[srry guys T^T and wheres Sakura no Takai]

Jason looked at the person in the hooded cloak as it turned around and spoke to him. He relaxed when he saw it was the Mayor's daughter. He straightened up and placed his blade back in its sheath. "With all due respect, I didn't know it was you." Jason simply stated bowing and looked around the woods slowly, "The woods are not safe for a young lady such as yourself, allow me to accompany you and not a word will be uttered about you being out here." He said with a smile and looked back to see another hunter to be there, it was the Snake Maiden, Chu'si. He looked back at the Mayor's daughter and stayed silent. He wanted to hear her opinion.

Hintata smiled softly seeing her mother and giggled happily in her arms. Her eyes stayed closed until her mother told her to open them because they were a beautiful blessing. She smiled softly and nodded, "Ok mommy." and slowly opened her eyes to see her mother and hugged her tightly. Hintata didn't really like her eyes, she knew they weren't normal, after all the rest of her family had normal eyes, why couldn't she? She gasped lightly seeing her mothr holding her wounded hand, "Sowwy mommy, I forgot." Hinata said softly with a smile and nodded agreeing to her mother. Hinata clapped her hands, hearing that she was going out of the gardens with her family. She looked at her brother and chirped happily, "Yay, big brother coming." She cheered swaying her tail left and right fast.

Anastaisa would look at the hunter and notices that he straightened himself when he noticed who she was. "Don't worry sir, I'm capable of handling myself but you may join me if you want" she replies softly placing her hood back upon her head. She then followed his eyes and noticed that other hunter was well. Looking back at him, she would give him a slight nod before she started walking again. She didn't really want people following her while she walked to the village, but I guess it was a good thing that she ran into the hunter.

Akane'smlips turned up into a warm smile as her son Hiroaski agreed to come into the village market. Her daughter Hinata began to happily shake her tail in excitement, and the feeling was contagious. Kissing her daughter's injured hand before patting her head, the mother figure then beckoned to her son. Moving to take her daughter'ss good hand, Akane reached a black gloved hand to the door handle. Once her son was at her side, she patted his shoulder lightly. Then grabbing the door she pulled it open and held it for the children to go through first, and she followed them after. "The mangoes were just brought in this morning, your father spotted them while getting some food for dinner tonight." the Queen said lightly as they walked down the stairs and to the bathroom that held the bandages, and medicine for the wounds on Hinata's hand. Taking out a home made salve made for small wounds, she then spread the cool gel like medicine on the wounds. "It's going to sting but you'll be okay honey." Akane cooed softly to her daughter and then put a wrap on the hand. Kissing it, she looked into her daughter's eyes and smiled widely. "There, all better."

Soon they were all walking throughout the garden, and towards the town. The town was full of life, many in human form moving around to do their daily chores. Others in wolf form stopping by to grab something to eat or something needed before they went into the forest. The faces all seemed happy and upbeat, and as the royal family began to enter their mists, many bowed and waved, as well as cheered and whistled. It wasn't often that the whole family was together when in town. They were the symbol of strength, unity, and kindness for all those who lived in the village.

Chu'si frowned seeing both people moving towards the area of tall grass. Reaching out, she grabbed the Mayor's daughter by the shoulder. "I don't believe that is a wise idea." she said smoothly, though her eyes were hard. "Your father does not want to see you going into this part of the woods." she warned as she looked to the other hunter. Surely he knew this too, he worked for the mayor as well. Was he crazy in accompanying her? That didn't make it right.

___Dappled sunlight filtered through the emerald foliage to dance warm beams along a snowy sea. In a secluded corner of the garden, hidden from view by vegetation, a mountain of milky fur rose and fell in the gentle breath of slumber. Slowly, a white triangle lifted itself from the heap of fur, and flickered as it picked up and followed the unique sound of the footsteps and voices of two women, a young man, and a wee girl-child moving through the garden. Soon the faded away with distance, and the triangle folded down. Stillness settled upon the area once more. Then the pile moved, for it was not a pile, but a wolf, and a massive one at that. A bushel of pale fur that was a tail arced as the huge wolf king stretched the stiffness from his bones, his yawn revealing twin rows of dagger-sharp canines.

___Licking his chops, settling into a relaxed stand, the great white wolf turned turquoise eyes in the direction he had heard his family and his son's bodyguard travel off in. That direction led them to town. Had someone been injured? Surely it wasn't too serious. He had smelled blood only faintly, and the herbal salves used to treat superficial wounds. A soft snort, and shaking out his fur he turned away. As he moved, his form rippled, and when he emerged from the bushes, it was a tanned giant of a man that did so.

___It was not unusual for the mighty king to be away from his throne at this hour. He was devoted to his kingship, certainly, but even he could only sit so long before his buttocks would scream in protest against the long hours of immobility. So, everyday around this time, he would excuse himself and leave for a walk or a nap, whichever suited his body better. He had been trained to be in tune with his physical condition, and his discipline caused him to act according to it. He never left long; around fifteen minutes at the longest, and so it was today that a quarter of an hour later he was now returning to his seat of power to continue his tasks. There was rarely any problems within the clans, for he had seen to them in the early years of his reign, shortly after the complete recall of the wolves to this primordial forest that was the birthplace of the first wolves. Much of the schedule consisted of maintenance of already-established initiatives.

___This was perhaps why his family was free to do as they pleased most of the time. The discussions he had with his ministers rarely needed more than one royal's approval, and Hiroaki was required to join for a few hours each day already. They were in a time of peace, but even so, a crown prince was still a crown prince, and that meant that he was expected to learn of the ways of kingship in preparation of the day he would take the throne. Gods willing, it would not be as early as his own coronation.

___But now was not the time to think of such thoughts. Carefully tucking them away into the back of his mind, Siegfried Aramus Imperatore Diulf Hachikou Ragnvard Wenrath Nobilis Daishi, known to his wife as Stark and to his people the Winter King, seated himself upon the throne and rested a mighty hand upon Yas Winterweir resting beside him.

___"My apologies for the interruption. Let us continue."

Watching as how his younger sister seemed rather happy to have her older brother go with her to the town, Hiroaki simply gave a warm smile to see how she was able to be happy. Even if he may had wanted to leave the family for a bit to venture through the forest and possibility see what the human town might look like and how they were doing, part of his own heart however wanted to stay and go with his mother and sister to town. It was rare enough to ever have time to be with both his mother, sister and father all at the sametime. So when his mother had spoken up about going to the town to get some mangoes for dinner, it was quite shocking to hear that she wasn't actually busy with something to spend time with both her son and daughter.
Following both his mother and younger sibling, he stood right by his mother while she had began to open the doorway. Just feeling her soft touch onto his shoulder, Hiroaki remained silent although his smile remained on his lips to know that he was getting a chance to be with the family like they had done in the past. Before all the complications with paperwork and laws coming down started at least. Walking down a couple of the hallways til they had reached the bathroom, Hiroaki had stood right outside the doorway that lead into the bathroom to await for his mother and wrap the band aid around Hinata's hand. Once the two of them were done Hiroaki had began to follow his mother and sister once more to leave the kingdom and go into town. The entire time the three of them had walked, he had made sure to keep both his hands hidden within his pockets and both his wolf-like ears flat against his head.
It was already quite normal to have the citizens of the town stare at them while they had walked down the market path in town, especially considering they were all royalty. However, even with people of the town staring at them, for some strange reason Hiroaki still wasn't too comfortable with it. Avoiding all eye contact with any of the other citizens in the town, he kept his eyes focused on both the shadows and feet of his sister and mother in front of him. Without so much as a warning, hearing his mother speak up out of nowhere had caused Hiroaki to stop in his tracks and look forward. It seemed to had been two humans who seemed to had come quite close to the town of wolves. One being a female while the other was a male, who they exactly were was completely unknown to him. "Mother...? who exactly are they?" His thoughts on leaving the town of wolves to go to the town of humans was blocked off for a moment, Hiroaki hadn't seen an actual real human in quite a while. So seeing one now was quite shocking. 'Hmm, I wonder where father is right now.'

Mari seamlessly joined the royal family as they made their way through town. It was a beautiful day, and her red golden tail swished behind her, the color looking like it was sparking in the light. Her ears were perked and alert, as always, as well as her eyes scanning the crowd, searching for any threats, scanning each face for signs of anger or agitation directed at the family. They may be wolves, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't harm the royal family for various reasons.

At the mentioned of nearby humans, Mari stiffened, and found her hands straying to her weapons. Her palms started twitching, heating up, preparing to send an arc of electricity towards anybody who dared to come near the Princess and her family. Carefully, she eased closer to Princess Hinata. In the event of an attack, she would be in position to better protect the small girl, whether it be jumping in front of an attack, or dragging her to safety. Mari doubted the humans would get much closer, but the fact that they had been spotted at all made her uneasy. The younger generations were growing curious, and it was unsure whether they harbored the same hostility as their parents and grandparents.

Mari took a steadying breath. They were not in town. The humans were at least three to four miles away, and the guards responsible for securing the town's borders would most likely dispatch them before they could reach the royal family. Mari relaxed, but her wariness remained, visible in her twitching ears. She was wound like a tight coil, ready to spring at any moment. Nobody was touching the Princess, and if they did, they were going to lose a few fingers, Mari would make sure of it.

___"...?"

___With very little to report and everything kept in close watch, the court had, as it had the past few decades, adjourned early. Unless the times changed, the morning meetings were really only for an initial checklist; another would be made shortly after supper to ensure that everything was in order before everyone was allowed to retire for the evening. If any issues arose throughout the day they had but to send a messenger to the king. Siegfried was alone, having gone back to his chambers to organize his thoughts before going out to spend time with his family. But now, something was on the wind. His lupine ears lifted - the giant of a man never fully transformed into a human form while within the haven of the forest, preferring to keep his ears and tail - towards the window even as his chin lifted marginally.

___White triangles twitched, searching for something they couldn't hear. Cool turquoise roamed out to the little fragment of outside that was framed by the window, clouding over as they flickered about minutely, as if there was something to be seen. His keen nose picked up nothing, though a gentle breeze was wafting fresh, clean air into the room. What was it? This unsettling feeling, almost ominous. Foreboding. It didn't sit right with him, but he couldn't place a finger on exactly how or why. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled uncomfortably. Was something... wrong? Out of the ordinary?

___He was given little time; the sound of footsteps suddenly appearing outside, and the voice of a wolf he knew well sounded from the other side of his chamber doors along with a quiet knock. "Your Majesty, I have an urgent message for you..."

Akane, the Queen, was happily holding Hinata's hand as she walked. Feeling complete with her beautiful children with her, her son looked majestic, and her daughter looked beautiful. Things had been getting harder for the family to be together as a whole because of the issue with the humans, and that her son Hiroaki was close to becoming of age. He was the next in line for the throne if both parents passed away, and it was saddening to the mother that he hadent shown any interest in the girls around the them. Seeing the venders getting closer, the mother smiled but stopped along side her son when he asked that question. Looking over across the field, she felt a growl build within her chest. Humans... She could smell three of them, and that made her hand tighten around her daughter's hand. The breeze made the stench more prominent, and also ruffled the mother's firey hair and golden gown. "They are not supposed to be here, and one of them swore to us to keep people away from this place. The tattooed woman in the distance had been an ally of the wolves for a very long time, after she had killed a grown wolf so young. The Queen had sought out the woman, and made a pact with her. The hunter would keep people away from their village in exchange for informing them on the humans every month. "Hiroaski, stay close... You too Hanata, I feel a bad omen." This meaning the mother felt the need to drive out these people. And most likely, she would. She was fearless when it came to protecting her pups and people, that was certin. "Let's get these mangoes, and forget about them children." she said smoothly, squeezing her son's shoulder to get him moving ounce more, and cradled her daughter closer to her body as they walked. Her daughter had a tendancey to get into trouble and danger, so she was the one Akane worried about most. Looking over the lovely fruit, she looked to her children. "Pick out the three you want. I will even make a mangos dessert tonight." Anything to keep there minds off the humans.

((Oh noes, we have the same name. To avoid confusion, just call me Mari. ^_^))

Mari stayed close to the family, keeping a close eye on Hinata. The smell of humans was strong here, and it put her on edge. It had been a long time since a human had strayed so close to their village, so it was especially peculiar to hear of three grouped near the outskirts. Mari immediately suspected it was only curious humans, but the hairs standing up on the back of her neck said it was more than that.

She was eager for the family to get inside. If the humans were just curious, that doesn't mean they wouldn't respond hostilely. Mari kept her wary eyes flicking to each tree, even though her nose told her there was nobody around. Can never be too careful, floated through her mind.

Ana would turn around when she feels someone grab her shoulder. She would turn and noticed that it was the other hunter that worked from her father. Sighing deeply she would remove her hand and steps back slightly. "I know that my father doesn't want me in that part of the forest but its my choice to go. Now you can go back and tell him or you can join me" she says looking at both of the hunters. Reaching above her head she would pull her hood back over her head. She was going into the village for more then just looking around. The last time she was there she ran into a young man, she does remember what he looks like but he never told his name. But the one thing she does remember was his red hair and his wolf ears. Hopefully she was able to meet him again.

Chu'si wanted to grind her teeth at the way Ana was acting. "Ana. I cannot let you go there." she said and then glanced across the field once again. She was going to be in massive trouble. "Even if I have to use force." the snake maiden added, and nearly growled as she looked at her. The young girl didn't understand what she was doing, she could cause an all out war, and the wolves would win. They mostly used swords, but they were trained in the ways of guns, and had many more wolves then just this village. This was just one of the many. THey were all connected by the spred out royal family. Plus she couldn't let her very hunter collige, who was fine with going. That was completely against their code of law as a hunter, and he should know it. It made her more than angry, she was infireruiated.

{so short for Jason -.-}

Jason looked at Anastasia and sighed mentally to himself, he knew it was impossible to change her mind. He had to think of a way to convince it was a bad idea and the wolves were uncivilized. Jason turned to the female hunter and see she was getting angry with his decision to go with her to the Wolves' town. "Maybe, we can reconsider our options." Jason stated standing near the field and looked around slowly. He knew the wolves knew they were closing onto the town and might send guards to stop them. "As a safety precaution." He said softly remain calm as best he could.

Hinata remained silent but had a smile on her face, seeing that she and her family were going to town to get mangoes. She held her mother's hand tightly as they walked to the vendors to get the prized fruit. Mari, Hinata's favorite guard, appeared next to the royal family. She giggled and smiled happily to Mari while the looked at the wolves working, playing and talking. However her curiosity kicked in when she heard her big brother and mother say a word, she never heard before, 'humans'. Hinata titled her head as her ears perked up to hearing her mother growling, were humans bad? Were they something to be scared of? She thought to herself as the question whirled through her head about humans, feeling her mother's hand tighten, Hinata grunted softly. It was starting to hurt a little but not too much to cry. She whimpered softly when her right eye started to hurt, she placed her free hand on the eyes, 'Ow, my eye. Why is it hurting?' She thought to herself and jerked, seeing her family was moving again. They were no closer to the Vendor stand when Akane said pick a mango for dessert. "Yay!" was all Hinata said before taking one of the mangoes she could reach, looking for two. One for her father and the other for herself. After finding them, she placed them near Akane, Hinata smiled and looked around. She wanted to find a flower so she went to a different vendor, she had a little bit of money in her pockets to buy a flower and she found a pretty one planted in the ground. SHe picked it up and held it, "Daddy, will wuv it." She said softly, her eyes remaining closed as she got up to go back to her family. However she was stopped my a group of boy wolves as they accused her of bumming into them, she shook and tried to walk away but they blocked her. "I-I d-didn't mean to." She said as the boys only laughed and took the flower, crushing it. Hinata shrieked and cried softly as her eyes opened from shock and the boys made fun of her. She started shaking more as her eye pulsated, the image of the humans kept flashing in her head. The boys mocked her as Hinata shook more, the pain was starting to grow and she couldn't talk it, "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" She screamed at the top of her lungs as she collapsed to her knees and started to shake more, her eyes causing blood to roll down her cheeks and the boys backed away.

Ana turned and looked at both of the hunters once more, "Look, I'm not going to be gone for long" She knew that they were going to try to stop her from going into the village but she wasn't going to let them. Removing her hooded cloak revealing her clothes. She would reach into a bag that hung on her hip and took out a small veil that contained a special liquid. Drinking it she would shudder slightly and looks at the hunters. Suddenly two wolf ears would pop out from the top her head and her eyes will become more wolf like. "This is only going to last for a hour, I should be back before then" Handing them her cloak she would head out for the village. They could stop her if they wanted but it wasn't going to work.

Akane smiled down at her daughter as she moved to pick our the mango. Seeing as she picked one out for her father as well, brought a bit wider smile to the Queen's face. Though now the scent of human was getting closer, and she needed to take care of it. Her people and children would be in danger if she didn't take care of it, and even worse was that the humans couldn't be left alive. Pulling out her purse, she put money down for the mangos and turned to look down were her daughter should be standing and gasped as she was not there. "Hinata!" she called, looking worried as she spotted her daughter across the buisy street. Anger was building fast within the woman's system, and seeing the boys, a sudden echoing snarrle rattled through the crowd, stopping every one in their tracks. People parted for the red headed mother, and seeing the boys shake in fear, a growl grew bigger from her chest. "You dare mock my daughter!" she snarrled, the children flinching, one bursting into tears. "If I so much as see you near my daughter again, you will have burnt stubs were your ears were, do I make myself clear?!" she barked, all of them nodded and then with a nasty snarrle, they ran with their tails between their legs, after which she was tempted to light them on fire as well. Kneeling down to see the blood coming from her daughter's eye, Akan knew it was caused by the humans. Any new encounter seemed to trigger the poor girl's sight. Now, the mother was barely reining in her rage, her eyes burning with a want to kill those stupid humans who caused her precious baby pain. "Mira, take Hinata and Hiroaki back to our house. Now. I want them safe and out of harms way. Give my daughter her medicine." she said, trying her best not to growl, but she did anyway. Pulling off her gloves and purse, she handed them to her son, and then flashed him a fang filled smile. "Take care of your sister." she said firmly, leaving no room for argument. She was ending this now.

Chu'si watched as Ana took a potion, and was shocked seeing the ears pop out upon the girl's head. It was convincing, to humans. No wolf would believe the cerade. "No! Ana stop, the wolves will not believe it!" she snapped and ran towards her charge. "They can still smell you!" she called and swore seeing what she had dreaded. A massive wolf shifting across the field of tall grasses. Drawing her blades, she grabbed Ana by the waist and turned her towards Jason. "Take her and run. We cannot engage in a fight here, the whole village will come after us. " she said, and pushed the white haired girl towards the hunter male. "GO!" she snapped, turning to see the wolf charging at them. She would hold off the wolf. Though suddenly her eyes widened in horror, the wolf caught completely on fire, and was coming straight at them, snarrling and snapping its jaws. "I wil by time, move her Jason!" the huntress snapped, knowing now she was going to have an almost impossible to win fight on her in seconds. The ball of flame and furr was moving swiftly, and one more bound and Chu'si ran at it. Seeing the thing she dreaded most, was the royal earring upon the wolf's ear. All of the royal's had that upon their ear, and it ment one thing only as she realized it was one of the wolves everyone should fear. This was Akane the fire queen, the bringer of fire, and the destroyer of humans. In the war, this wolf had killed more humans than they could count, along side her husband, the winter king. "Ma'tim wolf, I wish you no harm." she called, but the fury in those eyes and the wolf attacked anyway. Moving swiftly, the warrioress moved from the snapping jaws, but the sculding fire didn't leave her unscratched. A burn ran along her arm that had been closest to the wolf. Gritting her teeth, the female decided that she had to fight. Her sacrafice was worth it. Flipping away, she looked back to see Jason and Ana moving away. "Run!" she snapped, and then charged at the massive beast. Surprised after many agonizing minutes of fighting the beast, the snake maiden finally landed a blow. One that shocked both of them. Circling eachother slowly, the fire on this beast never seemed to cease, but remembering stories from her father, this woman could stay ablaze for hours. Glancing behind her, she saw that Jason and Ana were gone. Moving to run, she felt another piercing bite to her leg and fell to the ground. Looking up in wonder as the fire on the wolf died down, the hunter watched as the beautiful queen squatted down to look at her.

Akane was more then happy to see this girl go down, and even though the anger was slowly going away, she wanted to kill this woman. Her arm was bleeding from the sword that cut her, and she grabbed the girl by the shirt, lifting her up, and off her feet and the ground. "Where did those two go?" the red haired female growled. "Back to the village." Chu'si said and then looked into the woman's eyes. "I tried to stop them from coming, they didn't realize the smell of human carries far." the indian female added and the QUeen raised an eyebrow. "I will have to kill them." she growled and the snake maiden grabbed her hand. "No! I will keep them from coming here." she said, hoping this wolf wouldn't kill her. "That wont stop others..." the angered mother snapped. "I can stop them." Chu'si said boldly. Getting an idea, Akane smirked. "You THink that our kinds should not mix? You grandfather was the same way." She said shocking the young hunter. "Yes, I knew him. And you will take the role he preformed when we were at peace." she said and the brown haired female looked at the Queen surprised. "Follow me. And don't try to run away." the Queen said and alerted her husband to be ready with Hiroaki when she came into town, they were going to meet in the council building, and she had just found the eyes they needed to be inside the village of the humans. Glancing back, she grabbed the huntress by the bicept and led her along the road, and around the back of the building.

Walking down the market district with his mother and little sister along with his own guardian as well as Hinata's guardian following the three of them from behind. Hiroaki had mostly kept to himself, however the more they seemed to had ventured around the market district of the wolf village it was strange but it smelled as though there were humans coming closer and closer every moment that had passed by. There was no doubt about it, if Hiroaki was starting to smell the scent of humans closing in, his mother and father had probably already known about them as well. This was turning very bad, there was no telling how Hinata and Hiroaki's parents would react over this. If those humans were planning on entering to the village the guards of the village would probably end up charging forward and attacking them, there was a large chance this would cause an all out war on the humans. More wolf and human blood would be shed and once more, sorrow would consume many people. Hiroaki may had been young at the time when the wolves had to retreat into the forest, but he knew well enough at his age now that all this senseless fighting was starting to get out of hand.
During the time he had began to wonder about the smell of the nearby humans, the sound of his younger sister screaming out a curse out of nowhere had caught his attention immediately. Turning his head in a seperate direction of where the sound of his younger sister was coming from had given away the obvious fact that she was no longer next to them. Right the next second, it had seemed that their mother had already chased after Hinata to see what had happened. Every other citizen within the market district at this point had been standing aside to let their queen go, Hiroaki could easily see the fear and shock in each of the citizens' eyes as they had gathered around the scene of the queen scolding and yelling at the boys who were mocking the queen's daughter. Chasing after his mother, Hiroaki came right next to his little sister to see that she was in pain and her eye had seemed to be bleeding. "Hinata? are you alright?" Right after asking, it had seemed as though their mother wanted Hinata's and Hiroaki's own guardians to take both of the queen's children back to the home so that she could go deal with the humans. "Mother!" Hiroaki had called out in hopes to speak with his mother and stop her reckless actions, who knew what type of weapons the humans could had been holding to harm their mother. However, it didn't seem to stop her as she was already too far by the time he had called out to her.
Turning his own attention back onto the guardians of the Hinata and Hiroaki's, he had known for a fact that they were going to listen and try to take the children back to the home. Sighing deeply to himself, Hiroaki had placed both of his mother's gloves into his own pockets while pulling the purse half way up his arm so that he could pick up his little sister into his arms. "Lets go Hinata. Miss Mari, Miss Yoru could you please go inform my father about this. I highly doubt he will be too happy, but even more so if he is not notified about this." Hiroaki had explained before beginning his way back home through the crowd of citizens who had all began to step to the side to allow the guardians and children of the royal family go.

Mari stayed close to the royal children as they made their way back to the palace. Once they were safely inside, she led them up to the Queen's bathroom where she kept Hinata's medicine. Mari gently took her from her brother's arms and set the small child on the counter. This was a routine Mari undertook efficiently, as the poor girl's eyes were always causing her trouble.

She began with washing the leftover blood from Hinata's eyes with clean water. Next, she placed medicinal drops in her eyes, to keep out infection. Lastly, she taped on an eye patch so the sun wouldn't irritate the tender cornea and to also give it time to recuperate uninterrupted.

The poor girl looked so fraught with worry, hurt, anger and confusion, that Mari couldn't help but hug the little girl. She was too young to be thinking of such dark things. She produced a small sweet treat from her pocket and placed it in the frail, little hands before her. "Here you are, Little Princess," Mari said gently. "Have a treat to lift your spirits and then run along and play in the gardens. I will be along shortly. I must speak to your father first, so it shan't take too long." Mari set the girl down on the grounds and chucked her under her chin."When I get back, we can play Heroes and Villains, okay?" She smiled at Hinata and turned her attention to Hiroaki. "Will you please notify me when your mother returns? I have a pressing matter to speak with her about." After hearing the boy's response, she nodded and hurried out.

Mari found the king returning from outside and approached the giant man in front of her, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty, I was directed to inform you that your wife, the Queen, had to exit the village to chase away some humans that had wandered too near for comfort. She should be returning soon and I'm sure would like to speak with you about a few things first before returning to her planned duties." Mari paused, unsure of how to continue, as the next thing was a delicate matter. Taking a deep breath, she started speaking slowly, careful not to turn it into an issue. "Highness, Princess Hinata's eyes are giving her fits again. I tended to them and they should return to normal within the next day or two... But, I think the cause of it was the mention of humans nearby and that the village boys her taunted her and crushed her flower. I believe she is becoming stressed about something, although I'm not sure of what. I will do my best to ease her mind, but I believe she will become curious about the humans. I'm not sure if she should be told yet and by whom, but I figured it was best to warn you before her curiosity grew." Mari directed a flash of annoyance at herself. She had been so preoccupied with the threat of nearby humans that she had neglected her duties in protecting the Princess. She should have chased those boys away but she was too distracted. Mari silently chided herself and vowed not to let her attention wander again.

Once her meeting with the King was over, she began making her way towards the gardens. Perhaps she would take Hinata out for a run in wolf form around the grounds to ease the little pup's mind. She might like that. Mari smiled and quickened her steps, eager to reach the little Princess quickly.

{Ah, sorry about the delay. I've been busy. Tancileena, Siegfried wasn't in the throne room anymore OTL}

__Siegfried had hardly reached the entrance hall when the metallic tang of blood, and the sharp sting of fire. The rank of humans! He had been informed of them, and he could smell the sickly sweet scent of burning flesh. Bursting out of the castle, his gaze immediately flickered to the sky. No smoke... which meant only one thing: his wife had called upon her flames. A low growl set deep within his throat; any who were near quailed at the mere sound even as his long stride ate up ground.

__The king was only halfway to the village when there was movement and a familiar scent. From the shadows, a voice. "Your Majesty, please return to the castle. Her Ladyship the Queen and Their Highnesses the Prince and Princess are returning. The situation has been amended."

__And the shadow was gone, back to their station to watch and observe. If need be, they would attack and kill.


__By the time Mari had entered to report, Siegfried was already informed of the details. His silence was her dismissal to return to ward duties for his daughter. But his mind was not silent, not in the least. Humans entering their sacred grounds, and even more audacious, their capital. What did it mean? How should he view this? Hinata's stigma had not been instigated directly by their arrival, but he would not carelessly dismiss it as coincidence. She had been under stress... This was not the first time either. His daughter was only nine; was she ready for the truth of the humans?

__Things to discuss with Akane and Hiroaki when they arrived. The ministers and visitors had long retreated, but the throne room was no place to talk about family matters. Still, it was unwise to let a human see too much of the castle. One could never be too cautious.

__"Lunais."

__"Yes Your Majesty."

__"Tell Akane and Hiroaki we will congress here in the throne room. We will decide the human's fate here."

__"At once Your Majesty."

((Edited. Sorry about that! My brain is in a million places at once.))

Mari stepped through the archways and into the gardens. Hinata will be around here somewhere, most likely playing. She strolled through the lush foliage, enjoying the sweet scents. The gardens had always been her favorite place. It was so peaceful, so beautiful.

"Princess, I'm here." she called softly. "I'll be by the rose bushes." She sat down on one of the stone benches, and pulled out a book while she waited for Hinata.

Hinata remained silent the whole time she was with her mother. brother and guardian. The pain in her eye was unbearable and her silence seem to sooth the unhappy eye. She wasn't herself at the moment, and who could blame her? Her powers were still unknown to her, her family seem to know something they weren't willingly to speak of, and her eyes was bleeding for now reason. Hinata only remembered being with her mother and saw herself on her kneels grabbed her head and eye, being taken back to the castle. Hinata was with her guardian, Mari as she bandage her eye. It was the only way to stop it. She remained still and silent until she heard Mari speak. "O-Of course Mawi." Hinata said with a soft smile on her face. She liked being around Mari, even though she couldn't pronounce her name correctly. When Mari gave her a treat, Hinata started eating it. It was delicious and she never wanted it to be gone. She finished and Mari told her to play in the garden, Hinata nodded her head and ran to the door giggling, she liked the fact she looked like a pirate, she ran outside and played near the dandelions. After a while, Mari came back cam spoke softly in the garden. She went to the roses and Hinata followed and jumped in the open. "Mawi." She said jumping onto her lap with a soft smiling on her face.

Jason watched as the female hunter fought the wolf that seem to have appeared out of no where, Jason then gently took Anastasia's hand and pulled her to the safety of the Human town. Jason huffed and puffed , from all the running.

"Hinata!" Mari said, laughing. "There you are. Is your eye feeling any better? If you're feeling up to it, we can go for a run out in the fields. I think the exercise would help speed up the healing process in your eye." When in wolf form, injuries tend to speed in their recovery. Several times in the past, when Mari would be hurt, she would spend a few nights in her primal form and within a week, she would be almost completely back to normal. Whatever was causing Hinata's eye to bleed could probably be at least eased if she spent a while in her wolf form. If anything, the pain would subside for the small child. "But only if you feel up to it. I wouldn't want you to strain yourself and cause further damage. If you do want to go, I can teach you a few hunting tricks. How bout that, little Princess?" She smiled warmly at Hinata. She looked so precious, gazing up at her with one, big purple eye. When she grew up, she was going to be a beauty, Mari could already tell. Her cherubic face would eventually mature into one of commanding beauty. Her piercing eyes would captivate people everywhere. Mari's eyes were green when in human form, but in wolf form, they were a boring gold color. She loved Hinata's eyes and wished the poor girl wasn't teased so badly over them. They were beautiful.

Laila's brown ears had perked forward, buying what she needed to make the meal for the royal family, picking up the mangoes that the Queen had bought, even picking up other fruit of various deserts. Her brown ears flicked forward as she watched everything that was going, she saw what the boys had done to the flower that the princess had. She looked around quickly before she picked up the flower, taking a deep breathe before she blew onto it, causing it to pop back to life. It looked brand new, far more vibe-rent then when it originally had, she smiled softly before tucking it onto of her basket, straightening out her maid's outfit before she turned to head back to the palace.

Though she did stop to watch the Queen's battle with the humans, she knew why they were all worried about them, but she was not worried about them after all she secretly traveled to their village every night and helped their plants grow to their fullest. Once she was sure that she had everything, she made a mad dash through people, not being noticed for her plainness was something people over looked. Once she reached the gardens she slowed down, her brown ear twitching when she heard two people talking, one she recognized as the princess. She couldn't help but smile as she picked the flower up, heading over to the young female and her guardian.

"Princess Hinata." she said to the nine year old as she bowed her head to her, keeping her eyes directed towards the ground as was fit for her station, she held the flower out to her as she crouched low. "I believe that you had dropped this, Princess." she said just as softly, wishing that she could see the young girl's face when she realized that it had been the same flower that she had picked for her father, though Laila knew her position and knew that she was unable to look directly at the royals, her ears were drooping and her tail hung, showing that she was submissive and that she knew her place.

(Gothika_Knight: waiting on you to post hun lol)

"For god's sake let me go! I have two feet!" Anastasia says jerking her hand away from Jason when pulls her back into the safety of her town's border. She glances back at the direction that they came from her anger rising up to her ears. She knew that if the hunters tagged along with her something bad was going to happen. This was the first time that she ever got attacked before entering into the village. But it was also the first time that she had that close of contact with the Queen. Turning the turns back towards Jason and glares at him. "You stupid hunters..." she says pushing pass him drawing her hood back over her head and walks back into the town. She rubs at her wrist feeling a bruise forming from where he was holding on so tightly. She also had a feeling that they were going to tell her father about this as well. Sighing deeply and kicking over rocks as she walks threw the marketplace. Shortly she would approach her house and pushes open the door. She heads up to her room closing it and takes off her hood before tossing it onto her bed. Walking over to her mirror she notices that the potion hasn't wore off yet but it slowly starting to. Her eyes were slowly turning back and forward from her orignal eyes and the wolf eyes. Hopefully it wored off before anyone else saw her.

Akane had blindfolded the huntress as they had gotten closer to town, and pulled her along. She had expected the human to stumble and fumble around, but she walked gracefully still. It made the Queen more sure of her decision to not kill the young girl. As all of her color in the human world, she was trained to trust her senses, and not just her eyes. Walking into the meeting room, she saw her husband and bowed her head. Just meeting his eyes she knew he wasn't happy with her actions, but her eyes said that they were worth the risk. Taking the blindfold off of the young human girl, she moved to walk to her throne next to her husband's. As was always customary she kissed his hand and then her cheek. "I have a solution to protect our borders." she breathed in her ear as she kissed his cheek and then sat down. Her eyes scanning over the girl, who kept her head bowed after seeing where she was. Nodding to the healer, he moved forward and placed a hand on the tattooed female. Chu'si jerked feeling someone touch her, but gasped as it felt like cool water trickling over her body. Her wounds were healing right before her eyes, and when he pulled away she met his intense eyes. "Thank you." she breathed, he said nothing as he returned to standing with the guards. The huntress slowly raised her eyes to look at the royals sitting upon their thrones. Akane let out a soft growl and the huntress bowed her head and stared at the floor again. In her mind she was going to be tortured to give up information about her people, but she would not spill any information. Little did she realize her purpose for being here. Akane looked at her husband and frowned slightly, where was Hiroaki?

__Akane. She was as beautiful and strong and fierce and wild as the flames she commanded. The Winter King was no less different, but if she had interpreted his gaze as anger, she was mistaken. Partially, at least. Yes, his eyes would forever hold sternness, as solid and cold as the wintry-capped mountains. But she was, in the very end, his wife. Certainly Siegfried had not shown interest in the beginning; rather, he was against such a rambunctious she-wolf. A cub raised under rigidity and order, she was everything that went against the teachings of his youth. Free, whimsical, impulsive. But he had, over time, discovered a strength from her, one that stood as firmly as his own. If anyone were to ask him now, he would have no other but her.

__His scar was testament to that.

__"You always do." Came his equally soft reply to her words. Then, dropping his royal we, "But I would rather you sought a way that didn't make me think I might lose my family."

__The healer came and left. This human woman. He was familiar with peoples of her skin. Once, in the distant past when the wolves lived amongst the humans, they would be almost considered friends of the earth protectors. Her kind had shed the least wolf blood. But nonetheless, they were humans, and they were no exception to the new oath of the wolves. Her body spoke of strength and litheness: the body of a predator, a hunter. Siegfried's large, calloused hand gripped Yas Winterweir marginally tighter. If need be, it would behead the human before she could lay a hand on any of the royals. As she raised her head to catch a glimpse of the lupine rulers, the giant of a king felt his ears flatten against his skull as his turquoise eyes took on a terrible, mighty gleam. A gleam that cowed all before it; even the most seasoned of his warriors balked beneath this particular gaze.

__Feeling eyes upon him, Siegfried loosened his gaze and glanced to his side. Akane was looking to him, her eyes clouded as if troubled. Hiroaki. Lunais would find the prince and bring him. They had to be patient.

(Sorry everyone. Thought I posted. Q-Q
Guess not.)

By the time the guardians as well as Hinata had returned to the palace, other then telling one of the guardians to go inform his and his young sibling's father about the situation. All Hiroaki had truly done was stand there and watch as how his sister's guardian tended to her bleeding eye. By the time everything was done and Hinata had gotten a band aid for her eye, the young prince couldn't help but let out a deep sigh of relief that his sister was now alright once more. It wasn't much of a surprise to see her run off to play with her guardian right after tending to the painful wound on her eye. Shaking his head with a warm smile spreading across his own lips, Hiroaki soon turned his head to look around the room and noticed that this was probably the best chance he was going to get to leave the palace and head over to the human town and see how things were doing over there.

However, sooner than he had expected. Having a guard rush up toward the prince on orders of the king and queen that Hiroaki was supposed to go over to the meeting room had caught the young prince off guard. Once more, another diversion was set for him not being able to leave the palace on his own intentions. "Alright. I shall be there at once." Rather then rushing to the meeting room to where his mother and father seemed to had called for him. Hiroaki had walked down each hallway, letting his own shoes slightly drag against the smooth carpeting of each part of the hallways. Even though he had not intended to rush, Hiroaki had soon arrived at the meeting room within a matter of minutes as he had opened the large beautifully designed double wooden doors. Sitting at the end of the room was both his parents, they looked as though they were indeed awaiting for their son to arrive for some reason. That wasn't really much of a surprise. 'Probably another lecture on becoming king I bet...' he spoke mentally to himself.

Noticing the human female hunter in front of both his mother and father though was quite a surprise. His mother and father had actually allowed a human into the palace without tearing them limb from limb? That was quite the shocker to see, honestly. "Mother?...Father?...What is this all about?" Hiroaki had questioned curiously. Slowly enough right after, the young prince had made his way over toward both his mother and father. Standing several feet away from the human female, the young prince had only taken a slight glance at her for only a moment before turning his gaze back upon his parents. This hadn't been the first time the young prince had met a human before, however it has been one he hadn't seen in quite some time.