Did all I could

He had spent the last couple of weeks hunting like crazy, stocking up a portion of their den he had built for storage with cured and dried meats of all sorts, willing away his own guilt in the process. Somehow he had justified to himself that if he just stocked up on enough food to hold his children over through the rest of summer and possibly into fall then he could allow himself the escape he was working himself toward. He was sure they wouldn't think anything of it - he had always been over prepared when it came to food and supplies. He skinned them fresh pelts for their beds, stocked their food supply, made a stash of basic, useful herbs, crafted several sets of tools that he tended to use when he skinned and prepared his kills to leave behind for them. His heart and soul were hollow and shattered, there was nothing left of himself to give to them.

It was the middle of the night, a clear night where the moon would allow him plenty of light to see by. His preparations were done. There was nothing else he could do to prepare them for this. He had given them what life he felt like he had left and that was all he could do. He hoped and prayed that he had done enough to teach them and train them for their lives. He hoped they would lean on one another and help one another without him. He had done all that he could on his own, without their mother's help. And now she was gone, any last remaining shred of his hope gone with her. He waited till he was fairly certain that the kids were fast asleep in their separate alcoves that he had taken the time to build and prepare for them after he returned from trying to bring Aranea home. He slipped quietly out of the den with a bag of travel supplies he had prepared, pausing as he looked back at the entrance of the den, his emotions threatening to strangle him, before he pushed himself forward toward the border of the pack.

Walk | "Talk" | think