One Last Refrain

“Kids…” He started softly, his voice raw with emotion. “This is Shaye, she’s a friend of mine from another pack.” He explained, trying to keep his voice calm and never wavering. “You’re going to go live with her for a few days…” He said, feeling the words slip from his mouth and then suddenly become a reality. He closed his eyes tightly for a moment, then opened them once he was sure he could speak again.

“Your brother Astraios is going with you, no matter what, you’re to listen to him. Understand?”

He looked at them seriously, hoping that his hardened eyes would make the separation more bearable for all of them.

“But before you go, there is something I want to give to each of you…” He trailed off swallowing a lump in his throat as the thoughts that had buzzed in the lazy hours of the night were spoken into reality.
“I’m going to give each of you a special name, so that you will always know that you are my children. He looked at his daughter first, Theta, you are The Voiceless Roar, Tythe, you are The Golden Gift. Your brother Tyto is The Wing In The Darkness, Tornadic is The Howling Wind, and Tsunami is the Endless Wave. I give you these names so that you can give you courage, and strength…” His voice broke suddenly, his jaw clenching as he fought back tears. So much could go wrong, and most likely would in two weeks with the very real threat of never seeing his children again looming over him, even in their final moments together. “Never let anyone make you believe that I don’t love you with all my heart.” He said softly, his shoulders beginning to shake and with that he closed his eyes, and waited for Shaye to take them away.