Eye of the Winter Wolf

Chapter 2

Sebastian Blackwell leant against the tall wooden doorframe to his daughter's bedroom, watching her sigh in relief and fear after Marian's scolding. Marian was an intimidating woman, though she was smoother with him. He smiled, remembering how other boys had retreated from her when they were still a bunch of kids. She always terrified him just a little, but he fell for her none the less.

Finally, Serafina turned around, spying him at her door. She was in a long blue dress, her straight black hair falling down to her waist. Her golden eyes, rimmed with black, glistened a little in the sun.

"Father.", she whispered, stepping towards him in long strides and embracing him tightly. Serafina, as the daughter of Marian, would one day inherit her mother's position in Queen Maron's court. He wondered how she would endure the arguing court on her own, how she could stand all the shouting if she couldn't deal with her mother.

Sebastian just held her, knowing she needed no words. He stroked her gleaming black hair with his hands, rough from fighting years of war, and toyed with the natural silver streak running down the right side of her head, the exact colour of her wolf fur, the exact colour of his. He swayed slightly, knowing that comforted her, rocking her as he used to while she was still a little girl.

"You ought to know better than to run off alone, you know it's not safe with the laquas still on the loose.", he shuddered, the laquas were beautiful, a black horse-like creature with a tail and mane made of pure shadow. Those creatures were deadly, a swipe of the tail could finish a full grown person.

"And you know I'm old enough to handle myself, and I enjoy going alone.", she reminded him, as she always did, "I love how the wind makes my fur go wild, the blazing red trees in autumn, the rich orange sky during sunrise, and the deep indigo of midnight."

Her eyes got dreamy and full of wonder to explore the world, and maybe one day the world of magic. There was nothing more terrifying, nor more intriguing, than the world of mysteries that was being explored again after millennials of war and devastation. Their people were free to explore magic and transform into their Soul forms once again, and the freedom was intoxicating. 

He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and sighed, knowing she had persuaded him once again. "Look, Serafina, please take care of yourself out there, I could not bear if one day you don't return. Be careful, be brave, but also know when to run.", that was all he could say, all the space he could give her. She would have her freedom, but thoughtlessness would not be tolerated. He could not stand the thought of not seeing her come home one day, messy hair and all.

Giving her one last embrace, Sebastian strode out of her room. He closed his eyes and Changed, his wolf almost a reflection of his daughter's, with icy blue eyes. His grey ears up and alert, he listened into the distance for a falcon's call. 

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