Snow fell on the ground, practically silencing the world around him. He had visited the girls grave in the middle of the night when no one else was awake. While he didn't know her very well if at all, he paid his respects anyway. He stood by her grave, gazing down with sorrow in his eyes. When he had learned of her passing from Torin, part of him felt saddened by the news. But he hadn't allowed it to show that day. As he stood there, he thought about how it could have been one of his kids buried there beneath the frozen ground. He frowned as he thought about that possibility. He was old now, eight years old and full of resentment and anger. A few years ago he had met Faite, and the same day he had met her, she had become pregnant. The day their children were born had been the happiest day of his life. He had a family again. Even when the relationship between him and Faite had been an odd one, he had grown to care for her and loved her. When she had left the first time, he thought she was gone for good and he felt confused. He was hopeful when she had returned but after that? She left again. Only this time Rory had left, too. And when he realized that Faite wasn't ever coming back, his heart started to hurt like hell. He thought losing his family had hurt. They had died tragically on their journey to Boreas, but over time, he had accepted it. For some reason though, he was having a real hard time getting over the pain he felt in his heart. He wasn't sure how to move on after Faite. He felt like it would be a betrayal to his family. To his kids...if he decided to try again with someone else. But then he remembered that he was old. And that perhaps it was too late. He had wasted his time sulking and being angry and holding onto something that would never be. And he knew that those were the reasons why he had unintentionally distanced himself from his children. He hardly had a relationship with Breasal, since the boy had always been scarce, and eventually...to never being around. Rory had to take the role of alpha early on in his life, his duties to the pack taking up all of his time.  Jaidah, his wayward daughter that he hardly knew as well. Kairi had always tried to spend time with him, the only bright star in the darkness of his world. But even now, they were growing distant from each other. And Torin...resentment had begun to breed between them. And he feared that their relationship would never mend. He turned away from the grave, the snow muffling his steps as he walked away. He felt empty. Sad. Melancholic. His heart hurt. His mind felt numb. And yet, he would press on in a world that constantly made him feel like he was alone. "Talk"

She had been unable to sleep, so she lied just inside the entrance to her den staring out at the falling snow. The world was quiet. Allowing her to think about things she didn't particularly feel like thinking about. For one, the death Naeva. Second, the strained relationship she felt happening between her family. She used to be so close and open and playful with them, but now? She didn't know where she stood in each of their lives. It was just her, Torin, and their father now. She didn't know where Breasal and Jaidah had gone, nor Rory or her mother. The pain of them leaving still hurt like a fresh wound, and she found herself whining and feeling sadder than ever. Walk, "Talk" Think

He walked quietly through the snow, the melancholic feeling still lingering in his heart. Jewell had lost a child to the cold grips of death...and he had lost three to unknown factors. He didn't know if they were still alive, either. So in some way, they almost had something in common. One thing they did have in common, however, was pushing their kids away. So when he heard the soft whining nearby, he paused and glanced towards Kairi's den. She lay there, curled in on herself. He had never seen her like that before and realized that he wasn't the only one who had lost family. With a pang in his heart, he quietly walked over to her and gazed sadly on her downed form. "Kairi..." He didn't know what to say to her. Didn't know how to fix what he broke. He felt he didn't deserve their forgiveness for how he had been acting. Making them the targets of his anger and frustration... "Talk"