You make sure I always see the daylight

While Manea sat in silence beside her husband, giving him her quiet support as they watched the pyre burning in front of them, she felt like she was just waiting for the pin to drop. Alastor had always been fire incarnate, bold and hot with his emotions and reactions to anything and everything. She had never known someone whose markings so accurately represented them. However, in this moment, she only received stoney stillness and quiet from her mate and that was perhaps the most unsettling part. She slipped a paw around the upper part of his foreleg after a few heavy, long moments of quiet, as if holding on to him might keep him anchored here with her some how even though she knew it was a fools errand. She wasn't sure what he needed right now–to let him remain in the quiet or to try and snap him out of it–but for now she just gave his foreleg a firm squeeze and remained there at his side while the flames continued to consume Relm's body.

It wasn't until the highest of the flames began to die down as the wood pile they had built began to crack and crumble in on itself that she looked up toward Alastor's face and gave his upper foreleg another squeeze. It had been an undoubtedly strenuous journey to find Relm's body and bring her here–not to mention the work that went into putting together their quiet funeral–and she couldn't even be sure the last time he slept. She knew well enough that he wouldn't care for himself in this state so she would have to make sure of it for him. "Is there anything else you'd like to say or do before we go?" she asked softly. There was still a bit of time before the fire burned itself out, but it would be coals and embers soon enough and she wouldn't drag him away without giving him the chance to say any last goodbyes.

"Manea & Alastor Mendacium"