Concentration; Anticipation

"Try again," Jhinto gently instructed and waved his hands across the two couples.

Although they had been practicing so hard, none of the four fated wolves had been able to 'meld'. It hadn't been easy to try, either. It took a lot of energy, concentration, and mental strength to even attempt it.

Lara and Myranda were both panting softly, but both of their male mates were 'chuffing', or choking back the urge to vomit.

"Can we...please...have a bre-ake?" Ajax managed to spurt out through his suffering.

"I am sorry, my young prince - but no. They know we are alive, and they are actively searching for us. We're stuck in here until we are able to unlock your blood's natural power." The wise old male spoke as kindly as he could, but it was clear he wasn't going to change his mind.

"Now, try again." He followed up and again gestured towards them.

"Aww..." Ajax and Myranda let out softly, which earned both of them slight glances of disappointment from their respective mates.

Metas and Lara both sat up straight and waited for the other two to do the same.

Once more, they touched foreheads and closed their eyes.

"Try going through your closest memories," Jhinto suggested.

Both Myranda and Metas were terrified at that prospect. While Ajax and Lara had their whole lives together, they had only had the past few months of this year.

For the older couple, it was easy to access deep, heartfelt memories - comforting one another as pups, play wrestling, small dramatic moments in their growing relationship, their first kiss, their hide and seek games as they dodged her parents and his barracks superiors. The first time they made love, and the secret vows they made to be husband and wife....the fact they were expecting their first baby....

It was the last thought that caused the two to relax their clenched brows and find peace in one another's souls. It felt as magical as the story made it sound - they both felt serenity at their paws and their bodies felt weightless and as though they were physically turning to light - because they were.

At first it felt like an odd trans, a weird push and pull of one another's consciousnesses - uncomfortable.

Once they gave in entirely to each other and let go of their fears - they fully melded together and could see through four eyes as one being.

Jhinto cheered in success, and clapped his hands with joy.

"Yes, yes! You've done it!"

Metas and Myranda both became jarred from their concentration and looked over at a stunning silver wolf with four white eyes that shone bright like the moon. It was elegant, beautiful, and smelled of a sweet summer rain that fell in the fall.

Mystical and regal, the ethereal wolf sat up straight with confidence.

"Now see how long you can hold that form, and then we will work on size and strength growth. This is fantastically fast, don't count your work out. You're achieving the impossible."

The old mage turned his attention to the Alpha and Luna and gave them a reassuring smile. "Go on, keep trying you two. We could use you both to fight that explosion."

The royal couple exchanged looks of worry and sadness, but tried again as instructed. Metas bent down low to rest his forehead to his small wife, who was trying to make it easier for him to lean down as she sat up as straight as tall as she could.

'You don't have to do that, my love" Metas comforted her softly and leaned down so he could tenderly nudge into her and push her back down to a comfortable position.

"I just want to do my part," she admitted with a bit of shame. Myranda felt like she was letting Metas down.

"My Alpha, and my Luna - I respectfully say this as your advisor and teacher; stop talking and concentrate. If you need to speak you can do so through one another if you try hard enough. Will it as one, and it shall be."

The Divine Wolf merely sat still as both souls strained to keep the image up. It was harder than they had thought it would be. It didn't feel as easy 'threading' the needle as it did sustaining the thread for it.

The ethereal light that once shined brilliantly was starting to die down, and the silver fur lost its illustriousness. Next, their eyes turned to their respective shades of green and blue, but still the form stayed whole.

They were straining, and it felt as though they were being stretched across the cosmos the longer they lingered together. Pain. Fatigue. Desperation to hold a great weight on a tight, thin line....

The thread snapped, and both the white and grey wolves fell into one another.

Lara was so drained from the endeavor that she completely passed out.

Ajax however tired was able to keep himself sturdy enough to catch his pregnant wife and slowly let her down towards the ground.

"Lara," Myranda gasped with worry and tore away from Metas to look over at her.

"She is fine, my Luna. Please, back to your studies." Jhinto cut in, but got up to check on the pair regardless."When you can, take the Duchess back to your pod and rest. We will have to do more work in the morning." He urged further.