And so it begins {Taske}

[{Risa}]

Sharp blue eyes gazed up at the sky, staring at the stars that littered the sky. He never got tired of the heavens, the way the stars shawn and the moons loomed above even with no sun to shed light upon the world. It was day, the light created by magic that lived within the very core of this world. That rumbled beneath his paws, turned night to day in the vast sky. It created the castle and the colleseum...what had been known as the terrible 'Dark Camps' during the time of the Great Wars. And it lived within the small stone he wore around his neck, a small grey gem given to him by his father.

Small grey form sat atop the tall rocky hills. He was small for his age, skinny and feminine. Not good traits for a Prince, no. If someone looked upon him that didn't know the royal council, they wouldn't be able to guess he was the Prince of this world. Yet if they looked upon him they would be confused, for he was mutated. Feathery wings sprouted from his shoulder joints, folded so neatly over his darker grey back. In the past, they belived winged wolves were gods upon the earth. Now, under his father's rule, they were nothing of the sort.

A soft sigh left his small black nose as large blue eyes moved from the heaves to look at the scenary around him. Lush trees to his left and right, the Forbidden Forest behind him. He sat calmly at the tallest peak of the Rock Hills, facing his magestic home --and cage. He took in the marbel stone castle, watching as it sparkled in the magical light. He hated it there, not for it's sight but for the fact that it was not a home to him. No, it was nothing but a cage.

Slowly he stood atop petite paws, padding along the rough rock to find a trail back to the ground. He did not spread his wings to fly to the ground, no. He hated to fly, it was discouraged by his father. And often when the feathers grew too long the King would clip them so wind could not catch beneath the feathers. Slowly grey paws lead him towards the ground, his attention on his thoughts rather than where he was placing his paws.

It happened before he could react. The small stone under his paw slipped as he stepped down, during that small moment where he did not have his footing. He cried out as he slipped, falling from the rocky peak. What life he had lived flashed before blue optics as he fell, crying out and trying to grasp onto something. The fall had only been a few seconds, and only fell a few meters before his body slammed against a ledge.

He lay there, whimpering as he rolled into a more comfortable position, eyes closed. He was afraid to move, to find out something was broken. Instead he just lay there, whimpering heavily and hoping the damage was small.

[Taske]

Taske walked swiftly through the soft grass, she was young yet, only about a year and a half, but even so, she was in the mist of her training. She was to be a warrior, a warrior of her birth pack, the pack of the light wolves. She turned her hopeful eyes up to the starry sky, she had had a lovely life, a life full of courage, she was a blossoming young thing, ready for her full time job of being a guard, she was ready for the step to protect the pack. She blinked into the flow of magic, it was a lovely day for a walk, a walk to clear her mind, her training was about to end and she was close to becoming a fully ranked member of the Guard. She would hardly keep still, she could hardly seem from smiling at her bit of success in only half a year.

Her thoughts seemed to be interrupted when a small cry filled the air, Taske turned her head at the sound witch came from the not so far mountain side. The ebony warrior sprung into action, as her training has told her to. When her paws meet rock she looked up her amber eyes searching for the source of the cry and found a small gray form rolling down the side of the rocks. She sprung, her paws crashing on the rock, her body bounding forward. It did not take her long to reach the ledge that he now lay. She looked him over him, knowing that he should be fine but with only a few bumps and bruises.

She towered over him, her body so much bigger then his. Yes she was large for a female, but most males could look her in the eye. This male on the other hand was as small as a female, the size that she would have been if she was a normal female, and not a warrior. "Are you ok?"

She again looked him over again, this time not for broken bones but for his features. Her eyes drifted from his soft face and wide blue eyes t his back where they stopped. Her amber eyes grew wide, wings sprouted from his shoulders. She had heard of winged wolves but only as a legend, she had never thought one was real. Yes she heard rumors that there prince may have wings but Taske wouldn't know, she was only a trainee and has never seen him.

She smiled, her face seeming to glow. "Hello I'm called Taske, a Guard Trainee."

[{Risa}]

Small grey head rolled to the side, ebony ears tipping back. A rough groan left him as he heard her approach. Great. Not only could he not save himself from the fall with his useless wings, but someone had witnessed his embarrasing moment. There was silence before he groaned and slowly opened his large, shinning blue eyes. As blue as the sky, seeming to engulf everything they settle upon.

Now, they settled upon her. Taking in her ebony fur and amber eyes. For a moment he thinks of the legends. Of the Dark Creatures sent to the Camps. Of the wolves his father often hinted were the devil. Yet her gaze was gentle, not blood thirsty. Her tone concerned, not devious. He gazed up at her before slowly rolling onto his belly, and shaking his soft grey fur.

He was well kept, unlike the Guard who trained day in and day out. Rough around the edges, they were, fur hardly ever so soft and in the correct place. He was small, well kept. Spoiled, he was sure some of the world called him. Yet it was not his fault he was like this, it was his upbringing. His father had forbid him from leaving the castle for most of his life.

"Hello, Taske." He whispered in response to her, gazing up at her once more. He shifted to stand, only to collasp back to the rock with a cry when he attempted to put pressure on his foreleg. He must have sprained it. Once he had settled onto his stomach again and gazed back up at her, he gave a gentle smile.

"Th-Thank you for coming to my rescue.." He whispered so softly, clearly embarassed of his fall and the way she had gazed at his useless wings. Slowly he closed his eyes and sighed before opening them a sliver to gaze at the rock. "I appologize for it, though. Using up valuable time of an apprentice.." He whispered.

"My name is Kotza, if you didn't know it already." His voice was so soft, almost a whisper but clearly audiable. It was as if he were too timid to speak, and yet still did reguardless. The soft words clearly showed his femininity aswell. His lack of strength, his meager form. "I appologize again, dear Apprentice, for this..."

[Taske]

Taske watched as the male looked her over, she could see the flash of fear over her dark pelt, but that was normal, whoever layed eyes on Taske was always the same, shock then fear. Her black pelt was a thing of legends, as far as she knew the only one born in this pack with a ebony pelt. And then there was the unruliness of her pelt, she was a Guard trainee, she would most likely have dirt and mud if not also blood mixed into her fur. So for a boy from a high noble family, as Taske was guessing he was from, not only would the color of her fur be shocking but the condition.

She smiled at him but soon it faded, for when he went to get to his feet they buckled under him. A small frown formed on her muzzle, so he was hurt after all. She moved next to him, tracing his legs with her eyes. His left foreleg did seemed to be a bit swollen.

"No need to apologist, this is what a Guard is trained to do, help the pack." Taske was about to grip his scruff between her teeth when he told her his name. Her eyes went wide, so the prince of the land did have wings, and it just so happened that he was sprawled out in front of her very eyes!

Taske dropped to ground her head bowed to her prince of the land. "Dear prince, you do not need to worry about my time I am more then willing to give my life for you, now I need to help get you down."

Taske got to her feet then, her posture held ridged in full Guard form. She went to grip his scruff with her teeth. He was not a large male, and would not be too heavy for her to lift, she was a large female after all and have been through most of the Guard training. If he let her grip him she would turn and jump down gracefully and put him safely onto the ground.

[{Risa}]

He wondered breifly what she would do when she heard his name. Usually the world didn't know he was the prince, and with his small frame and shy attitude, he didn't doubt them. He watched her then, blinking as she went to the ground and bowed to him. With a sigh her looked away, staring towards the castle. He hated being treated like that, yet he said nothing. "I have no power in this world, why would you be willing to give your life for me? Duty?" He sighed once more and looked down.

Once Taske grabbed his scruff he went limp, letting her lift him. The prince felt horrible, using up the apprentice's important time because he was stupid enough to climb the hills. He was young and not strong enough, he shouldn't be climbing the hills without someone with him. "Taske, thank you again, but really...you don't have to. I can lay here untill my leg is better. I don't mind, honestly!" He whispered softly, trying to help her. He helped her lift him by pushing against the rock with his hind paws.

"I can't go home..." Fear was in his voice, looking towards the castle. If the king found out about his accident there would be hell to pay. And knowing the king, if it were Taske, a wolf with an ebony pelt, that had saved him....she would be in danger too. "Taske, because you are helping me, I have to tell you something important that may affect you....that may put you in danger!" He said softly, looking up at her with his shining blue eyes.

{Typed before work. King will come in the next post ;3}

[Taske]

Taske held her paw up slightly at his quick apology, It was her job after all, and Taske will do it full hearty. Helping others is why Taske wanted to be a Guard, no matter her mothers attempt to get her to stay in the shadows where she was safe. Taske did not want to be anywhere but the place that would help others, she could feel it in her bones that she was meant to be a Guard that she was born to be one of the strong, one of the wolves that lay down everything to give others the peaceful life in a world full of fighting.

And besides, what was her mother so scared of? The Dark Laws which if it was before the war would have sent her to the Dark Camps at birth, where out dated. Taske did not fear the olden days, she was not a evil wolf, and she will show the pack that fur color had nothing to do with whether of not she was meant to be in this pack.

"Prince Kotza, I am a Guard, My job is to protect the members of our pack, I am willing to give my life to anyone that calls this place home." Taske waved to the land that lay behind them, her fur blew in the gentle wind, her long bangs flowing in front of her bright amber eyes. One would see pride and happiness within her open face, they would see that this wolf loved her home far above many of the normal citizens, they would see that her words where true that this young guard would lay her life down for the mere idea of the kingdom.

But his voice pieced her calm and happiness, the voice of a panicked youngster, someone that seemed to be younger then herself. Taske's eyes left the land that she loved so much and traced his face puzzled, what would cause him to be like this, what would make him shudder in fear like he was doing so now, surly it wasn't the fear of something within the kingdom, not while she was here to protect him! "Prince calm, panicking is no way to salve a issue, whether in a fight or in a situation. Now breath and tell me what is wrong." Her voice held confusion, she did not know what was wrong and no idea why he seemed to want to tell her something now...