The bird shot from the sky so far Sirius thought war had found him, of the avian kind. He ducked to the side, turning his massive body, moving to swipe the bird so fast he threw it from the air and pinned it to the earth, stunned. He looked down at the unique white coat of the raven and made to take off its head. “Poem!” it squawked desperately, just in the nick of time. One of the only words that would have stilled him. He side, leaning back, but not releasing the paw that pushed it into the dirt. “Your from her pack?” he asked. He had wondered if any of her family would come looking for her eventually. He had hoped Motif would head them off at the pass, but that was too much to ask of the spinless pup.

“Speak fast, bird, im hungry” he warned. The bird, stunned, shook its head, and tried to orientate itself from the ground. “Her mother, dead, last words given! She must see her her family, Shaye is dead!” it squawked pitifully.

"Fuck!”

The titan spat, releasing the bird with a disgusted sigh and a flick of his wrist. He looked at the bird in agitation as he let his mind work through it. He could kill the bird, keep it from his apprentice, and keep her here without leave for the year. He could work heart to earn her loyalty, and at the year’s end when she visited her family, she would know what he had done, and he would lose her. Alternatively, he could release her, despite how little time he had had to work with her. He was yet to earn any sort of trust, and if she went back to her family now, he could lose her. He would be forced to rely on her honour, to tear her from her family and bring her back to him to complete her promised time. He paced back and forth in agitation, glaring at the bird for being the bearer of bad news. He only had one choice, and if she did not return to him, he would come for her. Sirius did not give up what was his easily.

With a dejected sigh, he stopped lying to himself and knew he would not keep his apprentice from the news of her dead mother. He might not have installed respect in her, but he already respected the spitfire. He tossed back his head and howled for the girl.

Poem had an awful dream the night before, she wasn’t able to remember a moment of it. Since waking she couldn’t shake the terrible feeling that fell over her. She went about her daily duties quietly, noting the change in the feeling of the air. Her thoughts consumed by her family, she was already counting down the time she had left under Sirius’s thumb. Poem was ready to have her family together again, they hadn’t shared the den since before Motif was taken in the fall.

She was reminded of her younger days, sleeping next to Shaye and waking up to bother her uncle Epitaph before the sun rose. Learning how to catch salamanders with her mother and Motif. Her first heir lessons with Shaye. She sighed heavily, yearning for those moments. When she was summoned by her temporary master. He had pushed her into a routine, and this was very far off from their normal time.

The feeling of dread seemed to return and Poem made her way hurriedly to Sirius’s presence. ”Yes, sir?” She asked hesitantly, unsure if she wanted to know what he needed her for.

He was not left waiting as his prized apprentice made her way into his presence. She looked weary, but guarded, as she appraised him, and he settled himself onto his hunches with a sigh. “There has been news” he said, trying to hide his grimace. Compassion wasn’t his strong point, and he was struck with a sudden lack of desire to hurt his pupil with these words, but he had made his decision. “Your mother has passed, and her bird has come to guide you home. In light of this news, I have decided to grant you a weeks leave early, so you might be with your family.” he made it clear he considered it temporary. Still, he wondered if she would return.

“Bird?” he said, calling the raven forth, and Winter, still disgruntled at being swatted like a fly and almost eaten, came wobbling into view and towards Poem. “Alpha-Daughter” Winter said, distressed, as she came closer, and hopped onto the womans back. “Bad news, very bad.”

Sirius looked her over once and was quick to speak with her as he leaned back on his haunches and spoke. Poem froze, unable to believe his words. How did he know her mother.. He was lying, he was doing this to torment her. The accusation was on her lips and she’d nearly brought her lips up into a snarl when her eyes were forced upon Winter.

Poem nearly fell to the ground as her features crumbled and her daydreams of making her family whole again were lost with the wind. Shaye was.. Poem tried to hold herself together, but she felt as though she had been punched in the gut. Shaye couldn’t be gone. Poem hadn’t even said good bye.. Her brain was suddenly a mess and it took any will she had left to keep herself composed until Sirius could no longer see her.

”Tell me..” Her voice broke and she stuttered. This couldn’t be true, the world wasn’t this cruel. ”Tell me it isn’t true.” She knew the answer already though, she knew with the whole of her being. She was too late and it was all because she hadn’t been strong enough to beat Sirius.

Sirius looked to the pupil, saw the sudden flare of anger in her eyes, and then defeat as Winter appeared, and she could not call his words out as lies. Sirius stepped closer, not invading her space, but close, as he dipped his head to her height. “For what it’s worth, I'm sorry” The Titan said, before turning and leaving her alone with the bird. He had made his choice, and now all he could do was wait, and hope, and see if she returned to him.

Winter ruffled her coat, and waited for the titan to leave before turning her attention to Poem. “Very angry man, wished to make bird-meat” she shook her little head, before folding a wing comfortingly over Poem’s side. “Sorry, very sorry. Winter went for help, came back, and Shaye was gone. Poem directed Winter, told me, find Alpha-Daughter here. She waits for you”