Among The Wolves

Tribute

Obsidian spared no time at all. Instead of going physically and wasting time to gather Etas, he sent out a mind-link to a few that he knew would follow-up well. If Obsidian was correct about the speed of the wind and the location of the border then Kejyta was smack dab in the middle of the first storm.

That thought fueled him to push his jet black paws to the max. The pain in his bones seemed to have dissipated when the matebond sang. He was closing the space at a record rate. Obsidian did not have a map on him nor the tracker to lead to the watch. While the matebond was not yet strong enough he hoped it would not fail him now and that it would lead him right to her.

In all honesty, Obsidian did not know what he would do if he got there. How he would act. At the moment he had the excuse that this was a command from the Alpha. Then what? If he got there and Kejyta's actions exhibited her last words to him, how would he handle it? No doubt about one thing, his self control would be put to the test.

That is one thing he had vicariously met in the last couple of months. The first time feeling the matebond... the moment that it awakened in his blood, he had never anticipated it... he did not even understand it, although he certainly knew what it was...

***

Earth pounding, leaves crunching, air shifting, eyes focusing, heart beating. Obsidian ran and ran. "The human's been bitten."

The words seemed to hang heavy in his mind, the full moon stood stark in the sky. It would not be ignored. Melodic howls captured the night. For those oblivious to the happenings it was a beautiful time. Crisp air, but not too cold, just perfect. Clear sky, no clouds could impede the moon's radiating glow. Its light even pierced through the forest in which Obsidian ran.

"I did what I could." He told himself. Yet the image of her... a pale stillness. It was as if death had already had its way. Maybe he could have been faster, maybe he could have looked sooner.

"No." He did what he could. The rest could not be bothered. What was she to him? Why did he care?

"Because you promised."

A pained memory from the past wreaked his heart. Piercing it like a thousand arrows. He failed, not once but twice.

A mind-link probed for an invitation. Obsidian opened it. It was Alpha M’est’r, “The human's dead. Retreat.”

Obsidian skidded to a halt. He was not surprised but why did his heart ache? It was unfair… sure, she had this forced upon her. Still, she was human, and he was wolfblood.

Obsidian looked up at the moon. His heart hurt so deeply thinking of long ago events, particularly a death that he should have prevented. He could not protect her and now he failed to protect the human. In honor of the past he wanted to give a tribute to girl-human. To commemorate the small friendship of a relationship he had with the her. He closed his eyes and pointed his nose up. Deep within his chest a rumble started. It escalated upwards to the back of his throat. Building up like a low growl and then it erupted into a beautiful song. Breaking the frozen air, and spreading like wildfire. His howl lifted higher and it reached above all the others as a tenor would amongst low keys.

Without taking a breath he let his howl climb some more and then higher still, he aimed for the climax of the song. The final goodbye. The anticipation in the air thrummed and filled the stillness.
The coldness was now heavy with emotion. One note increased and the climax boomed across the trees. A sweet melody, an honored farewell, and solemn respect.