beat and broken

The boy leaned heavily against his smaller sister as she began the journey back towards their home. Ocean was quiet, his head low. An ache brewed in his skull as his thoughts became a whirlwind in his mind. He’d travelled so many miles, sacrificed himself, and it had been all for nothing. Ocean had nothing now, barely in a place within the pack he’d been born, no relationship with his siblings after the death of his parents, no Motif to console with.

Chrys was quiet, not that he had given her much to work with. Somehow the silence felt better than speaking. He wasn’t ready to talk yet, he hadn’t fully accepted what he found until this moment. Ocean couldn’t bear to say the words aloud. Ocean lifted his head slightly, enough that he could reach over to nuzzle into his sister’s soft fur as they walked. She was here, and one of the few reasons he hadn’t given up yet.