The Devils Gambit

-Chapter VIII-

 Dressed in black, Elena, her friends and Kyla made their way through the dense crowd to the front row. Around them, the representatives of all Nine Wolf Packs gathered around the fire and took their seats on the stone grounds along the cliffside. Staring forward, only feet from the edge of the cliff, Elena's jaw clenched at the sight of Cashels pyre, seeing it so plain and barren under the new moon in the light of the torches lining the grounds.

"How sickening," She scoffed quietly as Clyde stood up to meet the reverend at the podium.

Josh looked over to her confused, "What is?"

"The pyre is so plain."

Inflamed, he looked at her almost disgusted, "Your friend is on that pyre and you're sickened by the fact it's plain?!"

She turned her anger towards him and hanging by a thread of restraint she asked him, "You don't know do you?"

"Know what?"

She shook her head irritated, "In the Wolfmen culture, when one of their own dies, their pyre is decorated. Pictures, trinkets, medals, clothing, weapons, anything the deceased and their friends and or family shared in life so when it burns, it seals the bond between them. It shows how loved they were in life."

To explain the versa, El pointed to Cashels.

"So what do you think when it means to have so many attend your funeral but only a couple put something on your pyre."

It didn't take a psychologist to see the enlightenment light up in his eyes.

"Al taught you a lot about the wolfmen culture," Behind Elena, Cashel laughed and smiled, "I'm touched."

"It's stupid. You were a great soldier, a better friend and Tara will say greatest boyfriend slash fiance. There should be more on your pyre."

"It was never about the stuff Elena. My circle was as small as it was for a reason."

"Alright, I'll bite. Why was it so small?"

"Well, like everyones my circle started huge. Over time however, the inevitable happened. I started to think for myself, and because of that I clashed heads with a lot of people. No one likes a guy who can think for himself."

"I still think its stupid."

"It might be, but..."

He pointed to who walked to the pyre and from the dark pulled out two sheets. Placing one over the body and the other over his right shoulder."

"Your pack's patterns and colors," A smile creeped across her face.

"Black and gold mosaic of The Huesky Pack, correct."

"I never knew..." She turned around in an attempt to speak with him again but found he had already disappeared.

"Never knew what El," Josh looked at her confused.

El looked around gathering her bearings, "Nothing. Shush, it's starting."

"May the Great Chief's welcome you," Cashels former Commanding Officer prayed, "And guide you on your coming trials. May they shout your name with victory, so that we might hear it echo under the light of the brightest moon, and know that you've taken your rightful place among them."

Clyde stepped forward, dressed in his unit's alpha class uniform, with the black and purple mosaic sash Cashel had made for him draped over his right shoulder.

"Oh Mother," he glazed back to the pyre with his friend laying still, and put a hand on the Huesky sash, "May the wind always be to his back. Oh Father, may the sun shine warm upon his face. For the best of us has fallen. A warrior. A hero. A loved one, and a friend. Give his spirit safe passage into paradise, and may the rains fall soft upon your fields until we meet again, my friend."