Blackfeather Woods Farewell

Damien could feel all the sorrow pouring out of their skin. It was hard looking at them and not bursting into tears, but he could not give in to desperation. Damien had to be the strong one, he was always the strong one. For Potema, for Cicero, for the twins, and even for Burke, who was the spine and bones of Blackfeather Woods, Damien needed to remain strong.

One by one, each of the members of Blackfeather Woods took it's turn to express their admiration and farewells to their dark queen. There was no denying that Meldresi was a woman who inspired others, each in it's own mysterious way, and all in great depth. She had shown all of them to channel their darkness for bigger things, and all were grateful to her. Damien only hoped that loyalty also accounted for the pack as it was without Meldresi.

Burke instructed the pack to aid him in carrying Meldresi's body to redgrove, where the ravens would feed on Meldresi's flesh to reveal her bones. A shrine would be made out of them, a place for Blackfeather Woods to remember their queen and admire her greatness. Damien helped put his mother's body on top of Burke's gently. Her cold touch made Damien's chest ache, but he pushed himself through it. He also helped putting her down, and when Burke spoke, his gaze was fixed on his mother's form, surrounded by bright red. It looked like the perfect place for her to rest, it felt right to see her there. It gave him a little bit of peace, something he needed.