Redhawk Caldera when you are dreaming, you see for miles and miles

Occurring at the same time as Somnia's event, so if you want to have your character discover him it'll be some time after that. RIP Amon.

It took a lot of effort to breathe now. Coughing usually accompanied his strained inhalations, which made his lungs feel like they were full of soil and stone. Amon had chosen to distance himself again - ever since finding that hidey-hole with Somnia - and had been avoiding contact for almost a week now. He hadn't seen the doctor, as he had promised. His shoulder was inflamed, but this was something Amon ignored as another spasm of coughing tore through him; his eyes watered, his skin felt like it were aflame, and his lethargy from the beginning of winter had become a great burden.

He hadn't eaten since Peregrine had called him to that carcass, days ago. Instead of seeking out caches (and potentially getting his sick all over the food), Amon had chosen to remain sequestered in the forest; he was deteriorating, and was at the point where nothing interested him. The poor old man just wanted to sleep - either to recouperate, or just to get away - and he had found a cluster of trees beyond the caldera's claim where he could do just that.

All Amon could think as he bundled himself up, as he sluggishly turned in a semi-circle and slumped to the ground, was, I hope Donnie finds me. Maybe he'd infect his little brother with whatever this was. Amon could become the best weapon against a possible invasion. But the thought lingered for only another moment; as Amon curled himself in to as tight a ball as he could manage, his tail draped across his snout, and the sound of his gravel-breathing finally eased to silence.

Peregrine stood over the body of his dead pack mate and steadied himself with a deep breath. He had been out for a walk when he had seen Amon curled on the ground. He had called out to him, only to be met with an ominous silence. Now he knew why he hadn't received an answer. Slowly, the Alpha male lowered his muzzle, touching his nose against Amon's cold, stiff shoulder. He wondered how long ago Amon had stopped here. Hours? Days?

He thought back on the last time he'd seen the old timer alive. It couldn't have been more than two or three weeks ago. Peregrine had brought Amon food while he and Mikael had gotten to know one other. He had seemed fine then. Even now, the Alpha didn't detect any signs of an illness. He knew Amon had been old, just not... this old.

Peregrine sat, keeping a quiet vigil for a few moments. At length, he lifted his swarthy muzzle into the air to inform the pack of Amon's passing. His howl echoed over the caldera's sweeping territory, touching every last member's ears, asking them to join him in mourning and, if possible, come help him bury the earthly remains of their fallen comrade.

Somnia was taking a walk when she heard the howl. It stopped her in her tracks, the sound of her heartbeat filling her ears as a special accompaniment to Peregrine's news. How could Amon be dead? Just over a week ago he had been climbing up one of the slopes with her, engaging in pleasant chatter. He had fallen near the end, but it didn't look to be too serious. Was that what brought his death in the end, or was it something else? Perhaps she would never know.

Somnia raised her head up as Peregrine's howl faded back into existence. She joined in, allowing her voice to express the grief and sorrow she felt for the old man she considered a friend. When it was over, she set off towards the origin of Peregrine's howl.

Peregrine's howl stopped Elwood in his tracks. He inhaled sharply, the cold air stinging his lungs as he interpreted the message. The Beta was surprised and saddened to hear that Amon had passed; he hadn't been particularly close to the older male, but they had enjoyed each other's company a handful of times. The grizzled warrior had even promised to help Elwood hone his sparring skills. Unfortunately, that lesson would never come to fruition.

With heavy steps and a heavier heart, he located the Alpha and his friend's body. He paused a few feet away, his yellow eyes taking in the scene. Amon looked peaceful, somehow, curled up with his nose buried beneath his tail. Elwood dipped his muzzle, a silent acknowledgement to his packmate, then looked to Peregrine. He was no stranger to death, but that didn't stifle the sorrow he felt.

Tempest's teeth had just found their target on a squirrels neck when the tragic howl arouse. The preys life ended, and so did the eerie howl. Tempest shivered, wishing she had got to know this Amon. her paws began to carry her toward the howl, but she stopped. She had not even known this Amon. Surely it would not be proper for her to approach. She wanted in some way however, acknoledge her fallen comrade, so sat and began to howl, let her sad cry reach up towards to perhaps Amon was now.

Finley's insides burned with guilt and melancholy as she strode onto the scene, her gaze set upon the lifeless body frozen against the ground. When she'd heard the howl, she'd had to pause for a moment even to figure out who Amon even was. She'd seen him around of course, but only once had she really spent any time with him. Unlike her alphas, Fin did not make it a point to meet and get to know all of her pack mates, but now as she stepped awkwardly up the the clustered mourning party, she realized how very awful of her that really was.

After a moment, Fin averted her gave from Amon's body to sweep across each of her pack mates. All of those gathered seemed dismayed over the old wolf's death, but it was to Elwood's side that she drifted and leaned comfortingly against. There was sadness in her own expression, but her mind had begun to wander towards curiosity over the nature of his passing. Sun Spark had been far older than Amon, or so Fin believed. He'd also been in a far more fragile state. It didn't seem like very long ago that she'd seen Amon and he'd seemed perfectly healthy. So how was it that he now was lying there dead, as though he'd just laid down for a nap and never gotten back up?

Confused and full of sorrow, Fin searched for Peregrine's face over the deceased, not for the first time. She'd had little experience with death in her life, so it seemed both odd and comforting that they were there again together to bury a pack mate. For a fleetig moment, she began to wonder if things would have been different had Peregrine been there for her first brush with death, but as quickly as it had come, the thought was banished before the memories could come too far unburied. She shut her eyes for a few seconds, took a deep breath, and cast her eyes back to the body, waiting for the next step in their little funeral.

Others are welcome to join in at any time.

A smattering of the caldera's wolves came forward to pay their respects to Amon. Peregrine stepped back, giving them room in case they wanted to approach the body for any reason. Meanwhile, he looked around to see if this would make a suitable burial site. It occurred to him that the ground might be frozen. Peregrine looked a bit further, to the foot of the caldera nearby. There were many small caverns. They could easily make a crypt.

After a long while of silence, the Alpha spoke in a soft voice. "I'm going to need some help. Let's drag him over there." He pointed at the crags with his black nose. "Be gentle," he added. Unfortunately, carrying him just wasn't an option. Even if rigor mortis hadn't been an issue, the air would have frozen the body. Amon would forever remain curled in a ball.

Exchanging a knowing glance with Finley, Peregrine approached the body again. Using the same gentle touch he would use when scruffing a pup, he clasped Amon's stiff ruff in his teeth. He then began to tug the cold corpse toward the rocks. He paused, waiting for others to join in the effort, then slowly began dragging Amon's body again.

I wasn't sure if we were following a posting order for this, or if it was more like a pack activity. Either way, I decided to go ahead and post -- so someone poke me if I need to delete it and wait my turn! :)

A single howl sounded from somewhere across the caldera, and then Finley crept into view. She surveyed Amon quietly and sorrowfully, then tucked herself against Elwood's side. He was simultaneously surprised and not surprised by her action, but he didn't speak; he simply leaned into her, equally comforted by her presence as she was by his.

There was silence for a long moment, and then Peregrine quietly guided the small group. He suggested that they drag Amon's body to a rocky opening in the caldera's side, then carefully began to move their former packmate across the snowy ground. Elwood was reluctant to step away from Finley, but he did so in order to help Peregrine. There wasn't enough space for both of the males to hold onto Amon's scruff, so he stood opposite Peregrine and pushed with his snout, giving the body a bit of momentum as Peregrine pulled.

Sorry! I forgot about this thread! D:

A small group had gathered around Amon's dead body. There was Peregrine, Elwood, Finley, Tempet, and Somnia herself. To her, five wolves seemed to be enough to bury someone. She wasn't an expert on burials, but they just had to dig a hole, put Amon in it, and fill it in, right? Perry's actions answered her unspoken question.

Peregrine was pulling from the front with Elwood pushing from behind. Where could she help? The sides were unoccupied. A bony shoulder stuck out near Peregrine's end due to the way he was curled up. Somnia moved towards it before grappling with it, trying to get a good grip on it while still trying to be as gentle as she could. When she succeeded with that, she would help pull him towards the crags.

Peregrine moved to begin to shift the body so that they could give him a sort of funeral. She so was reminded of Sun Spark's death as she stepped forward to assist, placing herself just behind Somnia and setting her teeth gently upon Amon's frosted fur. Together, the wolves gathered began to move the body towards its final resting place.

Fin's gaze shifted as they moved to spy the rocky wall beyond them towards which they moved. For a moment she was confused, but suddenly realized as she spied the dark spaces between the crags what it was exactly that Peregrine intended. It somehow seemed a fitting grave for the old wolf, and silently she gave her approval as the group continued to heave.

Tempest's player said she won't be able to post for a week or more, so I'm going to go ahead and post again to wrap this up.

Together, the caldera wolves towed their fallen comrade to the foot of the mount. After letting go of his hold on Amon, Peregrine moved even closer toward the rocks. There were many small niches that could work as a resting place for the old timer. He scoped out the best one, then silently motioned for his pack mates to help pull the body into it.

It took a bit of maneuvering, yet at last they managed to push their deceased kin's lifeless body into the space between the rocks. "Let's collect some stones to place over the body," the Alpha said when that task was finished. Even as he spoke the words, he set about scouting the nearby slope for loose rocks.

Soon, Amon's remains began disappearing under a pile of lovingly placed rubble. Peregrine did not stop until the corpse was completely covered. His neck, shoulders and back hurt from lifting and carrying heavy stones, yet he made no remark about his stiff body. At least his was still warm and alive.

With the burial complete, Peregrine stepped back. They had already howled for their comrade, so he didn't make a sound. The Alpha male simply bowed his head and maintained a stoic silence for a time. He then exchanged a glance and a nod with each of his pack mates before dispersing to find Fox and tell her of Amon's passing.

Somnia helped maneuver Amon into the chosen niche. She also helped to pile stones on top of the stiff body. The idea of putting stones on him to cover him was metaphorical in her mind. Rocks were often hundreds - if not thousands! - of years old. While Amon wasn't quite that old, he was still old. Putting old things on an old body, it gave Somnia a sense of calm happiness in a way she didn't understand.

She stuck around until Peregrine left. With a sorrowful nod to the others, Somnia departed.

Eventually, their task was complete and the wolves about were dispersing until it was only her and Elwood. Fin turned to look at him after a moment, searching his face to see what emotion was upon it. She suspected sorrow, but wasn't certain of what the degree might be. She hadn't known him very well, but she didn't know if Elwood's relationship with Amon had been different. As much as she wanted to go home then to rest, especially after the work they'd just done on top of Somnia's event, but she somehow couldn't make herself leave without knowing her co-beta would be alright.

Softly she whined and pushed her nose gently against his shoulder, her eyes peering up at his face. She would go just as soon as he made his own leave, or she'd follow him if he admitted to wanting her company. In either case, it was up to him now what she did next. She'd obediently follow suit, an unusual thing for the hard-headed Blackthorn, but somehow easily done in that moment with her friend.

Together, the small group managed to carry their packmate's body to the crevice in the mountainside. Peregrine then suggested that they cover Amon with rocks, and Elwood obediently began to assist. He carefully collected rocks from the nearby area, carrying one at at time in his mouth and gently depositing them around and then over Amon. Eventually, the gravesite was complete, and the Redhawks all stood back solemnly.

There was a long moment of silence, in which Elwood bowed his head and closed his eyes, and then both Peregrine and Somnia departed. That left him alone with Finley, and he looked up at her as she moved closer to him and touched her nose to his shoulder. He, too, emitted a quiet whimper, though he didn't speak.

The two friends remained for a bit longer, and then Elwood stepped away from Finley and wordlessly gestured for her to come with them. They departed together, leaving the burial site quietly behind.