Golden Glade Farewell Tour

@Jhala

Like all souls bound to this earthly tether, Reek feared death and that which waited for him beyond the mortal coil. He thought of it often now -- now that he was burdened with age and regret. Disappointment tasted bitter in his mouth; a taunting triviality sweetened only by the fact that there was no one left to hurt, to swindle, or to betray. Save for Jhala, of course. The one final constant Reek clung too. The one beautiful thing he hadn't twisted into something horrible in his insatiable want for more.

He didn't tell her he was dying. He couldn't bear to see her look at him with pity in her eyes. It wasn't how he wanted to be remembered; illness and cancer would not be Reek's lasting legacy. His legacy, however, rested in the paws of another now. He gave it all to his son, Astik. The pack, their followers, everything. The mantle belonged to him now and Reek hoped he would do a better job with it than he had.

Claiming retirement to uproot them from their pack-bound lives, Reek and Jhala returned to the familiar territory of their old, short-lived claim. It was a bittersweet thing to see this place again. The Glade hadn't changed much since he had last seen it. It was as it had always been, and as it would be long after he was gone. He tried to think of fond memories.