high and toothy grin wider than ever. "Well, well, well, look who it is." Cancer chuckled as he approached her from behind, green eyes narrowing as he watched her. He was a completely different boy from the last time they'd seen each other. He puffed his chest out as he paused behind her, watching carefully.

"How are you, friend?" he growled lowly, smirking.

Thea did not often linger in the past, too caught up in the present to get her mind hitched on happenings that had long since passed. That, and her past was a bitter one. Hardship, loss, betrayal. Her anger and bitterness at fate and the people that inhabited her homelands with their brutality and cruel traditions. Her being betrayed, her betraying others and leaving them for dead. And, god, there had been heartbreak. How she had ached when she had found out the girl she had foolishly considered to be the love of her life was merely toying with her, leading her own only to laugh in her face and let the pieces of Thea's heart fall and tumble to the ground.

(Though, really, she should have noticed the occasional look of distaste and the falseness in her lover's affections.) (She should have, but she did not.)

But she didn't want to linger on the heartbreak of her past; she had things she wanted to do. She had a place she wanted to take and a position she wanted to fill, motivating herself to do things other than remaining useless when she knew damn well she could do something at the very least. Something other than sitting around and let the days meander by, waiting to be noticed and just hoping someone would pay enough attention to note the silent wolf with the golden pelt and icy violet eyes. She didn't exactly enjoy sitting around and doing nothing. Walking and exploring and running and sometimes hunting were far better alternatives, even if they lacked purpose.

As she walked, slowly growing used to the terrain she tread upon the longer she remained in Alteron, she would glance through the canopy at the mountains that loomed above. She let her nose guide her, following what scents intrigued her and learning about the land in ways she was familiar with. She did enjoy exploring, even if she sometimes found it boring when there was nothing exciting to find.

At some point, she could recall turning to follow faint, sweet notes in the air. The putrid smell of monster blood was always present, lingering in the air and growing stronger with the passing days. But this scent was so starkly different, a welcome contrast to the odor she had grown to despise within a short time of becoming familiar with it. The sweet smell was one Althea could not remember encountering, only familiar with those of her origin and a few notable ones from her short-lived travels. (If one asked, Thea would admit that she didn't actually know what a rose even was.) Unfamiliarity brought forth her curiosity, something foreign sparking her excitement. Determined to bring a cease to her recent boredom, she followed the scent that began to heavily permeate the air.

Eventually, she came to grand bushes laden with heavy red flowers, some of them persisting despite the cold winter temperatures. She tilted her head, coming close to them to sniff more closely. Indeed, the flower was the source of the scent. She leaned forward, nudging it gently before she jerked away, eyes wide. Her lip had been pricked, not enough to bleed but enough to sting for a few moments. Thea peered at the flower's stem, noting the small, sharp thorns that covered it. (How interesting that something that appeared so lovely hid harmful thorns beneath.)

A voice called out and Thea struggled not to scowl. She turned from her inspection of the flower, one paw still raised as if to touch the velvet petals with gentle curiosity. She dropped it, turning away from the bush and coming around so she could better face Cancer without straining her neck. She noted how... different he seemed. Such a stark contrast from the wolf she had thrown a deer leg at. There was something about his step and in his eyes that she found familiar but couldn't quite place. At his question, the fleet-footed wolf looked at him, deadpan, with one ear tilted as if to ask, "How do you think?" It wasn't as if 'Clicker' had any way to actively communicate other than the aggressive teeth-clicking Cancer had nicknamed her after.

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"And who is this? A friend of yours? What is your name, dear?"

Althea's surprise and Sarissa's unexpected arrival left Cancer shivering. Oh, how the Gods had blessed him this day. Green eyes looked down at Sarissa as she rubbed against him, his entire body shivering at her touch before relaxing. His gaze turned to Althea with a toothy grin, his tail wagging behind him. He held his head higher; this was his kingdom and he was showing off his prize to the entire world of Alteron.

"Her name is Clicker," he hummed with that toothy grin, lowering his head to nuzzle the top of Sarissa's, "and yes; she's a very good friend of mine." His gaze narrowed as he watched Althea carefully. Would she run? Would she stay? He hoped for either, really. He liked a good chase- and if she stayed he'd invite her to sit and stay awhile. Consider it, generous hospitality of the King; allowing common folk to tread amongst sacred grounds. Cancer's eyes closed as he inhaled the scent of roses once more, his entire body relaxing into his mate. If Althea hadn't gotten the picture yet, she was about to.

"Clicker, this is Sarissa. She's mine." he stated, his tone warm but possessive. Oh, if only he knew the truth of who owned who. But right now, it was all the same to him. He wanted her to behold his beauty and he wanted her to feel envious of what he had that she didn't. It would simply make his skin crawl with delight. Let all of Alteron know, little Clicker, that common folk were doomed to lives of loneliness- the King and Queen were here to stay and no one would ever be happier than them.

"Little Clicker here is an excellent hunter, my love." he cooed, green eyes holding Althea's gaze. Perhaps they would all go on a hunt together. Or, perhaps they would just simply hunt...