Blackfeather Woods Farewell

A howl, carrying sorrow unlike anything Damien had seen before rose in the darkness filling the cold. It was Burke summoning the pack, and the severity in his call was too serious to ignore. Something wasn't right.

Damien dropped what he was doing without thinking twice. He had been around the forest more now that things with Burke had been cleared out, but had it been a mistake? Damien rushed through the trees, this time not minding his stealth, just running to get to Burke as fast as he could. And when he did, somethingwas clearly wrong. He had taken the pups out of the den, but mother wasn't with him.

Damien looked at Burke's cold eyes. They were usually serious and alive, but today they could not carry any more sadness. "What happened?" asked Damien, "Where's my mother?" he demanded, but before Burke could give an answer Damien rushed into the Kepp and into the Alpha's den, only to see the most devastating scene in his life.

"Mother?" called Damien softly. He approached slowly and sniffed around Meldresi's neck. Then his nose touched her face, it was so cold. "Mother?" he said, this time with anguish making his voice shake.

His mother did not respond.

And Damien realized that she wouldn't respond ever again. His mother had died.

Damien stood there, in silence, eyes fixed on his mother's still silhouette. He did not know how to function anymore.