Lost Creek Hollow don't you weep and don't you worry

It felt as though he could read her mind when he reached for her and spoke his next words. This touch she did not shy away from, but leaned into until she was pressed against his side with her head wedged against his throat beneath his jaw. She shut her eyes as he spoke and took a steadying breath. It was hard to lose all that she'd ever wanted, to walk away from the place she thought she would live out the rest of her days. It was here that they'd become mates, that their children had been born. Where would they go now? What would become of them? And who would come to this place after they were gone, what would they make of what she would always consider in her heart to be hers?

Harlyn let silence fall for a moment, and for the grief to lay upon her like a cold blanket. It wasn't often that she allowed herself to be consumed by such, for pain, sadness and anger were emotions that made a creature useless, unproductive. She had too many responsibilities to allow herself such luxuries as wallowing.  Even in this instance, it was only a few minutes before she was straightening herself up again and fixing her mate with a look of resigned determination.

"Where do we go?" she asked, her own mind already running to answer the question. Harlyn couldn't see them claiming another territory for they would simply experience the same problems there as here, that they were too few to protect it. They would need to seek safety and protection with another pack if they could not find somewhere safer to settle and rebuild. She knew of one neighbor of theirs that she was on friendly terms with, but knew also that he had a woman of his own he was trying to claim. She would not have her children competing for resources with others, particularly when they would no longer be the children of Alphas. She was humble enough to fill a lower rank for herself, but she would not let it be a detriment to her children.