Dawnlark Plains ladybits

I know I totally dropped the ball on our last thread, but I just couldn't resist.

It would have been nice if someone had told Reek he had been living in the good 'ol days before they had up and passed.  A simple warning would have sufficed. But no, instead the universe decided to drop a big, fat cluster of reality bombs right on the rangy beta's seemingly stable life.  His optimistic naivety had become his downfall; Wyn had left him without a word, and initially Reek had thought nothing of it. She was smart, resourceful, and Reek wasn't the most possessive wolf in the world... but every day that passed without her by his side had caused him to worry that she had left him this time for good.  It only made sense after what Smash had told him.  Maybe she wasn't as ready for parenthood than Reek had initially thought.

Smash's departure from the Rise had only further added insult to injury.  It seemed all of those that Reek had gotten close to where destined to eventually leave him.  Although, in hindsight,  maybe he had become too close to Smash.  He was a married man after all... however, at this point he wasn't even sure about that anymore.  And to be honest, he would be lying to say he hadn't thought about her that way.  But, that had become unimportant and unchangeable.  Although the rise was still home, staying there had become entirely too painful.  Reek needed to clear his head and he left the territory for the first time since Junior's disappearance in search.

Who he was searching for, he didn't even know.  While a part of him hoped he would find his MIA wife, a little part of him tugged at his heart to find Smash and tell her the truth.  Either outcome would have been favorable, but no matter how hard Reek searched no trail came up.  The rain had washed it all away.  To bad it couldn't wash away the dull and throbbing ache in Reek's chest.

He turned to head home so he could wallow in his failure, but was met with a familiar sight way out in the distance.  Baz?  His approach was slow and deliberate.  In his grief he found that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't smile.  But, every part of him still wanted to greet his old beach friend with warmness.  "Hey Baz.  Been awhile," he droned, plopping down beside her.