Whitebark Stream She feels no control of her body She feels no safety in my arms

While the return of missing companions had refreshed Artyom's hope for a brighter future in Whitebark Stream, there was still the matter of Kavik and Grezig's unexplained deaths to mull over. There were so many questions that could not be answered: why did this feel so sudden? Had they been able to mask illness for a long time? Why hadn't they gone to someone for advice? Had he placed his own children in harm's way by bringing Pele to live among them?

So far, the youngster had shown no sign of sickness. She was quiet, naturally, unable to comprehend why her mother did not come back for her and likely struggling to settle in a new environment with rambunctious cubs who had not faced the same trauma. Artyom watched her carefully, eager to help her fit in and keep her from being forced to grow up too soon. He wanted to be sure that she never forgot the family she'd so suddenly lost, but wanted her to feel welcome among his own.

The call of a stranger drew him away from his densite, off in the direction from which it sounded. Artyom moved with haste, having detected some hint of urgency in the stranger's request, and he arrived to find a dark yearling lingering on his borders. The golden leader moved in to better investigate, drawn at once to a pair of glinting emerald eyes.

Kavik's eyes.

Oh, no...

He held his tongue, feeling the guilt bloom right at the heart of him with the consideration of having to inform a relative that she was simply too late.