It was one of the worst years in Quiltine, the oldest Alpha prince in the tribe passed away due to illness, leaving the second oldest son, who was an omega (much to the Chief's displeasure), take the place as the future Chief. The village was quiet, everyone gathered in the center to say their farewells to their beloved prince. The chief and his last remaining son stood there in silence as they watched the body of their loved one lowered into the fire. The flames burned brightly, his ashes rising into the sky and the wind carrying them.
Arthur held back his tears as he looked down at the ground, he and his brother weren't close but they were close enough for him to feel the loss in the pit of his stomach. All the regrets racing through his mind as the Shaman of the village chanted a prayer in their native language. The villagers went back to work to harvest for winter, but the young omega and his father stood there in silence, never moving as they gazed into the flames. It seemed like they had been standing there for eternity, like they were waiting for him to rise from the flames and brush off the soot, laughing off his own death like it was nothing.
It was a while before the Chief broke the silence, "My son…you must understand what this means…." Arthur nodded, "yes father…but please…let me choose my own mate." He said, turning his head to look up at his father. The Chief frowned, "Under one condition…he must be a prince and an Alpha." Arthur nodded, "yes father…" Arthur glanced at the flames once more before turning his back to the flames to go back to work. He joined the other omegas in the weaving tent, weaving was his silent time. The weaving tent was always silent, except for the whispers between two omegas looking for some help with their designs. Arthur sat on the floor, picking up his design, continuing it from where he left off. The silence was relaxing, it kept him calm and busy. He was exempt from hunting for a while due to his heat slowly approaching.
He hummed softly to himself, he had been weaving for a while now, he didn't know long he had been sitting there, just weaving. He had been working on this design of a satchel for his oldest brother when he went hunting to catch game before he had passed. Oh how he missed his brother, he was strict and fierce, but a brother none-the-less. His hands were beginning to get sore and tired. The satchel was almost done, possibly a couple more days if he worked on it for hours at a time without being disturbed. He set the design down, maybe he could give the satchel to his future mate, so it had meaning behind it. Arthur could weave some of his hair into it for good luck. He smiled softly at the simple thought.
He walked out of the tent, only to notice a ruckus at the entrance of the village itself. He could hear chanting of 'welcome's' as if they were expecting guests. Arthur walked forward, pushing his way through the crowd, although he didn't have to push much as some villagers stepped out of the way and bowed to him a little. He stood at the front of the crowd, taking a notice in what seemed to be hunters from a neighboring village. They must have brought game to signify their friendship to his native village. His eyes scanned the crowd but stopping on one hunter that caught his eye almost immediately. His hair shining like gold as it was being kissed by the sun, and his so blue as if the river lived in his eyes, and his smile was so bright as if he was happy with the world. Everything about the mysterious Alpha caught Arthur's attention.
He was attractive in every way, and just as muscular as every other hunter in the pack he stood among. It wasn't too long before the Alpha noticed him staring and they locked gazes, everything standing still as if in that moment their souls were connecting. Arthur's breath caught in his throat and his emerald eyes never left the mysterious blue eyes of the stranger. Arthur soon broke the gaze turning to push through the crowd, he needed to get a hold on himself. Once he was in the back of the crowd he placed a hand on his chest, trying to breath evenly so his heart could calm its beating. He would need to talk to his most trusted shaman for guidance as to what this could mean.
He glanced back at the crowd to see if anyone was watching him; perhaps now he could slip away and go do what he loved to do most. He walked to the back exit of the village, where it led deeper into the forest. He walked forward, never taking a single glance back as he did. He needed to escape for a while, to clear his mind and await the quiet in the village once the people have calmed down. Arthur didn't know if the hunters at the entrance were staying or not, but it didn't matter to him. He grabbed onto a branch of a tree and pulled himself up, grunting lowly. Once his feet were on the branch he steadily reached up to grab the next branch, tugging on it a bit to see if it was strong enough to hold him.
It didn't give out so he pulled himself up and continued to climb until he was at the very top, looking out over all the other tree's. He smiled and closed his eyes as a soft breeze blew across his skin, carrying the scent of the sweet spring flowers that were soon to grow. He was happy; Spring was his favorite time of the year. It was the one season where harvesting and planting begun, it was also the time of the Sacred Gathering. The Chief invited the neighboring allied villages Chiefs and people to join the Quiltine people in a feast and a sacred dance only danced by the native omega's in the village; Arthur included. Although he wasn't much of a dancer that was the one time he could and would dance. It had so much meaning to him, that dance is how his mother and father met.
He relaxed, watching the sun slip under the horizon, it was getting late which meant he had to be heading back to the village. He began to climb down, although close to the bottom the omega's hand slipped off the grip of the branch and it scratched his hand open. He whimpered softly, but carefully lowered himself to the safety of the soil beneath his feet. He looked at his hand and bit his lip, hissing in pain. The cut was bleeding rather badly, he would need a healer once he stepped foot back into his village. He walked quickly back and headed straight for the healer's tent. He walked in and looked up from his hand, only to notice someone that made his heart stop. The blue eyed stranger looked up and once again they locked gazes, but only this time...they were alone.