When the defeated raiding party had finally limped home, there had been met with a terrible surprise when they entered pack lands; Bacette had finally passed away. The poor boy had taken ill when he was young and, despite all of the healers’ best efforts, he just never got better. There had been much to do once they returned, wounds that needed tending, refugees of Norad to find housing for and make certain were fed so, Bacette’s funeral had been put off.

While various other things were seen to, the boy’s body had been preserved, for the time, in the cold waters of the nearby creek, down past where the pack would drink and hunt so that the water they used would not be contaminated. But today, he would finally be laid to rest. With some help, Lucette had carefully tended to his body, combing through his fur and rubbing scented oils into his coat to drive away any scent of death that may have lingered.

Haydée had personally dug Bacette’s grave, taking the better part of three days to make it the correct depth and width to comfortably accommodate him and he would lay at peace beside the grandfather he had never had the chance to meet in this life. Now, as the sun lifts toward midday, the Leader traces the pathway to an open area beside the falls. With a heaviness in her paws, the young woman approaches Bacette’s lovingly prepared body, his thin form now resting on a special stretcher that would be carried by four individuals.

Coming to a stop by his still body, the small leader takes a moment to her goodbye’s unseen by others. She leans down and presses her face into his shoulder, softly shuddering at the cold touch his vacant body now offers. Tears build in her emerald eyes as she softly says, “I am so sorry baby. Be at peace now.” Head shifts as she lifts it from his shoulder, moving to his cheek where she plants a soft kiss as she whispers, “Say hello to your grandfather for me.”

The tears slip free then, sliding down her cheeks to land in his dark fur and she quickly moves to gently brush them away. Steeling herself, Haydée lifts her head, singing a call for the pack to come and say their final goodbyes and to offer their support to the grieving family.

This is a sad day for Ethne.



"Haydée Kedieo"

When I fall apart, Promise in the dark Returning home had been every parents worst nightmare. Bae-Syl was no different than those parents. He loved each of his children deeply, and protected them fiercely. They'd not been victorious, and even worse, they returned to their two distraught boys and a dead child. If ever Bae-Syl had felt powerless, it was in that moment. He pressed his ear back at the sound of the call. He knew he needed to be there but he didn't want to be there, to have an entire pack see the failure he was of a father. Still though on shaky legs he made his way up the path. Ruby perched silently on his shoulder, using his pauldron as her perch. His dog padded beside him with so much worry in his eyes for Bae-Syl. He knew they all saw the weakness. Perhaps that red brute was right, ethne had chosen the wrong bruiser in him. He kept his eyes off haydee as he made it to the funeral clearing. Shame colored him today. He couldn't keep his son safe, couldn't keep his other sons from causing trouble. He had failed as a father. He'd failed Ethne as a bruiser. He settled himself out of the way and sat waiting the many sad and disappointed wolves he was sure that would come today. It had been hard enough trying not to handle his grief with anger, and to try to comfort his wife. But then the hardest was trying to remain the rock his other children needed. He was supposed to be solid and unmoving for them, but he felt anything but at the moment. Walk, "talk", Think You'll be my nightlight

_{Art by Asena}

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Lucette had been doing her best to hold it together, to keep grief from consuming her the way that it had consumed her mother. To know their poor son, the biggest of their litter, had succumbed to an illness that she had failed to identify weighed heavily on her mind. In the end the best she had been able to do was treat his symptoms… but it hadn’t been enough. She watched him fall into sleep after sleep, eating less and less, barely wanting to take the herbs to keep his strength up. Had she merely prolonged his suffering with that act? Or because most of the illness was fought in his sleep had he known peace?

Lucette didn’t know, but according to Gavroche and Ikuchi their brother hadn’t made any noise when he went. There was no outright suffering… she could take some solace in that. Though she grieved, she was trying to be strong for her remaining children and for Bae-Syl. For a man who loved his family as fiercely as he did, she knew this was a heavy blow to his heart… and her poor boys, Gavroche now blaming himself for not doing better… the weight of everything was crashing onto him, and Lucy longed to take some of that weight away. Her poor, poor babies.

She had prepared and preserved Baecette’s body the best that she could, silently wishing that her father had been there to aid them. If he had been, would Baecette have lived? Would they have had better luck in the raids? Tears stung her eyes as she came back to where the funeral was to take place. She moved to Bae-Syl’s side, tears stinging her eyes as she lowered her rump to the earth. She leaned against him, quiet as she tried to hold back any noise of sobbing. Soon their son would be laid to rest…

"Speech," 'Thought.'

Death was a heavy thing… and unexpected as the raiding party returned to Ethne. Bellamy’s heart went out to her daughter and Bae-Syl, to their children, and to the yearling who had lost his life in a battle against an unnamed illness. Baecette had been a spirited boy, holding a bit of a fiery attitude and boldness that went into his bloodline beyond his parents. He had been a good kid, undeserving of the fate that had befall him. The older woman felt heavy, knowing that he was gone. Gavroche, and now his grandson Baecette… The weight of those losses weighed on the hearts and souls of their wolves. His soul had already gone to join the Divinities in the stars but soon, soon his body would be laid to rest.

Bellamy arrived at the site of the funeral, her gaze trailing to the still form of the yearling. Her eyes closed, a silent prayer given for his spirit. She moved over to Bae-Syl and Lucette, green gaze shining with sympathy. “I’m so sorry.” Though Bellamy had lost the rest of Lucette’s litter, they had been born still. This was different, bonding with a child, seeing them grow, only to have them lose a fight before your very eyes. She moved to give a comforting lick to her daughter’s forehead before moving to sit and wait for the funeral to take place.

"Speech," 'Thought.'

Gavroche didn’t understand. He had expected their mother to be furious, but she was only sad. He had withdrawn to a den of his own, hardly wanting to come out, but today was an exception. The winged boy dragged himself out of the den, looking a bit of a mess himself. His fur was patchy, and even some of the spots of his wings were looking thinner. It might have looked like he’d been scratching the fur and feathers out, but Gavroche hadn’t even touched them. They were just falling out and away from his body… He didn’t think about it. He just felt heavy, dragging himself to where the funeral was to take place. He saw his aunt there, his parents, and grandmother, but his shame kept him away from seeking the comfort of any of them. He sat alone, green gaze focused on the earth. He had tears in his eyes, running down his cheeks… “Sorry Baecette…”

"Speech," 'Thought.'

She'd returned home to the worst surprise yet. Baecette had passed, and then Gav and Ikuchi seemed to be distant from them. It was unlike her brothers. Especially Iki. He was always so loving and ready to do anything to hang with his siblings. Only now, he seemed different.

Everything was off. Smells of those she loved were cloaked in sadness. She had started to transition to a den of her own yesterday as well. Her own sadness at the loss of her brother was different than everyone else's though. She shook her head, an ear flitting back as a whisper in her ear was heard by her.

Today was the funeral, there was no time to listen with spirits. Her mom hadn't been told yet. But she wasn't sure how to tell her. Haydee's call had her moving. Jack moved beside her. Today wasn't the day to tell anyone.

Her and Jack arrived with their ears pressed. Neither said words. But the scent of death, though faint brought her forward to her brother's corpse. She pressed her paw to her brothers corpse and sighed a sadness out. She'd cried already. Was it bad that she wasn't crying now? She just felt numb to it. But a sound behind her had her nod. The voice was right, he was here still, amongst others. He just couldn't speak yet.

She then moved to where she could smell her brother. Her large form sat near him. She could smell his sadness. She should say something. But what would comfort gav? She couldn't just tell him could she? "Everyone's gonna miss him.... he is quiet for now." Jack came to set a paw on Gav's. The jackalope could see his disheveled form. He wasn't going to out him to his sister though, sometimes her being blind was better for situations like these.

"Speech!"
Art & Code by Rex 2023

Art & Code by Rex 2023
"Speech!"
Iki had been away at the creek when haydee called. His brother's funeral. Oh yeah. He should be there. He didn't want to though.

He felt like it was his fault. He should of been able to help better. To make Cette feel better. That was what he was supposed to be good for. Making others happy and feel better. How had he failed? Did he not let Cette pick on him enough? Not been the butt of the joke enough? Or was he just not smart enough to do what he needed to?

He moved. His treasured gnaw bone in his maw. Only he hadn't gnawed on it since Baecette had passed. It had been such a hard concept for him to understand in the first place that his brother was actually gone and not coming back. That this wasn't some elaborate prank. His ears pressed. Mom wasn't even mad, and dad seemed different but not mad.

He hadn't been able to sleep where he normally did without remembering seeing his brother lifeless. So he had moved. He'd found a really nice place close to a bunch of the yummy candies. Only he hadn't been able to stomach them lately. He was sad. Food didn't help, and Gav seemed to have disappeared. It made him more sad.

Iki hated feeling sad.

He entered the spot for the funeral and moved slowly. Tani was near Gav, and mom and dad were with grandma and aunt haydee. He stopped by the body of Cette and placed his gnaw bone on the stretcher next to Cette's muzzle. " you can have my favorite chewing bone, kay Cette? I don't feel hungry anymore for it....." he let tears fall down his face. He turned and moved towards his mom and moved quickly, aiming to press his whole self against her. He was so sorry. It was their fault and he knew it. He pressed his face into the crook of Lucette's neck and did his best to stay quiet.