Finally Free!

Snowmen & Wolves

We are all split up into groups so we can create the snowmen as the tribe will be the judges.

I am put in a group with Autumn, Count and Duchess of Gamboge as we attempt to create a snowman, but everyone is arguing with each other except me because I couldn't be bothered to argue about something so stupid.

I try to build it myself and the wolves try to help me, but they obviously can't seem to build a snowman. Still, they are adorable company as I watch the other teams making progress. It's no surprise that as the time goes by and everyone finishes, that our snowman looks like a ball of snow.

As I sit around, on a log, waiting for the results, Radley and the rest of my friends come over.

The wolves seem to be assessing everyone as they come, cautiously, closer. The alpha is laying on my lap while the other wolves are at the back, side and front of me while the pups sleep soundly beside me.

"They really like you," Cosmos says with a laugh, "at least Orpheus will have something to be afraid of." The alpha starts growling when Cosmos mentions Orpheus' name and I smile as I pat his head softly, calming him down.

"Well," Hesperia says with a smile, "we all have something in common. We all hate him." Everyone laughs, then Aster comes over and the alpha just looks at him.

"The results are out," he says kindly as he looks at the wolves. I slowly get up and the wolves yawn, then get up to follow me towards the crowd. They stand around me, protectively.

Superieure Skadi announces, "The top three are:- Group 1: Baron Aureolin, Viscount, King and Solis; Group 4: Baroness Aureolin, Queen Hesperia, Countess and Lord Armel; Group 1: Lady Spirit, Duke Lantana, Baroness and Viscountess."

After everyone congratulates the winning teams, everyone splits off and joins the tribe for the chores as well as just relaxing.

As I sit down on the steps of the homes of the tribal people with the wolves, my mother comes towards me and they just start growling at her.

She yelps in fear, "Oh, they don't seem to like me very much." "Well," I say nervously, "that's disturbing. They only growled for Orpheus' name." My mother seems to tense at those words, "Well, I just came to check on you. After you got lost and all." I sigh, "I'm fine. How's father?" "He's okay now, but he wasn't so good when he heard you missing," my mother says honestly and I just give her a look. "I haven't talked to him since," I say seriously, "it's not like there is anything to say or do about it. If I'm not Queen-material in his eyes, then there's nothing I can do about that but I won't change." She smiles as she stands at the same distance that the wolves have set as safe, "Well, I should go. Your father shouldn't be left alone when he's in his darkest place."

As she walks away, Queen Hesperia comes closer and smiles at me.

"Sorted out the problem?" she asks me with concern and I shake my head. "There isn't a problem to be sorted out," I say seriously, "not all plans work no matter how well thought-out they are. Sometimes you just have to deal with the consequences when they come. What are you thinking?" She sighs as she turns her head to look at me, "I hate consequences. Those can be deadly, especially with Orpheus involved. Do you even know what he is really capable of?" I look at her with confusion, "Yeah. My life is a big consequence of him." "That's true, but he does more than that Anthurium," she says urgently and nervously, "he will manipulate, use, abuse and truly make you believe that you chose to do what he asked and that you are the reason for everything that has happened. He will kill and torture, mercilessly, those you love. The secret you know about him could be the answer to everything, but do you even remember it?" I tense as she asks the dreaded question, "No....but I'm getting closer." She looks at me with hope, "Really?" "It has to do with me, my mother and Aster," I say as I try to put the pieces together, "but that's all I know. My mother won't tell me anything and I think Aster is just as clueless, but I can come to conclusions." She sighs, "I just wonder what the consequences will be." "Did Orpheus use those words a lot?" I ask her and she nods, but then King Cosmos is walking closer so she shuts down.