we are kings or pawns » eli

[Ridley]

Was there ever any doubt that Ridley would be great? Among so many lives in the world, most full of doubt and failure, the she-wolf that currently stalked the Animos borders was practically glowing with success. Then why was she pacing so anxiously near the borders of her enemy's land? She'd had a dream the other night, one she was all too eager to both rid herself of and explain to Eligius. The male needed to know about it. Based on the variables of the dream, Ridley was pretty sure the night vision could be deemed something close to prophecy. Just thinking about the dream caused Ridley to laugh with sudden giddiness. It had to be fate, right? The stars were shining brighter than ever, lighting her path to her rightful role in life. You are not the daughter who saved, but the daughter who shall avenge. She remembered the words so clearly in her mind. Puzzle pieces clicked together in her mind as she shifted her yellow eyes to watch empty shadows of Animos Regum's heart. It was only in the darkness that Ridley would approach the land. Darkness was her realm, her domain. Besides, the territory was calm in the nighttime. The pawns were all tucked away in their dreams, done being commanded for the day. It was only the king that Ridley waited for.

In the world, everyone played a role. It was a game and there was a place and purpose for every single life. Knights would rise to battle, against kings and queens, never looking back at the small line of pawns that lay fallen at their hands. A good player knew who was expendable and what sacrifice it took to reach an end. Midas had always been a king. Even in death, he somehow continued to play the game. In her dream, the dream that Ridley swore was some sign from him, his skeleton had talked. His bleached white skull had moved, his rattling bones had walked like they were alive. Midas had lived in Ridley's dream. The female knew that his death had struck her hard, but what seemed to be his rising was even more destructive. She'd cowered under his shadow as he moved closer. It had seemed so real, his walking bones and hollow voice. You are not the daughter who saved, but the daughter who shall avenge. His words had never made more sense, but it wasn't until ants started pouring from his eyes and bored into her eyes, did the wolf understand what entirely was going on.

The little insects burrowed into her yellow eyes, eating away at everything as they went. Darkness consumed her and when her vision returned, Ridley was sitting on a mountain with stars as her ceiling. There was nothing, no one, besides her and the mountain. Not even Midas's voice filled her head. She was at her highest, but completely alone. It wasn't until she shifted her eyes, suddenly blinded by bleach white bone, that Ridley realized Midas's skull was placed firmly on her head. A crown; A crown made of her dead father's head. She had her throne and her crown, but the emptiness around her was so... threatening. Not even the feeling of victory calmed her nerves as she shivered atop the mountain. And then it was over. She awoke in the darkness. No bones, no crowns, no mountains, just shadow.

So then, she'd headed right off to Animos territory. Eligius needed to know that Ridley's victory had already been foretold. She'd get her victory, even if it meant losing everything and everyone in the process. The white king needed to know that checkmate had already been called.

Ridley was only making an appearance to ask for a surrender before he sent his pawns and knights to battle, before he sent them to die.

[Eligius]

“I’m waiting for you, Eligius.”

A voice called out to the off-white male who remained motionless as he slumbered away, all while the dark hours of night slowly passed him by. It was this voice, trailed by a familiar scent that brought the leader of Animos Regum to his paws and caused him to slip away from those members within his pack that still clung onto their happy little dreams as they continued to sleep. Normally, the young wolf would have remained asleep and allowed his occurring dreams...no they were more like nightmares...of Ridley to take place undisturbed and unannounced as he had done each night before now, but it was the fact that the females own scent appeared this go around that made it impossible for him to cling onto any desire to sleep that might have been spared from his madding night terrors.

Ridley had been calling him not only in his dream but in his reality as well. She was waiting for his arrival, and it was already evident that she was waiting upon Animos territory.

As his body lead him further, and further away and into the growing essences of darkness that could have only been produced by the bringer of the night. As his paws guided him along the earthy soil of Animos Regum, Eligius recalled his last encounter with the female of Sapientia. On that night the two had met on her playing field, but tonight it seemed as if she wanted to play her little game on his field.
Seemingly unaffected by the strains of running, Eligius appeared as his vibrant eyes caught sight of Ridley almost immediately.

“You called?” He played jokingly as he drew closer to the now fatherless female.