Swiftcurrent Creek melancholy · read only

With permission from Van. *weeps*

Fox awoke slowly, her body gradually feeling the world around her as she blinked the sleep away from her eyes. The spot between her shoulder blades ached the most in the morning, before she was able to get moving. Fox shuffled closer to Haunter, only to realize that something was dreadfully wrong about him. For one, he was usually up before the break of dawn, out patrolling as he always did. In addition, his body was stiff and cold. A panicked whine escaped the yearling as she tried to rouse him with her nose. She poked and prodded, growing more and more frantic by the minute.

But nothing could save him. He had been dead for hours, due to the mass in his brain which had slowly been eating away at his senses. A feeling of despair washed over the young Alpha, but she clenched her teeth to keep it away. “This isn’t how it’s supposed to be,” she choked out, feeling bitter and angry toward Haunter. “You were supposed to be there for me.” But he wasn't. Not any more. “You stupid fuck!” she screeched, kicking her hind leg at his lifeless body.

It didn't respond.

Fox lay there, staring at him. How much time had passed when she finally retreated from the den, she could not say. But it would be the last time she did so. As she walked into the sunny afternoon, which was comically cheery, she felt numb. Fox began walking aimlessly to the west, out of Swiftcurrent's borders.