As the source of many of the Mountain's problems and the Queen's grief, I, along with every citizen remember the night that began it all. The King went out hunting for more food ever since the Queen learned she was pregnant with their fourth child.

It was a tradition of the Mountain that upon learning that your wife has become pregnant, once every week you and (if you have them) your sons hunt for food for their wife and mother. So the King went out with Orion, Sagi, and Leo, his sons. But, he was too overzealous and ran into danger with humans, so he sent back his sons to the Mountain where they lived, telling them, "If anything is to happen to me or I do not return, take care of your mother and future sibling."

He turned to the humans and with a menacing growl and glowing blue eyes, he attacked.

The princes came back alone that day, without the King. They were winded and taking deep, heavy breaths. Gasping for breath after each word, they yelled, "Mother! ... Dad...humans...help!" Their eyes were glazed over, about to cry. They turned their heads down in shame from running away in fear and abandoning their own father in his time of need.

The Queen, ever so full of confidence, shouted in a calm voice, " Send a decree! Look for my husband! Look for your King! We shall hunt tonight and feast on the humans that dare challenge us in our own territory!"

"No! You can not!" I had said out loud to her majesty disregarding my position and earning myself more than a few cold stares. I didn't care. "You are pregnant with a child, your majesty. You can risk your own life if it meant saving the King, but Queen, you mustn't risk the life of an unborn child!"

I didn't know what had come over me that day, I had more courage that day than I had my whole life. I sometimes wonder for what reason I survived my outburst to breathe the air of tomorrow. Maybe because if I hadn't, then neither would Her Highness.

If looks couldn't kill, I would be sure I was in no danger. They stared at me. The Queen, The princes, the guards, and the maids, the cooks, the hunters, and everyone present stared at me. The attention didn't last long because my worries weren't unfounded.

"What sort of Queen would I be if I let the citizens, the people I cherish, fight while I lazed around unable to help?!"

The courage that coursed through me must've been contagious or caused by an unnatural celestial phenomenon because even the lowest of wolves wouldn't dare do what I was about to witness.

It was very sudden because I didn't see who did it and neither did the Queen. An attack on the back of her neck knocked her out almost instantly, but not before she locked eyes with everyone present, paralyzing them where they stood.

I was so stunned and afraid, I couldn't utter a word or move a muscle. No one could. If it weren't for the fear running through everyone like blood, no one would notice the three wolves entering the cave.

"Mother!" The leading wolf whaled from the entrance and ran to the Queen.

What woke everyone from the stupor of fear was that the wolf was Prince Orion, first son of the King.

Everyone was surprised at the attack on the Queen, but no one failed to notice there was a second Orion already in the cave standing motionlessly about 10 feet away from where the Queen collapsed.

The wolf that ran in was followed by two familiar faces. The faces of prince Sagi, the second son, and prince Leo, the third son came into view.

The First Orion yelled, " An imposter! Guards, attack!"

On instinct, all guards responded to that voice with no hesitation. They raised their paws and slashed. Lights of blue and purple lashed out on the wolf in the middle of the cave. He dodged.

"HOW DARE YOU?! Is this a revolt?! First my father, then my mother, and now me?"

Second Orion moved next to a wolf who had attacked him. His mouth opened. He bit into his neck. Blood leaked out of his mouth. He threw him to the side. The wolf's body was a ragdoll as he flew threw the air and impacted the wall.

"Is this how you betray your Alpha? While he is being attacked by both humans and wolves, you attack his wife and children? SUCH COWARDICE!"

Everyone was confused by the prince's words. Humans ... and wolves? Then the Second prince Leo, seeing their confusion, walked up and spoke with gritted teeth, "We were attacked by cowardly humans who were helped by traitorous bastards. We came back because treachery is like an Icy Rheana, its roots run deep, and to get rid of it, you must start at the source."

Then the Second Sagi came up and spoke, "Brothers, I think I know what is going on here." Second Leo and Second Orion turned to Second Sagi. "The wolf who yelling imposter is one himself, along with the two wolves behind him who look like Leo and me." Second Leo and Second Orion turned their heads back to First Orion and brothers. Then realization donned upon them.

Second Sagi stepped forward, "If you would let me... Guards! Everyone!" He shouted. "There are imposters amongst ourselves. Whether they are us or the ones who have been here the whole time isn't possible for you to tell at this moment."

Everyone was confused, Second Leo and Second Orion included. " And since you can not tell who is real and who is an imposter, I implore you to stand back and not interfere. This is in the best interest of everyone." Everyone backed up on his suggestion.

"What are you doing?! He is trying to separate us, so they can gang up on us. Help us defeat these imposters!" First Orion screeched, backing up and nervously looking around for help.

"I really don't understand how you all were tricked by these COWARDLY FOOLS! Gang up? It is three VS three. You need help? If you were really us," Orion started saying.

At this point, even the stupidest people could tell who the real princes were. We had wanted to help, but before we could we were nailed to the ground, frozen in fear.

The real princes started moving forward, killing intent visibly coming off them.

"YOU WOULDN'T NEED HELP!" Sagi shouted. "YOU WOULDN'T WANT HELP!" Leo roared. "YOU STAIN OUR NAMES, IMPOSTERS!" Orion exploded.

They all pounced forward. Orion on fake Orion, Sagi on fake Sagi, Leo on fake Leo.

Orion came before the fake in an instant. His maw clamped down on the fake's neck. The fake thrashed until he was free, though not unwounded. His neck had deep punctures and long gashes. His blood formed a pool below him.

Not wasting a moment, Orion attacked again. This time with a claw to the eye. Thick clear liquid sprayed out of his eye while blood soaked the surrounding fur.

Sagi shot arrows of blue light at the fake Sagi. Fake Sagi dodged. The first one only skimmed an ear. The second drilled into his leg, turning it blue.

The fake tumbled but got up. He sprang forward in attack. The blue was spreading up his leg fast. Soon he couldn't a muscle, and his eyes burned in hatred.

Leo...stood still. He waited until his opponent was ready. They locked eyes. Leo sprinted forward. His body grew to the size of a Polar Deamon. His paw came forward and rose up. It came down upon the fake and a resounding boom echoed. Bloody intestines, organs, and bones covered the floor.

"They were not worthy," he muttered quietly, but in the silent cave, it was deafening.

We all thought it was over, but when the King did not come back for many moons and the Queen left the palace in secret to search for the missing King, the Mountain was uneasy.

Most people had forgotten, even I had. Prince Orion did not.

Prince Orion, as the beta wolf, had a responsibility to lead the Mountain in the Alpha's absence, but he was always traveling places, visiting people, and too busy. He was investigating something. People thought he was looking for the Queen and King, but he wasn't.

"Brother, any news?" Leo found Orion in the cave where their mother was attacked.

"No. Nothing. Not a hair, a nail, a rumor, anything! No one saw who attacked mother. No one, not even father could attack mother and knock her out in one hit," Orion said, depressed and angry. "No one in the whole Mountain could... THAT'S IT! Leo, no one in the whole Mountain! Hahaha, I'm so stupid. I thought we still had a traitor amongst us."

"Orion, what is it, you know who did it?" Leo questioned, very excited.

"No, I have not a single clue!" Orion laughed loudly and proudly.

'That's it, brothers broken,' Leo shook his head.

"Go, get me our brother, he can get us the answer we need."

"Brother, you sure this is the person? He seems so old it's a miracle he can walk, much less attack mother," Leo looked towards Orion, unsure how this old wolf could be of any harm.

"Yes, I am. Not one wolf on the whole Mountain could surprise mother, even if she was distracted and pregnant. I've had Sagi perform a census secretly and this person is the only abnormality."

The princes had secretly followed the stranger to a secluded cave in a distant Mountain. He sat quietly, unmoving for hours. He had scars more numerous than their mother. His fur was as white as father's. It didn't seem bleached or dyed either.

'Is this a wolf from the south? If not, why would someone related to us do such a thing?' Orion thought, confused why someone of royal blood would hurt another royal, especially the queen. So, they stayed and continued their observation, hoping to glean an answer.

Moons had past and they finally reached their limit. They were hungry and even Orion couldn't stop himself from confronting the old wolf. Though, at that moment, the decision was made by someone else.

"Boys, I think you've had enough time. Come, join me for a hunt," a gruff, experienced voice boomed out of the cave.

They jumped back in fright, senses on high alert. Even Orion's eyes widened a little. Still, he walked forward and spoke, "Stranger, I think you owe us some answers first." He narrowed his eyes and let out a dense killing intent.

Without skipping a beat, the old wolf replied, "I'm hungry, aren't you?"

Orion retracted his aura and said, "Yes, we are quite famished."

Sagi and Leo were flabbergasted, "Aren't we going to fight? He attacked mother!"

With a piercing stare, Sagi and Leo shut up. The old wolf came out and started walking into the deep part of the forest. Normally you hear the sounds of insects and beasts in the wild, but where he was going, the only sound that comes out was the dying cries of wandering animals.

Blood covered and tired, Orion would not continue this farce, "We've had enough of this game, tell me why did you attack our mother?"

A deadly look donned on the old wolf's face and he stared as the three young princes, "It is not time yet. Her health cannot be risked because your mother got emotional over her husband. Go now. Come to me when you have no answers and your mother has no road left. I will clear the road and shine a light upon her problem."

"Then, why have you not searched for mother after she snuck out?" Sagi questioned the old wolf suspiciously.

"Hmph. If you think just any bastard could hurt her then you know nothing.Go. Now! I will not repeat myself."

Orion, Sagi, and Leo seemed more confused than they were when they first started, but the old wolf's voice didn't leave room for discussion.

As they walked away towards the Mountain, the old wolf muttered under his breath, "Stupid great-grandchildren, didn't even recognize me. Though, I think the older one noticed we are related."

They stumbled in together. The King had cuts and dried blood all over his body. He was even limping on a leg. But, the Queen was worse. She was more blood than wolf, and a long gash ran from side to side over her belly. She was being carried by the king, completely passed out.

"Queen! King!"

"Mother! Father!"

As everyone sprinted forward to meet them, the King collapsed onto the ground with no energy left.

Though they were worried, most were relieved. After all, the King and the Queen were alive.

To this day, the King and Queen have not spoken a word about what happened or how they got back, to the public, but many have speculated.

Two years have passed since the King and Queen returned half dead, but the waters of the Mountain had not settled. The Queen could not become pregnant. She grew lethargic and uncaring. I would often see her crying when she thought no one was looking.

"Orion, Sagi, Leo, my sons. There is nothing more we can do besides let her live peacefully. Trust me, there is nothing I wouldn't do to make her happy and healthy again. But, there is nothing we can do," The king spoke in a consoling voice to his sons.

Grinding his teeth together, Leo snapped, "You're just giving up! We're not weak like you, we won't give up! Something, someone can help! We'll find it!"

Orion looked up and said suddenly, "What you just say?!"

"You're just giving up?" Leo said confused.

"No, not that!"

"We're not weak like you, we won't give up?"

"No, after that," Orion said.

"Something, someone can help?"

"Yes! That! Someone! Yes, that's it! Someone can help," Orion said excitedly.

The King was confused over his son's outbreak, "Yes someone probably could help, but who knows where or who they are?"

"That's it! I do!" Then looking at Sagi and Leo Orion said, "We do!"

"We do?"

"We do?"

They said in almost perfect harmony.

"Remember: 'Come to me when you have no answers and your mother has no road left. I will clear the road and shine a light upon her problem.'"

The King butted in and said, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Orion went on to explain their meeting with the old wolf.

"Come, I'll show you the way, we'll go together."

They walked out of into a small clearing before a small secluded mountain with an even smaller cave entrance.

They walked into the cave with the will to do anything to help their mother and wife. The wolf King got down on his stomach and begged to the darkness "Please, help us. My wife and their mother..." The old wolf stopped them, knowing what would be asked, "Get up! How could my own gran- Anyways, her problem is not that she can't get pregnant, it is that she has been pregnant all along."

The King was surprised he knew what they would ask but more than that, he was surprised at the answer. 'She has been pregnant all along; the baby is still alive?'

As if reading the King's mind the old wolf said, "The stupid fools who attacked you could hurt the Queen, they could hurt you, but they could not hurt your baby."

'Then why is she not showing any of the signs of being pregnant,' the King question appeared inside his head, but the old wolf seemed like he was building up to something so they let him continue.

"Something would have happened to the Queen regardless of if you were attacked or not because Her vessel is awaiting Her soul and it is at the right size now. It is not the time for the Queen's descent into this world, Her body may be alive, but she is not growing. When she shows signs, it will be time. The ancestors have prophesized this."

As if possessed he spoke in an ominous tone, "When She is birthed into this world, the World shall fall to its knees! FOR THE QUEEN OF THE FOREST HAS ARRIVED!"