Fall of the Packs: Void

Chapter Seven

When Desert saw Minerva and the other trainees walk back into the clearing carrying Chloe's body, her first feeling was shock, which was then replaced by grief. Chloe was not her closest friend, but they had fought together for years, and she was as loyal and hardworking as any dog. Then the grief was overrun by horror that Minerva was the one carrying her, and all of the trainees had had to witness that. And then the horror was overtaken by a slowly boiling anger, anger that she was saving just for one dog.

For now she buried the anger beneath concern as she joined the cluster of dogs that had come to meet the trainees in the center of the clearing. Pebble pushed his way to the forefront, his eyes wide with astonishment. "I don't suppose I have to ask," he murmured after a moment.

Minerva was silent at first before saying, "Wind Pack may have reclaimed the territory on the northern side."

Pebble shook his head. "That's not important now. All of you go see Sundae and Geo, and rest for the day."

Desert stopped briefly by Chloe's body to pay her respects, even though there would be a proper burial later. She then hurried over to Minerva, Gannon, and Jas. "Are you three all right?" she asked. "Are you hurt?"

"Just a little bruised," Gannon answered. "It didn't last very long."

Desert noticed Minerva's ear, which looked like it had been tattered at the edges. "That looks bad," she said. "You should get that treated now."

"The others can go ahead of me," Minerva said. "It doesn't really hurt."

"Maybe, but you don't want it to get infected," Desert insisted. "Go on."

To her relief, Minerva obliged and Desert turned back to her niece and nephew. "Are you sure you two are okay?" she asked. "I know this was your first fight."

"We're fine," Jas replied. "It just all happened really fast. But I think we handled ourselves well."

"Well, I'm proud," Desert said with a slight smile. "Your father will be too. I hope he gets back soon," she added with a glance to the clearing entrance. Draco had left on a patrol of his own, and Desert had a few words for him. She had a feeling that those words would make no difference than any words she had said before, but she was going to say them anyway.

"How did Minerva do?" Desert asked, turning back to Gannon and Jas. "Is she really okay?"

"Minerva was great," Gannon said. "She never lost her cool. I don't think she was really bothered at all."

"No, she usually isn't," Desert murmured. She wasn't sure what she had been expecting as an answer.

It wasn't very long before Draco and his patrol did return, and Pebble quickly filled him in on what had transpired. He announced to the pack that they would bury her that evening, and then went to check on his pups. But it wasn't very long before he noticed Desert boring holes in his back with how she was staring at him.

He sighed heavily before turning to her. "I have a very distinct feeling about what you're going to say, and I would prefer that you kept it to yourself."

"This is exactly what I was talking about!" Desert snarled. "Chloe is dead because you were too stupid to end this!"

Draco glared back at her. "Chloe is dead because she was defending her packmates and territory from Wind Pack. Don't dishonor her by saying this is somehow my fault."

"It is your fault," Desert snapped. "She would still be alive if you had just reset the border. What were you thinking anyway, sending her out with all of the trainees?"

"Tinder and Minerva are nearly fully ranked," Draco growled. He paused and looked away. "And besides, this wasn't supposed to end in a battle."

"Oh, because sending trainees to the highly contested border is safe?"

"I didn't think they would engage in this weather," Draco snapped. "Fine. I'll admit I made a tactical error. But Chloe still died because of Wind Pack, not because of me."

"Thyme and Cypress don't have any parents now. Did you even consider that?"

"At least now they have a parent who they can remember with pride."

Desert shook her head in frustration. "Sometimes I wonder how you accomplish anything with how blind you are!"

"And sometimes I wonder why I keep putting up with you insubordinating me," Draco retorted, his voice dropping to a low, threatening growl. "Just because you're my sister doesn't mean I'll tolerate your constant questioning of my decisions as alpha. I've given you a lot of chances and my patience is running out. I don't want to break our family apart, Desert. Don't make me."

Desert curled her lip, unable to think of words to adequately express her disgust and outrage. So she simply turned away again with a renewed hatred for these never-ending arguments that never accomplished anything.

~

"Chloe was a steadfast defender and remained loyal to her pack even when her mate did not," Draco said that evening when the pack had gathered deep in the forest for Chloe's funeral. "We will remember her with honor and continue the fight in her name."

Desert had kept her thoughts to herself for the rest of the day, out of respect for her fallen packmate, but her feelings on the subject had not changed. She had a feeling that the situation would only get worse--the anger born of grief that her packmates were feeling would inspire them to get even with Wind Pack, and the fight would continue. Did Desert feel anger towards the Wind-dogs for killing Chloe? Yes. But she cared far more about keeping the rest of the pack alive than she did about revenge.

Tansy was now speaking prayers over the grave, and all the assembled dogs bowed their heads in reverence to the Hunter Dog. Keep her well, Siglitun, Desert prayed. And I hope that somewhere in your lands she and Pawnee will find each other again, and find forgiveness.

Out of the corner of her eye she could see Thyme and Cypress, who had not said much for most of the day. They were undoubtedly still in shock, but both of them could be rather stoic and she doubted that either would show their grief outwardly.

At last Tansy finished, and Colt and Senna began pushing dirt into to fill the grave. The dogs began to disperse, outside of Chloe's closest friends, who remained behind. Desert walked back to the clearing with Minerva close behind her. After walking in silence for the first half of the journey, Desert turned to look at her and said, "I heard about how you took charge today. I wanted to say that I'm very proud of you."

Minerva smiled ever so slightly. "Thanks. It wasn't much."

"All the same, you're growing so fast. It won't be long before you become a full defender. Maybe even alpha, some day."

"I don't know about that. I don't know if I'd want it."

"It is a lot of responsibility. But I think you could handle it." And probably do better than your uncle.

They made it back to the overhang and the pack slowly began to settle down to sleep, the atmosphere still quiet and somber. Draco arrived last, just after Tansy, and Desert noticed that he laid down to sleep farther away than usual. She sighed and rested her head on her paws. She wondered how much he felt the weight of this death, if he felt it all. Maybe there was some guilt, but he seemed more than content to place all of the blame on Wind Pack.

Desert growled slightly and rolled over, not wanting to look at him anymore. It was a while before she finally fell asleep.