Guardian Angel (Guardians Of The Galaxy Fanfiction)

Chapter 2: Flooding Grief

"Marrow. Marrow, wake up."

Marrow felt something prod his side and he groaned. He raised a paw and thrust it over his nose. He growled, thinking he was back in his den as a young Fang, just wanting to sleep.

Marrow felt another, harsher, prod in his ribs. He lifted his head and saw Fallow standing over him. "How long have I been in here," he asked in shock, not even realizing where he was.

He looked down and saw two small bundles curled against each other. However, there was no sign of Mist. She had been curled right beside him but now she was gone. Shock and anger flooded through Marrow and he bolted to his paws, his muscles bunched.

"Marrow, I heard the names you gave your pups," breathed Fallow as she forced a smile. "They're wonderful!"

"Where's Mist," he snarled as the fur along his spine bristled.

Fallow hung her head. "I'm so sorry, Marrow, she's gone."

"What," rasped Marrow as he took a step back, nearly tripping over his own tail. He seemed to be in his own world and everything seemed to be miles away from him.

Fallow stepped aside so that Marrow could see out of the entrance. His mate was laying in the middle of the clearing, rain dousing her beautiful pelt. Her eyes were closed and her paws were rested against her head, to give the illusion that she was sleeping.

"No," he cried as he darted from the den and into the pelting rain. Rift, Mist's brother, sat at his sister's head. He looked up to Marrow, his eyes lighting in grief and sympathy. He then looked over to Streak, Mist's closest friend. Streak blinked the tears from her eyes and looked over to Marrow.

"NO!!!!" Marrow turned his head to the sky, rage making his muscles tense. "How could you do this to me?! Why did you take her away from me when I did nothing wrong?!" Each word was choked out through angry snarls.

Murmurs of fear sounded around Marrow but he didn't care. Let them talk and let them gossip. He saw Fallow pad toward him, her eyes trying to comfort him. However, comfort was the last thing that Marrow wanted right now. All he wanted was his mate back.

"Marrow, you need to calm down," chided Fallow gently but calming down was the last thing on Marrow's mind.

"Don't tell me to calm down," he spat as rain flooded around his pelt, making it harder and harder to see. Fallow knew better than to argue with Marrow. She had dealt with her fair share of grieving wolves and she wasn't about to underestimate Marrow's rage. "Where are my pups?"

Fallow seemed a bit taken back. Was Marrow losing his mind? "They're asleep in the Whelps den where you left them," she replied as she flicked her tail toward it.

"A-And Mist," wondered Marrow as he looked around madly.

Fallow looked back toward the clearing and Marrow groaned. "I'm going to be with my pups," he announced to no one in particular as he pushed into the Whelps Den, his tail lashing behind him.

"He's gone fish-dead," snorted a dusty colored male wolf as he rolled his eyes.

"Shut your muzzle," snarled Fallow over her shoulder, the normal calm healer losing her temper. "He's grieving."

"Will he be alright," asked Streak as she looked toward Rift. Rift hung his head and shrugged. He didn't want all of this arguing after his sister's passing. Streak then looked to Fallow, hoping to have her question answered by someone.

Fallow padded over slowly through the drenching rain toward Streak. She sat beside Streak and blinked her eyes as she thought of what to say. "I've been a healer for hundreds of moons now and there are different ways we grieve. Some are more vocal than others and some even space out. Marrow will be alright but it will take a while."

"Will the pups be alright," rasped Rift as he curled his tail around his paws. "I know what's its like to have an emotionally unstable father."

"Yes, but I believe that Marrow will snap out of it. He just needs his pups there to wake him up," barked Streak as she lashed her tail. "I know Marrow. He won't just retreat into that grief state like so many wolves before. He just needs the will of Starbound to be with him."