Dead Empress Backwater all the king's horses and all the king's men

Eros wanted to respond the moment he heard Chan's howl, easily identifying the once-diplomat by his timber, but he waited for one of the Backwater to give a signal instead. Things were horrifically delicate, and his remaining parents deserved the chance to address this first and without a crowd. Thankfully, he wasn't left on pins and needles for long. The moment Viorel called out, Eros rushed to be present.

He spotted the dark smudge amongst the snow that was Sephrina's body, and felt his heart stutter and cramp with grief.

"Sephy..." he couldn't help but whisper, tears jumping to his eyes. He would brush against his dad in passing, but couldn't help but be drawn promptly to his baby sister's side. This was far worse than the death of either grandparent.

It had taken all of her seemingly endless patience to not heed Nash's initial call, instead waiting at her infirmary, allowing Viorel the chance for privacy. When he was ready he would call, and wait she did. To her it felt like an age, but as soon as Viorel's calls reached her ears she was off at great speed, arriving only slightly breathlessly.

Clover breathed in deeply, head lowering and ears flicking back as she gazed at Viorel and Eros beside Sephrina's unmoving body. Warmth prickled at her eyes, but she kept her composure as she moved closer, looking at Viorel with an overwhelmingly somber expression.

"We'll bury her together, you won't be alone in this Vi." Her words were soft, but there was a flicker of determination in her gaze. She meant what she said; Clover would not leave Viorel to grieve alone, and she was sure the rest of the pack would do the same. As a pack they would bury Sephrina with the others they had lost on the way.

She stood beside Viorel, slowly stepping closer to gently brush her shoulder against his in an attempt to comfort him, if he were to allow her to touch him.

Oleander, at this point, had been so far removed from the family's inner workings. He had even forgotten about the cub exchange. His younger half-siblings barely knew him due to his preference for solitude. The only one who really saw him every now and then was his mother.

Within earshot of Clover's infirmary, the youth also grew still. Waiting. Oleander was older now and it was rare for him to heed his father's summoning; but, somehow, this was different. Somewhere to his right, he heard his mother dart from the infirmary, paws eating up the forest floor. White guard hairs stood up on his nape and he flew after her.

He watched her head lower upon approach and he followed suit. Characteristic of him, the yearling hung back. A tall streak of white against the backwater's dark trees. An upward extension of the snow on the forest floor. He could feel the tension and grief that hung in the air. It pulled at his chest and stung his eyes.

"We'll bury her together, you won't be alone in this Vi," Clover offered. Oleander let out a small woof as his own ears pinned back. A little token of support. He had always been there for whoever might have had use for him, but he let Viorel know now: I'm here, Dad, if you need me.

         

OLEANDER |

Nobody gets me like you do I'm not the same, not after you

This was the first time since his joining them that the pack had been called together. And it seemed that it would be due to a tragedy, nothing good at all. As Reade responded to the summons, his paw steps were heavy and his head bowed. The Fates had dealt the Backwater a great loss.

He did not know what had befallen the girl, did not need to know it to mourn with them, mourn for them. His role for now at least was clear, in the days to come he'd do his best to shoulder whatever tasks he could, filling caches and giving those who had known her better the room they needed to grieve properly.

He thought it best to give them all some space, responding as a silent presence who brought up the back of the ranks. He would witness the burial, whatever was asked. What words could he offer? He could not change fate and he could not make up for such a loss. It would be wrong to try.

Vayko had fallen in not long behind Clover, his eyes softened by the sorrow on his features as Vi looked over the body of his child… he could not imagine it… to see his own child curled up, lifeless in front of him. He would move over, offering a soft nose to his shoulder intended to comfort if he would accept it. He paused, unsure of what to say in that moment. He was no parent, not yet, and he could not possibly begin to fathom how the man felt. “We’ll bury her with her family.” He offered softly, thinking to Katna… while the woman had certainly been insane in her later years and delirious at best…

He had to hope that Katna was looking over the little girl now. Even now, the guilt over not finding Vanadis and bringing her home stirred… she should have been here for this too, not disappeared from the world that they had all collectively built, and away from her children whom she was supposed to love unconditionally.

Family were supposed to stay together, so things like this did not happen… and in that moment he could not help but blame Vana, even if this had happened at the Cove, out of their watchful eyes.

Vayko Valle

Archer Valle

Sephrina had been taken from them, and Eros returned only hours later, and now it seemed the Cove was back. Archer waited, partially out of remaining respect for his da and partially because he was afraid that he might start a fight with Chan. He knew it wasn't the man's fault, per se, but he wanted to blame somebody and he was a convenient target right now.

As soon as his da's call came, Archer was off. He paused when he saw his sister's dark form against the snow, the followed after Eros in brushing briefly against his da and sitting beside Seph's oh-so-small form. He began gently grooming her face one last time. "I should have been there for you," he murmured, hardly audible. "I'm sorry."

He'd always been a terrible brother to his sisters, a pattern beginning with his half-sisters long gone and now ending in the death of Sephrina. He would be better to Isla. He glanced up at Oleander. He should be a better brother to him, too.

Archer is very haggard and thin; it is obvious he is not doing well.

Sharlee was quick to answer Vi's call. She felt the family would need to come together. Show their leader the support that he needed. When she arrived many of the others were already there. The grief among them was almost palpable. For a long few moments Sharlee stood back allowing Viorel his space with his daughter.

Then she slowly approached. There wasn't anything to say that could make any of this better or easier. What she could do was let Vi know that she was there as always if he needed her. She pressed her muzzle against the side of his head before returning to a respectable distance.

She hoped that he would know that she would help with whatever was needed. That included helping to bury her niece.

For the first time Kateri was hesitant to answer Viorel's call. Part of her thought it best to stay out of sight. After all she was once a cove wolf. Would the patriarch see her that way now that he'd lost his daughter while she was under the watch of the cove wolves? Kateri truly hoped that wouldn't be the case. She was still worried about what woukd happen when she showed her face. Whatever did happen she knew she had to be there to show them that she shared in their grief.

Her pace wasn't fast as she made her way to where Viorel had called from. When she finally did arrive she saw that the whole pack seemed to be there. She quietly slipped onto the horrific scene as everyone expressed their support for their family member.

Thinking it best to not rub salt in the wound Kateri kept her distance but was still present offering her silent support.

There was a distinct howl at the edge of the territory, and she did not like the somber way it sounded. Every bit of her wanted to ignore it, but she wasn't going to. She'd been welcomed into this pack by the kind @Clover and she was trying to do what she could. Something was wrong and no doubt it would affect the pack. Her footsteps were slow compared to what they could have been. After all she wasn't sure what she would do if she got there and nobody else was around. She wasn't sure if she should be a witness to whatever tragic news had come.

Torrent would not arrive on scene until Viorel had officially called and many others had arrived. Death was long in her nose before her eyes landed on the girl. She felt like she was in someone else's nightmare the heartache evident for everyone. She'd known that a good part of the pack were the leader's children, but to see them all here as witnesses. It made her sick in a way she'd never felt before she couldn't imagine their grief. She respectfully kept her distance with her head bowed, trying to keep her own hot eyes from spilling over feeling like an intruder. While she felt standing there was hardly any support, it was better than nothing. These wolves were her family now.

     

This round is the processional of sorts, feel free to pp them arriving at the burial site. There will be one more final round where they lay Sephrina down and can say final goodbyes. No posting order, next round will be begin April 3rd

One by one the Valle father was joined by members of the pack. Filtering through the empress trees and into the clearing through the night as if they were all ghosts themselves. He was silent as he watched Chan disappear, and continued to be silent as each wolf arrived and reacted in their own manner. Eros, Vayko, Clover, and Archer all spoke but it felt like they were talking at a distance and it took him a long time to register what it was that they said.

Enough time passed that the leader felt like it was time to do something. He moved forward and very carefully slid his body down onto his belly, scooting forward and nudging Sephrina’s body until it was slung across his shoulder and body. He stood, inch by inch, readjusting once or twice until he felt comfortable that she was secure. Turning to face the pack, his daughter cradled on his back, he nodded once solemnly.

Then he began to slow walk towards where Katna, Walleye, and Inger had been buried. Tears flowed freely down his cheeks and he didn’t care if any of the others saw, it almost felt as if this was his to walk alone. Still, despite not being able to acknowledge it now, months down the line he would be deeply grateful for all of the wolves present for the funeral procession.