[ P ] Ashes

M

otherhood was thoroughly exhausting. Rowan was an inquisitive child, full of energy and a budding sense of adventure that made her mother a little nervous – too much like Willow herself, and Willow had gotten herself into more than her fair share of trouble as a wild child. Thankfully, Rowan had many other wolves who loved and cared for her, so a pair of watchful eyes was never far.


The sun was setting, sinking slowly behind the mountains that lay to the west. Soon, night would fall across the Highlands, its darkness swallowing up the slopes that dotted the landscape. The scenery here is different from the Lowlands, with its valleys and meadows, but it was the closest thing Willow had to home since leaving Melrose behind. Months had now passed since she had seen her old home, the family garden, all of which was still unknown to her daughter, except for the bedtime stories she told Rowan.


After a particularly challenging evening of trying to convince a hyperactive pup that it was time for rest, Rowan had finally fallen asleep. She was safe inside of Sundstol’s cabin, and Unky Sund was always happy to babysit. With a sharp exhale, Willow left the cabin to walk alone. She loved her pup, but it was still nice to have a moment’s solitude from time to time.


A familiar scent caught her attention, and an unconscious smile formed across darkened lips. Anteros! It was always good to see the older male, and she paused to look for his familiar ebony and ivory pelt.



@Anteros

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

ANTEROS ABERSENTHE
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF FAIR?

So much had happened in a rather short time and exhausted wasn't a good enough word to cover exactly how he was feeling. Nora had been gone, saying nothing in her departure, and within that time he decided he too should travel. It would prove to be far more what he was able to chew when he went to go visit an old lover and friend just to find her dead alongside her beloved. The image was still so sharp, the bodies, the flies...The scent still lingered in his nostrils. Every time he blinked he saw her face with such life, and when he closed his eyes again he only saw what was left of her. Anteros knew there was a time they would all die, but never in his mind did he think she would go before he did.

His heart was heavy. Often times at random he would find himself choked up, defeated. His body ached and even seeing Nora again gave him a sense of comfort, but also worry. She was hellbent on the war, he knew why. He didn't want to deter her for fighting in what she believed in, as her fire was what attracted him in the first place. However, he also could not imagine losing her too.

Paws nearly dragged on the floor beneath him as he made his way through the Highlands, each step that brought him closer to Willow only made his throat close and the sick feeling in his stomach return. How was he going to tell her? How was he even going to comfort her?

Golden eyes lifted towards horizon when he was met back by the bright eyes of Nephele and Kylar's daughter. Immediately he felt the bile wish to rise in his throat. She said nothing, thankfully, but she was happy to see him and he wish he could have reciprocated the feeling. Each step that brought him closer caused the drumming in his ears to intensify. "Willow," his breath was shallow, the clear sign of defeat. "I am so sorry to bring you this news...." Anteros was never a man to beat around the bush, not then and not now, but how he wished he didn't have to deliver it in the first place. She was a mother to a child. A child who would never remember their grandparents.

He was sick. His stomach lay upon the floor in a heap.

"I went to go visit your mothers, to let them know you were doing well." He inhaled a sharp breath, the tears welled in his eyes, but he did his best to remain strong for her. If she wished to cry he did not want to take that from her as he already had the time to mourn. "They have passed. I dare to say from sickness. They died together in the comfort of their home." And then he remained silent, his heart rapidly beat in the walls of his chest. He ached for her, and not once did his gaze leave her face.

code by claerie

H

er expression was one of cheerful ignorance to see the wolf again, someone who she scarcely knew, but still cherished. If not for him, there would be no Rowan, after all, and her prison stay may have lasted far longer. But the smile on her darkened muzzle faded swiftly from her features, however, when she saw Anteros closer up. The expression on his face was distraught. It was not the expression of someone who came bearing good news, which was confirmed as he spoke in low tones: "I am so sorry to bring you this news...."


For a lingering moment, dreadful silence filled the air between them. Willow’s brows knit with concern – no news had been good news, not lately. After what felt like excruciating time had crawled by, the elder brute began to speak about Willow’s mothers, and the difficulty he was experiencing was palpable in the air. Within her ribcage, her heart began to beat frantically, her visage growing more panicked every second that Anteros struggled to speak between deep breaths. ”"They have passed…” The she-wolf’s expression was confused as she looked into his golden gaze. Passed where…?


But the question could not be asked aloud as Anteros continued: ”I dare to say from sickness. They died together in the comfort of their home." Slowly, the horrible truth trickled into Willow’s consciousness, the meaning of the man’s words a tempest of confusion. For several seconds, the wolfess could say nothing at all, simply staring at Anteros, mouth agape. ”Wha– what? That can’t be…” This wasn’t how life was supposed to work. Wolves were supposed to grow old, to pass peacefully, surrounded by family… But this reality was foolish. Sometimes, wolves were killed. Sometimes, wolves got sick. ”Both…”


She had worried for them since their arrival in the Highlands, but never had she imagined… this. Her head began to shake furiously, voice heightened in pitch and urgency. ”No! No, you’re – you’re lying!” But the brute’s expression was not one of deceit, but utter devastation. He had, after all, loved Kylar, once upon a time…


Her legs grew weak, trembling beneath her, threatening to give way. Her breath came in short, shallow gasps. Peridot eyes were wide as the emotions hit her like a tidal wave – shock, grief – a plethora of feelings she had never experienced before, despite the many recent losses. This was something entirely different. This… this was her fault. Her mothers were dead because of her, her decisions, her mistakes…


Too stunned still to cry, she looked at Anteros with desperation. Maybe he had been mistaken. There had to be another explanation. ”It doesn’t – m-make sense – Anteros – both…?”


If only they had not come north. If only they had never left the family home. If only Willow had known their health was so precarious that they would succumb to illness. If only Willow had not asked them to come in the first place…


@Anteros

ANTEROS ABERSENTHE
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF FAIR?

It was a wave of emotions he wasn't ready for. The way her eyes grew wet, the way her lips and body trembled in disbelief. The way she claimed he was lying to her, and oh how he wish he had though it was something he would never lie about. His body felt cold, shivers splintered through his spine and legs and as he watched her he could feel her begin to collapse. Anteros moved forward swiftly so she could lean upon him if so needed, so she could sob into the thick of his pelt, so he could be strong for her in the moment. What could he even say? There was nothing that would bring them back, no words that he ever found would make anything okay even remotely. "I'm so sorry Willow," was all he could offer, and from the deepest pit of his heart he was sorry. He was sorry that he had to break her heart again after trying to mend it from the separation of her mothers originally.

His throat felt tight as he swallowed the air that choked him, his own eyes threated with tears once more. He wanted to take her pain from her as the feeling of loss never got easier. His mind continued to wrap around the notion that her child would never meet their grandparents, and Willow was left with close to nothing.

"You are more than welcome to come back with me. I can offer you a home for you and your daughter. I know I haven't been in your life very long, but..." Anteros really hoped he wasn't stepping out of line, "I wouldn't let anything happen to either one of you." He inhaled a sharp breath, his golden gaze didn't dare leave her face.

code by claerie