Bearclaw Valley Only the good die young

she'd not been gone long, only off enough to clear her head and let the crisp northern air fill her lungs. she'd always planned to return, and so she did.

but when the view of bearclaw valley streamed to the forefront of her vision, it was not as how she had remembered it. dust hung in the sky, swallowing any light that might have tried to shine down on those who were buried beneath.

she'd felt the earth shake in the distance, but had never imagined this!

her heart jumped to her throat, and only a single thought absorbed her being.

"@Anatolia!" she cried as she ran to the fallen rubble, clawing at pieces of rock and earth until her paws cracked and bled.

she'd split from zephyra at a distant territory, but ana, oh her anatolia! the mother did not wish to think it so as tears stained her cheeks and the white of her eyes splintered red.

please, god, do not take another one from me.

nephele would remain thrown against the mass grave, sobbing and praying, until the moonlight devoured any hope she might have had.