Stone Circle Why do they leave?

He hadn't meant for her to actually tell him the memory, but at the same time, he wasn't going to stop her if she was in the mood to share. Day listened intently to her quick description, glad the he knew, at least, that his next words would go along with what she'd thought of. He'd been fairly certain it would be fitting either way, but it was good to know.

"That wolf you're remembering - I think we both know he would never just leave," he said gently, giving her a sad but earnest smile. "I know it hurts that he isn't here, and it may not help to ease your pain right here and now... but Val, don't ever forget that. Zeke, wherever he is, is a good and loyal wolf. There are a lot of things the could've held him up, but you know better than anyone that he wouldn't abandon us for no reason."

He was sure that, in her heart, Valette knew this as well as he did. It was easy to lose sight of such things in times of sorrow. 'Losing the forest for the trees' was what his mother had always called it, and the expression seemed apt for the situation. "If Zeke is alive, then he'll come back to us, and he'll be happier knowing that you've been happy here while he was away," he continued after allowing his words to sink in for a moment. "And if he's not... then he died loving us, and knowing that you loved him," said Day, voice softening toward the end, but strengthening as he went on. "I think it'll always bother us not to know what happened - but it's not over 'til it's over, and he could come running home tomorrow or two years from now, or we'll meet him in the King's Forest. One way or another, the truth will be revealed - and we'll be with him again."

It was maybe a bit much, for a young friendship, but Day had never been good at just letting things lie. He cared about Valette, and he didn't want to see her hurting.