memory lane

At the sound of her father's voice, Theory turned to him and returned his affections. If this place hurt her, how badly did it pain Rhyme? Like the fire that had ravaged the thicket, flame returned to savage them over and over again. There was no time for the wounds to heal. Only hurt and hurt again. "I met Samara," she said pointedly, deciding that they may as well cut right to the chase. The tiny female could have been any of their twin, with her dark fur and white markings. Did she remind him of Shaye? "I'm glad that she brought you back to us. Don't go running off again. I couldn't stand it," Theo added, her voice curt and tight. It was almost as if she was speaking to him as a superior and not his daughter. She didn't like it, but it felt better than crying and breaking down again. Tears didn't fix anything. The land would mend on its own, but fixing things that were broken like her father took more than the passing of days and seasons. He needed company. A reason to live.

"I still need to learn from you. The children of the pack need you." she sighed and closed her eyes. They had lost so much. Eulogy's brood had never known another father figure. Rhyme was, of course, irreplaceable to her, but she was slowly learning that she could get by on her own. If she had to.