ooc//kids post first then the pack can post

The summer sun was just barely rising from its slumber, paving the way for dawns approach. Avalon lay curled in her den, stirring slightly as she started to wake. For so long she had slept, her body weakened by age and the long life she had lived. Amber gaze still remained bright, however, but today...that brightness would fade. Her den was dark as her old bones stirred, the Ancoran matriarch stiffly and slowly pulling herself to stand as each painful breath raggedly echoed in the silence. What should have only taken a moment and a few steps to reach outside had taken her a painfully long time. Her legs didn't want to work the way they should, and each step took an exceptionally long time as her limbs shook and protested. She knew her time was coming someday...and she had the sense that one of the days would be her last. She could feel it, not just in her bones but in her very soul. After what felt like an eternity, Avalon had finally made it to the mouth of her den where she stood and leaned against its opening, eyes blinking to adjust to the pre-dawn light as the sun started to make its way over Boreas. She remained there for a minute or two so she could catch her breath before shuffling further out. She wanted to watch the sunrise today, something she hadn't done for a while since she'd been too weak, but she missed the rays of the sun on her body. With great effort, she climbed into a position atop her den that would allow her the full view of the sun rising between the trees, and there she slowly and ungracefully laid down once again. Her breath was hard, her chest pounding from the effort it took to get her here despite it only being a few short feet. Nobody else was awake at this hour. It seemed even the world itself was still sleeping, and the only ones awake now were her and the sun. Closing her eyes, Avalon began to think back on her life. She remembered her family from when she was a child. Her father...her mother...her brothers and sisters. Her cousins, aunts, and uncles...she had so much then...and even after she lost it all, she had more or less tried to rebuild it with children of her own. And while she hadn't seen some of her children in ages, she didn't love them any less. She was grateful for the time she did have with them. Before life pulled them all onto their own paths. The faces of each of her children flashed in her mind. Some she hadn't seen in quite some time...and her heart broke, wondering where they were. What they were up to. If they were okay...she wished she could see them all together at least once, but she knew that would be nothing but a wishful dream. She wished she could tell each and every one of them how much she loved them. Even to her older children who might have felt like she didn't... Would they know that she loved them no matter what? She had tried so hard for them all...even in her old age, she tried hard for the youngest. Even on days when her bones screamed for rest, she tried. Granted, she spent a lot of the past year resting or dealing with pain, she still tried to get up and teach them what she could when she was able to. Her throat tightened then...would her youngest forgive her for not being able to do all that a younger mother might have been able to do? She felt bad...but there was nothing she could do about it now. She had taken care of Chrystelle the best she could while she was ill, and she had done the best she could for her other children while also trying to let them find their own paths as she tried to guide them. She never claimed she was the best mother in the world, but she tried the best she could. As the sun began to rise, Avalon's breathing lessened. She felt tired...although she had woken up not too long ago, she felt like she wanted to sleep again. Not a stranger to life and how it worked, she knew her time was nearing. She was too weak to go back into her den, however, and even if she did have the chance to return to the warmth of her den, she was likely to remain outside where she could see the sun one last time. Her eyes fluttered open as the sun rose over the horizon. The sky turning from varying shades of darkness to golds and blues as the sun made its way into the sky. She could feel its warmth touching her fur. Her view was unblocked by the trees and mountains...the sun's rays perfectly aligning on her old, frail body. To others, it would have been the perfect day. And for her...it still was. Even if she was on death's door, she wouldn't have asked for a better scene. "Avalon..." A voice both familiar yet unfamiliar echoed in her ears. She turned her head slightly as she searched for the source, but saw no one. "Avalon..." Her attention was pulled back to the sun, and there she swore she saw what looked like an apparition. Brows knit together a bit as her gaze tried to focus. Bit by bit the silhouette grew more solid, and her eyes widened in disbelief. "Father...?" There, standing before her, was none other than the man she missed most. Gargoyle stood before in all his strength and glory. Just like in the days of old from when she was a child. "Avalon...we've missed you. It's time for you to come home," He stepped forward until their noses touched. She closed her eyes and breathed in his scent and it was exactly as she remembered. Even though she hadn't seen them since she was a pup, no tears came. She felt...at peace. "Avalon!" Peering past her father's hulking figure, she spotted her mother's delicate frame standing behind him, a gentle smile on her face as always. More voices followed, all just as familiar as the last as one by one, her littermates appeared. Her heart swelled with happiness as she recognized each one, their faces clear as if they were as real as the world she lived in. But...she knew it wasn't real. She knew what was happening. She felt almost...guilty...at what she'd be leaving behind. "Father...I...I don't know if I can leave them behind..." Her children...what would they do without her? "It's okay, Avalon. They will be fine. They will understand you did your best for them, and that you loved them. They will be well looked after by our kin." She swallowed back the uncertainty...wishing she could tell them all she loved them one last time. But she knew she'd never be able to find them all in time...even most certainly not now considering...well...if she could see her family that she hadn't seen in years, she knew what all of this meant. Whether she liked it or not, she was beginning to pass on. It was something she had accepted long before it actually happened, and although it saddened her to leave her children behind, she hoped they knew how much she loved them all. Turning back to her father, she nodded. "I am ready." Her heart pounded as Gargoyle reached forward to touch her again, and when he did, she felt a warmth spread through her body. The pain and aches that she had been dealing with died away. Her fur returned to its former pristine and fluffy self, and she no longer felt like the tired old woman she had been. She felt...young again. Energetic. Full of life. She rose to her paws, her limbs steady and strong once again. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward to join her father's side, the way things should have been so many years ago. She walked with him back to the family she had lost, hugging her mother and her siblings. Feeling their warmth and love all over again. As the family turned towards the sun, Avalon stopped and gazed back towards the pines. She whispered. This was where she had taken her first breath...and where she'd take her last... "I love you all, my dears..." -Exit Avalon via Death- "Talk" "You" Think

She stirred in her den as the sun began to rise. The girl had slept fitfully, unable to really sleep throughout the night but when she finally did, it was only a couple of hours worth of sleep. She had woken again, bleary eyes blinking open as she yawned. She felt like crap, feeling tired more than usual but she admitted defeat. Even if she tried to force herself to go back to sleep now, she knew she wouldn't be able to now. Instead, she rose and stretched before walking outside. The sun was already rising, casting its golden glow across the lands. She wondered how her mother was feeling today, so she headed over to her the nearby den that sat tucked away among the trees. As she approached, however, she almost immediately felt like something was off. She quietly approached the den, noting the disturbed ground in front of it and the fresh tracks. Peering in, she didn't see, nor hear anyone inside. Had her mother found the strength to venture out today? If that was the case...why did she still feel a sense of foreboding? Her eyes studied and followed the tracks no more than a few short yards away before she spotted her mother's resting form a little ways behind the den, seemingly facing the rising sun. Slowly, Claire approached her sleeping mother, pale gaze searching her mother's form for any signs that something was wrong...as she drew closer, she wasn't sure if Avalon was breathing...and when Claire finally reached her mother's side and looked at her face, she nearly choked on the breath she didn't know she'd been holding. She stood there. Frozen. Unable to move as she looked at Avalon. Her eyes were lifeless, the amber glow that once showed the world her fierceness was now nothing but dying embers. Despite that, however, she still looked at peace. Claire swallowed past the lump in her throat as she finally found the will to move. She laid down by her mother, touching her nose to her mother's cheek as she used her paw to close her mother's eyes. If she didn't know any better, she would have thought her mother was sleeping with how peaceful she looked. Avalon held a smile on her face and for once, didn't look like she was hurting. Claire, however, was hurting a lot. Her heart felt like it was in a vice, the lump in her throat threatening to choke her. She squeezed her eyes shut as tears threatened to spill. And eventually, they did. Her poor mother...as old as she was, she tried to be there for them as much as they could, but in the end, she had to go...what were they going to do without her now? "Rest well, mother..." She whispered before slowly lifting herself up. She had to tell the others...her siblings would want to be here, right? With a howl filled with sorrow and mourning, Claire called for her siblings. "Speak

Océan took trips to Abaven, just a couple at this point but Motif was often on his mind. The girl bolstered his confidence and he enjoyed spending time with his best friend. However, there was an odd feeling that fell over Winterfell and more specifically the common area near his mother’s den. He had reluctantly moved from the den he’d been born in but he wasn’t far. He’d kept himself nearby not only because of the dream he’d had of his father but there was a feeling he couldn’t shake off. He wanted to be close to Avalon.

He was an early riser, but maybe there was something about this day that caused him to sleep later than usual. He dreamed of Felicien, and when his father bid him wake up the young Ancora opened his bright silver eyes to the rising sun. Océ felt oddly at peace as his massive form slipped from the entrance of his den and he turned towards Avalon’s den. From here he could see Claire with their mother atop the den. He walked forward slowly, and knew the moment he heard his sister’s voice he knew that they were alone. Their mother and father were both gone. They’d stayed as long as they could, but it was no secret the age in which they had brought he and his siblings into the world.

Silently Océan made his way beside Claire, tears began to fog his vision but the pain had been expected for a long time. They were blessed with the time they were given and now they would have to say goodbye. He aimed to settle beside Claire, leaning against her side in comfort as much for her as for himself.

Chrystelle had made her way through the pines that morning, doing her usual rounds through the trees along the border and back again as she continued to build up her strength. She was steadily improving, but after being sick for so long it had been a slow and slightly frustrating process. Just as she was about to divert her path out toward the ship that made up the other half of Winterfell's territory, she heard a call from her sister that made her stop dead in her tracks. The tone to her voice made her lift her head toward the sound with dread and her ears fell back against her head. They all knew the state their mother was in at this point and even though she had known it was only a matter of time... it was still a hard reality to accept.

She hurried back toward their mother's den and when she arrived she spotted Claire and Océan first before her warm eyes slipped down to where Avalon laid. She swallowed back a hard lump in her throat and let her gaze slip down to the ground in front of her feet as she stood a few feet away for a moment. It didn't matter how much she had been preparing herself for this moment, it still hurt so, so much. With a steadying sigh, Chrys made herself walk forward to settle beside her siblings, giving them a glance before looking to their mother once more. The only comfort she had was knowing how much their mother had been hurting as of late and now she was free of all of that. She could rest now and that was enough of a relief to the monochromatic young woman that she could lean into that to ease her heartache.

truthfully, he had been pacing around pack borders for a week or so no. after disappearing into almost nothing, he only recently found interest in returning home to see how things were going. but with ease, and a willing mood, he was distracted and his reentry was delayed. he promised himself that going to poke around his mother's den would bring about a scolding, but he was also sure she'd welcome him home with her own loving mood..

the call of sister was odd to the ears, forcing his entire frame to pause in question. he was just close enough to pick up the pieces of it, but with having been so long since her voice greeted his ears he was hesitant. with nerve gathered he ventures within the border, heading off to the direction he could remember his mother rested in. it was only when his pale face broke into the clearing did his gut sink.

he stared at them, unmoving from his awkward placement. he knew, mother was old, he knew one day she wouldn't be with them anymore. but had she gotten so worse of when he decided to run off and play? his nose twitched, the air didn't feel right, it didn't smell right. this would be the first in a while the frames of his siblings roamed his vision, but as pale green eyes watered, he didn't even have words for them.

quick steps would bring him to close the difference, pressing the end of his nose against his silent mothers. ears twitching back against his head. "mother." belly greeting the ground as he crouched. "rest well, mother."