Misery

Prologue

Desolation.

A kingdom now reduced to rubble and ash. Once a kingdom of strength and pride... Now both tattered and violated. The scent of blood heavy on the nose, sounds of screams - of agony and devastation invading the ear.

Even those screams felt so far away to the young wolf whimpering as she tried to ignore the agony she was in. Fighting to free herself from the jaws of her attacker. Disoriented by the earlier blow to her head, left with a distinct ringing in her ears. Wishing she'd been stronger, been more capable of protecting her pack, her family, her friends... But strength was abandoning her. Just as her sense of consciousness was trying to.

Her wounds wept crimson.

I'm sorry Seph... Her wolf whined in her mind. There had been too much blood lost. Too much torn open. Panic seemed to possess them both as the large brute violently continued his assault. Knowing the goal was her demise. She was young to have managed a shift, but the wounds had left her defeated.

I love you  Valkyrie - that was her reply to the wolf that lived in her mind as she watched spots of black threatening her vision. Opening her mind link reaching to give a final message to her parents she loved and her big brother - I'm sorry... That was when another snarl caught the attention of the attacker. A massive black beast did not hesitate as he tore the man off of her. The wolf was covered in devastating wounds, but that would not stop him from protecting what was his. It was her brother.

Her attacker exploded into a dark grey wolf. Vicious snarls, the violent snapping of jaws, the sound of flesh tearing... Bones breaking. Until the wet shredding as a wolves throat was torn out. The black beast heaved. Struggling to keep standing under the burden of its many wounds. Shifting into a man.

"Persephone..." trepidation unmistakable in his voice. As if he feared she couldn't answer. As if he feared he'd found her too late... Tears glistened in his sorrowful blue eyes. She whimpered and he released a sigh, picking her up and limping into the night, "please don't give up Seph. Hold on. You will live. I forbid you from accepting death."

The emotion in his tone was raw, a whine from him and his wolf as he looked at his baby sister fighting to say conscious. Pain contorting her features. His heavy heart fueling his laboring body to force its broken self into a run. No thought or care of the wounds that litter brutally over his battle abused flesh. Or the fact he knew he'd already lost a dangerous amount of blood. He looked to the rust brown of his sisters eyes, "what about Mom? and dad?"

Hope in her voice, a strangle in her voice. Her brothers look away and struggle to answer had spoken louder than words could. A mournful sob racked her broken body and he held her closer. "They would sacrifice themselves a thousand times to protect us..."

Problem was he knew that he knew what would be required for even one of them to live.

For hours he pushed himself. Using their familial bond to give the tiny form in his arms strength. Breathing out as they seemed to get out alive. Mostly. He could feel himself weakening, feel her slipping still. The goddess seemed to have mercy in the form of Perseus finding a cave - a safe place to finally stop fleeing... He knew both had received grievous wounds, much as she had.

Both could not survive. But with a sacrifice... One of them could.

Her brother had made up his mind. Sadness at the impending separation that was unavoidable. "Seph. Promise me. You'll never give up. Never stop fighting. You will live. Live for all of us... The goddess has great things waiting for you..." A frown furrowed her brow. She struggled to focus, to see, to remain conscious... "Promise me!" There was desperation in her brothers voice.

"Anything for you" her voice was weak. Fading. Somber. And with that the frail young girl had fallen unconscious. Kissing her bruised knuckles as his blue eyes closed. Focusing on the bond, giving his strength to the last living member of his family.

His life sapped away, being given to his sister. Smiling through the pain and sadness in knowing she had a chance to live. Knowing that while he would go to the goddesses embrace - his sister could go on to fulfill the prophecy. That she would once again know joy one day. "Don't give your trust or heart cheaply, precious one."

With his final words mumbled to Persephone - Perseus let go of the mortal world.

  She lived.

But child was now truly alone.