The Black Wolf

ya's

u done?" Rhydan's voice

Rhydan's eyes were wide, filled with disbe

a woman shrieked

nothing registered. My ears rang wit

s own. The pain of bones reshaping, of fur tearing away from

e all gone. My father's lifele

as I crawled to him, dragging my shak

had torn throu

hands to the wound, as if I could undo the

. My cries tore through the air, raw and u

y mother passed, it had been just us, and no

naked, I didn't care that they had all fled from me

ing myself for more judgment, but it was Zevarion holding the extra coat I had h

didn't flinch. He didn't l

e thick with tears. "Don't come

ently draped the coat around my bare shoulders, shielding

hing my father's hand. "

house... before you decide what

y trembled. "How could this happen?"

he murmured.

ng, cradling him across his shoulders. I followed,

ead like a disease. Curtains were drawn, doors sla

rse

olf... a d

road shoulders. We reached the cold house,

th the dignity no one else would offer. He handled t

orld moved around me, but I was fro

adn't let go. After he was done with the proceedin

ely noticed the cold air brushing against my skin o

I paused. "Thank you," I mu

moment the door shut behind me, I bolted to m

d. My voice cracked.

e was no

How could you, how could you kill him?" My breath came i

she'd buried herself deep inside m

into myself, praying that this was all a nightmare, that I'd wake up and find my father

ow glared down in silent accusati

red. "Why would

s, silence, rage. At some point, I

the brightness. My head pounded, then it all came rushing back. The blood

ring. As I turned toward the mirror, som

, jet black, darker than night, darker than death itself. Her eyes

rd, crashing to the floor, my

nly my own reflection stared back, shaken.

e have I

ung over her shoulder. The moment her eyes met mine, she

rt me!" she cried fleeing

died, I had always seen her as a sister. Seeing her flinch fr

praying that someone might help, but

ful mothers, men turned their bac

ng Rhydan would help me bury my f

out the Hand-wain from the shed, the

lifted my father's body into it, s

rattling over stones. More whispers followed, I kept

tern hill, where the gravestones nestled among the heather. He took us to t

and wives were buried side by side, so thei

the grave. My hands trembled in my

th that now held the only man who had ever l

her," I finally whispered.

t beside me and wordlessly offered a handful of wildflo

tered. The silence of the house, once a place

hold his voice, his laughter, but it was gone. I collapsed in the hal

e with me, or Siora, but no one came. I waited until evening

nd rose. There was nothing left for me h

sitting room, just beneath the carved moon crest my father made

thunder in my ears, I took one final breath. One last prayer to th

the coarse fibers biting into my

to the rope, instinct fighting against

f my father's smile, of what I might sa

ngers went limp, and the