Not Forgotten

Cassandra didn't want to watch Silas' execution. She thought she did, but when the time had come, she couldn't stomach it.

It wasn't because she still loved him - it was more that she pitied him because he was used just as badly as she had been. While most of the pack watched the battle, she followed some of the children and peaceful types out in the forest to find food for the upcoming celebration.

No one expected Silas to win, especially her. There was no glory in watching someone get beaten who had no chance in the first place. Plus, she didn't want the memory of a broken face, it would ruin the contempt she had for him; no, he was best remembered with that shitty face of his and that cocky smile that she loathed so deeply.

The light brown-haired female took her anger out on some nearby dandelion as she ripped the roots from the ground violently as she thought of his smug attitude.

"I take it you have a serious vendetta against flowers..." came a smooth, deep, calming voice from behind her back.

Cassandra jerked her head around with a gasp as the male startled her. Both because his presence wasn't felt, and that he was very handsome.

He was tall, really thin with very little muscle, and his hair was a beautiful sleek black with stripes of silver that he had in a low ponytail. It was his eyes that were the most captivating, though - they were a white-like greenish blue that had lines of gold running through it. They mimicked two gorgeous blue topaz stones. It was absolutely alluring.

However, she wasn't interested in alluring. She wasn't in the mood for adventure, or love, or whatever it was. So instead of allowing herself to be soft towards another person, she felt it was best to cut it off here and now. Beautiful blue eyes or not.

"Woah, sorry. I just noticed you were here by yourself and brutally attacking flora. Are you okay?" He asked with warmth Cassandra had never ever heard before.

"I'm fine, thank you." She said far too bitterly than she intended.

"Cassandra, right?" He asked pleasantly.

"If you're going to yell at me too, or blame me for something - can you please do it later? I'm kind of not in the mood," she finished flatly and turned back around to the patch of flowers.

"I did not come here to do that. I was honestly concerned. I know what others say and everything, but I'm not like that. You aren't to blame for what Silas did. Hopefully it will all die down after the fight today." He was clearly trying to console her, but she wasn't having it because she didn't turn around.

"My name is Taesan, but everyone just calls me Tae. My father was the mayor of our village, and Silas killed him looking for you. Those are the facts, and I'm not going to hold it against you. You didn't do anything wrong other than try to do what you could to help," he added in hopes it would spark some interest from her.

"I'm sorry for what Silas did. I wish I could have prevented that," Cassandra replied and let out a sad sigh.

"Like I said, I didn't come here for that. I came here to check on you." Tae repeated.

"Why?" She asked sourly. It was hard to believe anyone would want to talk to her, let alone comfort her.

"Everybody needs a friend - and like I said, I'm not like the others. I'm not going to blame you for what that idiot did. I would run away from him, too." He continued to speak with her despite her cold demeanor and joined her at her side and started to pick at the stems that were half-ripped in the dirt.

It was near impossible for her to trust others at this point, but he wasn't /too/ bad. She tolerated his presence, but did not go out of the way to keep the conversation going. Cassandra did however stop thrashing at the remainder of the gaggle of flora and became far more gentle, as though she was soaking up Tae's spirit.

There was no scent, however. It was as though she had been cursed - and not even the sweetest smells would waft past her nose. So even if he magically was (or really anyone was) her next mate, she'd never know it.

Somehow, there was some peace in that for her.

"My mom wasn't really well loved in her original village. My dad fell in love with her, and they left when she was pregnant with me. My mother was also blamed for the sins of another. She taught me that to hold something against the shared blood of your enemy is pathetic and low. It's just a way to channel your anger on to someone so that you, yourself can feel better." Tae didn't look at her as he spoke, but his voice was still so gentle and soft. It seemed like everything he said was thoughtfully planned out before he opened his mouth.

Cassandra just listened, she wasn't sure what to say - and honestly, she didn't feel like talking to a stranger. Listening was comfortable for right now, though.

"I promised her on her death bed that I would never judge someone based on the actions of another. She was very sick before it was all over, and the two things she begged of me was to never forget she loves me, and to never forget to be kind." He looked over to Cassandra briefly just to see her beautiful yellow eyes. She was still focused on the ground.

"I just felt like you needed someone to tell you that. You're not to blame for the sins of others. From what I can tell, he was just using you. That's not what we were born for, you know - to be used by others." He paused and waited to see if she would speak.

No dice. She was silent, but she felt 'warmer' somehow - and so he just kept going.

"After the fight is over, rumor has it there will be a party and not just a feast. Lots of wolves will be there to celebrate Silas' downfall - but I think I'll also be there to celebrate the freedom of a beautiful female who just got caught up in the storm around her," he tried to be smooth about it, but she turned to him and frowned this time.

"Too far? I'm sorry."

"It's just that you don't even know me. You came over here to console the person whose fault it was your whole life was ruined? Do you think I am buying this?" Cassandra asked out of pain, and not anger.

Tae seemed to be able to to tell as he listened to her words and then nodded once with a very faint smile.

"I don't need to know you to see that you're being crucified. I don't need to sit here and speak with you about your feelings because I can tell you're in a bad place. I just wanted to come and comfort someone who was having a very hard time. Also, I think you're too smart to fall for anything I'd be trying to 'sell' you, so I'm pretty sure you still distrust me." He replied casually and finished up the little patch of green and gold they had finished pulling up.

"What I was trying to get at, is if you come to the party-" he was not allowed to continue.

"I'm not going. It would be too awkward. I don't belong with the rest of you. I'm just as guilty for not standing up to my father or Silas sooner. My weakness resulted in your suffering," she started with wavering words as she started to quiver in her voice and through her hands.

"I don't deserve to celebrate any of that. I'm part of the problem."

When she finished, she stood up with steel in her feet and legs that she stood more straight than she had ever done so in her life.

Tae merely looked up to her and gave her a weak smile. "Alright. I won't badger you anymore about it. Just think about me if you do go down for a meal and some music. I would love to dance with you."

"...Yeah, okay." Cassandra shot back and turned away from him. He was just another gorgeous face to trick her into something - and she was done with all of that.

Before she walked away she at least had remembered her manners, and turned her head over her shoulder to genuinely say, "thank you for the chat. Your company wasn't intolerable. Enjoy the party."

"Sure thing, Cassandra. I hope you decide to drop by." He replied with a soft patience that was filled with a stilling calm. Almost like a gentle stream.

The wounded female merely sighed heavily, and shook her head without turning back towards him once her back was showing to him again. What a different story this would have been had she just tried to break free from her father sooner.

She had not forgotten her past failures, and didn't plan on doing so now.