Hot Springs Walk, Don't Run

She managed to get away from him, and for a moment she believed she might actually be able to get away. That, somehow, she'd be quick enough to grab Neel and make a run for it, back to Fallen Tree Cove's borders and back to safety. She hurried to her feet, panting hard, with blood coating her scruff where the man had grabbed it. The younger wolf took a step back, trying to figure out where she might be able to run to get around the pale man and reach her child.

His cries were breaking her heart.

Distracted momentarily by the sobs and calls for her, Eido glanced beyond Larkspur and toward her infant, orange eyes meeting puppy blue for just a few heartbeats. She wanted to comfort him, to have never brought him to this place at all, and to tuck him back into the safety of their den forever.

The distraction was long enough for her to be caught off-guard by Reed's next attack.

A soft gasp tore itself from her chest, and she tried to take a step back and brace for the impact, but wasn't quite quick enough. Large, sharp teeth met her throat and tore through flesh, muscle, and sinew. Eidolon's eyes widened as the air entering her lungs was suddenly cut off, replaced instead with a flood of crimson liquid. She gasped for a few moments, much like a fish without water, and her eyes began to cloud over. Even if the father of her child released her, there would be no hope for a recovery.

Her blood traced across the ground, rivulets joining the hot springs around them.

Even when Eidolon was no longer breathing, Larkspur had not let go. He directed his frustrations to the girl and wildly shook his head from side to side.

After he'd made a terrible mess of things, Lark finally returned to the world. He let go of the girl and took a step back, mouth parted as he heavily panted. He looked over to the boy, who after getting a good look at the bloody, wild-eyed Larkspur, fled. He almost ran after the boy, but relaxed. He could find and take care of him later. He stood and inspected the dead girl. To be safe, he put his maw next to her nose to make sure she wasn't breathing. When he was certain that she wasn't he allowed himself to relax. He ran his tongue over her face to close her eyes.

He leaned over her and was gentle as he grabbed her scruff, carefully dragging the dead girl closer to the water. He flinched as he placed a paw into the warm water, but quickly got used to it. He pulled Eidolon's body into the springs and then pushed her off. It would be a good while before they found her, which would give him time to get the scent off of him and return home.

For a moment he watched the blood and water mix, the dead girl's body drifting away from the shore and beginning to sink. His heart sank when he caught a glimpse of her face, her orange eyes wide open as she stared at him. "Why are you doing this?" her eyes pleaded. The girl continued to drift away from the shore and into the warm water.

The words continued to echo in his mind, but he had no answer.