Niossae

Niossae, the one who keeps Inocera safe
Niossae is with the pack as long as anyone can remember. His origin dates back to the times when Inocera was born, under the lead of Lannie. The times were rough, as a rookie pack, they had to overcome a lot of difficulties. Illnesses were killing their pups, food was scarce, sometimes even a luxury. Yet, they all lived their lives rather happily, being a tight group, a family.

The love like no other
As the time went, Riniya joined the pack and as cliché as it sounds, it was love at first sight. Niossae never left her side, enjoying even the hunting together. They had several pups, some leaving to another packs, some staying around. Ups and downs were happening, there were days when they went after each others necks and there were days when they would just snuggle in a cave and rest. The only thing that could separate them was death... And it did.

The downfall
They lived their whole lives to the fullest, but what happened, noone could expect. One day, coming back from the hunt, rogue wolf attacked their hunting party, coming straight after Riniya. They all could see the foam around his mouth, it must have been rabies. There was nothing Niossae could do, too shocked to react when the teeth sank into his mates neck. He didn't hesitate a second, ripping the wolf into pieces as soon as he realised what was happening. The rest of the hunters were just standing around, watching the scene in front of their eyes. Niossae nudged his whimpering mate, but the blood pooling on the forest ground was already telling him that she's not going to make it. He stayed with Riniya until she took her last breath, with his pack mates staying nearby, letting the two have their last moments.

The aftermath... And the spirits
The whole pack heard the heartbroken howls that evening. Even before the hunters came back, they already knew something happened. Niossae dragged the body of his mate the rest of the way home, dedicated to bring his loved one back where she belonged, home. He laid next to her for long hours, hoping she would wake up. But she didn't. When the dawn was slowly creeping up, he got up and slowly started wandering into the forest, holding his head low. He heard the stories about the forest spirits, how kind and evil at the same time they can be. But he was willing to do anything for his beloved Riniya. Niossae slowly walked deeper and deeper into the forest, calling the spirits in his mind, begging. And they heard him. He had only one wish, for his mate to get another chance to live her life...

Everything has its price
The spirits agreed to bring Riniya back, however, the price for it was very high. Niossae listened closely. He wouldn't pay with his life for hers, as he expected, no. Instead of that, he will have to watch her slowly die again of old age, then his sons and daughters and their pups as well. The price for her life was his immortality and loyalty to the spirits. He didn't think about it too hard at the moment, accepting the offer, not realising that the gift he got right now will turn into curse eventually. He felt a chill run through his body... And heard a loud howl that he never thought he will hear ever again.

The good and the bad
His life was like a fairytale for a while. He ignored the grey fur slowly showing on his mate, all he wanted to do was to make her life the happiest in the world. He never told her what happened and the rest never asked questions, feeling the new aura seeping from their friend. Time went by until the day came, when he watched his mate die again. This time, her life wasn't taken brutally, she took her last breath feeling content and happy with the life she lived. Niossae was heartbroken again, but this time, he was willing to let her go. One last thing he promised was to always protect the pack, in the honour of her legacy. She was there when they were establishing Inocera and it was also her doing that made the pack grow into what it is now. And he never broke that promise.

Time means nothing
Niossae saw everyone die. He was standing above each member of his former pack and watched them take their last breath, though they all were dying of old age, not because of any harm from the outside. He kept his promise to always protect them. After Lannie took her last breath, only a few days after her mate died, he offered his loyalty to the new leader, Ginny. The whole pack knew his story, even though he was always keeping his distance from the pack. At very rare occasions, he would join the pack in their caves, telling the story of life and death, love and broken hearts. There were days when he disappeared for several days, keeping his promise to the spirits, but he always came home in the end, protecting the pack from all bad and evil. As the new leader passed, he promised his loyalty to Khala as well. The pack changed a lot and grew massive, but through Niossae, the previous generations always lived through his stories. And always will, forever.