He could feel his muscles tense as his father’s did, body bracing for the onslaught though his mind didn’t know it was coming. And yet, no amount of fortitude could have prepared him for what was to come. The words themselves might not sound so bad – he didn’t know what amputate meant, nor what was bad about returning to the Backwater – but the tone was unmistakable, as was the effect it had on Chan. Micaden shrank next to his father, every subtle jolt of his body making the boy cower further, head dipping and tail tucking under his belly as the verbal lashes made despair seep from the older wolf.

Glancing across at his cousin, Mica saw a similar reaction to his own, the older boy clearly hurt by his father’s harsh message. Nash finally finished with a blow that even the yearling felt, despite having never met his grandmother; Passed away… Dead. Glancing briefly over at his father, Mica couldn’t keep a pained whine from escaping his muzzle, a pitiful echo of his sister’s condolences, but it was all he was able to produce. He didn’t really know any of those wolves after all, all he knew was that his family was hurting and that made him hurt too.

Thoughts ”Speech”