The hallway was filled with frescos of bright colors, from the ceiling, decorated like a famous cathedral, to the walls and floor. The figures were not as religious but more decadent, more primal, more animalistic, vampires, wolves, and humans.

Intimidation by art. She whispered as she passed the life-size paintings of nudes in an orgy. I remember that Elaina said with a smile as they passed.

Where are the ears? Kuroko spoke.

They were pulled back as I remember... she said without a thought.

Kuroko wasn't paying attention to anything in particular. Looking up at the ceiling with more nudes in various positions, she caught sight of something and tightened her brow. Is that? recognizing a few familiar faces. Especially the one walking in front of her, from the edge of her eye, she watched her long tail slowly swish.

Yep... Elaina said with a grin, and I was younger... A little thinner... She chuckled, a little shy.

Are you kidding? Right... that by no means is shy. Kuroko blushed.

She shook with a bit of laughter, embarrassment, and awe. It was my first time...and yes...I am with who you think it is...by the goddess, I looked fantastic back then, and she was pissed off seeing that bright as day on the ceiling...oh, she could've killed the artist.

And who was... that lived?

Michelangelo

who? You mean?

Yep... the same one who painted the Sistine chapel... It took him four years to do it...

isn't he?

Has been for a long while. But you know artists back then...drink, carouse and work...and when they are about to meet their maker...well...you party, have love affairs with men and women. One which will get you sent to hell... if you believe in it... she shrugged, but find yourself a little vampire and beg a lot... and I mean a lot. And here you are... she pointed to the ceiling and the walls.

I don't remember any of this, kuroko said, shaking her head.

Because you came into the front as usual and went to the guest wing, this is the business front entrance. She pointed to some huge wooden doors. There were two colossal marble statues. One of a wolf and one of a female vampire. They stood as if guarding the large wooden doors: each holding weapons and each bowing their heads.

Why? She wondered.

Because the mistress of the mansion always walks through them to greet special guests and walks them through another set of doors.

So, Megumi always...

Yep, that's her way of... Elaina smirked. Making sure all wolves and vampires on the island will lower their heads to her, but we've never bowed our heads to her. Not to any vampire. She sighed willingly.

Kuroko knew the history of wolves and silently nodded as she looked down the hall, seeing no end in sight. How long is it? She wondered. Elaina shrugged. Oh... About 500 meters... I guess give or take a few feet. She asked, would you like to rest? Pointing to a marble bench. One of many spaced along the hallway.

No, looking around, are all these...

Nodding, yeah, it's the history of our kind. Birth of queens, empires, battles, everything from the vampire's perspective. She laughed, walked over to the wall-size fresco. It was old and faded, and cracked. Elaina gently ran her fingers over the texture.

What's this?

As far as we are concerned, it is one of two of the most important paintings in this hallway. This one is called, pointing at a small image underneath the overhang of one boulder. Elaina whispered as if she were entangled in a romance. Her face flushed.

It was an image of a landscape. There was an open field of greens on browns, surrounded by dark forests—a small circle of boulders. A dark figure of a boy kneeling with his hand out and underneath one of the larger boulders, taking shelter, was a small girl. The sun was setting, hiding among the dark of the forest, four riders on horseback waiting as the sun fell behind the trees.

Kuroko thinned her eyes and looked closer. The first?

Yeah... Elaina barely answered as she tapped the boys' image, looking lost in feelings and memories.

Did you know?

Elaina shook her head. I'm not that old... She said, but I do know the story. The name of this work is called fate.

Fate?

Yeah... Elaina's eyes lost their luster as they dimmed. Her lower lip quivered. The little girls taking shelter underneath the boulders is the first. The only one, I, we... wolves will ever bow our heads too. She ruled the first Empire.

So, she's important... Because...

They forced her against her will. Much like us, all she wanted was to be with him... She gently placed her finger on the image of the boy.

Why?

Because he found her, and when he realized what she was, he didn't care.

And those, pointing to the horseman hidden in the forest.

Elaina's mouth slipped into a smile. They don't know it yet... They're just too stupid to see that they're dead. Once the sun disappears behind the trees, they will burst out of the forest... That way. Sliding her finger along the brown of the road, he kills two before they even take off, running down the road into the other side of the woods. Before, his mother and father come to the rescue. She is the reason why I am here today. And her influence is felt throughout the empires.

Is he human?

Elaina nodded, yes.

Did he have a name? What was hers?

Tessa... we know her only as Tessa.

Him?

The elder Wolf held a chuckle, and you won't believe it. She let a whisper of a laugh slip away. I'm surprised he didn't tell you.

Who didn't tell me..?

Ronan.

And why would he tell me? she quickly answered, her tone was a mix of why would that arrogant jerk tell me and why would I believe that arrogant jerk.

Because that is the name of the boy, she gently tapped the image.

Reeealllly, Kuroko's voice dropped, she rolled her eyes...so he's named after the guy in the legend. Figures... with an ego like that. She groaned, but... I guess it's a sad story.

Why? The Wolf tilted her head, with her brow furled, her long ears straightened, her mouth pursed.

Well, I mean... He dies right or something.

Or something? Her mouth slowly curved.

hmmm

.

..

...

I'm told he is special... Elaina said there's a rumor that when he dies, he always returns.

What?! Kuroko's face twisted. Oh, come on. Are you pulling my... what are we talking about... reincarnation?

No, really... My grandmother told me so.

Kuroko thinned her eyes, glared back, Come on...

Before my grandmother passed, she said the last time Tessa, and he were together was 900 years ago. It was the battle with the great warlord. One of the five Royal houses left.

A thousand wolves, he and Tessa on Mongolia's plains took on and routed 100,000 vampire warriors. He died later of his wounds... But it is said he would return.

Kuroko rolled her eyes. Come on, what else are you going to say. You believe that.

Elaina's head dropped, and she looked kuroko straight in the eyes. And her long tail wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. I never lie. Do you know why? She said with an arched brow. I only have to say the truth once. And you have to defend a lie a thousand times. And besides... You really stink. She said, quickly running her tongue over kuroko' s face.

Slobber rolled down her face, Gross! Dammit, she yelled, trying to push herself away. Elaina's tail wrapped around her waist, and she gently let her go. She laughed as she shook her head. It's a legend... But as you know, all legends are based on fact.

I'll fact you.

Is that wordplay? she looked happy, which was not something you wanted an elder wolf to look. Always the opportunistic predator or sexual predator.

You know better. Come on... Let's go.

She's a lucky girl, kuroko.

Kuroko smiled softly, blushed, and murmured, no, I am...

Elaina smiled. She heard her words but held her response. Kuroko never recovered, even now. A decade had passed. The pain never leaving, just hiding deep inside, left her heartbroken. With miles to go, it always starts with the first step.

That some Wolf logic, wiping the slobber from her face.

In that case, it's the first paw. By the way, you smell a lot better now, she said, with a quick swish of her tail. The Vampires won't bother you.

I don't know hhooowww to thank you, Elaine, wrinkling her nose, but now I can smell it.

they walked a little further in silence. neither one spoke. but an elder wolf is not one to remain silent for a long time. unless on a hunt or...well, even then, there's a lot of noise. but anyway.

Hey, Elaina softy spoke.

What? Kuroko roughly answered. She didn't like the innocent tone Elaina was using. It meant something…something unexpected.

What animal…

She paused…is grey.

She smirked…has four legs.

She paused.

Get on with it…kuroko gave a hard sigh.

I'm getting there…. she rubbed her chin, rolling her eyes in thought.

That's a ploy…kuroko knew.

Howls at the moon…

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…. kuroko rolled her eyes…. Is this a wolf joke?

Elaina didn't answer. Hmmm….and eats cement?

HUUHH? whaaattt thhheee, kuroko's shoulders sank, closed her eyes, and groaned.

What animal…is grey, has four legs, howls at the moon, and eats cement?

She thought it over, glared at the Wolf…Elaina wiggles her long black ears, well…she said with a mischievous smile slipping across her face.

Why do I feel like a bunny?

I like rabbits! Elaina quickly answered. In a stew, chili, roasted with minimal veggies and especially raw, after a long chase. Perhaps adding a little wild boar or bison.

I get it…you like meat.

Well, I will admit it. If my belly is upset, I'll munch on some grass, she chuckled. Kuroko chuckled, imaging Elaina in her massive wolf form lying in the tall grasses chewing away.

So…the answer?

I was going to say a wolf…it usually the only answer for you guys…but I don't…

It's a wolf…Elaina quickly nodded. I just threw in eats cement to make it harder. Besides, cement is too hard and dry…she raised her head and howled.

Ugh. I hate wolves.

A list of elder and shewolves favorite jokes follows. (thank you, .com and readers digest. )