He had days left at best, by now Haiku was fading quickly, the decline was measurable everyday. He had come to peace with it, and he had Bowen, his one true love, beside him to guide him onwards. This wasn’t the end of his existence, he knew there had to be an afterlife, now it was only a matter of time before he found out for certain. Breathing was laborious and there were moments he wished for the end so that he would no longer have to struggle for every breath. The dilemma was real though and he had no desire to speed the process. Life was ending, didn’t he want to savor every moment? To know that he was hanging on for just another second of victory over the inevitable loss of the war.

Bowen stayed with him, but he had snuck from the den that morning, he knew he didn’t really have the strength for it but he wanted to see the sun rise. So before the break of day he made his way to the river. There was a cold gust and snow as the last of winter held on to them tightly. Symbolic of his own plight. Hanging on as death slowly took him, only to await the rebirth of spring. He would not see the first blooms however, he could only hope his memory would live on in some semblance as he left the mortal plane.

The skinny ailing man settled onto the snowy bank, facing east as the first rays of light began to trickle over the sky.

Senrryu wasn’t really sure why he made his way back up his old pack lands. He knew that there was nothing left for him there, and investigating would only be picking at the wound that hadn’t really had a chance to heal. Perhaps he was a gluten for punishment, but hearing that Valta had fallen had led him back up here.

He wanted to see if he could sneak around and see if any of his old things had been left behind. He wanted to search also for any hint, any sign of his family, and where they might have gone.

When he reached the Plains, he was shocked to pick up the scent of his brother. So shocked, in fact, that he was absolutely certain he was imagining it. But fault sensors or no, he couldn’t just.. Walk away. “Haiku? Haiku, are you really here?” he whisper-hissed

"Senryū Cavaliere-Klein"

Haiku had accepted his fate after much experimenting and hoping he could find a cure. He had succeeded in easing his symptoms but as time went on the reality set in and he knew he would soon be reuniting with the ones who had gone ahead of him. By now he looked forward to being pain free and seeing his father again. Meeting his ancestors. There was no other outlook he would accept. Some didn’t believe in an afterlife, but he knew what was waiting for him on the other side, and it was a huge welcome home. All of Abaven would be there, and he was ready. He would be sad to leave Bowen behind, and he wished he could say goodbye to his siblings. They had all been scattered to the wind though, and he wasn’t about ot be able to summon them to his side.

As he lay his head on his paws the sounds of another disturbed him. This was not bowen. Haiku lifted his heavy head to find the familiar form of his twin loping towards him. A smile played on his weary features as Senryu called out his name. ”Sen…” He returned lovingly. ”yes, it’s me. I’m here… for now.” He ended somberly.

He followed the scent, and there his brother was at the end of the trail. Impossible. He pinched his paw, half expecting to be dreaming. But he felt the pain, he saw his brother’s face, his weak words. how…?

His brother's greeting was lacklustre, and Sen crouched down before the familiar boy. They had missed out on so much time together. He wished he could gain it all back, turn back the clock, make different choices… but there was no going back, and Haiku was before him now. He touched his brother's paw with his own, looking at the other wolf with confused concern. “Haiku, what's wrong?”

"Senryū Cavaliere-Klein"

Seeing his twin again was both a balm and a curse, another regret to add to his repertoire. Another reason to relinquish the peace that had been so hard to earn. Haiku didn’t wan to leave his brother and Bowen, but there was no other outcome. No matter what he did. The hardest part really was telling Sen now that his time was limited, that he wouldn’t be on this plane of existence much longer. ”I’m dying, brother.” He said bluntly but not unkindly. Haiku had almost a year now of coming to terms with his illness, Sen was just now realizing while his brother was on his death bed. ”Do not be mournful, I am ready.” He added, trying to comfort his twin.