But I don’t mean to be a bother I don’t need you to take my burden away And I ain’t afraid of dying The winter had been unkind to Bronze and his mate. Only because of Steel had they subsisted, their strong son that had hunted and cared for them with little to no complaint since they had left Ludicael. Though he was not even a yearling, he was far more of a man that Bronze had been at that age. His childhood had been cut abruptly short; instead of playing with other children and enjoying a life of safety and comfort, he'd been forced away from all of that, taking care of his parents in order to preserve his freedom. Bronze did not regret taking him from Ludicael, but he felt guilty for forcing the young boy to care for them. He was far more serious than most boys he knew his age and he recognized that it was largely his fault. He'd been largely on his own since he was born, cared for mostly from a distance and by his siblings. Bronze had not been strong enough to teach him to hunt, nor to teach him the basics of combat; whatever he had learned had largely been on his own. The cold had begun to seep away from the land as they journeyed to the southern continent as spring began to reveal itself. The days were growing warmer, though the nights were still uncomfortably cold. The nights were growing more unbearable, his sleep often restless and fitful as longed for morning to come and to warm him once again. Tonight was no exception. In the darkness of night, he would rouse slowly, a sudden whine escaping his lips. "My love," he would murmur absently, feeling the heavy weight of fatigue on his aging body. A chill ran up his spine and he would struggle to move closer to the Silent in the darkness of their den. His body had been growing weak over the harsh season, and all the rest in the world would not return his strength to him, no matter how much he wished it might. A groan left his lips as he searched for her, coming to press against her side with as much fervor as he could muster. Her blissfully familiar warmth welcomed him and he found himself burying his face in the fur of her neck, drinking in her scent greedily. "I am so tired." His voice quivered a bit, and he inhaled sharply as he pressed against her.

	The years she had spent with Bronze after reuniting had been the best. They had consummated their reunion shortly after claiming each other, bringing four lives into the world. They had lived in Seracia under the peaceful rule of Maverick and Epiphron, until their lives were uprooted by the war. After Bronze returned from Glaciem's prisoner stronghold, Silent had become more paranoid and weary of such drama among the various packs. She had then moved to Ludicael under Song's rule, then had Steel...her last gift to the world around them. Now, now she was exhausted and ready to go home. Bronze found his way to her side, fatigue evident in every single part of him. She watched him with a tired gaze, emeralds slowly losing the life they had carried for so many years. Her form was curled in their den, where they could watch the water as it moved outside. Steel had been taking care of them, a task she wouldn't have wished on any of her babies at such a young age. Although it helped him hone his skills, she felt horrible for not being able to do it anymore. Bronze's words met her ears and she sighed in resignation, head lowering to bump against his before resting beside it. "I am too, my angel," she whispered, tones failing to show the life that had once been in her body. Ears perked up as she met his gaze, emeralds showing the love she had carried for him for all of those years. Silent smiled tiredly, and for a minute, she looked like her young self...when they had first met. "You have been a wonderful husband and father," she said, the wrinkles forming around her kissers. "After all we've been through...I still cannot believe that you are mine." She turned her head and coughed, aches racking her ribs and causing her spine to shiver like her husband's. The sickness had taken over long before she knew it existed, but she was all right with it zapping the life from her. Nature had a funny sense of humor sometimes, but she didn't mind. Her life had been long, prosperous, and simply wonderful.

What becomes of me When you stop listening? Do I disappear into the silence? Or return from the void with brand new life? Though Bronze had lived a hard life, he truly had no regrets. He wished he could've seen his eldest children again, one last time, though he knew that they all had built lives of their own long ago. Though he knew his adoptive parents had likely passed away many years ago, he still wished he could've seen them again too; to thank them for taking him in as a child and for giving him a better life than he could've ever hoped for. Bronze had tried to hide his slowly failing health from Steel, but the boy was sharp for a child and had likely noticed despite his attempts to seem otherwise. They could pretend that they simply were tired, or lazy, but it was obvious that sleep had become not just a refuge but a necessity for the aging couple. Hunting properly had been exhausting for some time, since Ara, Mercury, Jendai, and Faolan had been born, but now it was impossible. A short walk was enough to tire the two of them out; running was entirely out of the question. Another sigh would fall from Bronze's lips as he pulled himself closer against Silent's dark form. Slowly his eyes would adjust to the darkness, her form illuminated slightly by the moon's reflection on the ocean that lay before their den.  "I do not want to leave them," he would interject her more positive train of thought, his tired voice cracking. His children were his world, and it was difficult to imagine life without them; though he knew they would be fine without him. "I know they don't need us, but imagining it... it hurts." There was a sadness to his voice as he buried his nose into her fur. The child he worried the most for was Steel. Their other children were well into adulthood; Ara had even begun a family of her own, even though it wasn't the life he had pictured for her, he was proud of her regardless. A soft sob would leave his throat, barely audible at best, and he inhaled sharply. He felt the rattling of her chest against his own body. "It is because of you that life was ever worth living," he told her softly, wanting to calm her from the coughs that wracked her form. "I never imagined I would be capable of loving someone so much." His earliest memories were traumatic, and even with his adoptive parents he had not known much warmth, despite the fact that they loved him deeply. Another sob would leave his lips as he breathed in her familiar scent. She had always been the light in his darkness, the star that had guided him even in the bleakest of nights. He could not imagine a life without her -- he would not allow himself to walk the earth without her by his side, now that he had remembered how infinite her love made him feel. "I love you, my Silent Shadow," he would tell her breathlessly, aching to be closer to her, though he knew he was as close as he could possibly be.

Her eyes heavily closed as she listened to his words, sweet lyrics making her ears burn with familiarity. She sighed at his touch, purred at his movements, and rested her head against his until their skulls were bumping. "It will be painful regardless of how old they get," she tiredly pointed out. "We raised them with all of the knowledge we had from our lives and they have plenty of mistakes to make that they can learn from." She could feel her body getting more tired, more worn with each breath that entered her lungs. Her tail slowly wrapped around her hind legs as she slowly opened her eyes to look at Bronze beneath heavy lids. "I knew from the beginning that you would be a tough shell to crack." She gave a teasing smile before her salmon pink tongue slipped out to lick his muzzle. "I love you, too, Bronze...my puppy knight in shining armor." Knowing eyes twinkled as she pulled herself closer to Bronze's withering form. Their fur meshed, their skin touched, and she let his warmth fall over her black body like a blanket. The breezes from outside swept in, bringing in scents Silent had taken for granted. Fresh grass, healthy dirt, flowers...flowers. Silent suddenly opened her eyes wide open as her senses grabbed onto that last recognized smell. "Bronze..." she said softly, ears perking as she continued. "Spring is here...the roses are beginning to open...I bet they look beautiful..." That surge of energy quickly vanished and she closed her eyes halfway as she looked at him with another knowing look. "Roses, Bronze...silver petals and soft clinking..." talking"

Love of mine, Won't you lay by my side? And rest your weary eyes, Before we're out of time. As he closed his eyes, he swore he could see them as they might be now; his children, who he had not seen in so many years. There was Fire Light, as fierce as ever, with a coat of jet black just like her mother. There was Cloud, too, with fur the color of the sky itself, so quiet and gentle, so much like Ara. He remembered Apollo and Artemis, his twins, though Apollo's life had been cut tragically short. And there was Alione, too, the girl that had only known the life of a wanderer, of an adventurer. Her independence had always astounded him. Where were they now, he wondered? Though he could only hope they were alive, he knew that even in death he might never see them again. It was a painful thing to know, even with Silent's soft voice reassuring him from the darkness of their den, and he felt a stinging in his chest as his head flooded with memories. The cliff. His mother's mangled body below, crimson red blood staining the earth. The waterfall. A single red rose. His Uncle Baldev, bringing him to the border of a strange pack, alone and afraid as he was pulled from everything he had ever known. It was there that he first learned to love and to be loved. It was there he learned to be a son, learned to be a brother, and it was there that he had met Silent. The elder felt tears welling in his tired eyes at the thought of them. Of Light and of Aradcor, who had taken him into their lives so selflessly. Of Zelovade and even of Sapphire, the few he had grown to know as siblings despite the jealousy that had plagued his heart when his adoptive parents had given birth to children that were of their own flesh and blood. And there was Scudge, the tiny boy that he had grown up with, another orphan that had been accepted into his family with open paws. He shifted to press tighter against her. They had grown so tired -- and recently, so weak -- and he had wondered how long they might carry on for. His life had extended far past what he had ever expected, and he had certainly not expected to have more children at this age. Having Steel had been a miracle in itself. Maybe it was time for them to let go. The boy had proved to them that he could take care of himself, and that had been Bronze's final goal in life. Perhaps they ought to find their other children, to say goodbye... but the pain that might cause them weighed heavily on his heart. They had known that he and Silent didn't have much time left. How would they take the news of their passing? Quiet Ara would have plenty to occupy her mind, with her wife and children, but what of Faolan? He had always been strong and kind, and Bronze had little doubt he would persevere. Mercury and Jendai might take the news the hardest, for they were both slightly detached, independent as their father had been... but he knew that they were both resilient and would recover quickly. It was ironic, though, that now Silent lay there calmly, the epitome of everything beautiful and serene... while his own serious facade began to slip, to shatter into a million pieces as he felt tears begin to fall down his cheeks. Though he had never feared death, he certainly feared a life without Silent, and without their children. The mere thought of no longer knowing the warmth of her touch, of not seeing the smiles of his children again... the pain gripped his heart like a vice. "I love you, so much," he told her firmly, his tired voice cracking with emotion that he did not have the energy to stifle. He felt helpless, something that had never settled well with him, and he could no longer contain the sadness that tugged at his core. The gentle scent of spring crept into their den, tickling his nose. The air smelt of earth and flowers and life. For a long moment he would bask in the crisp scent of the air, before Silent's words caused a soft sob to fall from his lips. Something changed then, as she spoke -- though the tears continued to roll effortlessly down his matted cheeks, he found himself relaxing against Silent's touch, the sobs growing soft as he let his eyes closed once again. He had always pictured a warrior's death for him; but this would be so much nicer. Could they really just let go, he wondered? Would it be so easy? He knew that he couldn't bear to leave this world without her. Sharply he inhaled, a raspy, dry sound that rattled his chest. "If I could chose to live this life again," he would whisper to her softly. "I would live it a thousand times." With all the pain that it included, if only it meant he might get another life with her.  "But this particular life, I think.. I think I've had enough, my love." The aching and the fatigue had grown too strong to fight, and he longed to sleep soundly again, to let his pain wash away, to be free. Give me one last kiss, For soon, such distance, Will stretch between our lips, Now the day's losing light.