Soon the sun rose and overpowered the moon’s presence and the moon was lost in the day. Lorna, her mate, Chostle, and the betas soon left to hunt. Jyscal, Syndrie, and the pups were left alone. The pups playfully nosed and butted Jyscal. The omega tried to play with them but he was shaky and paranoid and kept looking over his shoulder to see that Syndrie was alright.

“Why won’t you play?” whined Cassa, a tiny female pup. “Yeah,” her two brothers, Nil and Ark chimed in. Jyscal could only tremble and whimper piteously in response. Soon the three rowdy little pups tired of the omega and so scampered off to find a game they could play with each other. It was then that the rest of the pack returned with a hunk of elk. They had already had their fill and thus the pups attacked the meat, forgetting their boredom. Syndrie ate quietly and was done rather quickly. All the while Jyscal paced and barked tensely, for he was very hungry and was a bit impatient. When the pups finally finished, Jyscal ran at the food and ate almost all the remnants. Once done he raised his head to see that Lorna was speaking to Syndrie. The hunger and the sight of food had provoked forgetfulness but now he remembered Syndrie’s words and was worried. He listened.

“Mama, are you alright? You don’t seem well,” Lorna said. Worry was obviously also a visitor in her den.

“Alright? I am fine, my dear Lorna. The adventures in my near future seem fabulous.”

“What are you speaking of, Mama? I do not understand.”

“Lorna, night has almost fallen. Soon I will be falling with it.”

Lorna’s wolven features creased with concern and her ears flattened against her head. “Oh, Mama, do not say so.”

“It is true, Lorna, my dear,” Syndrie said, her eyes twinkling. “It is coming and I am ready.”

Jyscal flung his head back to look up at the sky. The sun was steadily descending and Jyscal’s mind cried out for it to stop, to stop leaving so that night wouldn’t come and steal Syndrie away. But alas, the sun was indifferent. It sunk and sunk until it was out of sight and the moon was out again, shining merrily upon the darkened lands.

Chostle had taken the pups inside and with him had gone the betas. Syndrie turned to her daughter and smiled somberly. “You will see me again one day, Lorna,” she reassured her already-grieving child. “But please, say good-bye now and leave, for it is Jyscal who needs me most at this time.”

Lorna nodded and bid her mother farewell before retreating to the den. As Syndrie approached him Jyscal began trembling. “Ol’ Mama Synnie, please don’t go,” he whimpered.

“Do not start with that, Jyscal. Your words will not compel nature to change its ways to your liking.” Syndrie settled down under the sagging limb of a birch tree, resting her head upon her forepaws. Jyscal shakily joined her on the ground.

“Who will I be able to trust, Ol’ Mama Synnie? You are the only one who listens and understands.”

“The moon will listen to you, understand you, and follow you like the loyal comrade that he so is,” Syndrie chuckled, “and what’s more, he will never die on you.”

“He cannot communicate, Synnie,” Jyscal mumbled, overwhelmed with sadness.

“Why, he can if you let him, Jyscal. Be open and trust in him. You’d be surprised of how great he is,” Syndrie laughed.

Jyscal frowned but said nothing. Syndrie’s breathing was beginning to become more ragged and laborious. He began trembling.

“Oh, Synnie, do not go.”

“Stop it, Jyscal. There is a time to let go. And now it is my time. I will let go of life and you will let go of me.” She looked at him square in the eye. “And you will grow strong and brave and you will learn to live. Say yes, Jyscal.”

“Yes.”

“Say it again.”

“Yes.”

Syndrie closed her eyes. “Again, Jyscal.”

“Yes.”

And after hearing that last word, Syndrie let herself go, let herself spiral into a dark abyss that held so many new things for her...

And after hearing that last breath, Jyscal let her go, let her spiral into a dark abyss that held so many new things for her...

And he let himself have a chance to mature and to be able to truly, truly live.

Jyscal turned to the sky with tears on his muzzle. The moon shone down upon him and he got up and ran foward and the moon seemed to follow him, never letting him stray from its presence. The moon paled his fur and reflected off his eyes and as Jyscal ran and ran and watched the moon chase him his trembling ceased without Syndrie’s voice and a spurt of courage and confidence filled him and he flung back his head and opened his jaws and said, “Yes.”