"If you pardon me saying, but your heart is beating loud enough for anyone in the forest to hear. Honestly, it's quite the tempting sound."

Oh, dear mother, I love you... I'm sorry, I wasn't good enough

Vantus was born to Dame Nyoka and Duke Erebus of the Caedis Tribe. It was a small litter, with his only littermate being his brother, Makara. Some hours after their difficult birth their mother went out of the camp to rest. Nyoka was ambushed and killed by her brother, Discord. Her sudden death left his father distraught and broken. In a single day, he became a single father and had to take up the reigns of leading the tribe as the new Sire. While Erebus did his best to raise his sons, he wasn't an extremely intentive father due to his obligations as Sire. Vantus and Makara were left to their own devices most of the time once they were old enough.

He was the quieter of the litter-mates; more soft-spoken. Compared to his brother Vantus sought out attention and affection from his family. Makara was the more violent of the two, often having chaotic episodes. Vantus was bullied frequently by his brother, often getting beat up. Despite this Vantus always tried to form a relationship with his sibling. He loved him despite his temperament and Makara only grew distant.

When the siblings were only a few months old their father died. Erebus fell at the claws of a loner, Bec with his son watching from the foliage. Bec wasted no time taking over the title of Sire. It wasn't long after this that Makara wandered off and vanished. Vantus still isn't sure what came of his brother; whether he died or simply ran away. He stuck around, however under this new leadership, being the only home he knew. For whatever reason, he was able to survive, whether Bec was simply unaware of his lineage or just didn't care for the traditions. Vantus would lay low and was able to grow up.

In my heart I know I failed you, but you left me here alone

The instability of his pup-hood, and growing without a proper family unit left Vantus bitter. He often blamed himself for the fall of his family; for not being strong enough. As he aged he grew distant. The harshness of the world made him loathe his existence. He deemed relationships pointless if at any moment those you cared for would die. Something within the canine would morph. His angst turned into hatred for both himself and those around him. This hatred drew him to chaotic episodes. The only thing that kept him remotely sane was a training mender by the name of Sorae who was only a little older than him. It was the only one that came close to the title of friend.

Vantus went from being soft-spoken to aggressive for mere survival. He often took out his anger on others, his mere size usually giving him an advantage. This did not go unnoticed by his superiors. When he challenged and successfully killed the Viceroy of the tribe he was given the rank. This only made him yearn to raise the ranks higher. He grew determined to take down Bec and reclaim what should have rightfully been his, the throne. Vantus would dedicate himself to training. He grew stronger and this gave him the confidence to become more dominant over those under him. This would come at a cost, however. Sire Bec would learn of his parentage through whispers. He was automatically punished and demoted to the rank of grunt.

It was during this time Vantus would form somewhat of a friendship with the current Duchess Morgana. She felt pity for the male and in a way became somewhat of a mother-like figure due to the age difference. Sire Bec wasn't an intentive leader. He didn't care for ruling the Caedis Tribe, leaving most to their own devices. Instead, he focused more on himself and his desires. With the tribe in shambles due to poor leadership, he just left one day. Rumors say he ran off with a love interest. His brief rule over a year was taken over by a wolf named, Paradox. She rose as the Dame and tried to bring order to the chaotic group of infected.

Dynasty decapitated, you just might see a ghost tonight

Dame Paradox would have one of the shortest reigns over the Caedis Tribe. She never could bring the tribe back under proper leadership. Enraged for both his own family and the state the tribe was left in, Vantus began to scheme. He was determined to finally take the chance and bring glory back to his family's name. The grunt challenged the Dame for her title. Vantus used his size and strength to overpower and crush her during the fight. Paradox was chased from the tribe she had barely even held reign over. He would go down as one of the first and only grunts in the tribe to rise in power so quickly. The male had taken back the place he had been denied for so many years.

The tribe instantly began to morph back to its former glory under his rule. Those below him would listen as insubordination came with heavy punishment. The start of his reign came with some changes in ranks and hierarchy. For whatever reason the rank of Viceroy was completely demolished due to the bitter memories it brought forth in the Sire. Vantus' initial ruling days were spent on reforging the power for his family name and asserting his dominance overall. These days were rather aggressive, filled with harsh punishments and labor for those beneath his rank. He bathed in the glory of his new rank and took full advantage of it. Vantus lived a life of luxury.

During this time he used his status to get was he desired. He was rather promiscuous. One of his brief partners was a coyote name Vires. She was a loner and not infected. The mating led to Vantus' first son, Lenex. Vantus wasn't quite ready to be a father and as such young Lenex spent his early days solely being raised by his mother within the plague-lands. He would come to have many flings during this time and no doubt sire other offspring, though none have come forward or survived. Lenex would remain the only one he knew about and accepted as his own.

Morgana was older and not being born with the infection, the pandemonium plague finally began to take its toll on her. She would eventually die, leaving Vantus with the loss of his loosely coined, mother-like figure. None would rise to take her rank by his side as Duke or Duchess. Between this and becoming a father, the Sire began to settle down. He became realistic in his approach to leadership. Over time he'd come to trade his chaotic tendencies for those of intelligence. He became calculating and eventually would work out the delicate balance he'd need to secure his rank of Sire. Vantus was no fool. He'd work his tribe-members in just the right ways, being both aggressive as needed, but also reasonable.

I am so much more than Royal

Still playing out... not all stories are finished in the plague-lands