Larksong Grotto Die alone

She was gone, taking the unborn litter inside of her as she went.

Reek was reduced to nothing more than a broken mess. A shell of his former self. He didn't leave the depths of the grotto for days. Hiding himself from the sunlight, Reek did not eat, he did not sleep, and he had become completely mentally unhinged. He had begun to smell much like his derogatory namesake: his unwashed stench, commingling with the scent of coagulated blood filled the now empty cave. He needed to leave, but he barely had the strength to lift himself to his feet.

Eventually, he found himself with enough drive to complete one final task. He rose to his weak and shaky paws and began to limp toward the lake in the center of the grotto. The guilt of dooming both of his litters plagued him as he walked. He sought an end -- and he knew only one way.

He brought himself to the banks of the lake and began to walk forward, letting the water envelope him on both sides. Pushing forward, Reek did not stop until his body was completely submerged. Tucking his head under the gentle wake, Reek held his breath and wished for death to come quickly. He waited until his lungs screamed for breath. It was a painful thing to drown -- and as soon as his head began to feel swampy and light, he begged for relief from his painful consciousness.

However, instead of the embrace of death, Reek found the embrace of fear. His chest seized and he immediately wrenched his head from the water and inhaled deeply. He began to sob once more.

His cowardice had once again won.