Blackfeather Woods Farewell

I have no idea what I’m doing, w h o o p s.

When the time had come to relocate the Queen’s body, Kove had approached with the intention to assist. He remained close to the charcoal wolf, eyes never straying from the woman’s body that rested across his back. He made certain to keep near, ready to offer himself up for cushioning if she were to slip from his hide. In his mentally defeated state, he felt it was the most he could do, not trusting his legs to aid well in the actual carrying of her. He wanted to, and would have in a heartbeat, but he’d much rather watch closely than risk dishonouring her by allowing his legs to buckle beneath her weight. During the entire walk, he remained close, his senses narrowed in solely on the forms before him. He could not spare even a glance at the others as they all moved forward, not wanting to miss fulfilling the purpose he’d set upon himself for the trek to Redgrove.

Once they’d arrived, he couldn’t refrain himself from hovering as the woman was set down to touch the earth. He knew Burke would not drop her, but he couldn’t keep himself back. He’d been loyal to her since the very beginning, so to leave her side simply because he was confident in the abilities of another was impossible. It could have very well been her own children carrying her and setting her down, and he still would have kept himself near enough to watch over it all. He had to force himself to take a few steps back when the tank started speaking, though he was able to catch only about half of what he was saying. His reasoning for bringing her body there, what would happen when the deed was done, and the tidbit about the grove being closed off. He caught enough to piece it all together, but just barely. Usually, Kove was one to listen and observe, to see through those around him and get down to the hidden meanings behind their words. This time around, however, he could just barely catch the upfront meanings. Everything seemed to come together into a giant, jumbled mess within his mind, his entire being frazzled by the pack’s loss. By his loss.

The words directed towards him were nearly missed, a small nudge from his son being the only thing saving him from ignoring it all. He offered a stiff nod to his fellow Dark Brother, before stepping forward in order to share some final words. “Some of you have not been here for very long, have not known Meldresi for very long, but it's impossible to deny the effect she’d had on all of our lives no matter how short the time spent with her may have been. We have all gathered here today in order to honour the life she’d had, but also to honour the new life she’s been given through death. While she no longer will be allowed to walk among all of us, she will live on in the Void, and continue to live in accordance with Sithis and Mephala. Her physical form can never take another breath, but she will live on for generations to come through the Dark Brotherhood and Blackfeather Woods, the families she will always be a part of.” He stopped, briefly, allowing himself an intake of air. “Let us remember her for what she was—no, for what she is—our Queen, our Priestess, and to some, our Sister. A mother and a wife with the power of millions. Blackfeather Wood’s Meldresi Melonii, may she always be remembered.” At the end of it, he gave a dip of his head, bowing down to the woman for one last time.