Broken Boulder when the city goes silent, the ringing in my ears gets violent
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Tucked away behind the bracken forest, the territory of sawtooth stone and winding tunnels had quickly become the pack's sanctuary. The Bracken Sanctuary. Bright as it was this night, the moon blanketed the earth with gentle shadows, casting a slim ashy caricature across the ground of the boy exploring fervently under its light. He slipped briskly between slanted boulders and over jagged patches of stone, head low. There was little joy in his hurried expedition. Briefly he would feign interest in a discovery, stop to sniff deeply or admire the sky, but his heart was not in it. The night came down to distraction; his means of survival, for now.
Alarian was many things; he could be kind, selfless even, and he could be patient and gentle but-- he couldn't be strong. He had never been strong. The boy had come to know the world as a place for those with strength, power. That he had survived in it this long was perhaps equally a miracle and a tragedy, when it had no true place for him. Eyes drawn skyward, Alarian wondered if he was ever meant to be happy.
He should have been, now. Everything was over, they had found a home, but-- but he was suddenly feeling everything as if for the first time. The dust had settled, and now that he could see the damage done it felt irreversible.
"Alarian."
The boy whipped his head around at the whisper, immediately assuming one of his packmates had found him. Nothing. He came to a halt, ears flattening suddenly, and another whisper, this time incomprehensible, danced over his left ear. Alarian swore he could feel the hot breath ruffling his fur. He jerked his head to the other side, movement stiff and mechanical. Something wild and unnatural glinted in his eyes. Hackles raised, he took a few steps back.
What-- what are you? He demanded, suddenly certain something was tormenting him. A spirit? Had he been cursed, followed-- was this a ghost from his past? The boy's mind flashed to his father, and a deep shudder wracked his body.
The silence that followed unnerved him; it was as if all sound had been removed from the world. Even the rustling of trees was gone to his ears. He shuddered again, mind racing.
Is it me? Am I going crazy? Or is this real-- am I haunted? Do I deserve this? What if--
He felt it then, looming over him. Alarian froze, too terrified to look up, but he knew if he did he would see it-- whatever it was. He would come face to face with it. One beat, two, three-- a deep, gurgling growl surrounded him, and stones dropped heavy in his stomach. His chest tightened, breath catching, and after a moment his terror became too great.
The boy shrieked and launched himself backwards, expecting to meet with the body of his tormentor. At first he felt only the frigid night air through his fur, the briefest flash of confusion. Alarian hit the stone hard, skull bouncing with a dull thump from the impact, and he knew no more fear-- only the blissful dark of unconsciousness.
Daisies, daisies perched upon her forehead
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They had arrived some time ago. And Korei Julia? She was loving this place. But perhaps it was more due to the company she kept with her. Alarian, Lennon. The girls, all of them. She went along to seek one of them out, Alarian. She followed his scent, and as she did she believed she was nearing it. "Ali...Aliii!" She called out in her ever-sweet tone. 

And that she did. At first she saw someone, or something there on the ground. Fear struck her as she realized Alarian's scent was coming from them. Korei knew then it was him. But was he all right? Fear struck harder at her heart as she saw him unmoving when she whined to get his attention. "No...no no no no!" 

She ran over, and got immediately to looking him over. He was all, she continued to just assume that. "Ali, wake up!" She felt panic...the same panic of Galaxy. She tried shaking him with a paw. Not knowing he was in fact just unconscious.
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He was roused by the paw pressed to him, shaking him-- the boy had been out for hours, but in his mind the incident was still fresh. His reaction was immediate.
Alarian flinched back, eyes wide and full of wild fear. Even when he recognized Korei, he did not calm; his reaction simply morphed. Tears filled his eyes and he pushed forward to press desperately against her, seeking comfort. After a few beats he began to sob, unable to form thoughts-- much less words-- in what he perceived as the immediate aftermath of his torment. Shame and fear of her reaction held back the flood of incoherent pleas lurking in his throat, threatening to rise up like bile.
Something is wrong, he wanted to tell her, please help me.
But the words never came. All he could offer was tears.
Daisies, daisies perched upon her forehead
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Alarian awoke, and she felt relieved for about half a second before he flinched away. "Alarian?" she asked, a very worried look on her face. Then he immediately pushed his dace into her fur. It stunned her, seeing this. All the time, she was the one crying, never him. Yet, here he was. Korei was unsure of what to do, her mother had only comforted her once but that had not gone well. In fact...she did not recall anyone who had...she could not...

Then she remembered. Someone in Moonspear had. Lennon had as well. She put her chin on his shoulder, trying not to whine or whimper. "It's okay...it's okay" she said, her voice a little shaky.