Duskfire Glacier may you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows you're dead

There was no need to howl; all the pack already knew when the funeral was to take place, and today had been a rather somber day in preparation for it. 

Once the sun dipped behind the peaks bordering the moraine, Lane made her way to the site of Wintersbane and Tzila's burial. The underground den where their bodies lay had been filled in with fresh taiga soil, gathered mere weeks before the weather turned for the worse and the ground became a mixture of slush and permafrost. 

Over the entrance to the den, dirt had been piled and packed into a great mound, rising to a height just over Lane's head. Stones of various sizes had been placed in a ring around the mound. Lane bent to place a final stone: a chunck of quartz so large it stretched Lane's jaw to hold it. A vein of blue cut through the center of the stone, and the color reminded Lane of Wintersbane's eyes. Of her son's eyes, too. 

The moon was rising over the glacier, and as the sky darkened, the polar lights began to dance. Lane was reminded of her lost friend Imaq, who had loved to dance along to the aurora's silent song. 

The moon hung bright and cold over the gathering at the burial mound, casting a a shadow over the semi-circle of mourners. Once her packmates were all accounted for, Lane spoke to address them. 

"We're here tonight to honor Wintersbane and Tzila Duskfire, founding members and leaders of Duskfire Glacier." A mere year after they established the pack, there were so few of their founders left: just Lane and Rye. "They were my friends. Parents to my children." Lane paused, her eyes finding Veteran and Wayfarer. "It was their greatest desire for this pack to grow and thrive, and for their children to grow up among family in this home that was built for them. The seed of this dream has sprouted already." Lane nodded to Arius and Ensio. "In the spirit of our fallen alphas, we will continue to cultivate and nurture this dream." 

Lane concluded by dipping her muzzle in finality. "This is your time to speak, for anyone who wishes to do so. When all have spoken, Issorartuyok will conclude our ceremony by leading us into the time of songs. After Wintersbane and Tzila have been sung into the lights, we will join with our allies in the valley, and all the Taiga will sing together." Lane would fall silent then, and she would listen intently to any who wished to speak. She would nod to Issorartuyok when it was time for him to initiate the song. 

We'll just do one round for this thread (assuming no drama arises) and Teo can write a fade when we've all posted once. The post-funeral feast in the valley will be posted soon, so be on the lookout for that. @Issorartuyok @Rye @Meerkat @Eldritch @Askari @Calida @Tuuluuwaq @Wayfarer @Arius @Ensio