Dragoncrest Cliffs watch the masses fall

each of them tilled the earth, and in short order the grave had been dug.

seraphine returned, a windworn conch that had once been peach in her jaws.

sobeille raised her voice in a mourning howl as wind cut through the pines.

a piece of her heart would be buried here, today — a piece of all of them.

it felt wrong, that first fling of dirt onto mireille’s beautiful fur. her stomach turned to think of the worms burrowing in her maman’s skin, of the rocks and dirt sullying her brilliant auburn fur. as more clods of dirt fell, sobeille’s anger and fury grew until it threatened to burble over, blackening her heart.

when they were done all of their claws were blunted and sore. sobeille took the conch found by seraphine and placed it upon the mound holding mireille’s body for the rest of eternity.

to each sibling she gave a press of her muzzle, knowing their grief was communal.

like shadess, when they were done sobeille did not look back.