Between one breath and the next

There was an unnatural feel to the mist that coiled against the earthy floor. Perhaps it was the very fact that he could feel it that added the unnatural element to its creation. He knew this wasn't real, the world looked hollow, like it frayed at the edges of his vision. More then that, he recognized this area, it was a place he had visited only a few times, but even his short collection of it knew things to be false. For one, the grave he knew to be here, expected to be here, already had a fresh layer of grass against the bumpy rise in the earth. When he had seen it last, barely a few days earlier, it had the look of freshly turned earth.

Regardless of his knowledge that this could only be a dream, he crept forward, lowering his head respectfully as he approached the grave. One paw gently touched the earth on the edge of the rising mound, bending a daffodil beneath his titanic paws. He closed his eyes, taking a moment, needing this moment to breath, and remember. The burial had not been an event he ever wanted to repeat. Silva had been distraught, he had not known if her tears would ever end. He had been dry eyed, if only because he hadn't been able to accept it. He had lost wolves in his life, he had lost his very parents. It was a true wonder, and a testimony to Voltage and his own determination that they had never lost a single sibling. Yet, Voltage had lost his litter, it had almost broken him, and still they mourned and hoped for Illume and Current both – they had no bodies to bury, no real knowledge of their life or death.

There had been no doubt with Sin, he had seen the killing blow with his own eyes, he had been there. Perhaps that was what made this so hard for the stoic protector. How had he let this happen, how had he been frozen in place, unable to prevent this moment from happening. His eyes where still closed, his breathing a frustrated rasp, but still the giant did not cry. Even here and now, with no Silva to comfort, no one he needed to stay strong for. Why could he not cry?