He saw the shift in her eyes, and his heart sank slowly. He knew that look. He knew what it meant. He knew there was a story behind it, and one that cut to the core when you so much as looked in its direction—sometimes, it was enough to make you flinch, or stumble, whenever you were reminded of the gaping hole sitting where your heart should've been.

But she had moved on, hadn't she? She had found love with Drestig Avalon, sprouted her wings and flown off into the sunset.. while Ice had watched his best friend skulk away like a thief in the night, his son screaming abuse after him, and branding him a traitor. Ice blinked. Serach was the son of two headstrong wolves—had he expected any differently? No. And it was probably good for the pack, but he hated the dragon's voice whispering in the back of his mind, talking of Eden and of Triell, and lamenting what had been taken from him.

What he could not openly love anymore, because it was to invite Serach's anger, or judgment. Perhaps he had proved by now that he was here to stay, that he wouldn't disappear like snowmelt in spring, but...

He stared into Jessie's eyes for a moment, a sorrow in his own. Marsh had faded to a dull throb, but the pain he saw in her eyes was still raw. "I'm sorry," he said softly. Death had laid the burnt Tainn to rest, and Ice had nothing to gain by chaining his judgment to his grave. It would only hurt those who were still alive.

Jessie stepped closer again, pressed her face against his; he pressed back, knowing it was goodbye, and knowing that he did not want it to come. He had left the pack, and come back to find them all spread to the wind. Kisla and Fenru had made their own lives, as had Jessie, and Triell left soon after, and Corinna was dead.. he wanted them all back together, to sit with them by the Bend's creek and watch the water glitter in the sunlight. He didn't want his heart to ache with loss, knowing they were far away, and scattered.

She pulled back, and he offered her a small, sad smile. "Take care, Jessie," he said to her as she began to walk away. "And safe travels."

[ The end. <3 ]