Dawnlark Plains VI

can be a cameo

The wolf he'd met, the one who'd spoken of words he did not know, was dead?

Ashlar scarcely believed when two calls went up in quick succession. The first had him leaping into action but the second hit him like a lead weight. It was not his fault, there was no chance to have been quick enough to prevent this. But it was still a failure that would sit on him a while, one his baba had warned him of but he had not expected regardless. The first he had been unable to save.

He hadn't been summoned but felt it was his role to be there anyway, if only to acknowledge that he had not been quick enough. His carriage was cautious and subdued and he stayed back, looking at her with both apology and sorrow when he caught sight of the crumpled wolf. She'd been formidable but something had overcome her. What would do this? This was their new home. There was no war yet, only celebration.

He stayed respectfully back, ready to accept blame, but also to help if they needed it. Death still frightened him but this was not the scattered remains of a stranger. He would help to bring her back to the rise if need be.