Hushed Willows they escaped the weight of darkness

He'd already been in motion, weaving quick and intent through the depths of the willows towards the first howl. So distinct, so almost unfamiliar since he had missed it so dearly. Yet it made his very heart sing with joy to hear it now. First Larkspur had returned to them, now Mordecai. Maybe Pippin would be next and finally their little family could be one whole piece again -- so he dared to think.

But, cue contrast in his mother's heartbreaking howl. He dropped the lead of his lope upon hearing it, all but stumbling messily when he got the sense that something was really wrong to hear her sing of anything but happiness on knowing Mordecai had evidently returned to them. Frustrated now, and with a racing heart pulling him in two different ways, he whimpered to no one in particular and now took off scrambling towards Haryln's call.

He didn't find himself paying the most attention to how he got here on his mother's trail, but he did. His breath came quick, veins thrumming with building horror. He'd already smelled the blood, and on the breeze, his sister.

Soon he caught sight of it. Silas' jaw hung slack, and he felt every piece of him sink. "Mom.. mom, Spur.." he sputtered as he crept close to her side, willing disbelief to be the answer here. This couldn't be right. As he looked on at his sister's crumpled shape, panic choked him. He stood trembling before this wreck, desperate to reach out and wake up from this nightmare.