"Mother"

In a far off land...
 
A young wolf boy is seen sprinting at top speed, his breath ragged as his legs carried him forward. He ran across the grassy plains of the southern Crell grasslands. Two grizzled wolfguards sneered as they saw the young cub run up towards them. "Slow down, runt! What's your hurry?" one scoffedly remarked. "...huff...huff...urgent message...for the Polemarch!" "Oh let me guess...another poofy Crell noble needs his sheep found..." remarked the other one as the other one laughed," Haven't had lamb in awhile..." "No, sirs, it has the Polemarch's own wax seal!" he shouted as he presented it. Both of the guards eyes widened in a confused panic. "Uh..." "but the Polemarch's..." "Ugh not our problem! Go! Káne grígora!" The boy ran towards the middle of the village, in it stood a crude but grand wooden house. The boy ran past dozens of grizzled mercenaries, proud members of the Lykos clan, though few paid no heed.
 
The boy ran and ran and burst through the large wooden doors. "Urgent message for the Polemarch!" At the table in the middle of the room sat a grizzled wolf woman, her once black hair graying in places. Her face covered in battle scars from many a confrontation. Flanked at either side of the table sat other wolf women and men, prominently clad in the trappings of officers. The woman, clearly very annoyed, stood up prominently. "...you had better have a good explanation for why you interrupted, whelp!" as she began to menacingly march towards the young wolf pup. At first shying away, but then remember his manners, he took a knee before presenting the rolled up scroll. "P-p-please pardon my rudeness, Polemarch Alexandra! I was instructed to bring this to you with all haste!" The wolfboy kept his eyes averted towards the floor. "Mater...you're being a bit harsh for a boy only carrying out his duty," said a voice from behind. Up strode a fresh faced wolf man in his mid twenties. His mother growled. "You are correct, huios." she said as she turned back to the boy. "Now who can have such an urgent missive? Tell me, teknon." "It...it's from...from..." "Out with it..." "It's from Edea, Polemarch!" the young messenger blurted out. The room grew deathly quiet as it filled with the barely contained rage of the Polemarch, now about to be let loose. "That...worthless...little...Everyone out!" she yelled as the war council hurriedly left, not wanting to be on the receiving end of the Polemarch's known thumos. "She has the nerve to write back to me, her own mater, like there's nothing wrong after all this time?!" The boy covered himself afraid of being beaten or worse by her. The young wolf man stepped in again. "Mater! This is only a message! Please calm yourself!" The wolf woman began to breath slowly. "My archon and huios, Konstantin. Please assuage the boy's fear." The wolfman nodded and thumped his chest in salute. "You can give that to me," he said as he kneeled down and smiled before tossling the boy's hair. The boy gulped and formally presented the scroll. "You have done well, " Konstantin continued as he produced some coing to put in his hand," Here. Buy yourself something sweet." The boy's fear disappeared as he bowed again. "I thank you, Archon. I will take my leave now." He bowed and ran off.
 
Konstantin turned back to his mother as he read the scroll. "Well?" said Alexandra. "Edea's..." "What? Is plucking her little string box too much and she wanted to come home with her tail between her legs?! Serves her right!!" "No...mater...she's returned to the Meria...or what's left of it. She's been sailing with an adventuring crew." Alexandra was quiet. "Well...at least she's doing something with her skills...but still..." "She's grown quite famous already for both her music and being a warrior for the...Fleet of the Crimson Web." "Pah! Never heard of them. What puddle are they sailing in?" "...it's the Merian Islands...what's left of our home. It looks like she wanted to find her muses there." "So she can join the fools who thought they could fight hell and nature themself?! Our ancestors were brave but they were wise enough to know retreat is better than extinction! What wasn't destroyed by the beasts of Tartaros was swallowed by Undine's waves! Fool should just drown herself there!" "She...she thinks Mavros Lykos...our home still stands...she says she found a map...in the lair of the Beholder Sarvaku. She and her allies are sailing there now...they're passing through one of the siren nests...and she seems to have a bounty on her head..." ".....Go on." "And she thinks she can get there...it would seem there's some kind of ancient undead lord occupying the island. She thinks it's some kind of vampire." Alexandra was silent. "...Mater?" "Leave me, huios. I have much to think on...and leave the message here." "As you will, Polemarch." he said and bowed before leaving the scroll on the table and making his exit. As he left, Konstantin carried a smile. "You're doing it, Edea," he said under his breath, "Make us proud!"
 
Alexandra carried herself back to her seat. She labored to reach a cup and an amphora of wine. Pouring herself a cup, she sipped it and began to read the scroll. She sipped and read. Sipped and read. Sipped and read. Her lips curled into a half smile as a single tear dropped from her eye. "Do it, runt..." she muttered. "Make your pater in Elysium proud..."