⚜ Ilmestys ⚜

"Don't carry the mountains you've climbed"

When the Starlight Society's first leader, Taisto, passed over to the next realm, the pack turned to his natural successor for guidance. With no surviving pups of his own, Taisto had taken young Ilmestys under his wing, teaching him to be as unyielding as the mountain and twice as calm. It's clear to onlookers that this mentoring paid off, as Ilmestys is every bit as stoic and sage as their beloved blue-eyed guardian, yet the young leader finds his back weary with the weight of legacy. As a pup, he recalls his fellow packmates telling grand stories of the bravery, wisdom, and chivalry of previous monarchs; stories that followed him into adulthood, or rather, that he followed. These great tales are to him like the North Star to a lost traveller: a bright, guiding light in the darkness.

But anyone who has been lost in the darkness will tell you: a guiding light is not a destination. It can never be reached, nor touched; its dizzying heights unobtainable to mere mortals. The accomplishments of leaders past are both Ilmestys' greatest ally and his worst enemy. He fears he will always fall short of his forebears, yet he is determined to prove that this is not the case, working himself to the bone if it means single-handedly securing his pack one more fresh carcass in winter, digging a warmer den for a shivering mother, or neglecting sleep to carry out one more perimeter check.

Of course, nobody can be an exact replica of their forebears. While Taisto had been logical and level-headed, he also possessed a warmth that Ilmestys cannot match. He is always willing to lend an ear to a packmate in need, but they often find his responses cold and clinical, focused as he is on practicality and problem-solving even when the situation calls for comfort. Where Taisto had been well-attuned to the emotions of others, Ilmestys is less tactful. This extends beyond interpersonal relationships and into interpersonal conflicts within the pack, where he is sometimes too harsh or quick to judge. His innate sense of justice and egalitarianism drive him to be stern and strict at times, but despite appearances, this stems from a place of love for his pack and a desire to ensure the happiness of everyone in it.

At this core, Ilmestys has a good heart and, despite his slight social difficulties, he is a patient and altruistic King whose dedication to his peers knows no bounds. While they may not go to him with every hurt feeling and sad story, his subjects trust him implicitly to protect them and keep their best interests at heart, no matter the cost.

(Written by Vulcanthropy #32381)