Stone Circle transcendence

Steph's focus for the past several weeks had been on the weird collar that hung around her neck. She had started to get used to the weight, but every time she tried to run, it still startled her. It was obvious now, though, that it wasn't going to harm her, and so her fear had turned into annoyance at the object. 

She wasn't far from her mother when Valette's howl rang out. Steph's breathing stopped when the message was read, loud and clear. Murdock had passed. For a moment, Steph's world stood still, as if she was waiting for time to reveal that this simply couldn't be true. Her young brain struggled to comprehend that she not only had lost her sister, but now the only father she had ever known. 

She stood, then, and trotted to where some of her family stood. She came to a stop as her eyes took in Murdock's still form, and Poppy attempting to wake him. It was obvious that the attempts would be futile, but no one tried to stop the grieving mate from her loss. Steph approached his body, tears welling up in her eyes. She looked to Poppy, her eyes filled with sadness for herself, and empathy for Poppy. As awful as this was for Steph, she knew Murdock's mate would take his loss even harder.

Steph settled near Murdock's hips, lying down on the ground and pressing her face against him. He still smelled like himself, but the warmth was already receding from his body.